Aroma's Guatemala Coban Beans Blend - A White Mason Coffee Critique

In late 2014, the Tombland region of Norwich -- veritable Fine City and East Anglian economic hotbed -- welcomed a plucky new business to its midst. Ensconced among a growing roster of cocktail bars eager to conceal their identities behind confounding names-with-numbers-in, that business was a coffee shop and cocktail bar hybrid -- and today, Aroma remains an individualistic fusion of bustling coffee shop and aspirational nightlife venue. As arguably the strongest independent coffee shop in its immediate neighbourhood, Aroma is the impassioned brainchild of young sibling entrepreneurs Tom and Mercedes, and has established a cult following of loyal patrons -- your humble writer among them -- enchanted by the spirit, vitality and warmth of heart that the enterprise represents.

 So... Aroma, the ever-changing coffee-cocktail-bar, has now started selling their own brand of coffee. Let's see how this pans out...

Mr White, my aforementioned compadre, has from the beginning of time promoted Aroma as a splendiforous place of magic and wonder. I have wandered into their effervescent store on a few occasions... mainly when intoxicated after a night out with Mr White at our mainstay, Gonzo's Tea Room. Aroma in itself is a surprisingly quaint place -- with, at times, startlingly loud patrons! The rustic interior, accompanied by a traditional Victorian-style layout over three floors, brings the character that is Mercedes and Tom's little hole of wonder to life.

Now down to the main event... aside from the tequila cocktail I was provided with on my last visit to Aroma, MR WHITE.

I regret nothing. A tequila'd Teege is a sight to behold indeed. That said... still not entirely comfortable with The Teege referring to one of my favourite places in the city as 'a hole' -- even if it is a 'hole of wonder'. Would not a 'grotto of sensations' or a 'nook languid in conviviality' suffice?

Irrespective of semantics, my comrade in arms is correct -- Aroma's status as an established and individualistic business is clarified, and our appraisal of their first forays into selling custom coffee blends for home use can commence in earnest.

Debuting at £5.50 -- par for the course as far as the Fine City's independent coffee houses go, when it comes to pricing their own bagged coffees -- is Aroma's Guatemala Coban Beans bag o' brilliance. Emblazoned with the spirited little venue's established hues of black and orange, the label itself is very Aroma -- distinct, intriguing, and inclusive of cheeky humour.

But with Aroma's coffees among the finest in the Fine City, can this take-home bag of beans deliver the same sensations administered by the coffee shop's team of barista daredevils?

The Teege and I united in our quest for the truth -- and our initial agreement was that in order to entice the best from the blend, Aroma's coffee is to be made strong and potent. Indeed, although other artisan coffees will strike the palate with a cluster of vivid sensations, the Guatemala Coban Beans represent a smooth, at times even understated, soothing of the mouth and throat. Vivid discussion between Mr White and Mr Mason ensued, as we smacked our lips and furrowed our brows in pensive contemplation, pursuing a caffeinated consensus.

The Guatemalan Coban Beans are smooth in nature, and even smoother after five minutes resting in the cafetiere. Its dark nature and lustful undertones require a degree of nurturing in order to realise its finer taste. After some alteration of the strength of the concoction, and the heat of the water, I found it to be a rather floral note to begin with, the smoothness never leaving the palate as it follows into a dark, ashen finish. The overall darkness brought out an interesting note of chocolate, but I felt that something was missing.

Maybe it was the different character of this particular coffee, but there was no punch, no finishing flavour bursting through the palate leaving you mesmerised -- as would some of the single bean bags available from Strangers. Nonetheless, Aroma's is a good, well-rounded coffee. If I were to drink it regularly, it would be as a post-meal delight, with a leaf of mint in the beverage to lift the darkness and round off the taste -- but as this was blended by a fellow Tom, I cannot besmirch the hours of meticulousness clearly spent in honing this!

This is indeed a smooth and relaxing coffee -- a companion to a hectic lifestyle, rather than an
aggressive urge to wake up by exploding amid the tastebuds. Comfortingly dusky, Aroma's Guatemala Coban Beans represent the ethos of the coffee shop and cocktail bar perfectly -- charming, unique, and a home from home.

What I appreciate most of all about the bag o' beans I've acquired in pursuing this review is the consistency of the blend. Even those of us without the skill of Aroma's jocular staff can entice the velvety smoothness and subtle succulence of the beverage to the fore, and it is a blend that rewards patience in both percolation and partaking of its results. Black, with milk, or in any other roster of combinations, the same flavour resounds always, a lingering taste of relaxation and rejuvenation alike.

Taking into account the points as discussed, and thinking of the fun and jovial times I have spent with Mr White in Aroma's upper echelons, I have an undeniable fondness for the place. If you're in need of a coffee on the fly, or have some time to kill, stop by -- be it after work, or after a night on the town, enjoy the serenity that Aroma offers before your trip home. You won't regret doing this.

My honest review of this coffee alone, though? I'd say 3.5 / 5 stands for this blend. Tom? Mercedes? If you're reading, STEP UP YOUR GAME. I have tried numerous of your wonders and I know you're able to produce a stunning variety of textures and flavours. I will await the next blend with anticipation of grandeur and with heightened expectations!

My outlook on the Guatemala Coban Beans is 4 / 5 -- I've an appreciation for its enduring consistency, twilit charm and smokey throat-whirls. That said, I join The Teege in anticipation of what's to come -- and indeed, Aroma's own Tom frequently enthuses that a host of new bagged blends for all and any to take home and try shall soon be gracing the building's shelves.

Aroma's ambition is consistent -- Mercedes pursues an eternal evolution of the bar's cocktails menu, while Tom tweaks, tempers and tinkers with every coffee that the business produces under his gaze, determined to refine, refine, refine. That Aroma continues to strive to innovate and improve is admirable, given that the business is now well-established -- understandable, then, is our excitement at what's to come.

As for the current take-home offering of coffee and courage? Outclasses the majority of the city's peers, in terms of both chains (easily!) and independent artisan coffeehouses. Let the Guatemala Coban Beans grace your pantry, gentle reader -- let those dulcet flavours, relaxing and smooth, welcome you in after a challenging day, time and time again.