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Dustin Nisbet-Jones
Blogging about coffee I guess!

  • A very interesting Ethiopian from Rogue Wave. It’s very distinct as all Ethiopians are. Also, this may be one of the higher elevations we’ve tried and the grinder really struggles with the small, dense beans. Who knew. I got a lot of tart berry and some kind of almost tea-like aromas. Super fun!

    A colorful coffee packaging from Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters details a white honey washed Ethiopian Bensa Basha Bekele with flavor notes of blueberry, Concord grape, raspberry jam, and juniper.

  • A friend brought this from Mexico City for us! I love the packaging and the hand-written label. It’s pretty dark and roasty but with oat milk it’s pleasant–a bit sweet initially and then some bitter after. A bit cinnamon, a bit roasted almond. There’s no tasting notes so it’s actually a challenge.

    A coffee package labeled Café Lavado features a line-drawn dog illustration, details about the coffee's origin in Zongolica, Veracruz, and information on the variety and producer.A container filled with whole coffee beans surrounds a central locking mechanism.

  • A nice Colombia that we ordered a large bag of after finishing this small one. This one is a people pleaser. Sweet, smooth and some interesting notes. Maybe a bit of caramel, cocoa and tart apple, but pretty under the radar. Good to serve to anyone, I think.

    A colorful coffee bag with decorative patterns features details about Colombia Laderas Estate coffee, including flavors like apricot and milk chocolate, and a roast date of November 21, 2025.A pile of roasted coffee beans fills a clear bean hopper

  • Trying yet another Rogue Wave and an absolutely wild one at that. This one is actually kind of intimidating! As soon as the bag was opened what could only be described as an “orange funk” hits you and follows throughout brewing and drinking. It’s quite sweet and tasty and you really, really get the tangerine and orange blossom. Very dry in the mouth and so much aroma. Maybe a bit too complex for me but I’d like to try it as an Americano next.

    A colorful package of Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters' La Soledad Orange Bourbon coffee displays tasting notes like peach, tangerine, and grape.Coffee beans are scattered inside a grinder, ready for processing.

  • A Kenya from Rogue Wave. A lot of very interesting tasting notes that I really struggle to find. It’s complex, maybe too complex for me. Might make a nice drip or pourover perhaps but as an espresso for me I find it too complicated. Fun!

    A coffee bag labeled Kenya Kanguya Factory Cherry Ale Honey with tasting notes of plum, pineapple, cola, black cherry, and iced tea, designed in shades of blue and white.Dark roasted coffee beans are scattered around a black surface, possibly part of a grinder or container.

  • Trying an El Salvador from Rogue Wave, CERRO LAS RANAS. Getting big time almond and lots of sweetness. Exceedingly drinkable and delicious.

    A bag of Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters featuring coffee details, including an El Salvador origin, honey process, and flavor notes like nectarine, almond, grapefruit, floral and caramel.Coffee beans are placed in a coffee hopper.

  • Walked into a random roaster in South Surrey called Spent Grounds. Walked out with a Colombian-Huila Excelso. It was a dark roast but maybe more like ‘medium-dark’. Not oily, which I do not like at all. I’m not that keen on dark roasts but the profile sounded interesting. Not bad! Forgot to take pictures though, sorry!

  • Picked up a bag of “test roast” from Rogue Wave, where they sell off the batches they made before reaching a profile they’re happy with. This one is a blend and I think I recognize the Ethiopian and Colombian we’ve tried in the past. It’s a great quality blend and really tasty. Some berry, acidity and dryness. Sweetness, too.

    A labeled coffee bag from Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters suggests trying their test roast, described as a bargain despite imperfections, weighing 1 kg.A close-up view of roasted coffee beans in a transparent container.

  • Another roast from Rogue Wave and another Ethiopian that I apparently really like. This one has a lot of notes that I don’t get but I’ll be damned if there isn’t a bit o’banana. It’s got some aroma and dry mouth feel you get from bananas! And of course, the obligatory sweetness. Some berry, too.

    A colorful coffee package features information about Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee with flavor notes of raspberry, honey, banana, blueberry, and lilac.A close-up of roasted coffee beans piled together.

  • Another great one from Rogue Wave. Very tasty and drinkable. Sweet, nice aroma. Definitely get the chocolate and caramel and a surprising amount of apple with the peanut butter & jam seed bread we have in the morning. I was not expecting that. Will definitely order this one again!

    A colorful coffee bag featuring a design of abstract waves and a label detailing the coffee's origin, flavor notes, and roaster information.A pile of coffee beans surrounds a black plastic object labeled "TURN TO LOCK."

  • Another roast from Rogue Wave featuring varietals that we loved in the Prototype and No6 Kenya Kii we tried before. Very different flavour, lots of orange and honey. Kind of floral as well. Not as sweet as the Kii which still remains my favourite by far.

    A package of Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters featuring coffee details from Kenya's Gichuka Factory, including flavour notes of orange, black currant, honey, plum, and hibiscus.A pile of dark brown coffee beans is filling a container.

  • A little break between our Hudson Blend (see previous blog post) with a nice light roast from Brazil. Not getting any of the peach or guava but definitely getting citrus and honey. Sweet and dry on the palate.

    A vibrant coffee package from Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters highlights its Brazilian origin and flavor notes of lemon, guava, peach, and honey.A pile of roasted coffee beans with a rich, textured surface.

  • Currently drinking 2% Jazz’s Hudson Blend, which we tried for the first time on a weekend trip in Victoria, BC. It was pouring rain and we went to one of their shops and played Scrabble. This time around, I find it tasty but a little nondescript. A little sweet, a lot roasty, a bit chocolatey.

    A bag of 2% Jazz Coffee's "The Hudson Blend" is surrounded by scattered coffee beans on a wooden surface.

  • The last of our three picks from No6. Fruity and lots of acidity. Lots of body, too. What I find interesting is that it’s not “juicy” despite the acidity. I think I don’t really fully understand the difference between the two characteristics. This one was a lot of fun.

    A package of artisan roasted whole bean coffee from No. 6 Coffee Co., featuring Ethiopian Teshale Natural coffee with flavor notes of raspberry, melon, and almond.

  • Already through the previous bag from No6 and now on to a really nice pick from Guatemala. Super drinkable, very chocolatey and definitely getting the hazelnut, especially as an Americano with ice. Will definitely buy more varieties from this region again.

    A bag of No. 6 Coffee Co. featuring Guatemalan Puerta Verde beans with notes of milk chocolate, hazelnut, and orange zest.A coffee grinder is partially filled with coffee beans ready for grinding.

  • Another pick from No6, based on a great response from the owner when I emailed seeking alternatives for their fantastic Kenya Kii.

    This is the first of three and I’ll blog along as we taste them. This one is very nice, smooth and sweet but a little anonymous. Not a lot of strong flavours or notes. I get the brown sugar but mostly I think I’m tasting chocolate milk when mixed with oat milk. No citrus or jasmine for me.

  • Another pick from Rogue Wave. A nice light roast from Guatemala. I didn’t get any of the citrus or berry but it’s chocolatey/cocoa-ey with almond for sure. Dry mouth feel, not juicy at all. Pretty nice!

    A colorful coffee bag from Rogue Wave Coffee Roasters labeled "Guatemala La Florida" includes tasting notes like milk chocolate, clementine, pear, almond, and raspberry.A container is filled with whole coffee beans and features a "TURN TO LOCK" mechanism in the center.

  • My wife brought these home from Bavaria with her. Dinzler is a well-known traditional roaster from the region and this is one of their signature espressos. It’s a medium roast blend and I found it pretty nutty with some nougat and chocolate. A little sweetness, too. Very drinkable!

    A brown paper coffee bag labeled "DINZLER KAFFEERÖSTEREI Il Gustoso" is lying on a surface.A brown coffee bag labeled "Il Gustoso" describes a blend of Arabica beans from South and Central America combined with African coffees, offering a strong aroma and flavor.A container filled with roasted coffee beans, with a label instructing to "TURN TO LOCK" visible on top.

  • A friend was in Japan and brought this for us as a gift. Super curious to open the bag and have a sniff! We’ll be trying it on the weekend for sure.

  • My wife brought home a nice Ethiopian from Rogue Wave in Edmonton. I didn’t think I liked coffees from Ethiopia but this one was very nice. Didn’t pick up all of the tasting notes but it was bright and juicy and with oat milk had a nice sweetness and finish.