The Drink: Nicaraguan-Matagalpa From Buona Caffe
Type: Single Origin Whole Bean Dark Roast
Overall Rating: 3.75 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs
A few months ago, Buona Caffe sent me prototypes of their coffee to get my feedback. Even in the early stages, I thought it was good coffee. However, they wanted to wait, saying they weren’t ready for a full review on Daily Shot Of Coffee. I silently disagreed and I couldn’t wait to do an official review of their coffee.
Today in my kitchen, I have a bag of their dark roast Nicaraguan Matagalpa, Selva Negra Estate and I can finally share with you this great little company. Of course, just because the earlier coffees were good, doesn’t mean that this coffee was going to get a free pass. It went through a thorough testing in the Daily Shot Of Coffee kitchen.
I started with making this coffee in the French Press. It created a coffee with an inviting dark roast aroma. It had a smokey scent, but not overwhelming because I could pick up on hints of grapes, cinnamon and brown sugar.
The coffee itself had a strong, smokey dark roast flavor that hit my tongue hard. And again it was strong, but not too overwhelming for the medium roast drinker in me. Underneath the dark roast flavor, there was hints of red grapes (but not a wine like flavor of lighter roasts) and chocolate.
There was a slightly bitter after taste, but my grandfather would’ve said it gave it character.
Even before I sampled and tasted this coffee, there’s a couple of things that I liked about it. It’s shade-grown, fair trade and certified by the Rainforest Alliance. Non-certified coffees aren’t the worse things in the world, but a coffee with certifications like the Nicaraguan Matagalpa get bonus points.
And as an extra bonus, 50 cents of every 12 ounce bag of Buona Caffe sold is donated to a non-profit called Children’s Safe Drinking Water. They help people in developing counties who are dying because they lack access to clean water. Fifty cents is enough to purify 50 liters of water.
Overall, I liked this coffee and would suggest it to dark roast drinkers and even medium roast fans that want to try something darker. It had a distinctive dark roast to it, but it didn’t lose it’s flavor. I can’t wait to see what comes out next from Buona Caffe.
{ 6 comments }
Mike, this sounds like a kickin’ coffee and the fair trade status is just icing on the cake. Nice review.
Ciao,
Ardee-ann
That’s an excellent way of putting it, it was just the icing on the cake. Thanks for stopping by and reading the review!
mmm looks lovely!
I’ve really started enjoying different types of coffee since I got my senseo machine and an eco pod refill thingy. Do they do sell this in the UK ?
I’m not sure, I’ll see if I can get an answer for you on that one.
i’m pretty sure this is a bean i’d love.
have not seen it locally of course.
(darn prototypes anyhow)
i like the lable on the bag!
often a great label will prompt
me to buy a coffee i don’t know
much about or haven’t seen before.
putting the important information on labels is an art.
i’ve seen a lot of bags where something said
about the product would enhance the sale potential.
Knowing how you like your coffees, I’d guess you’d like this one too.
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