Showing posts with label Old Soul Co.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Old Soul Co.. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Mugged: Brazil [Old Soul]

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What does Mugged mean?




Subject: Old Soul Co. 
Coffee Mugged: Brazil Macaubas
Rating: 5+ [see key]





The final coffee of the three bags of Old Soul I received was their Brazil Macaubas. While much of Brazil usually blasts out a lot of low-grade coffee for your coffee giants, this coffee claimed to be a great, single estate coffee. As usual, I dove in using three different types of coffee infusion to test the coffee.

Using a standard coffee pourover (drip) method, the coffee brewed up notes of caramel, cashew, chocolate chip, potato skin, thyme and a little milkiness in a medium body. A good start.

The french press squeezed out an infusion with flavors more akin to pear, honey, wheat, sunflower seeds as well as a tinge of licorice and spinach. While I found this coffee slightly different then the drip, it had a lot of similarities in profile and was also delicious.

The siphon delivered similar to the french press with notes of clove, honey, peanut chaff and wheat amidst a heavy body. A solid cup.


In the end, I was pleased to conclude that this was indeed a fine coffee from Brazil. If you're looking for a good South American coffee with a delightful sweet and nutty profile, give this coffee a whirl.. 



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

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Mugged: Ethiopian [Old Soul]

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What does Mugged mean?



Subject: Old Soul Co.
Coffee Mugged: Ethiopian Aleta Wondo Co-op
Rating: 5+ [see key]




While a lot of people seem to appreciate pairing coffee with chocolate or similar sweets, there exists a lot more flavors that go wonderfully with coffee. One of my favorites happens to be fruits, a recently popular but wonderful companion to a bright coffee like a quality Ethiopian.

Often extolled for their lovely acidity, Ethiopian and other East African coffees rank as some of my favorite coffee. One recent addition to my list of quality African coffees was Old Soul's Ethiopian. From the Aleta Wondo Co-op, this coffee I had the pleasure of sampling in the brews of drip, siphon and french press. 


The drip coffee relayed bright blueberry, chocolate, oak barrel, a bit of mint, nuts, dandelion greens and cracker. The body was light to medium and it had a nice, crisp taste to it.

The french press had similar power in the blueberry and mint, but this brew had more of a nougat-like taste along with cilantro and a hint of yerba matte. 


The siphon was the sweetest of the three, holding strong blueberry, chocolate and mint along with oak barrel, buttery cracker and dandelion green all amidst a medium body. 


Overall, Old Soul's Ethiopian proved delicious and would do well to compliment a nice berry tart or chocolate covered strawberry. Give this coffee a try if you're looking for a smooth, bright coffee. 


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

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mugged: Colombia [Old Soul]

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What does Mugged mean?




Subject: Old Soul Co.
Coffee Mugged: Colombia Suarez Estates
Rating: 4+ [see key]




Sacramento proved to me a surprisingly great city when I visited several years ago. An interesting old town area, downtown and of course, lots of good coffee made for a great place to visit (and I'm sure its a hoot to live in). From what I've heard, there's been improvements with the city and its coffee, with places like Old Soul Co., a once small-scale wholesaler turning into a multi-location coffee establishment and bakery in the past five years.

Never having tasted their wares, I was truly intrigued when they sent me out a few different coffees to review. The first up of these coffees was their Colombia Suarez Estates, sampled via french press, drip and siphon.

The drip demonstrated notes of nuttiness, apple, grass, biscuit, bits of pepper, wheat toast and a little tobacco. A good and somewhat mellow cup though the notes of pepper and tobacco proved a little too potent in the profile.

The french press had a similar make-up, with the apple, nuttiness, grass and toast standing alike. But this cup held also unsweetened cocoa, broth and standout curry. A medium bodied, good coffee with a little fleck of pungent bitterness.

The siphon was the least exciting, with the notes of nuttiness, biscuit, wheat toast, tobacco and only a little apple and honey. Not bland but not a trumpeting cup either.

In a nutshell, Old Soul's Colombia proved to be a good coffee but proving a little lackluster with certain prominent flavors such as tobacco and curry. No matter, if you're out for a good Colombian, give Old Soul a go.


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