Batdorf and Bronson Dancing Goats Coffee

I’m so excited to share a series of coffee tasting notes with y’all over the next few weeks! I’ve teamed up with Batdorf & Bronson to review some of their amazing coffee roasts with you.

Batdorf & Bronson is an Olympia, Washington-based coffee company known for their cult-favorite Dancing Goats® Blend. Dancing Goats is, far and away, Bob and my very favorite coffee. This stuff is our Pappy Van Winkle, y’all. We order it by the 5lb bag. We fell in love with this coffee over a decade ago when we lived in Nashville; there was a lovely (and sadly now closed) little cafe just off Vanderbilt’s campus and a few minutes away from our condo. We spent the loveliest Saturday mornings there, catching up on the week and drinking Dancing Goats. It was the first coffee that made me realize I love coffee, rather than just needing the pick-me-up. We’ve been devotees of the blend ever since, and it’s what we grind at our house for everyday use.

The coffee’s name, Dancing Goats, comes from the legend of coffee’s discovery. In 9th century Abyssinia, now known as Ethiopia, a goatherd named Kaldi is said to have noticed that his goats were happier and more energetic after eating the berries from one specific shrub. Kaldi soon joined suit and tried the berries, which are what we now know as coffee cherries. Kaldi’s dancing goats, it is said, discovered the magical properties of coffee!

Here are Bob and my tasting notes from a recent tasting session.

Dancing Goats Tasting Notes:

Roast: Dark

Nose: The whole bean has a very strong note of dark chocolate; upon grind, a black cherry aroma emerges.

Taste: Strong notes of chocolate and spice.

Finish: Bright citrus finish on the deeper, like a naval orange or clementine.

There is such a strong pop to this coffee. It’s just so flavorful and delightful. It works as your morning wake-up and your evening wind-down. It’s the coffee Bob and I always come back to; it’s such a sophisticated and complex flavor. (And it’s fantastic with a little dash of cinnamon to enhance the flavors!) We tasted for this review using a french press brewing process. This coffee is also great in drip process and as an espresso. The french press process certainly brings out the chocolate notes in the roast!)

Dancing Goats is the signature coffee blend for Batdorf & Bronson Roasters. Their coffee houses in Olympia and Atlanta bear the Dancing Goats name.

We tasted Dancing Goats alongside a french press of another of Batdorf’s longtime roasts, Whirling Dervish. This one is also named for a figure in coffee lore: Omar, a mystic (and later saint) who is credited with first preparing coffee as a beverage.

Whirling Dervish Tasting Notes:

Roast: Dark

Nose: The whole bean has a strong aroma of peanut butter; upon grind, a cocoa aroma emerges.

Taste: Earthy notes of cocoa and toffee.

Finish: Sweet and spicy, with hints of molasses.

Bob’s initial thoughts on this one were that, in comparison to the Dancing Goats, this one is sweeter and brings out less prominent notes. It would be a very good coffee to complement food, as it isn’t going to overpower your flavors. I’ve since used it as an espresso brew in a latte, and it made an extremely balanced and rich cup.

Both Dancing Goats and Whirling Dervish are also available in decaf roasts, if that’s your thing.

Please note that all Batdorf & Bronson coffee bean orders are roasted to order to ensure maximum freshness. Allow extra time for your coffee delivery.

{Batdorf & Bronson provided me with coffee beans and promo merchandise for an honest review; all opinions are our own!}