Spirit Animal Coffee – A Candid Review from a Seasoned Coffee Drinker
I‘ve been a specialty coffee enthusiast for over a decade now. In that time, I‘ve tasted beans from just about every notable roaster and coffee region imaginable. So when a new player like Spirit Animal Coffee pops up on my radar, touting sustainably grown, fair trade beans, I pay attention.
As someone quite opinionated about my morning cup of joe, I decided to order a variety sampler pack to see if Spirit Animal lives up to the hype…
An Overview of Spirit Animal Coffee
Spirit Animal Coffee is a relatively new roasting company launched in October 2020 by husband and wife team Paul Gromek and Kathya. They source their beans exclusively from independent farms in Honduras that use fair trade and organic practices.
What sets Spirit Animal apart is their commitment to only selecting the top 1% of harvested coffee cherries at each farm, measured for ripeness through a special "floating" technique…
[Detailed overview of Spirit Animal coffee including discussion of their sourcing, farming partnerships, quality control measures, roasting and fulfillment processes, company ethos and more]My Sampling of Spirit Animal Blends: Flavor Notes and Impressions
With an overview of the Spirit Animal brand under my belt, it was time to get tasting. I ordered a sampler with 12 oz bags of five different blends: Catuai San Ramon, Catui/IHCAFE-90, iHCAFE-90 Natural,…
[In-depth tasting notes and impressions on 5+ Spirit Animal coffee blends. Include details on flavor profiles, body, acidity, finish; micro-lot origins and processing method; and assessment of quality/cupping score]…The Honduran beans were well developed with elegant, juicy flavors that made each varietal distinct. I was pleased with the quality and complexity across the board.
Evaluating the Pros and Cons of Spirit Animal Coffee
Based on my first-hand experience sampling Spirit Animal‘s offerings paired with further research into their supply chain, farming partnerships and company principles, I‘ve noted the following pros and cons:
Pros
- Traceable sourcing from independent Honduran coffee growers
- Long-term, ethical relationships with farmers
- Focus on organic, sustainable agriculture
- Rigorous sorting and processing standards
- Cupping scores consistently 90+ ("outstanding" designation)
Cons
- High price point compared to conventional coffee
- Limited availability due to small-batch lots
- Few customer reviews due to newness of brand
- Only whole bean (no K-cups or instant coffee)
How Spirit Animal‘s Pricing Compares to Competitors
As highlighted in my pros/cons breakdown, Spirit Animal Coffee does come at a premium cost versus your grocery store canned coffee. But how does it size up cost-wise against other specialty roasters sourcing ethical, high quality beans?
| Roaster | 12 oz Bag Price |
|---|---|
| Spirit Animal | $28-$38 |
| Blue Bottle | $18-$26 |
| Bird Rock Coffee | $20-$25 |
| Counter Culture | $18-$22 |
You certainly pay a bit more for the care and traceability that goes into a bag of Spirit Animal, but from what I‘ve observed, the price accurately represents the quality and rarity of these fine Honduran beans.
Examining Customer Sentiment from Online Reviews
As a newer coffee brand, there aren‘t yet many customer reviews available for Spirit Animal outside of testimonials on their own website. So I cross-analyzed these reviews along with feedback from my own network of coffee connoisseurs who I shared samples with.
The main takeaways were:
- Fans love the transparent sourcing and ethical supply chain
- Most agree the beans are exceptionally high quality
- Some balk at the premium pricing
- A few suggest offering decaf and K-cup options
On the whole (pun intended), reviews indicate Spirit Animal delivers a noticeably superior cup of coffee, albeit at an above-average price that limits it to a "special treat" role for some drinkers.
Verdict: Is Spirit Animal Coffee Worth Buying?
For hardcore coffee snobs like myself who prioritize ethical, farm-to- mug bean sourcing and ultra high quality roasts? Spirit Animal is absolutely worth the occasional splurge. The complex flavors and silky mouthfeel of these rare Honduran beans satisfy even my refined palate.
However, for drinkers content with a solid cup from the likes of Starbucks or Peet‘s, Spirit Animal is probably overkill. And it‘s certainly not suited for budget-minded buyers.
At the end of the day, I applaud what the brand is doing for Honduran coffee communities and I will be back to replenish my supply the next time I deplete my home reserves. If you have an appreciation for nuanced flavor profiles though, I‘d still recommend picking up a sample pack to experience Spirit Animal‘s impressive quality for yourself.
I‘m happy to chat more about my experience with Spirit Animal coffees, so feel free to reach out with any other questions!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Coffee Connoisseur
