Not that long ago, I was asked If I wanted to receive and review coffee from Trade Coffee. You can imagine my excitement when I finally received my lovely little red package in the mail.
Trade Coffee is a subscription service that outsources beans from roasteries across the country. Usually, in the subscription, you get to pick what’s sent to you. However, in my circumstance, I was getting a total surprise!
So, I quickly unwrapped the package and was so happy to see a bag of Huck Coffee beans. You can bet I have a lot to say in my review of this coffee, so stick around!
What is Huck Coffee?
Huckleberry Coffee
Huckleberry is all about people (well, coffee people). Founded in 2011 by friends Koan Goedman and Mark Mann in a backyard garage adjacent to a chicken coop, this Denver-based roaster has grown into a complex global network, turning out some equally complex flavors.
Huck Coffee actually comes from Huckleberry Roasters, which is located in Denver, CO, and got its start in 2011. Friends and co-owners Koan Goedman and Jason Farrar have a business structure that “invests in people.”
Huckleberry also has two cafes and a plethora of wholesale partners, and is most commonly known as “Huck” to employees and locals. With their motto of investing in people, they include producer partners, staff, guests, and communities.
This means they work to be a reliable roasting partner to small coffee farms and coffee co-ops, a responsible business that supports non-profit and community organizations, and a healthy workplace for customers and co-works.
Huck makes sure to work with farmers who take the extra step to produce great coffee in an environmentally-friendly way, and they then reward them for it, while also forming long-term and direct relationships with them. They also strive to pay more than the Fair Trade price for coffee.
Huck Coffee – Flores Belas
Huckleberry Roasters - Flores Belas
This gorgeously balanced cup is a Trade exclusive! Rich chocolate flavors pair beautifully with just a splash of orange acidity, and a deep caramel sweetness that lingers past the last drop.
Ok, now that all the important stuff is out of the way, it’s time for the review! The bag of coffee I received from Huck was the Flores Belas blend, which is actually a Trade exclusive traditional coffee.
Upon first glance, I was in love. I mean, the packaging is gorgeous, as well as the actual label for Flores Belas. The colors are bright and inviting and had me so excited to actually open the bag.
Flores Belas is a natural/dry processed medium roast that’s described as being sweet and smooth, comforting and inviting, and as seasonally sourced from Latin America. The tasting notes are milk chocolate, toffee, and toasted almond. Trade also mentions that there are hints of orange acidity, deep caramel, and sweet vanilla.
Aroma
As soon as I opened even the Trade bag, I immediately smelt all of the notes coming from the Huck bag. So, when I finally opened the resealable Huck bag of beans, the aroma really hit me.
I could place all of the notes that were listed on the bag, the smell was warm and inviting, and I was eager to brew up a cup in my French press and taste this rich roast.
The welcoming aroma really lasted throughout the grinding and brewing process, something I was very happy about. If we’re rating this bag of beans on smell alone, we have a winner.
Taste
Alas, we also have to taste these mouth-watering beans in order to have a complete and fair review. So, after I crafted my cup of joe, I took my first sip.
I really have to say that I could taste every note that was presented on the bag’s label, and they all complemented each other very well. From the rich chocolate to the sweet caramel, to the toasted nuts, this coffee from Huck was warm and full-bodied.
As such, there weren’t many of the hints of flavors that Trade lists on their website, of orange acidity and sweet vanilla, as there were of the caramel, chocolates, and nuts because it was such a powerful coffee.
The aftertaste of the Flores Belas is nutty and leaves a tingly feeling in your mouth, something I actually didn’t mind. I would love to have this coffee on a chilly morning!
Huckleberry Roasters - Flores Belas
This gorgeously balanced cup is a Trade exclusive! Rich chocolate flavors pair beautifully with just a splash of orange acidity, and a deep caramel sweetness that lingers past the last drop.
What We Like About It
Well, obviously, there’s a lot to like about this yummy bag of beans. As I mentioned before, the aroma is mouthwatering, the design is gorgeous, the protective bag is made of earth-friendly materials, and the taste is rich and comforting.
As far as I can say, this is a great bag of coffee that’s perfect for the colder seasons or if you’re just someone who prefers a chocolatey coffee over something more citrusy and fruity.
What We Don’t Like About It
While this Huck coffee seems almost perfect, there are a couple of things I would have to say I wish were different.
It would be lovely to have the roast level listed on the bag, as I always believe that’s helpful, especially for people who don’t have a lot of coffee knowledge.
I also think there should be even more of a hint of the sweet vanilla that Trade describes, as I believe it might have really set apart this really rich coffee from all the chocolatey and nutty flavors present.
Huckleberry Coffee
Huckleberry is all about people (well, coffee people). Founded in 2011 by friends Koan Goedman and Mark Mann in a backyard garage adjacent to a chicken coop, this Denver-based roaster has grown into a complex global network, turning out some equally complex flavors.
Huck Coffee Review – Final Thoughts
All in all, the Flores Belas blend, a Trade exclusive coffee from Huckleberry Roasters, is a beautiful, comforting, and rich bag of beans. The full-bodied and warm cup of joe it produces is perfect for a chilly day and the aroma is something heavenly.
Huck Coffee cares a lot about the people involved in the coffee-making process, the communities they serve, and the coffee they produce. An environmentally friendly company that makes delicious coffee? Sign me up!
I highly recommend you try out the Flores Belas blend, or even one of their other coffee options from Trade because it sure is a treat!
Happy Caffeinating!
