This guy is the coffee guru of the week.

Scott McMartin is my hero. Alright, I don't actually have heroes but this guy is a certified Starbucks Coffee Master, Sommelier, goes to origin countries, does massive coffee cuppings and, it's all for his job. Okay, okay so, I know I may be romanticizing it a bit... And, you never know what a day is like for somebody, right? Well I'd be willing to give it a go. Plus this cat is a blogger and posts things like:

"Seven tasting terms that sound dirty...",
and about
his gastric distress in Chiapas, Mexico and Africa...



It must be bittersweet.




Here's his first entry. It's good stuff.

Tasting Template

Roasters Description:

Brewing Method:

Aromatics:

Taste Location:

Body & Mouth-Feel:

Acidity:

Balance:

Finish:

Aftertaste:

Food Pairing:

Side by Side (other coffee(s):

Whimsically:

Coffee Tasting, "Starbucks Breakfast Blend" 9.21.08

Before the bag...

Origin/Growing Region:
Latin America.

Roasters description:
"Mild and flavorful, this light-bodied blend makes a bright first impression and is a wonderful cup of coffee to begin your day."

In a word from roaster:
Clean.

Roasters Classification:
Mild.

Processing Method:
Washed.


Open the bag...


Brewing Method:
Stainless Steel French Press.

Aromatics:
Nutty.

Taste Location:


Front of tongue.

Body & Mouth-Feel:
Light bodied, almost thin with an occasional syrupy note. Peaks and valleys.

Acidity:
Less bright than I expected. Though light on the palette, this coffee still has some lingering body.

Balance:
Almost deconstructed for me, this coffee went all over the place.

Finish:
Clean, simple.

Aftertaste:
Minimal, nutty.

Food Pairing:
Starbucks Blueberry Scone.

Side by Side (other coffee(s):
N/A

Whimsically:
Starbucks Breakfast Blend is a coffee I enjoy revisiting as it has the ability to take me back to my beginning's of thinking critically about coffee. A delightful brew early in the day as it's flavor spikes can be just the thing to wake up my senses!


Tasting Location:
Starbucks on Palisades, in Fountain Hills, AZ

Who else tasted:
Matt S.