Dark Roast - Veneto Cafe Review
From the mountains and fields of Colombia, Veneto Cafe is bringing the quality and freshness of Colombia’s best coffee beans to you. I have long been a fan of Colombian coffee, though I’ll admit I have tried a few that made me question their freshness and quality. What I love about fresh Colombia beans are the inherent rich and earthy flavors. And once I read the description of Veneto Cafe’s Dark Roast, it was a no brainer—we had to brew it.
We brewed Veneto Cafe in our French press to our usual specs: 50g coffee grounds, 32 oz of 200-202℉ water, steep 4-5 minutes. With dark roast coffees, it is important to pay attention to the steep time. I like to let my dark roast coffees push closer to the 5 minute mark rather than a 3-4 minute steep time simply because I enjoy the richness extracted the longer it sits. If you aren’t sure of your preferences yet, split the difference and steep your grounds for 4 minutes.
Once brewed, Dark Roast produces a very active bloom, which is more reassurance that Veneto’s commitment to freshness is real. Veneto Cafe describes their dark roast as full-bodied with dark chocolate and almond flavors and right away those flavors are noticeable in aroma. The almond nuttiness is more forward in aroma and is followed by the dark chocolate. The richness of the Colombian beans is also evident before you even take a sip.
And once you’ve taken a sip, the delicate nuttiness is amped up to a mild almond that has a slightly drying effect and is perfectly complemented by the dark chocolate. Dark chocolate can sometimes take on a dry and bitter flavor, but the chocolate flavors here are on the sweeter side and serve to amplify the gentle almond. There are also notes of brown sugar sweetness dancing alongside the chocolate and almond flavors.
In all honesty, Veneto Cafe’s Dark Roast tastes like someone dropped chocolate covered almonds into a deliciously rich coffee. If that sounds like something you might enjoy as much as we did, grab a bag and brew on.
Cheers,
Mrs. Brew