We recently tested another offering from Minnesota-based Driven Coffee (Driven Coffee Impact Espresso Blend) and loved it, so we came to Driven’s Breakfast Blend with high expectations. We were not disappointed. The bright, rich flavor and full body make this coffee a great choice to open your eyes first thing in the morning, and the blend of undertones of light and dark roast coffees makes it a delight any time of day.
Driven Coffee combines light roasted San Pedro Costa Rica Tarrazú coffee and dark roasted Chiapas coffee in proportions that highlight the best qualities of each coffee. Chiapas coffee is a remarkably balanced cup that works well as a single-origin coffee, but really shines as a blend coffee, where its base notes of cocoa and honey and its high levels of citrus and berries add sweetness and brightness to the cup. Chiapas SHG coffees are denser beans that stand up well to a dark roast, which brings out notes of caramel and just a hint of nut and cedar on the finish. Tarrazú coffee from Costa Rica is another coffee that has a reputation for being a “good blender.” In coffee jargon, that’s usually a euphemism for “indistinguishable.” However, the best Tarrazú beans offer a smooth and balanced profile with notes of tropical fruit, honey, and caramel. A lighter roast preserves the brightness of the fruit, the soft cinnamon, and the slow finish of cocoa and caramel.
The first whiff of the flavors that await us is when we inhale the steam rising from a freshly brewed cup. It’s not often that a coffee has sweet notes before consumption, but caramel is the predominant note in the aroma. The first sip is bursting with brilliance, reminiscent of tropical fruits, berries, citrus, and even a little stone fruit. As the coffee cools, each flavor comes to the fore. Beneath the fruit, a combination of cocoa and spices gives the flavor blend a satisfying base note, and the finish is sweet and slightly nutty with just a lingering hint of cinnamon.
Although the coffee is full-bodied, it’s not a heavy blend. Rather, it has a silky smoothness that melts on the finish rather than leaving the tongue feeling like it’s covered in hair, as many full-bodied coffees do. Last but not least, Driven Breakfast Blend is an ideal coffee to pair with almost any type of food, from pancakes to grilled meat. It’s also a remarkably versatile coffee: delicious on its own, even if you don’t normally drink your coffee that way, but strong enough to stand up to cream, and sweet enough to not require any sugar at all, even for those with a sweet tooth.
If, like us, you’re looking for more than just great taste in your coffee, Driven is for you. The self-proclaimed social enterprise is committed to doing good alongside good by donating 10% of all sales to its partner charities. You can buy Driven coffee online in quantities ranging from 12 ounces up to 50 pounds. Your order will be roasted within 24 hours of shipment and shipped at a flat rate, so your entire order ships for one low price.
Whether you’re looking for an energizing morning coffee or a smooth, balanced coffee to enjoy any time of day, Driven’s Breakfast Blend is a great choice.
Disclosure: Driven Coffee provided a sample of the Breakfast Blend for our review. There were no other expectations or compensation for this review.
