Smart Ass

If you are looking to elevate your morning coffee routine, the Kicking Horse "Smart Ass" Medium Roast is a phenomenal whole-bean selection. The second you open the 10 oz bag, you are hit with a wonderfully sweet, complex aroma packed with heavy notes of sweet syrup, vanilla bean, and ripe stone fruit. The flavor profile is wonderfully cheeky, bright, and beautifully balanced. It leads with a slightly tart splash of red currant, which transitions smoothly into subtle undertones of sugar cane and rich milk chocolate, finishing with a clean, honeyed berry body. Unlike many lower-tier medium roasts, it features absolutely zero burnt or bitter aftertaste, delivering a smooth sip from start to finish. Because they are whole beans, grinding them fresh right before brewing yields an incredibly vibrant cup that acts as the perfect high-efficiency jumpstart to your workday.

This Kicking Horse Smart Ass Coffee is a fantastic choice for those who want a premium, high-quality brew at a great value. It is fully USDA Organic and Fairtrade certified, ensuring that the beans are grown sustainably and the company operates with total transparency. The flavor profile is exceptionally smooth and bright, featuring notes of milk chocolate, sugar cane, and tart red currant that make every morning cup enjoyable. I love that it’s roasted right in the Rocky Mountains with no additives or fillers, providing a healthy and clean coffee experience. Overall, it’s a high-value product that I will definitely be purchasing again for my daily routine.

I'm certainly not a coffee connoisseur. I've been trying to find my favorite bean for morning lattes and mochas ever since upgrading to a "real" espresso machine, a Lelit Mara, earlier this year. I've gone through a small handful of beans so far, and this Smart Ass coffee is among the best. I normally go for a bean from a local roaster but if it isn't conveniently available (I live pretty rurally and it's often easier to order from Amazon than it is to go to "town") I'll get adventurous and try some new stuff. Kicking Horse seemed well reviewed so I gave it a chance and the Smart Ass seemed to be the most like my preferred flavor profile. It's a solid medium roast so it's not bitter or earthy. It's what I might call "balanced"; it's bright and a bit chocolaty. It's not subtle and it's not aggressive. It's just a really nice smooth middle-of-the-road taste. I might try some others from these guys. I only recently learned that Kicking Horse's parent company is Lavazza, a hugely popular Italian coffee company. What this means for their beans and product, I don't know, but Kicking Horse isn't the small company it might appear to be. Still, it's good stuff, a bit on the expensive side but it's organic and fair-trade. I'd buy it again. In fact I'll probably do that now, I just remembered I emptied the last of the bag.

Why aren’t more people talking about how delicious this coffee is?? One of our faves to grind in our espresso machine for an amazing morning cup of joe. The crema on the espresso is… chefs kiss! Love that it’s organic, too!

icking Horse Coffee Smart Ass Medium Roast is a standout choice for anyone who appreciates a smooth, easy-drinking cup of coffee. The flavor is well-balanced,rich without being overpowering, and it goes down incredibly smooth with no harsh aftertaste. It has just the right amount of brightness to keep it interesting, while still being mellow enough for everyday drinking. The aroma is inviting, and the whole beans grind nicely for a fresh, consistent brew. Overall, it’s a great coffee that delivers quality and flavor without being too bold or too mild, definitely one I’d keep coming back to.

Flavor: Smart A$$ Whole Bean Bought this coffee after reading the high praise it received in the review section. I said "why not?" and gave it a shot. Ground the beans fresh and brewed a cup. Now everyone has their own preferences when it comes to flavor and intensity, and no one understands that better than I, so take this review with a grain of salt. However, when it comes to my personal preference, this coffee simply did not meet my standards. I tried it both black, which is how I prefer my morning brew, and with sugar. I will give credit where credit is due. Upon opening the bag and smelling the beans, as well as right after grinding them, the smell was lovely. It only made me more excited to brew a fresh cup. However, after brewing said cup, the aroma was entirely gone. It barely smelled of anything. Not good or bad, just there. Unfortunately, the taste is exactly the same. Its not a bad cup of coffee, but it certainly isn't a great one either. No real flavors coming through as you'd expect with a medium roast. Perhaps I got a bad batch, but I would not recommend this coffee if you enjoy the subtleties of a fresh cup of coffee. After adding some sugar, it is slightly better, but then again, what isn't better with a little bit of sugar.

This coffee is ranked very high among coffee experts for good reason. It has amazing notes chocolate and cherry, is very smooth but bold. I've tried several highly rated specialty coffees but this blend from Kicking Horse is far and away my favorite. At first I thought it was my imagination but every time I come back to this coffee it has such a distinct and very pleasant flavor profile. It's not the cheapest so I drink it more as a treat, but I think that makes it all the more special and enjoyable

Love it!

A bit too dark

Good coffee at a good price. Excellent!!!!!!

First thing I have in the morning.

A very mild coffee brew, takes getting use to.

Toujours bon!