Best Kicking Horse Coffee

Kicking Horse Coffee’s motto is “Wake up and kick ass!” and Who wouldn’t love to do that every morning? Kicking Horse Coffee was formed in Canada in 1996 by Elana Rosenfield and Leo Johnson and made its debut out of their garage. The couple spends much of their time roasting and experimenting to perfect their coffee.

The best Kicking Horse coffee by far is Cliff Hanger Espresso; it’s one of their best sellers. This coffee is a complex roast with dark cocoa flavors and bright berry notes, and it’s an ideal medium roast. There are other great blends from kicking horse coffee, and which one you’ll like best depends on your bean and coffee preferences.

Kicking Horse Coffee also caters to decaf drinkers, it also offers a range of flavors from light to medium to dark roast, and the coffee is certified organic. Let’s investigate more of what makes Kicking Horse Coffee stand out from its competitors and the quality of its coffee.

Brand Recommended Brewing Method Best Kicking Horse Coffee For

CLIFF HANGER French Press, Drip, Pour Over, and Espresso BRIGHT / FRUIT & COCOA / HEAVENLY

KICK ASS French Press, Drip, and Pour Over SWEET / SMOKY / AUDACIOUS

SMART ASS French Press, Drip, Pour Over, and Espresso CHEEKY / BRIGHT / PRECOCIOUS

THREE SISTERS French Press, Drip, and Pour Over SMOOTH / SAVOURY / SEDUCTIVE

GRIZZLY CLAW French Press, Drip, and Pour Over RICH / DARK CHOCOLATE / DECADENT

454 HORSE POWER French Press, Drip, and Pour Over VELVETY / EARTHY / SPIRITED

DECAF French Press, Drip, Pour Over, and Espresso SWISS WATER PROCESS

LUCKY JIM French Press, Espresso, and Pour Over GOOD / SWIFT / KICK

Where Are Kicking Horse Coffee Beans From?

Kicking Horse Coffee only uses USDA certified organic Arabica beans and sources their beans from the main growing regions in South America, Central America, Africa, and Indonesia.

The company purchases its beans from certified organic and Fair Trade farms in Colombia, Peru, Sumatra, East Timor, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Uganda, and Ethiopia. The beans are then transported back to their Facility in British Colombia for roasting.

It’s important to note that kicking Horse Coffee is shade-grown. Shade-grown coffee enhances the taste and quality of the coffee. So let’s explore some of the benefits of shade-grown coffee:

1. Health

Aside from tobacco, coffee beans are usually sprayed with more chemicals than any other crop consumed by people. Shade-grown coffee tends to be organically grown and chemical-free. Kicking Horse Coffee is mildly acidic, which is good news for your health as it is light on your stomach.

2. Taste

Since coffee beans develop more slowly in the shade, natural sugars develop and enhance the coffee’s flavor.

3. Healthier Environment

As shade-grown coffee beans require little or no chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, shade trees can effectively filter carbon dioxide, promoting global warming. Shade trees also aid in soil moisture retention, and this minimizes erosion.

4. Sustains Rainforests

Coffee plantations that depend on chemicals suffer from soil depletion and erosion. Rainforests are stripped to provide new growing grounds. Shade coffee plantations are organic, eco-friendly, and sustainable

5. Bird Habitats And Biodiversity

The decline of migrating bird populations is one of the worst consequences of destroying rainforests for increased coffee plantations.

However, shade coffee farms improve biodiversity and provide habitats for birds. So far, around 150 birds have been identified on shade coffee-growing farms.

Is All Kicking Horse Coffee Organic?

Yes, all Kicking Horse Coffee is organic (available From Amazon), kosher, Fairtrade, gluten-free, and shade-grown. Kicking Horse Coffee is an excellent choice for health-conscious consumers.

If you care about the environment and how coffee companies treat their farmers, you should know that Kicking Horse coffee doesn’t use GMOs, and their farmers receive ethical wages. They are a Fair Trade Company.

In 2003, Kicking Horse Coffee became an entirely organic company, and they are committed to only roasting organic, non-GMO coffee.

In 2007, the company decided to buy only 100% of its coffee beans from Fair Trade growers, and this commitment continues to this present day. Fair Trade ensures ethical working conditions for farmworkers, and this is something we can all get on board with when choosing a coffee brand.

Are Kicking Horse Coffee Beans Oily?

Kicking Horse Whole Bean’s original dark roast coffee can be oily when the package is opened. Some people also find their Cliff hanger coffee a little too oily, which is concerning for those who grind their beans at home. So, avoid putting those beans in a super-automatic espresso machine, as they will clog the grinder.

If you find that some roasts of Kicking Horse Coffee are oily, use a separate burr grinder as they are easier to take apart and clean. A French Press is ideal whenever you brew a cup of coffee with oilier beans.

Oily coffee isn’t always a bad thing, as, without the oil, espresso wouldn’t have its crema. The oil in the coffee beans produces aromas and flavors during the dark roasting process.

The longer beans are roasted, the more characteristics end up burning off the bean, and the faster oils get to the surface. The second crack of the roasting process releases more oils, roasts that don’t involve the second crack will produce little or no oil.

Which Kicking Horse Coffee Contains The Most Caffeine?

No particular Kicking Horse Roast has more caffeine than another, as the caffeine content remains about the same during each roasting stage.

If you want more caffeine, simply add more coffee. You can guarantee that both light and dark roast will equally make up one robust cuppa.

Light roasts and dark roasts can vary in taste, body, flavor, and complexity, as each roasting stage delivers distinct sets of characteristics.

Light roasts can be sweet, tangy, fruity, with a subtle floral aroma. Light roasts have a lighter body because the coffee bean hasn’t been roasted long enough to produce oil or caramelized sugars.

The roasting process overshadows the coffee’s origin tastes at the dark roast stage, and the bright tones disappear. Dark roasts are typically bold and rice, full of texture and body. Despite these differences, both light and dark roasts have about the same caffeine content.

However, the one blend that has many people talking about its power is the Kicking Horse Hola light roast. The Hola roast is a spirited one that is sure to kick-start your day.

It has red currant acidity combined with a creamy honey body. Recommended brewing methods include pour-over, drip machine, and cold brew.

The roast is bright and somewhat acidic as an excellent light roast should be, but it produces a strong cuppa. It is a thoroughly enjoyable brew with a rich aroma and no bitter aftertaste.

Hola retains more of its original flavors and unique aspects like many light roasts, making the natural qualities shine. Hola is indeed a complex flavor.

How Much Caffeine Is In Kicking Horse Coffee?

Within a cup consisting of 98.6% water, 1.4% of that cup is dissolved coffee solids, so only 1.2% of the 1.4% of coffee is caffeine. In other words, your typical brewed cup of Kicking Horse Coffee has just 0.0168% caffeine.

When you take your first sup of coffee, caffeine goes through the lining of your mouth, throat, and stomach via your bloodstream.

So, your stomach contents can experience different effects of caffeine. It usually takes up to forty-five minutes for your bloodstream to absorb most of the caffeine, and it can last up to three hours.

As caffeine is water-soluble, it can be extracted with water, and there is only so much caffeine that can be extracted from coffee. Kicking Horse Coffee only uses Arabica beans which contain less caffeine than Robusta.

Which Kicking Horse Coffee Is Least Acidic?

All the Kicking Horse Coffee blends have low acidity levels because their beans are organically grown and roasted in the Rocky Mountains and steeped for about 20 hours. As a result, kicking Horse Coffee is dark, deep, refreshing, low-calorie, delicious black, and naturally, low in acid.

The Kicking Horse Three Sisters blend is particularly praised for its smooth flavor and low acidity, as it is easy on the stomach.

Is Kicking Horse Coffee Mold-Free?

The company routinely tests its coffee for mold, yeast, and bacteria. An independent laboratory checks the coffee, and if the results are 100% negative, they will share the results, although not with the public; however, they will provide the information if asked.

All their coffee beans, except those from Africa, are inspected for mold before being roasted. They store their coffee beans in British Colombia, Canada, which has low humidity, thus reducing the risk of possible contaminates.

The Kicking Horse Coffee company is established, and reputable whose primary focus is creating excellent coffee.

Does Kicking Horse Coffee Have Decaf?

Kicking Horse Coffee Does have a decaf blend, and it is delicious. It is sourced in Central and South America; it has deep chocolate and a nutty aroma.

Taste-wise, it has roasted hazelnut notes, with a chocolatey body and a lasting finish. Recommended brewing methods include drip, French Press, Espresso, and Pour over.

Final Thoughts

Kicking Horse Coffee is one of Canadas best coffee shops. People love them for their complex and exciting coffee, commitment to helping the community, and being as environmentally sound as possible.

Kicking Horse Coffee is for individuals with an adventurous spirit. The company’s products feature complex flavor profiles with fascinating pairing options; if you like these tastes, then this brand is perfect for you.

This brand offers flavors that you will never forget, and it provides insights into many different flavors of this excellent brand.