For the record, this is our second Altruistic Joe coffee review. Some months ago we were first introduced to this veteran-owned coffee brand, and one of our resident writers published a glowing review of their coffee. Soon after publishing the review, we were presented with an opportunity to try some of Altruistic Joe's additional offerings. Being the altruistic company they are, the company offered to send us more of their coffee to assess. In order to get a different perspective on this veteran made brew, we assigned this particular review to a different coffee reviewer.
Who is Altruistic Joe Coffee
For those unfamiliar with Altruistic Joe, it's a veteran owned business which donates 20% of all net proceeds to benefit charitable causes. The company was founded by Libby and Jamie Jenks who've invested 20+ years of service in the U.S Coast Guard. So how now onto the million dollar question. How good is their coffee?
Smokehouse Dark Roast
For this Altruistic Joe coffee review, we first started with their Smokehouse Dark Roast which is a delightful earthy and smokey Sumatra blend.
Being a huge fan of dark roast coffee, I was immediately drawn to this blend. I ground the beans using my coffee grinder until I had a nice fine grind. I then poured the beans into my drip coffee maker and brewed 8 cups of coffee. I decided to drink the coffee black to start to get all the tasting notes from the coffee. The coffee was exactly as advertised, a bold dark roast with big bodied flavor – notes of dark chocolate and very smokey. The smokiness of this coffee is what really took me by surprise. It was the smokiest coffee I have every drank and I very much enjoyed it. This smokey dark roast stimulated the senses and made for a great tasting coffee that resonated with my flavor profile. I drank a second cup and added some cream. This was my preferred method of drinking the coffee and it made the coffee very sweet. The cream really brought out the dark chocolate flavor and I really enjoyed this cup with the added cream.
Sometimes smokey coffee can be the result of the coffee beans being over roasted. However, Altruistic Joe has accomplished something special with their Smokehouse Dark roast. It's a refined smokey-ness that isn't overwhelming and will keep you coming back for me.
This is an excellent choice for any dark roast lover.
Big Iron Blend
The second coffee I drank from Altruistic Joe was the Big Iron Blend which is a Guatamelan and Sumatran blend for those who love a highly balanced brew.
I followed the same steps as I did with the Smokehouse Dark Roast and grinded the beans to a fine grind, and then brewed the coffee in a drip coffee maker. I drank this coffee black to get the full flavor from the beans. This blend had notes of milk chocolate, fruit, and a light smoke. It was less smokey than the Smokehouse Dark Roast, but still had hints of smokiness. This coffee was much sweeter than the Smokehouse Dark Roast and wasn’t as full bodied. I really enjoyed the combination of the milk chocolate flavor with the smokiness and this would make a perfect desert style coffee. I could see it being paired nicely with a post meal, and served after a sweet desert. What a perfect way to finish off an evening.
Crimson and Cream Blend
The Crimson and Cream blend is a fan-favorite and it's not hard to see why. It's perfect for those who prefer a light to medium roast brew. This blend is a balanced mixture of Guatemalan and Ethiopian beans. I prepared this in a French Press and as usual, drunk the coffee black.
I tasted notes of caramel, dried fruit, and a host of uniquely subtle citrus flavors. As you already know, I'm a fan of dark roasts and so I admit to having a slight bias. And yet the Crimson and Cream blend offered a depth and complexity of flavor that surprised me while delighting my senses. It's a brew that is delicate in body while delivering the full range of these premium beans' natural flavors. It's an unquestionably smooth coffee that will have you coming back for more.
Aroma
The aroma of all of these beans is fantastic. You can smell the smokiness and the flavors of the beans immediately when you open up the bag. The beans are also incredibly fresh and you can tell Altruistic Joe really does a fine and thorough job producing a quality bean. There is nothing better than smelling the aroma of the beans right before grinding them and preparing them for brewing. These beans smell have a wonderous aroma and capture all the nuanced flavors of the individual coffee beans. The packaging does a great job sealing the freshness and aroma of the beans.
Packaging
I absolutely love the packaging of these beans. The resealable packaging is perfect for saving the beans for later after using them. Too often do I see premium coffee retailers not include a resealable package for their beans. This lowers the lifespan of the beans and forces you to brew the beans immediately after opening the package to preserve the freshness. With this packaging you can savor the beans over a longer period of time and the resealable bag extends the life of the beans. This is the kind of packaging we need to see more of in the coffee bean industry.
Whether it's the taste, aroma, or packaging, it's clear to me that Altruistic Joe holds their brand to a standard that's well-beyond the norm.
Selection
For this Altruistic Joe Coffee review we took a look at two of their year-round blends. It's worth mentioning that they also offer some excellent seasonal single origin coffees. To get the fullest experience with this coffee brand, we recommend going with their Sample Pack.
Altruistic Joe Coffee Review: Conclusion
In concluding this second Altruistic Joe coffee review, I can say that this company produces truly stellar beans. The beans are full of flavor and its resealable bag ensures that you can enjoy these beans at your leisure over time and preserve freshness. The smokiness of both these coffees is pure bliss and I look forward to pairing these coffees in a variety of ways to see where they pair best. Out of the two coffees, the Smokehouse Dark Roast was my favorite, but I’m a little bias because I’m a sucker for a good dark roast. Enjoy both of these coffees and rest assured that your money is going to a good cause and helping a veteran owned business.
We've placed Altruistic Joe on the top of our list of best veteran owned coffee companies. When you taste their coffee, you'll understand why.
For a limited time, Altruistic Joe is offering 10% off your first order.
Altruistic Joe Review: Final Rating: 5/5
Leave a Reply