Rio Grande Especial - HEB Cafe Ole Review

This unique blend caught my eye when I was searching for the perfect coffee to enjoy in the spring. I was intrigued by the “hint of orange”  and thought fruity flavors, oranges especially, were the best way to bring a light and refreshing touch after the heavy brews from winter. 

They weren’t kidding about the orange, although I would not call it a “hint” (it smells like an orange-glazed cinnamon roll!). When Mr. Brew and I first opened the bag, I thought it smelled like a cup of orange juice. Once brewed, the orange is a bit more subdued and balanced with the coffee but still holds a strong, forward flavor. The coffee also carries hints of cinnamon that is present more at the front of the sip. This complements the oranges and gives a nice spiced flavor.

Barista Note: When I drank my first cup from this bag, I thought it would be the perfect blend to make a cold brew with. It tasted creamy, almost like milk chocolate, and fruit would be an added bonus. After making a cold brew, it was definitely fruity, sweet, and didn’t carry the typical grittiness. I caught some strong coffee flavors and the orange was still very prominent. Added cream (~2 tsps per cup) really evened out the coffee and orange combinations.

The Rio Grande Valley is known for their citrus production, so the blend of orange with the medium roast arabica was a cool way to honor that region. I love that HEB’s Cafe Ole collection takes a special piece of all the regions to make the coffee unique and fun.

Cheers,

Mrs. Brew