Boca Java Boca Villa Coffee
May 6, 2009 by Marye Audet
Filed under Coffee
This is the second coffee I have tried from Boca Java. Although it is o.k., it is not my favorite. Once again the beans are gorgeous; dark and shiny and plump with little to no breakage.
The company describes it this way:
Reminiscent of the rich, darker coffees in Europe, Boca Villa has a heavy body that finishes with a hint of spiciness. Its robust, intensely satisfying flavor evokes memories of coffee served at the finest cafés in Paris.
Here is my take on it:
Beans are, as I said, oily and beautiful.
The aroma from the bag is slightly spicy, with definite herbal notes. These coffees are somewhat lacking in intensity when it comes to aroma, They smell great but they don’t fill the room with their scent.
The flavor is perfumy and quite astringent. I would say that there are serious herbal notes here, somewhat like brewing dried alfalfa. It isn’t unpleasant exactly, but not my favorite.
I found that the astringency covered up any layers that might have come up after the initial taste. I would say that this is a masculine coffee, suited for camping trips and hunting lodges. It is as up-front as a used car salesman, with about as much complexity, in my opinion.
Should you try it? Eh. I am not going to say don’t. But if you are trying to decide between this and the South Beach Rhythm then go with the South Beach. Much better stuff.
images:maryeaudet (c)2009
When you wrote coffee that goes along with camping trips, wow that brought back some memories of really bad coffee that tasted so good on cold, wet mornings. I really wished that you liked the Boca Java coffees more. I feel somewhat responsible.
Another great review. I really enjoy the words you use to describe the coffee.
Mike..I really like the SOuth Beach Rhythm.
Unlike many southern women …I am not a gusher. If I ever gush about something I have either:
1. Had WAY too much wine with dinner
OR
2. Really love it to the point that I have bought stock in the company.
I am really glad I bought it..and the Bananas Foster is next..and that…is…. ah..you’ll see
Well, I’ really glad you liked the South Beach Rhythm then.
If coffee beans are dark and shiny (oily) it is because they’ve been roasted to a Vienna or French (very dark roast) profile. Sometimes this is done intentionally (for many espresso blends)… sometimes this is done to hide staleness if the beans aren’t fresh. I can only wonder if that’s where the astringent aroma was coming from? Coffee shouldn’t smell that way…
Ken perhaps I didn’t not describe the aroma well.