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.
Klatch is a family business that started with a love for great coffee more than 25 years ago in Ontario, Southern California. The Perry family began with one retail store and grew to 8 retail cafés and a global wholesale coffee roasting business.
In their words: “Mike (the creator) uses his degree in Chemical Engineering to achieve a balance of science and artistry we call “Peak of Flavor” roast style. “
They earned many awards (named TOP 25 Roasters in America Gear Patrol: 2019, 2021), and many websites, magazines, television, etc., featured them.
I discovered Klatch a couple of years ago via Trade. Their WBC – World’s Best Espresso is one of my favorite espresso blends. This blend was awarded World’s Best Espresso at the 2007 World Barista Championships (WBC), hence the name.
Klatch is one of the most recognized roasters in the country, and I must admit that I was very flattered when they contacted us to feature their coffee in some of our photos on Social Media. They offered to review any of their coffees and that they shipped to us free of charge. I went for their new Summer WBC World’s Best Espresso.
About the coffee:
In their own words: “Our WBC is a ‘Summer Version with Red Fruits. Our goal will be more red fruits (think strawberry, raspberry cherry, or cranberry) and some yellow stone fruits (think peach or apricot) for lighter and fun summer blends.”
The bag we received from Klatch was only six days old when I tested it; that is fresh! I immediately perceived a wonderful whiff of blueberries and fresh pastries, almost like blueberries muffins, when I opened it. The blueberries smell is a telltale sign that it contains Ethiopian coffee. I asked them if that was the case. They told me that the blend contains Ethiopia natural, Brazil Yellow Bourbon, and Sumatra Lake Tawar. With such a lovely nose, I was impatient to taste it in my espresso cup.
Now let’s taste it!
Espresso
While pulling my first shot, I noticed a relatively thin body, which surprised me because the WBC espresso I had from Klatch before was syrupy and thick. The palate is complex, very layered. I detect a lovely sweetness, reminding me of fresh pastries, just like I smelled when I opened the bag. Then I taste amazing berries notes, not blueberries, more like sweet red berries like raspberries. There’s a subtle yet present acidity. It combines all the flavors of the spectrum nicely. After sipping it, I keep a sweet, fruity, and tart flavor. The sweet pastries flavor remains, making me want more. As it cools down, I detect more fruit, but the sweetness is always lingering. There is a faint bitterness that never takes over, staying in the background. I love the sweet aftertaste.
This is a delicious espresso. Don’t be fooled by the terms I use to describe it: it tastes like coffee – a delicious one, I must say. The pastries and fruity flavors are merely accents. Still, they are easy to detect. That is a fantastic coffee to recommend to someone discovering espresso who wants to try something different and complex. I told you in my previous articles that this coffee journey could be entertaining.
Learn with us how to pull your first espresso shots; read more.
French press
Don’t let the “espresso” name mislead you [How to Select the Best Coffee for Espresso?]; this coffee is not and should not be limited to be consumed as an espresso. Let us try it with the French press.
Wow, it is terrific! The blueberry muffin aroma from the beans is present when you sip it. My palate is coated at first with a lovely sweetness. Again, it tastes like fresh pastries. Next, you sense a pleasant tartness with delicate blueberries notes. It is complex and intriguing, and I think it shines with the French press—what a delicious coffee. I am glad I did not limit myself to “espresso” given its name. The aftertaste is delightful: the sweetness remains on the tongue, and you keep the memory of blueberry scones.
Are you interested in making the best French press? Check out this excellent article.
Pour-over
The blueberry accent is the first thing you notice when you start sipping it. All the fruit flavors come forward. The acidity is much more muted than the French press, and the sweetness is more in the background. It is very complex and balanced, but I find the french press working better with it. I lose some of the ‘pastries” sweet character that I loved with the press. This is more like a fine tea, well structured, complex, and intriguing. The aftertaste is lovely: blueberry note with a bit of sweetness that reminds me of shortbread cookies.
Americano
I tried it a few days later, without the intention to write about it, expecting it wouldn’t bring anything more than the French press. I was so wrong! It has a beautiful thick texture. The blueberry flavor comes with a rich dark chocolate flavor that I did not detect with the other brewing methods, a wonderful surprise. Surprisingly, I did not taste chocolate in a straight espresso, but it is very present when “diluted” as an americano. There is no bitterness at all, just moderate sweetness. The luscious dark chocolate taste remains present long after drinking it. This is a bold and complex cup of coffee, and I enjoyed every drop of it.
The bottom line
I was very excited to be contacted by Klatch. I tried several of their products in the past, and their WBC Espresso is one of the best espresso blends that I bought. I was flattered that they found us on Instagram and asked us to showcase their products. This Summer WBC does not disappoint. Of course, it makes a delicious, complex, and fun cup of espresso, but you would be missing out only to drink it that way. Every brewing method works with it. The fun pastries and berries flavors and aromas you get with it make you understand why coffee is so fascinating. Yes, it tastes like coffee, but when you close your eyes and take the time to enjoy it, it explodes with complex and fun flavors!
