Caffeic Coffee Review – Burundi Nkonge Hill

Here at Best Quality Coffee, we've started a new series featuring small-batch gourmet coffee brands from around the world. Our first stop is in Helena, MT where a small family-owned roaster has been helping to redefine the meaning of high quality coffee.

Caffeic Coffee opened its  doors in 2017 and shares the same ethos that drives the Third Wave coffee movement which regards coffee as an artisinal beverage like wine as opposed to a standard commodity. Caffeic's entire approach to coffee reflects their view that coffee isn't just a drink, but a multi-sensory experience to savored. For this Caffeic Coffee review, we'll be sampling their Burundi Nkonge Hill single-origin brew.

Caffeic Coffee Review – Burundi Nkonge Hill

Packaging

While packaging isn't the most significant metric for reviewing coffee, it's still worth mentioning here. Caffeic went to great lengths to preserve the freshness of their product by using a convenient resealable bag that contains a one-way valve allowing Co2 to escape. It may seem minor, but I always appreciate it when coffee brands makes a concerted effort to ensure their coffee is experienced as intended.

The Aroma

Upon opening the bag, I was immediately treated to a bright and vivid aroma which instantly excited my senses. Have you ever smelled a coffee so good and potent that it felt like you were tasting it? I know taste buds and olfactory senses are intertwined but this aroma had me wanting to actually “eat” the coffee grounds in a manner of speaking. I know how odd that sounds but when you're actually experiencing it seemed a lot less weird. Either way, the aroma was thoroughly captivating and very enjoyable.

The Taste

Coffee from Africa is typically fruitier and more floral as far as taste profiles go. Caffeic Coffee wisely chose to offer their Burundi brew as a light roast which allows the coffee bean's natural characteristics to be more fully expressed.

I used my Javapresse manual burr grinder to get a medium grind and proceeded to my pour over. After a few anticipatory minutes, my coffee was brewed and ready to be officially slurped.

To cut right to the case, this coffee was exquisite and a grand of example of what high-grade coffee should taste like. Caffeic Coffee's Burundi single-origin is impeccably balanced for all of its complex flavors which include distinct notes of apricot, raisins, and chocolate. As soon as the brew engaged my taste buds, I was immediately taken by its balance. I could taste waves of flavor that were both sweet and savory at the same time but at no point did one attribute overwhelm or compete with another. Each flavor note was distinct in its own right and yet because of the brew's well-calibrated balance, they all seamlessly melded together into a singularly bright, crisp, and exotic flavor.

In saving the best for last, I found the finish to be especially unique in that it offers two distinct experiences. It starts out with an initially smoky introduction and then tapers into an almost nutty / earthen finish. This grounded aftertaste was a perfect complement to the coffee's already vibrant and fruity flavor. Typically, I don't drink black coffee unless it's for a review. However, because this coffee's taste is so well-articulated, Caffeic Coffee's Burundi brew is one of those very rare coffees that I could regularly drink without sugar or cream. That's a testament to just how much of a match it was for my specific taste profile.

In concluding this review, we can say that our first experience with Caffeic Coffee really underscored why we started this new series. We're on the hunt for rare undiscovered coffee gems that we believe our viewers will really appreciate. Fortunately, we've found one such rarity in Caffeic Coffee and look forward to watching the company achieve its goals of sharing truly high-end coffee with the masses.

If you've had a chance to try this product and would like to leave a Caffeic Coffee review, we'd love to hear from you.