Fire Dept. Coffee Vanilla Bean Bourbon Spirit Infused Coffee Review

Lee Stang -

VANILLA BEAN BOURBON INFUSED COFFEE

BEAN DETAILS

LEE'S NOTES

NOSE: Vanilla | Hint of Bourbon | Cocoa

TASTE: Vanilla | White Chocolate  |  Hint of Bourbon

FINISH: I found the finish a little thin with hints of vanilla and bourbon

SHARE WITH: Those interested in Bourbon flavored coffee or flavored coffees in general.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes! If you are interested in bourbon flavored coffees this would be what you would expect to pay for a limited release, small batch flavored coffee.

BAG, BARISTA OR BUST: If you are a fan of medium roast and flavored coffees especially vanilla flavored you should go for a bag.

OVERALL: If you read our review on the Fire Dept. Black Cherry Bourbon Infused Coffee then you know that a day without coffee doesn't really cut it for me. In fact, I am pretty sure I would give up bourbon before coffee. I hope you will go back and read our last review for more info.

I have never been a huge of fan of flavored coffees however. Like the Black Cherry Bourbon Flavored Coffee , the bourbon is infused into the green coffee beans and then roasted. The flavor is already in the bourbon, so we are talking about a vanilla flavored ‘bourbon” here. The type of “bourbon” is undisclosed so you will have to use your imagination as to which one it is. I have my hunches.

Vanilla and bourbon notes definitely come through on the nose both as you open the coffee bag and after grinding.  Those notes are also present after brewing.  However, in the cup, the smell of the bourbon and vanilla are muted and the taste somewhat thin as well. As a dark roast person it was pretty obvious this was a medium roast.

Since I am a dark roast fan, I purchased a bag of the Fire Department Coffee Dark Roast and enjoyed it very much. Since then I have purchased several more.  I believe I will keep a bag of this in the house.

Note that FDC sells a number of different coffees including different spirits-infused coffees including Bourbon, Irish, Canadian and Cinnamon Flavored whiskey, Rum and Tequila.

Please see the video at this link if you are interested in the small batch roasting process.

JIM'S NOTES

NOSE: Toasted Chocolate  |  Oak  |  Sweet Vanilla

TASTE: Light Coffee  |  Slight Sweetness  |  Touch of Vanilla

FINISH: I got a very short finish from the light coffee flavor with a lingering hint of oak

SHARE WITH: Friends who enjoy different coffee expressions.  Don't oversell the bourbon angle.

WORTH THE PRICE: As with the previous review these are  good coffees, but at $20 for a 12 ounce bag of coffee is a little on the high side.  Would have really liked to have a more intense infused flavor.

BAG, BARISTA, OR BUST: Again, I would say if you can try them first with you barista at your favorite coffee bar (if such a thing is possible).  For the adventurous type with a little less concern for the cost, and an interest in supporting veterans and firefighters, go ahead and buy a bag.

OVERALL: In general while it was fine coffee, the infused flavor was very slight and tended to disappear with the hotter the cup of coffee. Using the French Press much more of the sweetness and vanilla came through providing more balance.  This was less apparent in both the drip coffee and the cold brew.   Also, the cold brew did increase the coffee intensity significantly but not so much the infused flavors.   Clearly, as Fire Department recommends, the French Press method did produce the best flavor for this coffee.

As I have previously admitted, I am not a coffee expert, I am a coffee enthusiast and drink it every day. To me this is good coffee, while I do prefer dark roast, so it is somewhat light to me.  I used several preparation techniques and each provided some unique elements to the coffees.  In addition to Cupping, I also tried a French Press, Drip, and Cold Brew.

BRAND NOTES

NOSE: Toasted Chocolate  |  Oak  |  Sweet Vanilla

TASTE: Light Coffee  |  Slight Sweetness  |  Touch of Vanilla

FINISH: I got a very short finish from the light coffee flavor with a lingering hint of oak

SHARE WITH: Friends who enjoy different coffee expressions.  Don't oversell the bourbon angle.

WORTH THE PRICE: As with the previous review these are  good coffees, but at $20 for a 12 ounce bag of coffee is a little on the high side.  Would have really liked to have a more intense infused flavor.

BAG, BARISTA, OR BUST: Again, I would say if you can try them first with you barista at your favorite coffee bar (if such a thing is possible).  For the adventurous type with a little less concern for the cost, and an interest in supporting veterans and firefighters, go ahead and buy a bag.

OVERALL: In general while it was fine coffee, the infused flavor was very slight and tended to disappear with the hotter the cup of coffee. Using the French Press much more of the sweetness and vanilla came through providing more balance.  This was less apparent in both the drip coffee and the cold brew.   Also, the cold brew did increase the coffee intensity significantly but not so much the infused flavors.   Clearly, as Fire Department recommends, the French Press method did produce the best flavor for this coffee.

As I have previously admitted, I am not a coffee expert, I am a coffee enthusiast and drink it every day. To me this is good coffee, while I do prefer dark roast, so it is somewhat light to me.  I used several preparation techniques and each provided some unique elements to the coffees.  In addition to Cupping, I also tried a French Press, Drip, and Cold Brew.

“WE GUARANTEE QUALITY, SO EVERY BATCH OF FIRE DEPARTMENT COFFEE IS FRESHLY ROASTED, AND WEARE DEDICATED TO HELPING OUR HEROES WITH EVERY CUP.”
FIRE DEPT. COFFEE

Disclaimer: Fire Dept. Coffee provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.