cascadeofbeans

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had a realization about certain similarities between p3, p4, and p5

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Gonna get myself a fun little surprise I guess

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I can’t draw very well and hated that I couldn’t draw my DnD character, a tabaxi cleric named Merry Thing, but then I remembered I’m pretty good with a needle and thread so I made her

All made by hand, hand embroidered details, and I even crocheted the lace trim on her shift!

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I love how, in the absence of Perry The Platypus, Heinz Doofenshmirtz immediately goes to antagonize the most competent child with a hat on in his vicinity.

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Initial Thoughts

I received this coffee as part of my Trade subscription. I have never tried anything from Atomic Roasters, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The packaging is really basic, but super cute. Obviously this one went with a witchy theme. I like that, a lot. The notes on this one had me a bit intrigued. I don't really like malted milk balls. The WORST candy to receive on Halloween. But, a coffee subscription is all about adventure and trying new things. So, I decided to brew it in my cauldron. Erm. My coffee pot.

Let's see the results, shall we?

Unboxing

The beans had a pleasant chocolatey smell. Almost reminded me of how burnt marshmallows smell after being plunged into the campfire. The beans were shiny and looked to be freshly roasted. Which seems accurate with Trade's website which ships coffee according to the individual roaster's schedule. So, the packaging is cute and it smells good...what about the taste?

Initial Taste Test

This coffee was really, really good. The burnt sugar note really delivered after being brewed. The coffee really didn't need any creamer, but a tiny bit of unflavored creamer brought out the already smoky/sugary notes this coffee has to offer. I liked it so much that I queued up some more coffees from Atomic Roasters to see if I can find another new favorite. Overall, if you like coffees with notes of burnt sugar or are just looking for something else to add to your potion collection; this one is for you.

Final Verdict

10/10

#trade coffee #atomic roasters #black velvet #coffee #cascadeofbeans

[cascadeofbeans]

Initial Thoughts

Geek Grind is one of those gems that you find through a Facebook ad or while deep dive looking for new coffee. Geek Grind sources from coffee farmers who are all women, which is pretty damn cool. Siege Fuel is an espresso blend that is advertised to be super caffeinated. The packaging is ridiculously cool. The orc in the art means business. Hopefully that means this coffee means business. Let's dive in.

Unboxing

The beans did not have a distinct smell other than the coffee smell that all coffee beans have. Since this is not a flavored brew, it is okay that there are not any notes of anything in its scent. The beans were not shiny, but a duller color. That may indicate they were harvested and roasted a while ago. Still, lets get onto taste.

Initial Taste Test

This coffee handed me a dice and rolled a nat 20. I felt like I could rip off my shirt, scream, and become my inner orc. Seriously, what the beans lack in presentation...they deliver in flavor. If I could only have one coffee before embarking on a long night of raiding, tabletop gaming, or beating the crap out of my enemies...this is the coffee I would want to have. Seriously, like...please go try this coffee.

Final Verdict

20/10 be right back, going to go get into a fist fight with some orcs.

#cascadeofbeans #coffee #geek grind #coffee review #nat 20

[cascadeofbeans]

BONES COFFEE (Round 3)- Holy Canolli

Initial Thoughts

This coffee made me an offer I couldn't refuse. When I am not trying to eat healthier, I have a massive sweet tooth. Today is Friday, which means I have some time to myself to indulge in some coffee. My last two reviews of Bones Coffee have led me to not have high hopes for this one. But hey, third time's the charm I guess. Let's unbox and find out.

Unboxing

You know when you walk into a bakery and just get face smashed with vanilla smells? That's what this coffee smells like. I don't really get cannoli out of it, but hey...still smells good.

The beans look gorgeous, but not a shiny as the other beans from bones coffee. I am hoping that means more of the actual flavor is in the beans.

Initial Taste Test

This coffee came to me...on the day of my daughter's wedding...and didn't even taste good. Like the other bones Coffee's, once ground and brewed it was bitter and did not have any noticable flavors. So, no cannoli here. I added a bit of vanilla creamer and, unlike the French Toast bones coffee, it actually tasted like a solid cup of coffee. The vanilla creamer smoothed out some of the bitterness from the coffee.

Final Verdict

As advertised, it's swimming with the fishes. 1/10. Again, the one only being for the delightful Godfather skeleton man packaging. However, as just a cup of coffee this is a solid 6/10. It does not have an residual bitterness or weird undertones like some of the other bones coffees did.

Rating

1/10

#cascadeofbeans #bones coffee #coffee #godfather

[cascadeofbeans]

BONES COFFEE (Round Two): ARMY OF DARK CHOCOLATE

Initial Thoughts

It's Friday and you know what that means! I can sip coffee out of a mug at home. Today I decided to try my second crack at my Bones Coffee sampler and try the new dark roast dark chocolate flavor. Despite my love of dark roasts, I realize this is the first one I am reviewing for this blog. Let's see how this stacks up against my last Bones Coffee review.

Unboxing

Queue the "CHOCOLATE" guy from Spongebob because that is all I could smell when opening this bag. The wonderful scent of dark chocolate filled my kitchen for like 30 minutes. The beans themselves are shiny and look to, once again, deliver on Bones Coffee's promise of beans roasted fresh to order. Now, let's try a sample.

Initial Taste Test

This too fell kind of flat in the flavor department. It tasted nothing of chocolate, dark or otherwise. It had a smooth plain coffee flavor, but that's it. Not bad, just disappointing. I decided to try some vanilla creamer in the coffee, as I usually do for coffees that miss the mark, and WOW. The chocolate flavor was faint, but there. A little bit of vanilla brought out at least some of the flavor that was hinted at by its strong scent earlier.

Final Verdict

5/10. Once again, Bones Coffee's packaging is always spot on. The coffee had a pleasant smell, but missed the mark until I added a bit of creamer. This coffee doesn't quite enter the empty pot club, but it's good enough that I am still drinking it while I wrote this post. Overall, not a bad coffee. But if you are looking for an actual dark roast that keeps it's chocolatey flavor...this is not the coffee you are looking for.

Rating

5/10

#cascadeofbeans #coffee #bones coffee #dark roaat #Rating: 5/10

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ReAnimator-Columbia Roast

Initial Thoughts

This is another coffee I bought from Anchor and Anvil in Coriapolis, Pa. The packaging is GORGEOUS. Obviously, I am a sucker for funny skeletons doing funky skeleton things on my coffee. Honestly, the notes of apple butter and molasses coupled with meyer lemon scared me. But, I am always down to try something new.

Unboxing

The beans look fresh and bright. Definitely looks like medium roast coffee. As soon as I opened the bag, however, I was hit with an overwhelming smell of...potato chips? Definitely not something you want a coffee to smell like. However, it could be easily explained by the funky flavors mixing together.

Taste Test

🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋 and SOUR. The acidity of the lemon just made the coffee sour. It wasn't bad, per se. But, when every sip is like squirting lemon juice into your mouth...it gets a bit exhausting to drink. Not even my vanilla creamer could mellow out the lemon. If anything, it made it worse. It was not undrinkable, but it was not pleasant.

Final Verdict

The final verdict is a 3/10. The lemon note was DEFINITELY there. The packaging also is a huge selling point. However, I truly think if you are looking for lemon...just go drink some lemonade. Unless sour coffees are your thing, I would maybe steer clear. Or try a matching coffee creamer.

Rating

🍋🍋🍋/10

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BONES COFFEE- FRENCH TOAST

So, today is the rare day where I get to sit at home for part of the morning and drink coffee out of a coffee cup. Today I decided to try the French Toast coffee by Bones Coffee.

Initial Thoughts

The packaging and the website is what initially drew me to Bones Coffee. Each of their flavors features a skeleton man doing something related to the flavor of coffee. On this bag, the skeleton is making french toast. After appreciating the art, it was time for the unboxing.

Unboxing

Wow, that is the only thought I had while opening the bag. Upon opening the bag, I was immediately hit with the overpowering smell of buttered maple syrup. You know, french toast. It honestly smelled delicious. The beans had a beautiful glossiness to them, which made me hope the "fresh roasted on order" promise of the website was true.

Taste Test

I ground the beans on medium-coarse and put them into my coffee pot to set it to brew. I poured myself a cup, lifted it to my lips, and...😒 This emoji was the only thing that could accurately describe my feelings towards the coffee. It was bitter, flavorless, and nothing at all what the website boasted. The buttery maple notes were gone and left only my disappointment. I reached for my trusty Coffee Mate Funfetti creamer, but alas that was not even enough to save this coffee.

Final Verdict

As I write this, my coffee mug is still almost full. I bought a sampler pack, so I am hoping to have better luck with one of the other flavors. Unfortunately, this one just missed the mark. I give it a 1/10 because the packaging is super cute. I only wish the taste could measure up. If you are at all interested in trying it for yourself, head over to bones coffee.com.

Rating

1/10

#Rating: 1/10 #bones coffee #bones coffee french toast #french toast #coffee #cascadeofbeans #second coffee review

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De Fer- Sons of Vulcan Espresso Roast, Pittsburgh, PA

Initial Thoughts

I bought this coffee at Anchor and Anvil in Coriapolis, PA on a whim. I have never tried any coffee from De Fur before. The name of the coffee caught my eye as both funny and intruiging. The coffee is named for the Roman God Vulcan, but I also (in my head) associated it with the Star Trek race of the same name.

The packaging is cute, bright, and fun. The roaster itself, de Fer, is also local to the Pittsburgh region. According to the package, the coffee is an espresso roast with tasting notes of dark chocolate, blueberry, and toffee.

Unboxing

Upon opening the bag, I was hit almost instantly with the pleasant smell of fresh coffee intermixed with a distinct note of dark chocolate. The beans themselves were not shiny or oily, but were decidedly as fresh as the package indicated. This particular bag was packaged on April 8, 2021.

Taste Test

Now onto the taste. I ground the coffee in my burr grinder on a medium-coarse setting. The grind I used comes from both a personal preference and due to using a drip coffee maker for preparation. Once brewed, the coffee has a decidedly dark chocolate taste. Unlike some espresso roasts, Sons of Vulcan has a smooth flavor that is neither too acidic or too bitter. After tasting without creamer, I added a splash of Coffee Mate's Funfetti creamer to see if any additional notes came through. I was disappointed to not taste any additional notes, but the vanilla cake creamer made a delightful addition to the chocolatey notes that were already present.

Final Verdict

I am excited to try other coffees from De Fur. Sons of Vulcan has become my new favorite espresso roast because it is so smooth and flavorful. My final rating is a 10/10. If you have the chance to purchase locally or online I would highly recommend!! You can find them online at: https://defer.coffee.

Rating

10/10

#gentlypettheunknown #cascadeofbeans #de fur #sons of vulcan #coffee #eapresso roast #verdict: 10/10