Recently I received Pure Colombian Arabica coffee beans from Cyclist magazine to review. Cyclist is a magazine based in the UK targeting people who are passionate about road cycling. The company has an online shop which offers numerous gift ideas for your reference and needs. Their new addition is the Pure Colombian Arabica Coffee.
First impressions count, and Cyclist made a great first impression. The coffee bag is classy and high in quality. The airtight resealable bag is a big plus and provides good, useful detailed information on the labels, such as flavor profile, brewing instructions, and storage instructions.
Cyclist coffee is 100% Arabica coffee beans from Colombia. This is a medium roasted coffee with refreshing fruit-forward fragrance. I grounded it just before brewing and performed a mini coffee cupping session to evaluate the quality and taste of the coffee.
Cupping is one of the best ways to taste and assess coffee. This technique helps to evaluate the aroma, flavor profile, and quality. Cupping allows me to have a better understanding and compare and contrast each coffee.
Here are my cupping notes of Cyclist coffee
Aroma – Notes of toffee, dark cherry, vanilla, rose
Body – Medium weight, rich and smooth, balanced mouthfeel
Acidity – Bright, delicate and crisp
Sweetness – A chocolatey sweetness
Flavor – Tobacco, Oolong tea. Good complexity
Finish – Lingering finish, hints of dark chocolate and licorice
This is a medium roast coffee, but it is able to bring out the rich mouthfeel and a natural chocolatey sweetness, absolutely no harsh or bitter taste. The taste matches the aroma well in a good way and leaves a good aftertaste.
The acidity is blended well with a sweetness that comes from a balance of chocolate and fruity notes. That’s a pretty impressive combination where good beans meet good roasting skills.
I pulled an espresso shot through the espresso machine and was able to produce a cup of café quality latte. Cyclist coffee was able to cut through the milk and shine its flavor notes while not being overpowering. For me, I was able to turn the espresso crema into a canvas and pour latte art on it with frothed milk.
Overall this is a well roasted and quality coffee. It has the strength I am looking for but in the meantime swaddled in an appealing harmony of fruits and chocolate flavors. The coffee is well balanced, and I love it. This is the kind of coffee I would reach for first thing in the morning. Now, I can also see myself sipping one with dessert after dinner because of its goodness.
Have you tried Cyclist’s Pure Colombian Arabica coffee beans?
Get yours from Cyclist and hopefully soon it’ll be at a store near you or on Amazon.com.
Review and photos by Latte Art Guy
