The Captain's Italian Blend
Experience the bold intensity, decadent chocolate undertones, and irresistibly smooth finish that define this classic espresso. Savor Italian coffee craftsmanship with every sip.
Pick a flavor profile that can be consistently achieved year round despite the seasonality of coffee. This requires a little knowledge of which coffees are in season and when as well as the general profile of regional coffees, but hey, that's what we do!
Pick a roast level that would complement all the blend components and still achieve a lovely, velvety crema. This one can be tricky. We finally landed on Full City (Medium) to allow the best of the blend components to shine through. Experiment with your roast level and see where you like it best!
Reminder! This coffee is raw, you must roast it before brewing
Arrival Date: Carried year round, blend contents vary based on seasonality
Acidity & Brightness:Subtle, more cocoa-like than sugary
Balance & Finish: Smooth, slightly lingering chocolate bitterness
Body & Texture: Full, rich, and heavy (classic espresso weight)
Flavors: Dark chocolate / cocoa
Grade: Blend of SHB and HB
Processing: Blend of fully washed & Robusta
Blend Components: Central, South American
Recommended Roast Range: City+ to Vienna (light-medium to dark)
We roast our espresso right at Full Medium (Full City). This is contrary to "old school" thinking in that espresso must be roast dark. Consistent with modern roasting techniques, espresso can be roasted to any roast level, it's the process of extraction (using an espresso machine) that makes it espresso! We find a full medium roast brings out the best all the blend components have to offer as well as resulting in a nice big, velvety crema. Go as dark as Vienna (medium-dark/dark) for more smokey bite and a bit less nuttiness.
