Barista Prima Columbia KCup

Manufacturer: Barista Prima
Location: Columbia
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Today's tasting is yet another KCup from Barista Prima, their Columbia. While technically billed as a medium roast, the Columbia is more deeply roasted than the typical medium roast coffee. Off the brewer there is a nut-brown colored froth along with a moderate amount of oil. The coffee itself is mahogany in color. There are aromas of roasted almonds and toast on the nose.

The palate picks up a cedar-like woodiness. There is some cocoa along with an unsweetened chocolate-like bitter bite. The Columbia has a moderate acidity leading to a faint note of lemon zest/oil. There is a notable roasted nut flavor as well. The Barista Prima Columbia is medium bodied and coats the tongue a bit. The finish has cocoa and roasted almonds.

Green Mountain has done a fantastic job selecting premium coffees for their Barista Prima line. The Columbia isn't as heavily roasted as some of the other Barista Prima coffees, but it does have enough of a bite for me. Easing back on the roast opens up some nice acidity that a heavier roast tends to mask. This is yet another must-try coffee from Barista Prima.

E. Guittard Chucuri Bittersweet

Manufacturer: Guittard Chocolate Company
Cocoa Content: 65%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

On the tasting block today is the "Chucuri" from E. Guittard. The Chucuri is a 65% cocoa dark chocolate bar of Columbian origin. The Chucuri is on the lighter side of mahogany in color with light-brown highlights. Up front on the palate is a rich flavor of semi-sweet chocolate chips. There is a mild bitter bite and very little acidity. Sweet flavors of banana and caramel are present. Almonds, coffee and a faint black pepper note are here as well.

Chewing the Chucuri highlights notes of vanilla nad honey. The chocolate has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The finish has notes if hot cocoa and marshmallow with black pepper undertones. This is another decent chocolate bar from Guittard, but something just seems missing to me. The flavor seems a bit flat, like either the bitterness and/or the acidity needs to be bumped up to make it a bit more lively.

Pralus Columbie

Manufacturer: Pralus
Cocoa Content: 75%
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

Today's tasting is a Columbian dark chocolate bar from Pralus's "Pyramide des Tropiques". The chocolate is deep mahogany in color with ruby highlights. The initial flavor up front is bitter chocolate with some roasted notes. There is a moderate amount of acidity present with some blackberry. Espresso, hazelnuts and bitter herbs are also here on the palate.

Chewing the Pralus Columbie brings forward a spice note along with a mushroom/earthy flavor. The chocolate has a smooth mouthfeel with an almost buttery richness. The finish has a bitter herbal note with fruit jam. The Pralus Columbie is well balanced between bitter notes and acidity. Unfortunately, there isn't enough cocoa richness to carry the bitterness, which becomes a bit too vegetal in character for my tastes. Overall this is a decent chocolate, but I've had much better from Pralus recently.