How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today, we’re closing in on the end of the Caffè Umbria coffees that were shared with me by a friend. This is my third of four reviews from this roaster. In my French press today, I have Caffè Umbria’s Terra Sanna Blend.
The Roaster
As you may recall from my Arco Etrusco review, Caffè Umbria was founded by an Italian immigrant and third-generation coffee roaster with the intention of creating blends that capture the essence of Italian coffee craftsmanship. Similar to the Bizzari Blend, Terra Sanna was developed as an all-purpose coffee, crafted to be brewed in a variety of ways. Let’s see how it turns out when brewed with a French Press!
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare the coffee I rate here.
Caffè Umbria Terra Sanna Blend Review:
Aroma and Body
Upon grinding, Terra Sanna has a slight chocolate fragrance that is relatively bittersweet. Brewing the coffee brings out a more noticeable sweetness with a hint of apple-like fruitiness. The coffee has a medium body and a pleasant, noticeable mouthfeel.
Flavor Profile and Qualities
The cup opens with pronounced bitterness and strong dark chocolate notes. I found the bitterness to be a bit overpowering, and did not enjoy it. Thankfully, it mellows out mid-cup, allowing more cocoa-forward notes to emerge, balanced by a hint of apple-like sweetness. The coffee had a smooth, baker’s chocolate-like finish with a touch of roastiness to close it out.
Overall Thoughts
I really wanted to like this coffee, but the pungent bitterness at the start significantly detracted from the overall experience. While the middle and finish were reasonably smooth and the flavor profile showed some promise, that initial haymaker of bitterness would make me forgo it in the future. I brewed it multiple times to rule out any issues with my initial sampling, but consistently encountered the same overwhelming bitterness.
This coffee may appeal to those who enjoy a bitter brew, but for the everyday coffee drinker or those who prefer a more balanced cup this likely would not appeal.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase the Terra Sanna directly from the Caffè Umbria website, and it’s also available on Amazon. It’s priced slightly higher than Caffè Umbria’s non-organic offerings, at $18 for 12 ounces (about $24 per pound). Still, this is a fairly reasonable price for an organic coffee.
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!
