Black Dog Coffee El Salvador Peaberry Review and Contest
Black Dog Coffee
Coffee and Cigars
Coffee and cigars are a popular combination for many cigar lovers. The rich flavors of both pair very well together and smelling coffee also helps to clear the sense of smell, which can allow you to enjoy the aroma of your cigar more. Really, I’m not making it up, they have laboratory tests that prove it! So as you take a sip of your coffee don’t forget to take a nice, deep breath as well – then take the time to linger on the aroma of your cigar and see how well they play together.
For this review, Charlie (Labman) and I decided to team up and give review from both of us. As the temps start cooling down I’ll find myself drinking more coffee with my cigars and Charlie is already seeing snow way up there in Northern Canada, so he’s already enjoying plenty of hot coffee.
I should preface this review by saying that Charlie and I are not coffee professionals by any means. Neither of us have a clue how to rate acidity and such with coffee, but we do know what we like and don’t like and the flavors we get from the coffees. Most importantly, we know what coffees we’ve enjoyed with our cigars.
Black Dog Coffee El Salvador Peaberry
Price
$6.00 per 1/2 lb. bag OR $2.00 for a 2 oz. sampler bag
Coffee Bean Appearance
Slightly rounded, dark brown beans with an oily sheen.
Aroma Pre-Grind
CF: Smokey
TD: Deep nuttiness with campfire aroma.
Aroma Post-Grind
CF: Smokey with a hint of bitter chocolate scent
TD: Very warm smell of roasted nuts, one of the best coffee aromas I’ve smelled. I did notice some variation from batch-to-batch in the aromas.
The Brew and the Review
Brewing Method
CF: Bialetti Moka (stove top espresso) pot
TD: Cuisinart drip coffee maker
Grind
CF: I used the fine grind setting on my Capresso Infinity burr grinder
TD: I used the medium grind setting on my blade grinder
Milk and/or Sugar
CF: Neither… I prefer my coffee black.
TD: I’ve tried the coffee black as well as with cream and Splenda in the evenings.
Flavors (Charlie calls them “flavours” 
)
CF: The El Salvador Peaberry has a lovely smokiness to it with a bit of cocoa/bittersweet chocolate on the finish
TD: Lots of smokiness, the flavor and aroma both remind me of a campfire/fireplace. I noticed a bit of a citrus twang on the finish.
Final Verdict
Like It
CF: Yes!
TD: Yes, this is probably the best coffee I’ve had outside of a coffeehouse.
Buy It Again
CF: Definitely!
TD: Yep, I’ve already ordered this twice and will likely get more when that runs out.
Recommend It
CF: Yes. If you’re looking for a coffee with some nice flavours, that won’t overwhelm you with its strength, then you can’t go wrong with Black Dog’s El Salvador Peaberry.
TD: I’d definitely recommend this coffee. It has a very rich flavor that I would describe as a medium on the palate; I’ve enjoyed every cup I’ve had. I was also impressed that the time from roasting to shipping was very fast, my coffee had been roasted just 4 days prior to when I received it.
Enter our Contest to Win Free Coffee!
We have a couple 8-pack “Taste of Black Dog” samplers, courtesy of Black Dog Coffee, to give away to 2 of our readers. Simply leave a comment below and let us know your favorite cigar to enjoy with a cup of coffee. We’ll choose 2 winners at random to win samplers. Contest is open to residents of US and Canada only and will run until 5:00 PM Eastern on 09/21/09. Good Luck!
Please visit the Black Dog Coffee website to see the great coffees they have roasting right now and to place an order for fresh roasted coffees.
Thanks for the review guys. I’ve always enjoyed a good cup of coffee, however haven’t tried to many outside of the main stream ones. This sounds great!
oh btw.. my favorite cigar to have with coffee is any Padron maduro.
Awesome review guys! You’re making my coffee cravings come back so late in the afternoon!
Honestly the best cigar I have ever had with coffee would have to be Drew Estate’s Tabak Especial Dulce. I LOVE the Negra, but I also like dark coffee. And the only way to balance that out is with a creamier cigar.
Keep it up!
Nice review. Im going to have to go make a French press now, and have a nice maduro cigar! The blog is looking great guys keep it up! Send me some Dog Coffee too!
One of the best cigars I have had with coffee is the classic Padron 2000 Maduro!!!
I look forward to seeing more coffee reviews. Nice Job!
Great review! I’m gonna have to get me some of this.
Always looking for new coffee. Black dog is now on the list…..did you guys pickup any other roasts from them? My favorite cigar to pair coffee with is the padron churchhill.
Favorite smokes with coffee in the morning include Padron, Perdomo Lot 23, Perdomo Habano Maduro.
@vic81
I’ve got one of their samplers and I’ve tried a couple out of there. The Sumatra Mandheling was very good and their Sumatra Decaf is excellent. I haven’t tried the darker roasts yet as I’m not usually a big fan of those.
I’m a huge fan of Oliva O Maduro with my morning coffee. Great review; thanks!
Here is another reason to drink this great looking coffee: http://www.retrieverweekly.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=4701&format=html
So far the Dogwatch Blend is the best for my tastes, dark roast, but not overpowering. Combine it with a Drew Estates Java Maduro Toro or a Tabak Especial. Great way to start the day out on the porch.
We are Black Dog’s biggest fans. I’ve yet to have any of Brian’s coffees that we not a complete delight. I’ve even been known to start a conversation with a perfect stranger because he had a Black Dog bumper sticker! You can’t go wrong with this coffee.
love me some french roast coffee made in my french press, if there were french cigars i would smoke em with that, but alas, there are not.
keep up the good work on the blog tim, and put a damn viking helmet on your logo.
Very nice review. In depth and informative.
Will definitely try to get some.
@BarkeepCat
BTW… Favorite smoke with coffee…
A VILLIGER.
Very nice review; I am so used to reading those which pair cigars and alcoholic libations. I can safely say that one of the best beverages to have with a cigar is coffee. I love coffee, and I do enjoy Black Dog coffee – I am currently going through the sample pack.
Oh yes, I enjoy CAO Gold Maduro Robusto with a good cup of Joe.
I just wanted to thank you guys for the review and tell you guys that I love you so very much and you are my #1 review blog on the internet.
I do love me some round beans! Great review!!
My all time favorite cigar with coffee in the AM is a Monte 5!
I really enjoy coffee with Illusione cigars
It’s almost coffee season again as summer in Atlanta is almost over. When the temperatures move down into the 60′s and below and will drink a pot of coffee almost every day and look forward to this brand. There is a lot of different brands out there but some just don’t mix well with cigars and this one looks to be a good one.
Great review TD love coffee,and i will check out that site thanks.
My favorite cigar is a 601 Black label Robusto,and some local Mocha Java coffee.
With a strong Sumatra dark roast through a french press I prefer the LFD Double Ligero. With a syrupy americano made from 4 shots of Ethiopian Yergacheffe, I like the Camacho Triple Maduro.
You bastards made me go and order some coffee after reading this you know. My favorite cigar to smoke with coffee is whatever I’m smoking at the moment but usually a Padron 1926
Thanks for the entries everyone! Winner will be announced later this evening!
My favorite is the LFD DL-450 Maduro.
Congratulations to Painty and Beer Advocate who each won an 8-pack Taste of Black Dog coffee sampler! Enjoy!
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now. It is one that I really enjoy and keep coming back to read when my busy schedule allows me to.
Please keep up the nice work.