How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today, I’m going to talk to you about another coffee I picked up at the Pennsylvania Chocolate and Coffee Festival this year. This week I am brewing a coffee I loved when I tried it at the festival in 2024 and finally was able to pick some up this year, Cleona Coffee Roaster’s Glass City Blend.
The Roaster
Cleona Coffee Roasters was officially founded in 2021, after founder Matt Zechman spent about five years honing his roasting craft and eventually building a small home roastery. IMatt began his coffee journey roasting for his friends, he eventually expanded his roasting capacity and formed a full fledged business out of his passion for coffee.
Prior to founding Cleona Coffee Roasters, Matt served in the US Military, where he was also served as the “coffee guy” for his unit, providing them with fresh brewed, high quality coffee. He also worked as an EMT, so serving and helping others has always been in his nature.
Matt continues his passion for helping others through Cleona by donating coffee to military members serving overseas and to first responders. Cleona also creates special blends to support fundraising efforts, donating a portion of the proceeds to various organizations. Having spoken with Matt a few times, I can say he’s truly an all-around great guy. You can read Cleona’s full story here.
Glass City is a blend originally created for the now-closed Glass City Cafe. Which certainly did not close due to a lack of delicious coffee!
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Cleona Coffee Roasters Glass City Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding Glass City brought out a light fragrance that was roasty with a touch of chocolate.
| Glass City | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Sweet with a great balance of brown sugar and chocolate | Bold brown sugar aroma |
| Body | Medium body, nice weight and mouthfeel | Medium body, good weight especially for a filtered coffee |
| Start | Rich sweet chocolatey notes | Fruity with a slight touch of floral, light and mildly sweet |
| Middle | Flavors lighten up to an almost tea-like middle with a subtle fruitiness | Light floral notes give way to a cherry-focused middle providing a tart fruitiness with a nice sweetness for balance |
| Finish | Roasty finish with a subtle sweetness | Sweetness remains, but transitions into a more chocolate-focused sweetness with just a hint of fruit |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this is a smooth and delicious coffee that’s both refreshing and easy to drink. The French Press brought out a bold, chocolatey start before the flavors mellowed into a lighter finish, while the pour-over highlighted the blend’s fruitiness. This is a great coffee that I think any coffee drinker would enjoy, the roasty notes and chocolate would make even a casual drinker enjoy it, while the fruitiness adds a touch of complexity for coffee enthusiasts.
I slightly preferred the pour-over, as brewing Glass City in my Chemex brought out bolder flavors and a wonderful fruitiness. The French Press was still enjoyable, though the flavors were more reserved and less complex.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Glass City on the Cleona Coffee Roasters website. Their products are also available in several retailers near Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. So if you’re in the area keep an eye out!
At a price point of $14.99 for 12 ounces (about $19.99 a pound) Glass City is fair priced for a freshly roasted and high-quality coffee. Once you try it, and inevitably love it, you can also buy it in bulk 2 pound or 5 pound bags to save money!
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