Draft Mule, Runaway Wagon, Dark Roast Coffee

For this tasting of Draft Mule, Runaway Wagon dark roast coffee I needed a second day to be sure of what I was experiencing. Draft Mule, dark roast coffee smells and appears reminiscent of coffee from a plastic tub. Its smell is innocuous in the bag, but when poured out is less than desirable. It is a coarse grind and is not what I would call a dark roast appearance. After pouring hot water through it, there is a dark tint rather than an opaque liquidity, like a good dark roast.

The packaging is enticing, it made me want to try it. The package appears simple and practical, like a paper bag with a mule on the front. Draft Mule’s package is designed well; in fact, it is overengineered. Its graphics catch the eye because of how exact they are. The paper bag is actually a plastic insulated containment pouch with a pull tab that exposes a zip lock access hole. After scooping some of the coffee into my pour-over funnel I started to notice how much attention was given to the packaging versus the coffee.

I had to try the coffee again because of its body and acidity. For the most part I have to assume what I purchased is a dark roast. The body is smooth, like a medium roast but has a thin presence like a light roast. There is a citrus flavor to this coffee like a dull grapefruit. It is not a harsh acidity. It is a noticeable presence of acid flavor on the tongue but suggests no tinge. The overall flavor of this coffee is difficult to pin down; thus, my second attempt to taste it. With sweetener its flavor lets the sweetness float on top. The shallow coffee flavor and thin body of the coffee sits on the tongue while the sweetener sets off the receptors of the tastebuds. The best I can do for this brew is suggest that the producer make sure that they are putting a dark roast coffee in their package or hire a professional taster to help them with their roasting and marketing.

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