Herkimer Coffee
Herkimer Coffee has roasted in Seattle since 2003. Six coffees are active, three single origins and three blends, an even split between lots that turn over with the season and recipes that hold their place. The catalog is small and settled.
The single origins come from Brazil, Colombia and Ethiopia, one lot each. Two of the three are washed and the third uses a process outside the standard categories. A decaffeinated option is on the list as well.
Roasting is where this catalog spreads out. A lighter half and a darker half are both represented, with nothing sitting at plain medium between them, so a single order can hold a bright filter coffee and something taken far enough to stand up against steamed milk. Twelve ounce bags run $17 to $27, with the median at $19.35.
Single Origins
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil, Sitio da Serra | Medium Light | pearpineapplestrawberryfresh mangowildflower honey | $27.00 |
| Ethiopia, Yirgacheffe | Medium Light | peach pureeCaramel applejasmine flowers | $20.70 |
| Colombia, Rosado | Medium Light | cinnamonStrawberry lemonademaple syrup | $22.60 |
Blends
| Name | Roast | Tasting Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espresso Blend | Dark | Graham crackerMeyer lemon zestcocoa nibsblack cherriesdark chocolate | $17.00 |
| Drip Blend | Medium Dark | brown sugarcaramelorange zestsemisweet chocolatedried cherries | $17.00 |
| Decaf Blend | Medium Dark | dark roasted hazelnutsraspberry jamBittersweet orangechocolate | $18.00 |
Roast Profile & Flavor Range
The histogram has a hole in the middle. Three of the six active coffees are medium-light, two are medium-dark and one is dark, so the catalog divides into a lighter half and a darker half with nothing at plain medium between them. Acidity averages medium-low and body averages medium, which is the balance to expect when half the shelf has been roasted past the midpoint of the scale. Two single origins are washed and one runs an experimental process. The origin list is three countries, one lot apiece. Twelve ounce bags start at $17 and reach $27 with a median of $19.35, so most of the catalog sits nearer the bottom of that band than the top.
What Herkimer Coffee Coffees Tend to Taste Like
Cooked sugar runs through the whole list. Caramel appears on its own and again as caramel apple, brown sugar sits alongside it, and cinnamon gives the group a baked quality, as if the notes had been written by someone who had just walked past an oven. Cocoa is the second thread, named as chocolate, dark chocolate and cocoa nibs, with dark roasted hazelnuts pushing it further toward the roasted end. Fruit here is dark rather than bright. Cherries turn up twice, black in one lot and dried in another, and bittersweet orange carries the only real citrus in the catalog. Fresh mango is the outlier, the single note that sounds like it came off the lighter half of the shelf.
Why Buy Herkimer Coffee
Twenty years in Seattle: The roastery has run from the same city since 2003.
A split roast catalog: Three coffees are medium-light and three are medium-dark or dark, with nothing at plain medium.
Entry price of $17: Twelve ounce bags run $17 to $27. CoffeeByMe lists the median bag at $19.35.
Baked sweetness throughout: Caramel, brown sugar and cinnamon repeat across the notes. The list reads more like the inside of a bakery than a cupping table.
Is Herkimer Coffee Right for You?
The split roast profile is the reason to shop here. A medium-light lot for the pour-over and something roasted past the midpoint for the milk drink can arrive in the same order, which is useful in a household where two people want different coffee, and the $17 entry price keeps that experiment cheap. Six coffees is the limit of it, though. Half of them are blends, the single origin bench is three lots from three countries, and a drinker who wants light and high-acid coffee will find the acidity here averaging on the low side of medium. There is one decaffeinated option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Herkimer Coffee located?
Herkimer Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster based in Seattle, WA.
What does Herkimer Coffee specialize in?
The histogram has a hole in the middle. Three of the six active coffees are medium-light, two are medium-dark and one is dark, so the catalog divides into a lighter half and a darker half with nothing at plain medium between them.
Where can I buy Herkimer Coffee coffee?
You can browse Herkimer Coffee's coffees on CoffeeByMe and click through to buy directly from the roaster, or visit Herkimer Coffee's own website.
