When I think of counter-culture, I think of punk, goth, or hippies in the ’60s. So spying this bagga beans on the shelf had me curious as to whether or not it would set me free from the rows of corporate coffee crowding the grocery corridors.
Pulling the fresh drip dust from my grinder and setting it to steep emitted a lightly nutty/ caramel scent. There was no punk nostril-piercing kick to wake my sleepy head. Instead, it was mellow, clean, like coffee mixed with fresh linen. I suppose smelling like a suburban neighborhood in spring is better than the rank sting of CBGB’s toilet in the morning.
Like side-eye from Siouxie Sioux, the first sip has a tinge of tang. Then the taste evolves, like KISS without their makeup, there’s nothing dark, edgy, or anti-establishment about its character. It’s light, creamy, and even-mannered. By the end of the french press, I’d noticed the slightest zip of a caffeine buzz. Perhaps this could be an adequate all-day drink, however, night owls will need something more robust.
As for my chemical romance with this bean? I’m happy to date, but there’ll be no blood oaths of devotion. Like most things in fashion, the real clue to this grind’s flavor profile is in the contemporary design of its packaging. Sleek and plain, it will look lovely on your kitchen counter... Wait, is that the counter culture they’re referring to?