by At Beans and Burrs, we are amateur coffee lovers. We intend to write coffee reviews in a way that makes sense to regular coffee drinkers. All opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Ever since I moved to Nashville 4 years ago, I have been looking for a great local option. I often talk about the joy of finding a local roaster where you can purchase delicious fresh coffee beans. Last year, I took my family for breakfast at a coffee shop called Stay Golden. We loved the atmosphere, the food, and their delicious coffee. Since then, they rebranded their coffee brand “Good Citizen.” Time to review their espresso workhorse, Chin-UP.
In their words, Good Citizen Coffee is not just a coffee brand; it’s a lifestyle brand – one we aspire will connect and resonate with our customers.
They roast their coffees and create functional products to go along with them.
They advocate for biodiversity, create trustworthy relationships with farmers, and deliver specialty coffee for future generations.
Through their Flora & Fauna Initiative, they commit to paying an additional 5% to select coffee farmers to invest in healthy eco-systems on their land because we care about them and our earth.
Their motto is to be a good citizen together; we can support good coffee and coffee for good.
They offer 15 coffees: from Latin American or African blends to Single Origin (Colombia or Costa Rica); their selection is mouthwatering.
You can find Good Citizen coffee at Nashville’s Stay Golden coffee shop, 2934 Sidco Dr #130, Nashville, TN. They also ship all over the US if you purchase online.
About the Good Citizen Coffee – Chin Up:
Chin Up is a Latin American blend designed to fit every need – whether for a heavy-bodied espresso, a trustworthy batch brew, or a velvety smooth iced coffee. In their words, Chin Up is balanced and approachable. Notes: dark chocolate and cherry.
I picked Chin Up because it is their house espresso.
Now Let’s taste it and review it!
The design of their bags is appealing. I get a wonderful whiff of high-quality fresh coffee when opening it. The beans are beautiful. By looking at their color, I can tell that it is on the lighter side of the roast spectrum, despite their claim that it is a medium roast. When grinding them, I can’t help but marvel at the beautiful cognac color.
#1. Espresso with Good Citizen Coffee – Chin UP
Since it is a lighter roast than what I usually drink, I need to adjust my parameters:
- less coffee: I aim for a 2.5:1 ratio instead of my usual 2:1,
- finer grind,
- longer shot to maximize the extraction that is typically harder on a light roast.
It will only taste sour if not extracted enough, and I may miss the sweetness. I want to clarify this upfront since I dismissed light roast espresso coffee in the past, thinking that they were sour and wondering why people like it that way. It turned out I was not brewing them correctly. Take the time to play with your parameters with this type of medium-light beans; they will reward you.
And reward it does! My first impression is the brightness: a crisp acidity, with a taste of sour cherries, immediately followed by a sweetness that reminds me of Graham crackers. It is delicate and fun at the same time. The mouthfeel is thin. It is almost the opposite of what I drink daily (sweet, chocolaty, and syrupy), while this one is light, bright, and very liquid. I like it; it is a welcome change.
The aftertaste is delicious and sweet. Again, it reminds me of graham crackers with a delicate lemony flavor, almost like lemon bars but less sweet.
Once this coffee is well dialed in, it is enjoyable to experience. I would go back to my typical thick and chocolatey espressos, but I enjoy taking a break and experiencing a well-balanced, bright and fun alternative like this one! If you forgive me, I am going back for another one.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your First Espresso Shots?
#2. Pour-Over with Good Citizen Coffee – Chin UP
I was suspecting it would do well as a Pour-over. It did not disappoint. Delicacy is how to describe it: everything is nuanced but very present. First, it smells good; there is a delicious and sweet aroma in the cup. The smell of hot coffee does not often wow me. This one surprises me. I get a perfectly balanced combination of delicate acidity and sweetness at the first sip. Like a lemon bar but will less sugar. It is light but delicious. There is almost no bitterness; acidity and sweetness are perfectly dosed measures. It is easy to sip, but at the same time, it is exciting, and I can’t stop rolling it in my mouth to detect all the nuances. The finish is sweet, again graham crackers, with a fun note of lemony brightness. It is probably one of the best coffee I tried with the pour-over. I would use this one to tell someone what specialty coffee means and how excellent and delicate a black coffee can be.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Get the Best Out of High-Quality Coffee Beans? Use the Pour-Over Method.
#3. French press with Good Citizen Coffee – Chin UP
I expected the French press to be significantly less good than the pour-over, but I am not finding that. I still have a wonderfully balanced cup. Delicious bright lemon immediately coated by a delicate sweetness. I am thinking again about my lemon bar, only less sweet. There is more bitterness than the pour-over, but it is still very controlled compared to most coffee beans. It is slightly different from the pour-over, a little bolder, but all the qualities are intact. No matter which method I use, it’s the same coffee. It looks like you can enjoy Chin Up with most brewing methods.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your Coffee Look Sophisticated? Get a French Press!
The Bottom line
Chin-UP is a beautiful example of what a skilled roaster can deliver. It is impressive and surprising. So different than what I usually drink. I enjoyed every single cup I brewed with it. I strongly encourage you to explore your local coffee roaster; you may encounter a gem like this one! I often mention where your coffee journey can take you in my articles and reviews. Good Citizen Chin up is one of these great finds along the way.
