Elm Coffee Roasters
Elderflower appears twice in Elm Coffee Roasters' cup notes, and so do lemon zest, nectarine, and cherry. Four notes, two mentions each, spread over a catalog of five coffees. That kind of repetition on a shelf this short says the buying is after one consistent character rather than a scattered set of them, and the character in question is delicate.
The active list runs four single origins and one blend. The origin side splits evenly between Colombia and Ethiopia, two coffees each, with no third country anywhere on it. Processing is washed on all four.
Roast levels spread across three steps. No coffee is roasted light and none is roasted dark, so the whole catalog occupies the middle of the scale. Body averages just below the middle of the five-point scale while acidity averages just above it, which is the arithmetic version of what those elderflower and lemon zest notes are already saying. Ten-ounce bags run $23 to $26.50. One of the five is decaf.
Single Origins
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jejeba Habtamu Fikadu | Medium Light | NectarineElderflowerLemon Zest | $24.50 |
| Danche Habtamu Fikadu | Medium Light | NectarineElderflowerLemon Zest | $26.50 |
| Nelson Fabio Cordoba - Tabi | Medium | floralpapayaplumpink starburstgreen teadried apricottropical fruit | $26.00 |
Blends
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm Seasonal Decaf | Medium | CherryCocoa | $23.00 |
Roast Profile & Flavor Range
Three roast levels, five coffees. Two at medium-light, two at medium, one at medium-dark. Nothing is light and nothing is dark, which means a drinker after a very pale roast or a heavily developed one will not find either here, while everything between those poles is covered by a catalog small enough to work through in a couple of months.
Processing is washed on all four single origins. There is no natural lot and no fermented lot anywhere in the active catalog. Origins are Colombia and Ethiopia, two coffees each. The blend is the fifth item and holds 20 percent of the shelf. Prices are tight. Ten ounces runs $23 to $26.50 with the median at $24.50, so there is no budget bag and no splurge bag, just one price neighborhood.
What Elm Coffee Roasters Coffees Tend to Taste Like
The notes cluster in two places. One is floral and citric, with elderflower twice, lemon zest twice, and plain floral and green tea alongside them, which together describe a light perfumed cup with a clean edge to it. The other is orchard and tropical fruit, nectarine twice, cherry twice, dried apricot and papaya once each.
Sweetness gets named directly one time, as pink starburst. That is the only candy reference on the list and the only note suggesting something bright and artificial rather than fresh. The roasty end barely registers. Caramel and cocoa each appear once, and chocolate once more, which is as close as this catalog comes to a toasted note. Everything else is fruit or flower.
Why Buy Elm Coffee Roasters
Washed across every single origin: All four singles are washed, with no natural or fermented lot in the active catalog.
Two countries, four coffees: Colombia and Ethiopia split the origin side evenly. The map is short and it is deliberate.
A tight price band: Ten-ounce bags run $23 to $26.50 across the whole catalog, a spread of three and a half dollars.
Elderflower, twice: The most repeated note in the catalog is a flower, with lemon zest and nectarine right behind it. Nothing on the list tastes like char.
Is Elm Coffee Roasters Right for You?
Elm is a good fit for filter brewing. Washed coffee, medium-light to medium roasts, acidity running above body, and cup notes reaching for elderflower and lemon zest all point in the same direction, which is a cone and a paper filter rather than a milk drink.
The catalog is small and it is narrow. Two countries. One blend. Five coffees from two origins will not satisfy anyone who wants geographic range, and all four singles being washed will not satisfy anyone who wants processing range. Someone who came for fermented naturals should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Elm Coffee Roasters located?
Elm Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roaster based in Seattle, WA.
What does Elm Coffee Roasters specialize in?
Three roast levels, five coffees. Two at medium-light, two at medium, one at medium-dark.
Where can I buy Elm Coffee Roasters coffee?
You can browse Elm Coffee Roasters's coffees on CoffeeByMe and click through to buy directly from the roaster, or visit Elm Coffee Roasters's own website.
