Peet's Big Bang Medium Roast Coffee

For this coffee taste critique, I try Peet’s Big Bang medium roast coffee. This coffee is whole bean, and I had to grind it myself. I believe it is important to impart that a fresh ground cup of medium roast coffee is a new experience for me. I enjoyed two cups of this coffee. It smelled good as beans in the bag and smelled just as good fresh ground. I wasn’t sure about it when I poured hot water over it. It wasn’t as opaque as all the dark roasts I usually drink, and that is good. I enjoyed trying this medium roast for a change.

The notes on the bag read: “fruit tart, milk chocolate, graham crust.” As a coffee taster I pay close attention to the notes. Some may find the notes superfluous or unnecessary. That’s ok for people who just like their coffee in the morning and do not have time for discussing details. But for a critique to be read and garner people’s attention, I believe the more information the better. The “graham crust” caught my attention. The “fruit tart,” in my opinion, suggested acidity. I have noticed that most gourmet coffees have a chocolate note. Chocolate itself comes from a bean. I wonder if this may be a correlation to its taste in coffee.

My first unsweetened cup of this coffee is good. It has a flavor that allows me to let it rest on my tongue and think about its taste. Without sweetener the chocolate is not prominent. The tartness is the most pronounced trait. It is tart without being acidic. Some coffees will have an acidic tartness like an orange peel. This is not like that. I find it odd that there is no direct graham cracker flavor. The presence of this medium roast feels very good in the mouth, and it seems to have a graham cracker texture to its roasted nature. It is not grainy, but it is reminiscent of graham crackers without being dry.

My second sweetened cup has a very chocolatey taste. The tartness is still with it. The graham presence has a more detectable flavor. I enjoy this medium roast without it being overwhelming. It is like having a good medium roast coffee in the morning without any salient flavors interrupting its delicious saturation. It is just a good coffee to drink and enjoy the morning with. I suggest medium roast connoisseurs try it. I think all coffee drinkers should enjoy Peet’s Big Bang. Find it on the grocer’s shelf and give it a grind.

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