Pro coffee comparison: Taste-testing brew marketing to (and by) cyclists

Published: Jul. 1, 2009

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The coffee cupping feature appears in the August issue.

Last month, the VeloNews staff (which contains several former coffee shop employees and many who set up residence in one or another of Boulder's many shops), held what’s known in the coffee world as a cupping at Saxy's Café in Boulder. The crew invited a handful of local pro racers plus two experts from the Coffee Syndicate roasting company.

The full story appears in the August issue of VeloNews, but we couldn't fit all the data in the magazine, so we present detailed results here. We hope that you will have as much fun reading this as we did trying out all of the coffees. Remember to click on the graphics to see them full-size.

53x11 Coffee

Wondo Bonko (light roast)
Origin: Ethiopian (organic)
Overall score: 10/10
Aroma score: 8.6/10
Aromas: Fruity, blueberry, floral, herbal, cocoa
Flavor score: 10/10
Flavors: Fruity, berryish, cocoa, sweet, caramel
Acidity score: 10/10
Acidity notes: Bright, delicate acidity
Body score: 6.2/10
Body notes: Light body
Finish score: 10/10
Finish notes: Clean, floral finish
Impression score: 9.2/10

Au Bloc

Cafe:ine
Au Bloc blend (dark roast)
Origin: Morocco blend
Overall score: 9.6/10
Aroma score: 7.1/10
Aromas: Earthy, pungent, spicy, woody, smoky
Flavor score: 8.4/10
Flavors: Strong, complex, earthy, toasty
Acidity score: 8.4/10
Acidity notes: Smooth, brisk acidity
Body score:10/10
Body notes: Full body
Finish score: 9.9/10
Finish notes: Strong, fresh finish
Impression score: 10/10

Au Bloc

Cafe:ine
Au Bloc blend (medium roast)
Origin: Morocco Blend
Overall score: 7/10
Aroma score: 7.9/10
Aromas: Smoky, earthy, malty, big, woody
Flavor score: 7.1/10
Flavors: Smoky, earthy, musty, mellow
Acidity score: 7.5/10
Acidity notes: Smooth, bright acidity
Body score: 5.4/10
Body notes: Medium body
Finish score: 5.6/10
Finish notes: Thin finish
Impression score: 8.7/10

Dopers Suck

Belgian Cocktail (medium roast)
Origin: Italy
Overall score: 6.9/10
Aroma score: 5.1/10
Aromas: Earthy, nutty, herbal, smoky, woody
Flavor score: 7.1/10
Flavors: Mild, clean, smooth, toasty
Acidity score: 7.6/10
Acidity notes: Brisk, mild acidity
Body score: 6.3/10
Body notes: Thin to medium body
Finish score: 9.2/10
Finish notes: Fast fading, yet clean finish
Impression score: 6.4/10

Coffee Cupping: We're still buzzing from all the brews we tried.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Dopers Suck

Off the Front (dark roast)
Origin: Sumatra and Italy blend
Overall score: 6.8/10
Aroma score: 5.1/10
Aromas: Earthy, nutty, spicy, rich, woody
Flavor score: 6.4/10
Flavors: Roasty, smoky, complex, toasty
Acidity score: 9.1/10
Acidity notes: Medium, sharp acidity
Body score: 6.6/10
Body notes: Full body
Finish score: 6.4/10
Finish notes: Strong, long finish
Impression score: 6.7/10

Coffee Cupping: Amy Dombroski, JHK, Fred Dreier, and Tuttle had plenty of questions for our coffee expert, Noah Westby.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Jet Fuel Coffee

Jet Fuel (light to medium roast)
Origin: Blend of seven worldwide origins
Overall Score: 5.4/10
Aroma score: 7.4/10
Aromas: Nutty, cocoa, smoky, rich, woody
Flavor score: 5/10
Flavors: Complex, earthy, smoky
Acidity score: 8.2/10
Acidity notes: Mild acidity
Body score: 5.4/10
Body notes: Medium, thin body
Finish score: 5.1/10
Finish notes: Rounded, spicy finish
Impression score: 6/10

Jittery Joe's

House (medium roast)
Origin: Central and South America
Overall Score: 6/10
Aroma score: 5/10
Aromas: Smoky, slight, flat, herbal, nutty
Flavor score: 6.1/10
Flavors: Clean, mellow, nutty, woody
Acidity score: 6.9/10
Acidity notes: Tangy acidity
Body score: 6.7/10
Body notes: Medium, thin body
Finish score: 5.6/10
Finish notes: Rounded finish
Impression score: 7.7/10

Coffee Cupping: The cupping procedure was very formal and scientific.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Jittery Joe's

Morning Ride (full-city roast)
Origin: Latin American blend
Overall score: 5/10
Aroma score: 6.4/10
Aromas: Nutty, rich, spicy, earthy, floral
Flavor score: 6.5/10
Flavors: Earthy, clean, mild, smooth
Acidity score: 5/5
Acidity notes: Soft acidity
Body score: 5.3/10
Body notes: Thin body
Finish score: 5.1/10
Finish notes: Fast-fading, rounded finish
Impression score: 5.3/10

Kinetic Koffee

Breakfast Buzz (medium Vienna roast, 100% organic)
Origin: Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia blend
Overall score: 6/10
Aroma score: 6.5/10
Aromas: Earthy, rich, herbal, smoky, woody
Flavor score: 6.4/10
Flavors: Mellow, nutty, smooth, strong
Acidity score: 6.3/10
Acidity notes: Moderate acidity
Body score: 5.5/10
Body notes: Medium, creamy body
Finish score: 5.1/10
Finish notes: Long, moderate finish
Impression score: 7.5/10

Coffee Cupping:Noting the aroma of the dry grounds was the first step for the coffee tasters.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Kinetic Koffee

Kama Sumatra (dark roast)
Origin: Sumatra (fair trade, organic, shade grown)
Overall Score:6.8/10
Aroma score: 7.7/10
Aromas: Smoky, earthy, fruity, rich, cocoa
Flavor: 6.3/10
Flavors: Earthy, roasty, malty, toasty
Acidity score: 9.6/10
Acidity notes: Pronounced acidity
Body score: 6.3/10
Body notes: Full body
Finish score: 6.9/10
Finish notes: Long, strong finish
Impression score: 5.8/10

Coffee Cupping: The cupping was done at Boulder's Saxy's coffee shop.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Magnus Maximus Coffee

Viking Blend (medium-dark roast)
Origin: Brazil, Mexico, Peru blend
Overall score: 6.2/10
Aroma score: 5.7/10
Aromas: Nutty, woody, rich, herbal, cedary
Flavor score: 7.2/10
Flavors: Citrusy, pruny, toasty
Acidity score: 8.3/10
Acidity notes: Tangy acidity
Body score: 6.7/10
Body notes: Thin, oily body
Finish score: 5.1/10
Finish notes: Thin finish
Impression score: 5/10

Peace Coffee

Peruvian (light to medium roast)
Origin: Peru (fair trade, organic, shade grown)
Overall Score:6.2/10
Aroma score: 8.2/10
Aromas: Woody, smoky, cocoa, earthy, spicy
Flavor score: 5.7/10
Flavors: Tobacco, grainy, bitter, toasty, nutty
Acidity score: 7.2/10
Acidity notes: Nippy, bright acidity
Body score: 5/10
Body notes: Medium, light body
Finish score: 8.6/10
Finish notes: Rounded finish
Impression score: 6/10

Coffee Cupping: Matt Cooke chooses not to swallow, lest the repercussions of late evening caffeine consumption.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Tom Danielson Coffee

Brasstown Bald Blend (medium-dark roast)
Origin: Sumatra, Kenya, and Colombia blend
Overall score: 6.9/10
Aroma score: 6.4/10
Aromas: Pungent, cedar, earthy, nutty, smoky
Flavor score: 7.2/10
Flavors: Clean, toasty, tobacco, caramel
Acidity score: 9.3/10
Acidity notes: Tangy acidity
Body score: 6.1/10
Body notes: Medium body
Finish score: 5/10
Finish notes: Moderate finish
Impression score: 7.2/10

Coffee Cupping: Blake Caldwell discovers hidden slurping talent.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Tom Danielson Coffee

Mt. Washington Blend (dark roast)
Origin: Central and South American Blend
Overall Score: 7.2/10
Aroma score: 10/10
Aromas: Nutty, spicy, malty, smoky, woody
Flavor score: 6.2/10
Flavors: Earthy, smoky, strong, roasty, hardy
Acidity score: 9/10
Acidity notes: Medium acidity
Body score: 8.4/10
Body notes: Full body
Finish score: 8.4/10
Finish notes: Astringent finish
Impression score: 5/10

Coffee Cupping: Colby Pearce points to his favorite sample.

Photo: Brad Kaminski

Wahine Farms Coffee

Kona Kruiser (dark roast)
Origin: Kona, Hawaii
Overall score: 7.3/10
Aroma score: 6.4/10
Aromas: Malty, nutty, earthy, smoky, herbal
Flavor score: 8.2/10
Flavors: Citrusy, earthy, mellow, toasty, smoky
Acidity score: 6.7/10
Acidity notes: Brisk, soft acidity
Body score: 6.8/10
Body notes: Medium, impressive body
Finish score: 6.6/10
Finish notes: Rounded, resonating finish
Impression score: 7.7/10

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