Stovetop Coffee Roasters is a coffee roaster based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They have a café in Grand Rapids as well, which is where I picked up this bag of Peru Valle Pauran. In addition to roasting great coffee, they are known for the quirky animal illustrations that accompany each bag of coffee and were sprinkled throughout the coffee shop when we visited.
As I began grinding and brewing the coffee, I was initially a bit underwhelmed by the aroma. The recent coffees I’ve been brewing have been heavy-hitters in their aroma with big, bold fragrances. This coffee was much more understated. As I began drinking the coffee I tasted subtle notes of berry and vanilla. As with the aroma, the flavor was not big and bold, but instead balanced, clean and well-rounded.
My favorite attributes of the coffee were its body and sweetness. The coffee had a deliciously, syrupy body that sat heavy on the tongue without being too dense. There was also a heavy, citrusy sweetness that was carried nicely through each sip from start to finish.
The Bottom Line
This definitely was not like the bold, splashy coffees I have been trying recently. I think that is why initially I was a bit underwhelmed as I tried this coffee. I am glad I did not give up on it though because the more I had it, the more I came to appreciate the subtle complexities found within it. This really is a nice, easy-drinking coffee—especially if you prefer a more mild, balanced cup.
