With so many coffee roasters trying to deliver the perfect cup, central Virginia joe fans have lots to choose from. The advantages of buying from local roasters goes beyond allegiance to the companies and the love for all things local, though—the direct benefit to the coffee drinker is a matter of taste.
Buying coffee locally means access to the freshest beans, carefully crafted to bring the best flavors to your cup and your palate. In addition, smaller local roasters can offer unique lots of beans, something that is not always possible or economical for large commercial roasters. Small lots often mean higher quality, plus the opportunity to source a wider variety of beans with different processing methods, from different geographical origins.
Most coffee drinkers start the day with a hot cup or two, but iced coffee sales jump in warmer weather. Neither special equipment nor special coffee beans are required for iced coffee. Any method of brewing can be used prior to adding ice, but not everyone likes the same bean from their morning routine when that coffee is put on ice. The process of adding ice to coffee brings out a different expression of flavors that may be better, worse, or just different.
It’s obvious that ice can dilute the coffee, but this can also be beneficial, as it allows subtler flavors to be revealed. However, for many, dilution is not a welcome result, and so coffee that’s intended to go over ice is often brewed in a higher concentration. Yet, even when an adjustment of concentration is made, colder drinking temperature changes the presentation of volatile aroma and flavor to the nose and mouth, often muting the stronger roasted and bitter components of coffee, and resulting in more apparent notes of fruit and acid.
In the end, the beans used for an iced coffee versus a hot cup of coffee are largely a matter of personal preference, and some trial and error may be needed. Here are a few recommendations for beans from local roasters that perform well both hot and iced:
JBird Supply
Tanzania Twawela ($18/16oz)
JBird’s storefront is at Ix Park, and its coffee is also frequently available at area farmers’ markets. The Tanzania Twawela has bold notes of peanut butter and chocolate (yes, Reese’s peanut butter cup), along with floral notes like rose and lavender and bright citrus flavors reminiscent of lemon and grapefruit. On ice, the coffee reveals a bright acidity that is best described as juicy citrus fruit, while the darker notes fade a bit into the background—a great complement to a bit of milk and/or sugar.
Milli Coffee Roasters
“Nice with Ice” blend ($15/12oz)
Most of the recommendations here are single origin coffees, but this specific blend from Milli is a combination of Colombian and Rwandan beans that is intentionally formulated with iced coffee in mind. It is indeed “nice with ice” with toasted nut flavors serving as a base to lemon-lime fruit components. Although marketed for iced coffee, it functions well hot also, with prominent flavors of dark chocolate and additional fruit flavors such as apricots and white peaches rounding out the cup.
Grit Coffee
Colombia Las Brisas ($16/12oz)
Grit has several stores around town but also offers free local delivery directly to Charlottesville front doors twice a week. This single origin offering from Colombia yields a pleasant, medium-weight cup when warm, with flavors of toasted nuts partnering nicely with hints of peach and green lime. When iced, the coffee impresses with a rich, full body carrying a roasted peanut character, green grape flavors, and a bright citrus acidity.
Mudhouse Coffee Roasters
La Joya Washed Honduras ($21.25/12oz)
Just one example of the excellent small lot, single origin coffees offered by Mudhouse. Served hot, this coffee is medium bodied and clean on the palate with hints of sweet nougat, caramel, and red cherry acidity. On ice, juicy red berries and lime flavors take center stage and the darker flavors of cocoa and fig play more supporting roles.
Shenandoah Joe
El Salvador Los Cipreses ($17.95/16oz)
This single origin coffee has flavors of oranges, brown sugar, and nuts when brewed. It is full of flavor but still smooth and medium bodied, making it a perfect choice to ease into an early morning. On ice, there are light flavors of chocolate and toasted nuts followed by an emerging lemon-lime tartness, slightly reminiscent of SweeTARTS candy.