Review: Happy Cat Coffee Nicaraguan Jinotega
The seasons change as they do, and when the warmer weather rolls in, a lighter roast rotates into our coffee bar. Once again, we have procured a bag of micro roaster Happy Cat Coffee. Happy Cat is based just a few steps away from the creakybottombracket.com office. The distance may be too short for Strava to allow a KOM, which might be a good thing. We wouldn’t want to attach numbers to how many visits we pay to their roaster.
Happy Cat Coffee is a unique experience. Due to the small nature of their business, they strive to roast and ship quality beans within twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The coffee that arrives at your door was likely roasted a few short days ago. We can’t think of a single roaster who can make similar claims. The Happy Cat website allows customization of orders such as roast type and grind type. Or, if you’re like us, they can send over whole beans. Happy Cat continues to set itself apart by delivering a full pound of beans while other roasters typically sell twelve ounces.
It can be difficult to brew hot coffee in the depths of summer. This desire is how we managed a bag of medium roast. We had every intention of producing cold brew medium roast, but the warmth held off for another week. No problem. We brewed up the Nicaraguan Jinotega and enjoyed its flavor profile. Per Happy Cat’s site, the beans featured chocolate, brown sugar, and nutty cupping notes. We found much more. The coffee came off as clean, bright, and supremely drinkable. That is, don’t be surprised to contemplate a to-go mug of coffee for the drive into work when never before considered.
Happy Cat happily suggested a modest investment to lean into cold brewing. The Hario Mizudashi Cold Brewer is a simple glass pitcher with a filter. Add the Happy Cat Nicaraguan grinds and let it steep. Soon cold brew coffee is ready with different flavor profiles and the added benefit of a cold cup of java in the morning.
The summer days are only starting to heat up. Why not explore a micro roaster whose final ingredient is passion? Hot coffee is always great, but it’s just the start to a mountain of potential. Having quality beans and a passionate roaster adds to the experience and allows for a quality cup. The seasons are changing. Why not change out who roasts your coffee too?
