It’s cold. It’s dark. All you want is a cup of rich, chocolatey dark-roast coffee.
But you are a coffee nerd (yes, you), and you know the struggle. One wrong pick and you get charcoal with a caffeine problem. Go the other way, and you’re sipping beans that wish they were dark roast. Stick around. I’ve got a dark, delicious solution brewing.
About the Roaster
I first heard about Bili Hu from a family friend who casually carried a V60 on a trip (as one should). He brewed us a cup, and it was delicious. Naturally, the beans were from Bili Hu.
From that moment on, I couldn’t get the coffee out of my head, especially that tasteful, bright red bag. So I did what any reasonable person would do. I bought it and enjoyed the hell out of it.
The folks at Bili Hu clearly care a lot about their coffee. Unlike brands that overwhelm you with a hundred indistinguishable options in slightly different packaging, Bili Hu keeps things focused. Visit their website and you’re not buried under choices. Just a small, carefully selected lineup, probably the coffees they know they can get right.
Now, minimal choice alone doesn’t make a great roaster. But I have a deep, almost irrational trust in people who do less but do it well. Bili Hu certainly seems to be one of them.
About the Beans
| Bean Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| Roast Level | Dark Roast |
| Bean Appearance |  |
| Roast Consistency | Average. Not the highest consistency. As you can see, a few beans are almost yellow |
About the Brewed Coffee
| Characteristics vis-à-vis Brewing Methods | Espresso | V60 |
|---|---|---|
| Recipe | 17g in – 36g out ~ 30-35 seconds (10 Second Pre-Infusion) | 15g coffee – 250ml water |
| Taste | Silky, creamy, foamy. Dark Chocolates, little to no fruit. Texture here is a 11/10. No Acidity. Sweet, a bit astringent finish. | Bitter Chocolate, Smooth consistency. Little to no Acidity. |
| Tasting Notes | Dark Chocolate. Earthy undertones. Honey with a bit of bitter taste at the end. | Bitter Chocolate. A bit smokey. |
| Visuals |   | I don’t think anyone is interested in just Black V60 visuals so I did’t bother with it. |
My Honest Review
I’m usually not a fan of dark roasts. I prefer fruit, acidity, and a bit of character in my coffee. That said, credit where it’s due. Bili Hu genuinely surprised me. They have done an impressive job here.
Pulled right as an espresso, this coffee feels almost silky on the palate. It’s incredibly foamy, creamy, and smooth, so much so that you would be be forgiven for thinking there is dairy or nitrogen involved. Honestly, the mouthfeel alone is reason enough to buy this coffee.
Dark roasts often collapse into that generic coffee-chocolate flavour. This one doesn’t. Once past the initial bitterness, you’re met with a burnt-honey flavour which is pleasantly sweet.
This would make an excellent base for milk beverages. I don’t drink milky coffee myself, but if you do, this should be right up your alley.
That said, it’s not flawless. There’s a touch of astringency at the finish, which I suspect comes from slight inconsistency in the roast level across the beans.
Even so, nothing here stops me from buying these beans again.