Roast Review: Maverick Coffee Co.
Roast review by: Sheila Murray
Adventure has always been a big value of mine. Whether it’s exploring local spots or packing up for a longer road trip, there is something so refreshing about knowing I’m about to experience something brand new. Enjoying coffee is one of my favorite parts of any day and I’m always seeking high-quality coffee that will complement my Wacaco products and make my adventure days even more memorable. I’m delighted when I come across a coffee roaster who aligns with this value and “gets it” when it comes to not sacrificing good coffee just because you’re on the go! Maverick Coffee Co. is one of these coffee companies!
As stated best on Maverick's "About" page: "Maverick Coffee isn’t just a brew; it’s an invitation to connect with fellow adventurers who appreciate living life on their own terms." Maverick’s founders Kaylin and Alex walk the talk, too! When we were emailing about this collaboration, they were packing for a backpacking/van trip. They brought a Nanopresso with them and shared snapshots from their trip on their Instagram. It was obvious that this was an ideal connection of values, and all that was left to do was try their coffee. Read on to hear our experience!
Valley
First impression
James and I are dog parents, so we immediately fell in love with the branding because there is a dog printed on the front of each coffee bag! Once we were done admiring the dog, I opened the bag and shook the beans around.
“Hmm,” I said, considering, “It smells rich and sweet. I’m getting coffee, syrup, and potentially citrus.” I handed the bag to James, who inhaled the aroma and made his own guesses.
“I agree there is a certain richness to the smell and I also note earthiness, chocolate, and lime.”
We decided to try this roast using our Minipresso GR2, which I’ve been loving lately. I used the Exagrind to grind the beans, and James heated the water. We prepared two crema-topped espressos and took a sip to reveal the tasting notes.
Tasting notes
I was immediately struck by the round and creamy mouthfeel of the Valley espresso. It was full bodied, smooth, and had the lightest touch of sweetness and acidity.
James noted spiced nuts, syrupy and rich toffee, and a delicious hit of citrus at the end. He commented how intense and flavorful the brew was. It really packed a punch!
The reveal
We learned that this espresso is a dark roast with a signature dense intensity and notes of spice and caramel. There’s no doubt that this is a perfect roast to take on your next backpacking trip!
Union
First impression
I started off by shaking around the beans to release some of the aroma. Without even getting too close, I could sense bold, fruity notes. I guessed that I was smelling orange and raspberry but it was so challenging to tell!
James said that he definitely sensed fruit but guessed that it could be fig, current, brown sugar, and cherry.
We passed the bag of beans back and forth, taking turns smelling the beans and admiring the intoxicating fruity notes. It was clear that this would be a delicious coffee that was on the lighter side, and we opted to use the Cuppamoka for our taste test.
Tasting notes
“Oh!” exclaimed James. “I’m actually getting subtle notes of Jasmine tea! It’s so light, airy, and fruity.”
It was much lighter than I expected too, which allowed me to fully enjoy the melody of tasting notes and savor the sweetness. I tasted lemon and berry and was impressed by the overall light mouthfeel. Union could be an all day sipper because it was so delicious!
The reveal
Union is coffee from Ethiopia with notes of blackberry, lemon, & blueberry. I’ll be taking this one with me on my next sunrise beach walk with my dog!
