How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! I’m kicking off the new year with a review of a coffee from one of my favorite regions for in the world, Ethiopia. This week I am brewing Candy’s Coffee Palace’s Ethiopia Natural.
The Brand
Candy’s Coffee Palace has a limited web presence and is a relatively new brand, having launched in November 2025. Primarily operating through its online store, Candy’s Coffee Palace offers a wide range of coffees along with loose-leaf tea and coffee related merchandise. The company does not roast its coffee in-house and instead utilizes Temecula Coffee Roasters, a company that specializes in private labeling and drop-shipping coffee.
The Roaster
Temecula Coffee Roasters was founded in 2017 and quickly grew from a small roaster into a company with a strong wholesale coffee presence. As the company’s operations expanded, it moved beyond wholesale roasting to become a full-service partner for coffee brands through the entire sales process. Today, Temecula Coffee Roasters supports its partners by roasting orders, labeling products, and handling shipping as well.
Candy’s Coffee Palace is the first Temecula Coffee Roasters affiliated brand I’ve tried, and as you all know, I love a good Ethiopia Natural, so let’s find out how this one compares to other offerings I enjoy, such as One Village.
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare French Press coffee here.
Candy’s Coffee Palace Ethiopia Natural Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Grinding this coffee brings out a strong chocolatey smell with subtle hints of sweet fruit.
| Candy’s Coffee Palace Ethiopia Natural | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Strong sweet berry notes with subtle floral undertones | Bold chocolatey notes with a touch of berry |
| Body | Medium body, good weight and mouth feel | Light body, not a lot of weight or mouthfeel |
| Start | Faint roasty notes, not overly noticeable | Strong chocolatey notes with a touch of fruitiness |
| Middle | Sweet chocolatey notes, pleasant and stronger than the start | Fruity notes take the focus with a hint of chocolate lingering |
| Finish | Chocolate remains before fading to sweet fruity notes, but an unpleasant slightly chemically aftertaste | Moderately strong and unpleasant burnt tobacco notes |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, this was an okay cup of coffee, but it certainly did not live up to my expectations for an Ethiopian Natural. While it was not overly harsh, neither brew method produced a smooth or particularly flavorful cup. The French Press had a mildly chemical-like aftertaste, while the pour-over had a burnt tobacco flavor, both of which could be tied to improper roasting or low quality beans. This gives me concerns about trying other Temecula Coffee Roasters products in the future.
I slightly preferred the pour-over, as it brought out bolder chocolatey notes with the fruity notes also standing out. Although both cups had an unpleasant aftertaste, I found the burnt tobacco notes of the pour-over less off-putting and to linger less than the chemically taste present in the French Press.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Candy’s Coffee Palace’s Ethiopia Natural, along with the rest their offerings, on their website. Starting at $22.99 for a 12 oz bag (about $30.65 per pound) or $29.99 for a 1 lb bag, it is fairly expensive, especially for a coffee that is neither organic or third-party tested.
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