How’s it going? Hope the coffee is flowing! Today, I’m sharing a review of El Viajero Coffee’s Sweet Espresso Blend, a special-edition Colombian coffee I brewed this week. From aroma to flavor, and French Press vs pour-over. In this El Viajero Sweet Espresso Blend Review, I’ll break down everything you need to know about this bold, fruity, and chocolatey espresso blend.
The Roaster
El Viajero Coffee was founded by David Iannone, a United States Army veteran, and his wife, Adriana. They offer specialty coffee that is currently sourced exclusively from Colombia. They specialize in small batch coffee, sourced directly from farmers. Their mission is to showcase the incredible coffees of Colombia while supporting long-term farm sustainability, helping families keep their farms for generations. This mission is especially meaningful to Adriana, who was born in Colombia.
El Viajero pays above-market prices and reduces the risks of relying on cooperatives or intermediaries. This mission was driven by a visit to Colombia in which David and Adriana spent time with coffee farmers and saw the pride these farmers take in their products, along with the struggles that they face.
The Sweet Espresso Blend was the second special-edition coffee I purchased at the 2025 Pennsylvania Chocolate and Coffee Festival, the other being their La Maria Natural, which I loved when brewed with my Chemex. Let’s find out if the Sweet Espresso blend is as good!
When rating coffee I follow the same method of brewing each time. Find out about how I prepare French Press coffee here.
El Viajero Sweet Espresso Blend Review:
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
When ground the El Viajero Sweet Espresso Blend has a fragrance with strong notes of sweet fruit and milk chocolate.
| Sweet Espresso Blend | French Press | Pour-Over |
| Aroma | Sweet and rich brown sugar | Rich brown sugar notes, sweet |
| Body | Medium-full body, good weight and mouth feel | Medium-light body, subtle weight not overly noticeable |
| Start | Rich fruity notes with a touch of brown sugar-like sweetness | Bold brown sugar-like sweetness |
| Middle | Tart fruity notes, raisin like and much more tart than sweet | Mildly sweet chocolate with noticeable cacao notes |
| Finish | Rich chocolatey finish, sweet with a touch of cacao | Mild tart fruit notes |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, El Viajero Sweet Espresso Blend is a good coffee with bold flavors. It has a great flavor profile balancing fruity notes and chocolate. In the French Press I found it to have a mild acidity that made the fruitiness pop, however the tart middle was relatively harsh and detracted from the experience. My Chemex produced a smoother cup, with flavors that popped without being too tart.
I preferred the smoother cup my pour-over produced, as the middle of the cup brewed in my French Press had a distinct tartness that I did not enjoy. Both brewing methods produced a good cup of coffee, but the pour-over was easier to drink. This coffee also is relatively bold in the fruity notes, especially for someone looking for a truly sweet espresso style coffee. Due to the fruity notes, especially the tart fruit, this coffee is more likely to appeal to a coffee enthusiast more so than a casual drinker.
It’s also important to mention that, while I do not currently include espresso in my reviews, my wife and I both love this coffee brewed on our espresso machine, it’s our favorite method for this blend.
Where to Purchase
Sweet Espresso Blend may be a special-edition coffee, but unlike La Maria Natural it is available on the El Viajero Website. At a price point of $22.95 for a 12 oz bag (about $30.60 per pound), this coffee is on the expensive side, especially for a coffee that is not third-party tested for mold or mycotoxins. However, don’t let the price stop you from giving it a try, use the code COASTERSNCOFFEE10 to get 10% off your entire order.
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