I was excited to try this coffee. I’ve heard a lot about local roaster Larry’s Beans and wanted to give them a good once over. They’re based in Raleigh, maybe 45 minutes from my house, so I’d imagine the beans were as fresh as could be. I also have a thing for small local roasters.

This is from their Single Origin line of coffees, rather than the normal blends that are more popular. I picked up a bag of Mountain Sumatra from Whole Foods. Little pricey at $11.99 for a pound, but not bad for fresh beans.

After a few days of drinking this, one thing is clear. I really don’t like Sumatra.

It’s just too calm, too subtle for me. Especially coming after the wham bang of Huehuetenango, this is a sleeper. Not what I want for my morning cup. I need some fire in the morning, a little pop to get me going. This is like an afternoon *coffee date* coffee, good for sipping and relaxing.

They say on the packaging that there’s subtle caramel and some smokiness. I taste the caramel, it’s really nice and smooth, but the smokiness is less obvious. Most coffee is smoky, this is nothing out of the ordinary. When I hear smokiness, I think of Lapsang Souchung tea, now that’s a smoky drink!

I probably wouldn’t get this again, but I’m interested in trying one of Larry’s blends. It’s another smooth coffee, probably well suited for a cappuccino but not for a morning cup.

Order from Larry’s Beans

Update: My wife is a serious espresso drinker and I convinced her to try these beans for her morning shot. She loves it, great pull, good crema, awesome caramel taste. If you’re into espresso, this will probably make a great bean for you.