La Colombe Lyon Whole Bean Coffee, 12 oz

Lyon is La Colombe's gentle one. Nutty-sweet notes with a smooth, toasty finish, and none of the sharp acidity that puts people off some specialty coffees. If you want a cup that is easy to drink all morning and does not demand anything from you, this is the bag.

Who this is for

First-time specialty coffee buyers, and anyone who has been burned by a coffee that tasted sour or too intense. Lyon is mellow and forgiving, which also means it is hard to ruin if your brewing is still a work in progress. It takes milk well and is pleasant black.

The details

• Tasting notes: nutty-sweet, smooth, toasty
• Form: whole bean, 12 oz, sold as 1, 2 or 3 bags
• Ingredients: roasted coffee, nothing added
• Naturally free of dairy, wheat and yeast
• Roasted in the United States

Brewing it

Whole bean means you grind it yourself, which is the single biggest upgrade most people can make to their coffee. Grind medium for drip and pour-over, coarse for French press, fine for espresso. Start around 2 tablespoons of grounds per 6 oz of water and adjust to taste: thin or sour means add more coffee, heavy or bitter means use less.

Keeping it fresh

Grind only what you are about to brew, keep the bag closed in a cool cupboard, and stay out of the fridge and freezer. A 12 oz bag is roughly three weeks of a daily cup for one person, which is about the window where it still tastes its best.

How it compares to Nizza

Nizza is the chocolate-and-brownie one, richer and sweeter. Lyon is quieter and nuttier. If you are buying for someone else and do not know their taste, Lyon is the safer bet.

Grocery shelf coffee can be months old before you open it, and a "best by" date is not a freshness date. This comes to you direct, with my 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a real person on the other end of the email.