The Roaster
Founded in 2012 by 13th generation farmer Tero Isokauppila, Four Sigmatic is not just a coffee roaster, it’s a company dedicated to creating functional foods and supplements. They launched their first mushroom coffee in 2015 and rebranded the following year from Funguys, Inc. to Four Sigmatic.
As a brand that makes claims to be health-focused, I am happy to report that their coffee is organic and also third-party lab tested for mold and toxins. Focus consists of just 3 ingredients, organic coffee along with lion’s mane and Chaga mushrooms. Organic, clean ingredients, and third party tested, Focus is checking a lot of boxes. Let’s find out if it tastes any good though!
Typically I follow the same process for each coffee I review, however the bag of Focus I was provided with came pre-ground. Due to this, I instead brewed this coffee based on the instructions found on the bag, 4 tablespoons of grounds for every 12 ounces of water.
Four Sigmatic Focus Review
Characteristics and Flavor Profile
Though pre-ground, Focus still had a distinct dark chocolate fragrance. It was strong and cacao focused, without much sweetness.
| Four Sigmatic Focus | French Press | Pour Over |
| Aroma | Dark chocolatey, mostly cacao notes with just a touch of sweetness | Dark chocolatey, mildly sweet but still cacao focused |
| Body | Medium-full body, a very noticeable weight and mouthfeel | Light body, a very slight mouthfeel without much weight |
| Start | Earthy start with a very strong and unpleasant bitterness | Bitter and burnt, outside of the burnt taste there were no distinguishable flavor notes |
| Middle | The bitterness carries into the middle with a slightly burnt taste | Slightly less bitter, the burntness remains but dark chocolate notes start to bring some flavor and balance to the cup |
| Finish | Burnt notes remain but take on a slightly roasty taste with a good dark chocolatey taste becoming noticeable | Dark chocolate gets stronger and for the first time the bitterness isn’t the most noticeable trait, decent but still not overly enjoyable |
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I did not find this coffee particularly pleasant, in fact, I found it quite difficult to drink. Both brew methods produced a harsh, overly bitter cup with no distinctive tasting notes. Without seeing the whole beans it is hard to tell, but it seems that the coffee was over roasted. Focus is a dark roast but it seems they went a little too dark.
My Chemex produced a slightly more drinkable cup, though the difference was minimal. If I had to choose, I’d say pour-over is my preferred method, but neither was enjoyable.
Based on my experience, I really am not sure who this coffee would appeal to. Maybe if you really enjoy a bitter cup this coffee will appeal to you, but it’s not particularly well executed.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase Focus directly from the Four Sigmatic website or on Amazon. At a price point of $19.79 for 12 ounces (about $26.39 per pound) on Amazon and $20 for 10 ounces (about $32.00 per pound) on their website, if you are interested in Focus buying it from Amazon will save some money on a larger bag and shipping. At this price point I would still recommend a dark roast from a coffee focused brand such as Purity Ease or Java Planet’s Espresso Blend.
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