Boxcar Coffee Roasters is based in Denver, Colorado and joins the long list of other great roasters I’ve been able to try from the Denver region. While they offer a lot of unique single-origin options, Stella Espresso is their “workhorse blend that [they] serve all day, every day in [their] cafes.”1
I tried the Stella as both a pour over with my v60 and espresso with my Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine. The below review is a combination of both techniques since both brought out different qualities of the blend.
The coffee begins with a chocolate aroma that was especially sweet with the espresso. The chocolate carries through to the flavor profile as the dominate flavor note, but I also tasted sweet cherries especially as the coffee cooled. The coffee has a sharp, citrus acidity at the front that mellows out in the middle of each sip and then swells up again in a bright, lingering finish. The coffee has a smooth, steady sweetness that carries throughout and really helps unify the coffee.
The Bottom Line
While Stella is anything but exotic and unique, it is a perfect flagship coffee that is extremely versatile and works well in a variety of brew methods. If you enjoy a balanced, sweet-toned coffee that will work for whatever brewing technique you throw at it, Stella Espresso from Boxcar is a great option for you.
References
- https://www.boxcarcoffeeroasters.com/shop/eestddzqvnlxljm5q9vybchk60kcvo
