Cleona Coffee Roasters Humane Society Light Roast Review – Great Coffee That Actually Supports an Awesome Cause

Cleona Coffee Roasters Humane Society Light Roast whole bean coffee bag featuring Cayenne the cat from Humane Society of Lebanon County, next to a glass cup of brewed coffee.

How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today I’m bringing you my Cleona Coffee Roasters Humane Society Light Roast review, featuring a coffee that not only delivers great flavor but also supports a great cause. 

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 known as the “coffee guy” for his unit, providing them with fresh brewed, high-quality coffee. 

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. 

One such collection is their Humane Society Collection, which not only donates $5 from each sale to the society but also features images of animals available for adoption through the Humane Society to help them find homes. As you know, I’m always excited about a great coffee that supports a meaningful cause. So let’s see if the Humane Society Light Roast lives up to the mission it supports.

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 Humane Society Light Roast Review

Characteristics and Flavor Profile

Grinding this light roast brought out a sweet and slightly floral fragrance. 

Humane Society Light RoastFrench PressPour-Over
AromaSweet berry notesCreamy and sweet chocolate notes
BodyMedium-light bodyMedium body, good weight especially for a filtered coffee
StartBerry-like sweetness with a roasty coffee undertoneMildly grainy start, relatively muted flavors
Middle Slightly sweeter roasty notes, with a touch of berry remainingBold strawberry-like fruity notes come through, sweet with a touch of tartness
FinishSweet grainy notes but slightly musty with a hint of tobaccoStone fruit like tartness, with just a hint of sweet berry

Overall Thoughts

Overall, this was a decent cup of coffee. The French Press starts out smooth with an enjoyable start and middle, but the mustiness of the finish was not appealing to me. The Pour-over started out relatively weak before a huge pop of fruitiness came through. 

  • French Press – Good start and middle, but the mustiness of the finish significantly detracted from the experience. 
  • Pour-over – A meek start that gives way to a juicy middle and finish that was perfect for a pour-over.
  • Preferred brew method – Pour-over

The French Press flavor profile may appeal to a casual drinker due to the roast undertones and sweet grain, however the finish may be slightly off-putting. Fruity coffee fans will really enjoy this blend, especially when brewed with a pour-over. 

Where to Purchase

You can purchase Cleona Coffee Roasters’ Human Society Collection on their 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 $15.49 for 12 ounces (about $20.65 a pound) this coffee is fairly priced for a freshly roasted and high-quality coffee. The Humane Society Collection only comes in 12 oz bags, and keep in mind that a $5 donation to the Humane Society is also included at that price point. So this is an affordable coffee that gives back to a good cause!

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! 

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