From a devoted drinker who has tried numerous local, state and national roasters' best blends and…read moresingle origins: Cuvee is outstanding coffee. Chris S.'s review is right on the mark in several regards. Cuvee may well be among the very top coffees I have ever tasted, with the exception of Stumptown. And just as Chris S. pointed out, try a Starbucks drink. And then try a coffeehouse that serves Cuvee. My girlfriend did. She used to think that coffee was an acquired taste until I introduced her to amazing coffees like Brown, Cuvee, and Stumptown. Now, she just cannot get herself to drink a Starbucks latte.
Coffee is dynamic. There is much that goes into making your cup of coffee good. A lot of it is in your hands, such as selecting the best bean for the brewing method you have, brewing with proper technique, and using good quality water. That which is not in your hands is the quality of bean and roasting technique. Cuvee is constantly trying new beans, tweaking their roasting techniques, and maximizing the goodness of the bean and farmer-roaster alliance.
I finally made the pilgrimmage to Cuvee on a recent relaxing day. I talked with Hannah, the receptionist, and scheduled a visit on a Friday. Typically, tours are given several times a week, leaving Fridays for staff-meetings. I got lucky because Cuvee is soon changing their tours to once a month with periodic cuppings, or coffee tastings. I had the pleasure of talking with one of Cuvee's two coffee roasters, Logan. For almost an hour, he talked me through the life of the beans: how they are received, roasted, and bagged. He answered every question that I had, even the stupid ones, with courtesy and genuine passion. After discussing the throughput process with Logan, I was taken to Lorenzo, master barista. He talked me through the complex process of brewing and all the factors involved. I was lucky enough to have a comparison cupping in addition to Lorenzo's thoughtful short class.
Mike McKim and his professional staff are passionate, focused, courteous, and welcoming. I cannot disagree more with the single one-star review that I noticed by Juan P. The staff at Cuvee were not at all snobby and Cuvee coffee is superior to Katz Coffee. Try the Meritage blend. It's my favorite, next to Stumptown's Hair Bender. If you have a Chemex, try the amazing Laguna Las Ranas.
