Casi Cielo Review: Restaurant Coffee

This week Mark and I have been drinking Casi Cielo from Starbucks. This is a seasonal offering, and it comes from Guatemala. According to Starbucks, this coffee was developed for a “fine dining experience” at Seattle’s Canlis restaurant. The notes of this coffee are a blend of citrus and chocolate according to the bag. So how has it fared? The first time we brewed it, I definitely tasted the citrus part. It had a brightness that I typically associate with a citrus essence. That made this darker medium roasted coffee not taste too dark(a.k.a. burnt). The next time we brewed it, I got more of the chocolate in it. Overall a nice balance of flavors. It isn’t a strong coffee. If you are looking for a big old Cher slap in the face, you will only get a mild slap – a 5 on our 1-10 scale. Since the coffee was developed for a restaurant this makes sense. You don’t want a coffee to overpower the meal or dessert. It isn’t a bland coffee though. Typically I prefer the seasonal roasts Starbucks offers, as opposed to the usual roasts. This one is a nice one to have. Give it a try. Charlie