A new grocery store just opened in our neighborhood, and I will be honest, it is the kind that makes your knees weak and your mouth water. Everything is beautiful. The carrots glisten just so, and perfectly stacked bok choy nestle amongst a thick wall of lusciously edible foliage. The bread is freshly baked, the aisles stocked with adventurous eats, and the checkout staff smile welcomingly as you unload your guilty mountain of treasures. It is the kind of grocery store you buy gifts in. Some people might even find love there, waiting for them in the storybook aisles.
Anyhow – my wife and I were preparing for company and needed some last-minute fare – so I took my infant daughter Avery on a daddy date to the New Seasons Market to browse. After picking up an impeccably plump lemon and a gallon of locally sourced milk (still Darigold, don’t judge) we turned into the coffee aisle. A stocker was working the shelf and unloading boxes of freshly roasted beans. My daughter flailed sweetly in her front carrier, and the man (whom we will call Sam) gave her a knowing smile. A smile fit only for the nicest, hand-picked shelf stocker.
“Coffee?” he asked, holding a pink bag toward me.
Caught off guard, I said something slightly less than graceful. Something like “Yeah, dude.” As if I had been looking for that exact bag. I took it from his hands and the. Proceeded to awkwardly look back at him. He gave me a sort of quizzical look. It was in that moment I realized he had not really been handing it to me but rather reaching to restock it.
I apologized as soon as I realized, but Sam was genuinely cool about it. We laughed it off and I took a look at the bag. It was a Ghost Rider roast from Proud Mary roasters. I have never purchased a Proud Mary bag and have only ever eaten brunch at their lovely restaurant on Alberta Street. The last time I was about a couple of months ago. My wife had ordered the avocado toast, and our two-month-old baby had slept right through the rather loud speakers blaring Florence and the Machine. So I decided, to heck with it, I will try it. A funky medium roast from a funky grocer named Sam. As we walked away, and bid a farewell flail to Sam, I also grabbed a trustworthy bag of Coava just in case.
Per Proud Mary’s recommendation the Ghost Rider is meant to be an espresso. I, on the other hand, prefer to taste my coffee via drip so that is just what I have done. Buck the authority. I extracted the coffee through a Fellow X-Drip System (I highly recommend) – and sat down here in my living room to give you my thoughts. Mind you I am no expert in coffees, but I would be offended if anyone called me an amateur. It is a delicious passion. One I have become snobbish about, but not to the extent that I believe an expert would be. I do not mist my beans, if that means anything to you.
The Ghost Rider roast is a blend of Ethiopian and Brazilian beans and displays a myriad of both qualities. The chocolaty flavor of the Brazilian overpowers the fruitier notes of the Ethiopian for the most part – but the lingering taste of blueberries and dark cherry remind of the marriage. An extroverted bean (the Brazilian) leading a bold tango with a dutifully following Ethiopian. I enjoy it. I will say that it is neither the roastiest nor fruitiest of coffees – and rides a middle ground that some may find themselves bored with. It caught me with a lingering reminder of summer despite the weighty wetness of late October weather outside. Though, as I write this, I find myself yearning a bit for the heavy, baking spice, dark chocolate roasts of the winter months. It is a lovely cup though. A good reminder of how as blend can marry the flavors of fruits and chocolates without overstepping in any area. Well done, Proud Mary.
Since a bag can last us a bit, I’ll be sipping on this one for at least a week. Perhaps I’ll get with the program and give it a go through the espresso machine. I will be doing more coffee thoughts in the future – so let me know if you have any favorites that you would like me to try.
Update: I gave the Ghost Rider a run in a cortado - and its flavor profile definitely compliments the milk. There's something to be said for the roaster's recommendations after all. For anyone reading on the eye for a great, almost flowery espresso, the Ghost rider plays an excellent role in the milk world. Though I would be skeptical of its success in a mocha. To each their own, though! Cheers!
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