How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today, I’m diving into a detailed review of Cleona Coffee Roasters Nomads, a bold dark roast that delivers two very different experiences depending on your brew method. With deep chocolate notes, a smoky profile, and a rich body, this coffee is perfect for dark roast enthusiasts.
I brewed Nomads Blend using both a French Press and a pour-over to see which method brings out the best flavors, and the results were surprising.
The Roaster
As you may recall from my Cleona Coffee Roasters Glass City review, the company officially started in 2021 and is owned by veteran Matt Zechman. Prior to founding Cleona Coffee Roasters, Matt served in the US Military, where he was also known as the “coffee guy” for his unit. Providing them with fresh brewed, high quality coffee. Nomads pays homage to his military career, as it is named after the company that he was deployed to Afghanistan with.
What drew me to the bag was its unique design. The black packaging, made to look like it’s being viewed through night vision goggles, really pops against the typical white bags that Cleona uses. A cool bag is great and all, but what is inside is what truly matters. So let’s find out if this coffee tastes as good as it looks.
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 Nomads Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding Nomads brought bold roasty notes with a sweet and malty cereal-like aroma.
| Nomads | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Rich malty sweetness | Bold malty sweetness with an almost vanilla-like hint of booziness |
| Body | Full body, distinct weight and mouth feel | Medium body, good weight especially for a filtered coffee |
| Start | Toasty marshmallow start, smokey with a touch of sugary sweetness | Very bitter start, shockingly harsh |
| Middle | Semi-sweet dark chocolatey notes | Smooths out some, the bitterness settles into more of a very dark chocolatey middle |
| Finish | Strong sweet and malty finish with a slight smokiness | Bitterness remains but a slight hint of sweetness comes through |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I found the difference between the two brew methods to be shocking. The French Press produced a smooth cup with delicious and bold flavors. My Chemex, however, was unpleasantly bitter to start, before setting in some to a cup focused on dark chocolate with strong cacao-like bitterness.
- French Press – Remarkably smooth, especially for a roast this dark. A great balance of smokiness and sweetness, one of my favorite dark roasts
- Pour-over – Very bitter, not the worst coffee I have ever brewed for a review, but it was not a cup I enjoyed
- Preferred brew method – French Press
A coffee enthusiast would love this coffee when brewed in a French Press, the flavor profile is relatively complex for a dark roast. The smoky flavors may be a bit intense for a casual coffee drinker, but the smoothness and slight sweetness could anchor them enough to enjoy it.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Nomads 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 $16.99 for 12 ounces (about $22.65 a pound) Nomads is fair priced for a freshly roasted and high-quality coffee. Much like their other offerings, you can buy it in 2 pound or 5 pound bags to save money, however you will miss out on the awesome bag if you do so.
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