How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today, I’m bringing you a review of a very popular small-batch roaster that I was excited to try for the first time. This week, I’m brewing Black Rifle Coffee’s Thin Blue Line Roast.
The Roaster
Founded in 2014 by United States Army veteran Evan Hafer, Black Rifle Coffee started in Evan’s garage roasting and packing coffee in very small quantities.
The coffee proved exceedingly popular, which quickly led the company to move into a dedicated facility. There, Black Rifle Coffee continued to experience rapid growth, reaching over 100,000 subscribers in less than 10 years.
Beyond its fascinating and impressive rise in the industry, Black Rifle Coffee is also known for its mission of supporting military service members, veterans, and first responders, making it especially popular within this demographic. As a family with a first responder, I was thrilled to receive a bag of Thin Blue Line, a wonderful Christmas gift from my wife.
As you all know, I love coffee companies with missions centered on giving back, but they still need to deliver great coffee. So let’s find out if Thin Blue Line accomplished both!
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Black Rifle Coffee Thin Blue Line Review:
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding this coffee brought out a mildly sweet fragrance with a subtle nuttiness.
| Black Rifle Coffee Thin Blue Line | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Sweet and slightly creamy | Sweet dark sugary notes |
| Body | Medium body, good mouthfeel | Medium body, good mouthfeel especially for a filtered coffee |
| Start | Bold citrus notes, not overly sweet a mild tart fruitiness | Slightly fruity notes, sweet citrus with just a hint of tanginess |
| Middle | Fruity notes remain but a subtle nuttiness takes focus | Mild almond-like nuttiness, slightly sweet and earthy |
| Finish | Roasty notes with a very subtle spice | Bold notes of rich cinnamon, sweet with a touch of spice. |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, Thin Blue Line packs the bold flavors that Black Rifle Coffee is known for into a moderately smooth cup. While it is a medium roast, it has many qualities of a dark roast, and between that and the nutty, chocolatey flavor profile, I definitely think it would appeal to fans of darker-roasted coffee.
I preferred it in my French press, as I felt it brought out a lot of flavor while still being slightly smoother than the pour-over.
Where to Purchase
You can find Thin Blue Line on the Black Rifle Coffee website, along with their other roasts and apparel. It is also available on Amazon and at many major grocery and retail stores across the country. At a price point of $16.99 for 12 oz (about $22.65 per pound) it’s slightly expensive for a non-organic coffee, but on the positive side it is freshly roasted and helps support great causes.
As always, if you want to stay up to date on my latest content follow me on Instagram and Facebook to get notified anytime new content drops, and to follow my adventures as they happen!
