My Bones Coffee Experience

*I’m not affiliated with Bones Coffee in any way.

My Bones Coffee Experience began in December of last year. I had spent too much time mourning things that are no longer part of my life. I needed something new to add to my lifestyle so I could redirect my brainwaves. It was time for a new pursuit. Coffee became the new frontier.

Sludge

I usually drink my coffee black and unflavored. I used to pound a ton of lukewarm black sludge. It was all about caffeine blasts and over scooped ratios of water to grinds. In recent years, my consumption had become less frequent. Coffee wasn’t a big deal .

Begins with Mom

Christmas was coming. My mother and I haven’t seen each other in years.  We live in different states. Missing her is an every day pain I carry. I wanted to get her something special and unique, yet personal. I remembered how much I missed having a cup of coffee with her.  It was time to explore fancy coffee land.

Boutique is Hot

While researching different boutique coffees, I stumbled across the brave new world of small boutique coffee companies. I learned about roasting methods, where beans were grown and a million other things that filled some space in my cerebral storage unit. I had no idea this was such a hot industry.

Back to the Grind

As a Goth-hearted rocker needing a bold change, Bones Coffee was the clear choice. The flavors sounded off the wall. I wanted to go on a totally different java journey with reckless abandon. Bones appeared to be the perfect fit. It’s my vibe.

Sampler Packs Rule

I purchased the ground coffee sampler pack.Ordering a whole lot of different flavors in smaller bags is fantastic. It was shipped in a timely fashion. The order was placed on Saturday, Dec 18th and received my package Monday, Dec 27th.That’s a heck of a turnaround time during the peak freight loads of the holidays. They packed a cool Bones sticker my shipment. That was a great bonus.

Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster was the first flavor I tried. The aroma and flavor of the bananas were delightfully prominent. This one was sampled unsweetened. After tasting the essence of the banana, I decided to experiment by adding a bit of Stevia sweetener to my next cup. It really brought out the sweetness of the banana while the rum and vanilla notes blended in the background adding a nice contrast.

Irish Cream

This is a smooth traditional flavor. It was very good served straight up, but my need to experiment called for a few tests. My decision to add a dash of half and half to accentuate the cream flavor worked well. Once again, I added a touch of Stevia sweetener. The sweetener made Irish Cream even more delightful.

French Toast

French Toast is more subdued. It has a well-balanced flavor without any overpowering flavor profile, just as the the namesake dish should be. This one tastes best black, perhaps with a slight dash of sweetener. The addition of half and half muted the flavors too much..

Highland Grog

Highland Grog is another well balanced blend. It has inherent sweeter notes, so drinking it straight up or with a very slight dash of sweetener works for me. It didn’t really gain anything from the addition of half and half. There’s no need to drown out the subtle butterscotch and caramel flavors.

Low Acidity

All the coffees are smooth with no feeling of acidity. They are aromatic and flavorful. The absence of bitterness is highly appealing.

How I Brewed

I brewed this first shipment with an automatic drip coffee maker. 1 tablespoon per 3 oz of water is my ratio. My coffee mug hold 9 oz with a slight bit of room still at the top when filled.

Moving to the Whole Bean

Santa Claus brought me a coffee grinder for Christmas. I was really excited about this gift. I immediately switched my next Bones Coffee orders to whole bean. Of course my desire to maximize the quality of a flavorful brew required a few additional purchases.

How I Brew Now

Water temperature, blooming and a host of other things are important to creating a tasty up of coffee. My old automatic drip coffee maker was not up to the task of being the engine for my new journey. After much consideration and grueling research, the Ninja CM401 became my new magical machine. The Ninja is loaded with features at a great price.

SCA Certification

This particular Ninja coffee brewer is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association. SCA certification is very rare for brewers in this price point. I love this machine. It allows me to brew by the cup or with the carafe. I brew directly into my mug. I’ll do a post on this coffee maker at a later date.

My Measurements

My move to whole beans also added a few more steps to the process. Weighing coffee beans requires a digital scale. Single mug brewing is my part of my daily routine.

I weigh 15G of beans before grinding. My water is measurement is 267 ML. This provides an ample amount of coffee in my mug with no risk of slushing hot liquid over the edge as I walk from the kitchen to my living room

*please note: These measurements are my preference. Your tastebuds and brewing results might vary

My Bones Coffee Experience Verdict

Bones Coffee is winner. It suits my need for fun, adventure, and a new twist on the way I drink coffee. Some of my favorite flavors are: Bananas Foster, From Dusk ‘Til Donuts, French Toast, Salty Siren, and Holy Cannoli. Caramel Apple and Frankenbones are  phenomenal season varieties.

If you decide to add sweeteners or cream, I recommend a light handed approach. Don’t drown out the well-crafted flavor profiles.

I’ve started mixing various varieties together. Brewing my own Bones experiments in my java laboratory is a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to more flavorful adventures.

Visit the Bones Coffee website for more information.