BECK ON BEANS: Napoli Dark Roast (Made In Italy) by Tiziano Bonini.

Napoli Dark Roast (Made In Italy) by Tiziano Bonini. 

(In my grandmother-in-law’s favorite cup. She is fresh from the boat Italian, emigrated from Abruzzi. Natalina Pieranunzio Calmes. I adore her.) 

Fragrance: 

While brewing and in the cup, it smells like chopped artisanal dark chocolate with its rich and powdery aroma. You know what I’m talking about, right?? That one place where everybody has tattoos and gauges and nerds out on making weird and wonderful fresh chocolate creations? Hipster food hall chocolate. That. And I’m here for it. I’m so right here. 

Flavor: 

First sip tasted like carbon (the dark roast) with a beautiful dark chocolate and earthy aftertaste- like the beans were grown in black soil. I could be wrong about that, but that’s the image that came to mind. 🤪 *runs off to google coffee growing soil* 

Enjoyment Tip: 

I realized that if you go wine aficionado on it and aerate your sips, the carbon flavor won’t be so overpowering upon entry. For those of us who are not winos or are only wino adjacent, aerating your sips means slurping a little bit and getting some air mixed in with your sip.

I know. I know. It’s not the most polite thing to do in American culture, but other cultures do it as a matter of course. So, if anyone gives you the side-eye, brew them a cup of this and tell them to try it. You’ll have a slurping convert on your hands. I could write a whole post on slurping, but that's not a hill I'm willing to die on at this time. 😋

Recommended for:

1. Sipping and Savoring black and fresh.
2. A tiny bit of schlag or foam with a wee sprinkle of cocoa might be really nice as a dessert coffee. 
3. It’s the perfect late afternoon cup. It’s a dark roast, so it’s not too caffeinated, and it requires attention. It’ll add a center to your coffee break. 

Not recommended for:

1. Drink your coffee how you like it, but I wouldn’t touch this with heavy additives. It’s beautiful as it is. 
2. Icing. The chocolate flavors in this brew are really delicate and I’m sure would diminish the longer the brew sits. 
3. Drinking from a closed-lid cup. The more air this brew gets, the more developed the flavors become. 

Would I buy again? 

I’d decorate my house with these gorgeous pods. Then, have to decorate again because I brewed them all. Constant, caffeinated redecoration. But I’d be happy. :)