Mugged: Brazil, Colombia and Kenya [Bold Bean]

Subject: Bold Bean Coffee Roasters
Coffee Mugged and Rating [see key]:

- Canaan Estate, Carmo de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil 5+

- Finca Buenavista, Cundinamarca, Colombia 5+ 

- Kwamangu Estate, Kiambu, Kenya 6+

Florida is a state I tend to forget about during the warmer summer months, so it's always nice to hear of good things going on in the area's coffee realm. One of the state's more substantial coffee operations runs out of Jacksonville and goes by the name of Bold Bean Coffee Roasters. Opened in 2007, this coffee roaster caught my eye at a Coffee Fest ABC Coffeehouse Competition back in 2013 with good coffee and a solid presence.

Fast forward to today, I finally got the chance to objectively slurp a few of their coffees, namely their Canaan Estate from Brazil, their Finca Buenavista of Colombia, and their Kwamangu Estate sourced from Kiambu, Kenya. All three coffees I sampled via pourover, french press and siphon.

First to task was their Canaan Estate. Produced on a family farm that has won its share of awards, this pulped natural Brazilian coffee seemed make for an easy crowd pleaser. The pourover dished out notes of whole milk, almonds, croissant, nougat and nutmeg within a medium body, proving not overtly vibrant, but a delicious cup nonetheless. The french press took it to the next level, rocketing out milk chocolate, sweet almond, sugar cookie and a touch of basil and lemon rind. The siphon held notes of milk chocolate, almond milk, sugar cookie, nutmeg and slight roasted asparagus, making for a smooth, rich coffee. 

The direct trade Finca Buenavista of Colombia also made for a great coffee. Within the pourover existed cane sugar, cashews, light cream, yogurt-covered raisins and corn tortilla in a light/medium body, compiling a toothsome and decadent brew. The french press similarly extended cashews, cream, a little milk chocolate, sugar as well as slight plum and kale in a medium body, giving a savory nutty yet sweet push. The siphon proved my favorite, with notes of caramel, nougat, fig, sweet cream, bean sprout, corn and a touch of elderberry, hands down throwing out one of the more delicious cups of coffee of the whole lot.

While the other two coffees were tremendous, the Kwanmangu Estate of Kenya made for my overall favorite. The pourover ricocheted forth with cocoa, honey wheat bread, ripe cantaloupe and vanilla beans in a medium body. The french press demonstrated similar decadence, with cocoa, honey, blueberry, apple pie, cracked wheat and a sliver of basil, thoroughly singing a sweet, syrupy song with multiple facets. The siphon made for the sweetest infusion, with delicious, supple notes of cocoa, blueberry, honey, pie crust and kale in a medium body. 

Needless to say, Bold Bean's coffee boldly speaks for itself. The next time you seek a great cup of coffee, seek them out, especially if you happen to be in the area of Jacksonville. 

note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.