Coffee for Bloggers?

Lynn's picture
Submitted by Lynn on Sat, 04/22/2006 - 2:41pm.

[Sorta cross-posted from OMI--L]

Because I'm one of the hip now a-go-go kids (cough sputter) in the Blogads network, from time to time companies try to curry favor with me. If they only knew.

This time around it's Boca Java, which has put out a coffee line for bloggers (whatever); they've sent me several half-pound bags of beans, a gimme cap and a coffee mug. John and I used to own a coffee house so we're pretty picky about our brew; this could be fun.

First up is Blogs of Bravery, described as "'The Real Story in Real Time.' Front line fuel from a blend of South American dark and medium roasts to create a well balanced smooth taste." Illustrated with a picture of a soldier precariously balancing a laptop on his camoflaged knee, the cracked-open package smelled very sharp. In fact it smelled a lot like a Batdorf & Bronson Nicaraguan we'd gotten recently. And on taste test, it performed almost exactly like that coffee did.

Straight up, this stuff has a leading flavor of burnt rubber. There's no other way to put it. The aftertaste is better than that description might sound, in fact rather nice, but this is not a brew we'd drink black. And "smooth" is the last descriptor I'd think of. We kept coming back to "sharp" and "burnt rubbery."

Adding sugar burnished that sharp edge and took the rubbery taste right out. A further addition of whole milk (I'm out of cream more's the pity) produced a really nice cup of coffee.

The "black" enthusiasts are probably snorting about now. But for a coffee to take cream and sugar and still come out tasting like coffee and not melted coffee ice cream, the coffee has to be of a certain type. We've found the ones that smell sharp to be that type. If you take your coffee "full chrome" you'll like Blogs of Bravery. If you take it black, chances are you won't.

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Anhata's picture

TY, Lynn, for my endorphin rush for the day

Submitted by Anhata on Sat, 04/22/2006 - 9:36pm.

Burnt rubber! (cackling with laughter) The end was almost a Hallmark moment with Redemption by coffee and cream.

Anhata
www.familynaturally.com
Your Family's General Store, Naturally

Lynn's picture

Next up: New Media Mavericks

Submitted by Lynn on Sun, 04/23/2006 - 9:13am.

New Media Mavericks is "'Unfiltered Truth' Lead the information reformation with this medium roast from the prized Tarrazu region of Costa Rica with excellent body and robust richness." (Who knew bloggers were so powerful, leading revolutions and dressing in camo?)

The truth of this one is that it's a thin coffee best drunk black. The initial sip is offputting enough to make you reconsider a second; it's thin, a little acrid, and there's that rubber thing again. But rather like watercolors building up color, subsequent hits build up layers of flavor so that by the third or so you're thinking, hm, not a great coffee but not a bad one. Having said that, comparing a coffee to watercolors is not a good thing.

The addition of sugar did nothing for the coffee, in fact it detracted substantially from it. It pointed up the thinness of the brew. And adding milk (where's the dang dairyman?! I want my cream!) finished it off. No body to it. New Media Mavericks isn't so bad I threw the pot out, in fact it's adequate, but it's a blend I won't be buying.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

Becky's picture

what about milk-only?

Submitted by Becky on Sun, 04/23/2006 - 2:07pm.

I drink coffee with only milk, cream, or (shudder) creamer, no sugar. How does that work with Blogs of Bravery?

Lynn's picture

Dunno

Submitted by Lynn on Sun, 04/23/2006 - 4:20pm.

And I want to get through the others before I come back to that one, but I'll start doing that test, too. I would think that with cream it'd be good; it's just not meant to drink straight.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor

mummadee's picture

Coffee

Submitted by mummadee on Wed, 04/26/2006 - 12:05am.

I've read about another blogger (wouldacoulda) trying these out also. Smiling

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