With Halloween right around the corner, there are many spooky-themed coffees out there vying for consumers’ attention. Flavors such as Pumpkin Spice, Caramel Apple, Maple Bourbon, and, of course, the ambiguous Witch’s Brew line the shelves. This month, we here at The Cardboard Cantina, are taking a look at two of them being put out by Geek Grind Coffee Company: Cauldron Blend and Molten Moonrise.
Discover taste notes of red fruits, tangerine, red wine, caramel, dark chocolate and slightly scorched brown sugar. Like the mist of the moors, soon this delightful coffee will be gone!
Witch’s Brew: Cauldron Blend, Geek Grind Coffee Company
Krista’s Thoughts: I’ve drunk a lot of “witch’s brews” in my life and I am thrilled to finally find one that doesn’t have a set flavor in mind. Instead, this Cauldron Blend conjures images of the witches of days gone by tending to the hearth flames as they add ingredients one by one to their brews and simmering them slowly to get them just right. Being a dark brew full of other acidic additives like tangerines and red wine, I was expecting a sharp, biting tone, but was greeted with a well-rounded, fruity flavor instead. Each of the named ingredients seems to balance each other out and none overpower the other. I feel like this is a “back to basics” type of blend for Geek Grind and I am absolutely here for it!
Ryan’s Thoughts: I am not normally a fan of sweet coffees and, for the most part, this one is no exception. I was glad that it was toned down in this blend and no one flavor really seemed to overpower the other or take away from the idea that I was drinking coffee and not juice or tea. Giving props where they are due: this coffee was one of the better fruit bases I’ve tried and the mix did a great job of pulling off what was intended. It was something different and pulled the feelings of early Autumn together nicely. I’m not sure who had the idea of infusing red wine into coffee, but I feel those are definitely two different things and am glad that it is part of a bigger picture here and not the focus. I wouldn’t brew this up on my own accord, but wouldn’t refuse a cup if it was offered to me either. Beware the brew of the Bruja, it may not be what you were expecting.
Enter the protective circle and discover the mysteriously rich molten chocolate flavor and intoxicating smell of this amazing coffee. Watch as the steam rises into the evening sky set against the magical full moon.
Witch’s Brew: Molten Moonrise, Geek Grind Coffee Company
Ryan’s Thoughts: Of the two coffees we decided to compare in this review I liked this one better. I found it to be less of a mocha and more of a dark chocolate blend from both the bean and from the flavoring. It wasn’t so much like chocolate-covered espresso beans as a stoic essence of blissful imbibement. The bag didn’t give away the secrets of this blend, as many do, but there is something in the mix that I couldn’t quite put my taste buds on. Well done Geek Grind. It’s no surprise that this is another home run. It falls in line with the majority of their other offerings alongside its “unflavored” brethren brews. Simplicity is the key for this Witch’s Brew and I’m a fan: no reason to complicate a good thing!
Krista’s Thoughts: While the individual beans of this blend give way to the perfect scent of a Caffè mocha, the assault of chocolate and coffee coming out of the bag when I first opened it was a bit off-putting. However, once brewed, I found the coffee to still be fragrant yet much gentler on the nose. At the forefront of this coffee, the chocolate flavor is very subtle but it certainly ramps up at the end. While not my favorite of the two brews, I would certainly drink this one again. Though perhaps with a little more chocolate added in either with a sprinkle of hot cocoa or with chocolate milk acting as creamer as I’d like to bring the chocolate flavor a bit more to the forefront of this brew.
It’s not ironic that we had such varied opinions of these Autumn offerings. While pitched to the same market via their namesakes, they were in fact two very different experiences. Krista tends to like medium roast coffees or fruitier drinks in general and Ryan the darker, bolder roasts. These two coffees were both well done despite what were ultimately some minor gripes that did not stand in the way of our concluding impressions. In the end, we each found a coffee we really enjoyed and would be willing to share as we sit down and enjoy each other’s company while wiping away the morning grogginess and powering up for another day at The Cardboard Cantina. If you, too, are interested in giving either of these two brews or any of the other blends being offered by Geek Grind Coffee Company, feel free to use our affiliate coupon code CANTINA20 for 20% off your order!
The Cardboard Cantina is reader-supported. When you buy from Geek Grind Coffee Company using our coupon code, we may earn an affiliate commission. All photos used in this review were taken and edited by Krista.