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.
Wonky Pelican Coffee Company promises to deliver high-grade coffee fresh to your door. Sixteen products to choose from light roast (Beach Blond; a blend of Central American and Africa) to dark roast (Sea Turtle Six Bean; a house blend from all over the world).
Coffee for a cause: Wonky Pelican Coffee donates 10% of every sale to research, conservation, and education to Save The Sea Turtles International & One Ocean Conservation, a 501c3 non-profit in Haleiwa, Hawaii, in 1988.
Thanks to Andrew from Wonky pelican for contacting us and sending us some delicious coffee.
Wonky Pelican Coffee – Shark Saver espresso
Espresso
When pulling my shot, I notice a nice thickness and nice crema. It is a good-looking espresso. That does not always mean it will taste good, but it is satisfying to watch. This coffee delivers all the goodies expected from a medium-high roast espresso: thick, sweet with a balanced (faint) brightness and a well-controlled bitterness. It has a little bit of complexity. I also taste a delicious caramel sweetness with bright notes reminding me of dried cherries. It is an easy-to-drink and delicious espresso.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your First Espresso Shots?
French press
Easy and smooth. Not complex but well balanced. A pronounced sweetness reminds me of caramel balanced by delicate acidity and a trace of light bitterness, like tonic water. I suspect it would combine very well with milk. It leaves a delicious coffee aftertaste but does not linger for a long time. No off-notes, only the delightful coffee taste subsist. I would recommend it as an excellent daily cup for starting your day.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your Coffee Look Sophisticated? Get a French Press!
Pour-Over
No surprise after trying it with the other methods: it is very balanced and easy to drink. Sweet and bright at the same time. The bitterness is moderate and gives it this “refreshing” quality. I find it a good summer coffee because of that brighter character. After drinking it, you keep a sweet caramelly flavor followed by a delicate bitterness. Like the French press, it works great as a daily coffee to start the day, and it should be great with your drip coffee machine.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Get the Best Out of High-Quality Coffee Beans? Use the Pour-Over Method.
Wonky Pelican Coffee – Sea Turtle Six Bean
French press
I tried Sea Turtle Six Bean with the French press first. I will confess that I did not have high expectations since I am not often impressed by dark roast beans. I was expecting bitterness and an “ashy” character from the dark roast, and I get none of it. The bag smells lovely, with a sweet “roast” aroma. The first thing that I notice at the first sip is its smoothness. It is a straightforward coffee to drink. Sweet, comforting with no bitterness. It leaves a pleasantly sweet aftertaste with no bitterness at all. Cooling down, I taste more of the “roast” flavors from the dark roast, and I appreciate that there are no “burn” notes, just the pleasant character of a well-controlled dark roast coffee. The dark roast may cover some of the characteristics of the beans, but it makes an exciting taste profile on its own. I usually avoid dark roast coffee for any brew method other than espresso, but I enjoy this one. It is a good coffee that I would serve to my guest on a winter morning to enjoy a comforting, balanced, and smooth cup for starting the day. Well, it is summer now, but I still want it!
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your Coffee Look Sophisticated? Get a French Press!
Pour-over
I usually avoid filter methods with a dark roast and prefer the French press, but I wanted to try how it would turn. In my opinion, the filter does not remove anything compared to the French press for this one. Like the French press, it is still a comforting, round, and sweet coffee. There is no “burnt” or “ashy” taste. It is balanced. It delivers a great cup of rich sweet coffee with very little bitterness. A round caramel flavor remains on your tongue for a little while. I recommend this blend as a daily cup to brew with your drip coffee machine.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Get the Best Out of High-Quality Coffee Beans? Use the Pour-Over Method.
Espresso
Delicious for an espresso. It is thick and viscous, so satisfying to watch flow as I pull my espresso shot, thanks to the beautiful stripes. What surprises me most is that it is very well integrated, not overly smoky. It is almost delicate, which I don’t often find with espresso. Still very comforting. Lots of sweetness, with a flavor that reminds me of almonds. As it passes my tongue, I taste the distinctive toasty roast flavor you typically get from a well-executed classic Italian espresso blend. There is a very moderate bitterness. The aftertaste is mainly that delicious sweet espresso that remains for a long time and makes you want another one. I haven’t had a dark roast espresso in a long time, and I realized I was craving one.
Espresso makes you realize how the quality of the roast as it magnifies any imperfections. I am rarely impressed by a dark roast as it is too often “too much” and not delicate. Sea Turtle Six Beans is a welcome surprise: an excellent dark roast that did well with every method.
You might like to read this fantastic article; How to Make Your First Espresso Shots?
The Bottom Line
I enjoyed both offerings from Wonky Pelican. These are 2 very different coffees that would satisfy every preference. The way I see it, I would use both of them for 2 distinct seasons. Shark Saver Espresso for the summer thanks to its refreshing acidity and mild bitterness, and I would switch to Sea Turtle Six Bean for the winter to enjoy its comforting and rich profile. Drinking delicious coffee and helping a good cause, what’s not to like?
