
by Nigel Ong
I recently picked up a couple of roasts from Kicking Horse Coffee out of curiosity and after seeing the good reviews.
After reviewing the Kick Ass, Grizzly Claw, and a couple more roasts last time, this time, it’s the Smart Ass roast’s turn.
In this post, I will explore the taste notes, aroma, and overall drinking experience of Kicking Horse Coffee’s Smart Ass Roast. I will also compare this coffee with the coffee roasts in my collection and see if you should try it.
About Kicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass Roast
Kicking Horse Coffee Roasters, started by Elana Rosenfeld and Leo Johnson in 1996 in Invermere, Canada, has become a common name in coffee across North America. You can easily find their roasts on grocery shelves near you.
It began in a small garage but grew quickly because people love its coffee. They have fun names for their coffee, which makes them stand out. Here are a few to start with:
- Kick Ass
- 454 Horsepower
- Three Sisters
- Lucky Jim
- Grizzly Claw
Kicking Horse is also popular due to the care they put into their products. They use organic and fair-trade beans, which means they’re good for the planet and fair to the farmers. This has made a lot of customers happy and loyal to the brand.
As the Smart Ass Roast itself, it is a medium roast with a bit of character and a playful edge. It is one of the medium roasts Kicking Horse offers in their lineup, with Lucky Jim Roast and a couple more.
First Impression
My bag of Kicking Horse Coffee’s Smart Ass Roast has a design consistent with the other roasts in its family – a sleek black packaging adorned with modern typography and a vividly colored emblem.
The packaging features a brown-orange-like backdrop for this particular roast. Inside, there is a logo of an ass, wearing a pair of reading glasses emblazoned in black. This dark roast is crafted from 100% Arabica beans.
For the flavor, Kicking Horse characterizes the roast’s flavor as ‘cheeky, bright, and precocious.’ Now, these are not really the taste of the coffee, but we will leave the flavor notes for tasting later.
Once I opened the bag, the aroma was rich and inviting, with an unexpected hint of sugary sweetness. There’s also a bit of vanilla-like creaminess to the coffee, but it’s quite subtle.
The coffee beans are quite even in size, without anything too large or small. There are not many broken beans, either. Even sizing allows the roaster to roast the beans evenly, resulting in better-tasting coffee since the odds of over or under-roasting coffee are lesser.
Reviews on Amazon seem to show that drinkers appreciate the smoothness of the coffee, as well as the price. It is a rather affordable coffee that does not seem to skimp on quality. Let’s see how true this is.

How Does Kicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass Roast Taste?
I will test the coffee using three different brewing techniques – immersion, filtration, and espresso. Here are the reasons why:
French Press: This immersion brewing method is known for delivering a rich, full-bodied cup of coffee, complete with some sediment. It’ll allow me to experience the coffee’s robust flavor profile.
Pour Over with Filter Paper: This filtration method is great for a cleaner cup, minimizing oils and sediments. It should highlight the more delicate flavors of the coffee.
Espresso: By brewing the coffee as an espresso, I’ll concentrate the coffee into a small, potent shot. This should reveal any unique flavors that might be overshadowed by other brewing methods.
French Press
I made my French press coffee with my Bodum Caffettiera French press. My usual approach is a 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio, mixing 15 grams with 180ml of hot water, heated to about 185°F (or approximately 85°C).
After combining the coffee grounds with water, I stir it and let it steep for 4 minutes before pouring.
The Smart Ass Roast offers a rather unique aroma. Sweet and vanilla-like. There is also a hint of acidity and tartness, which could point to the coffee being roasted medium but on the lighter side.
I started sipping, taking in the coffee and air to enhance the flavor. This coffee is notably smooth, presenting a pleasant texture that flows effortlessly across the tongue without urging me to swallow the coffee down quickly.
I detected a chocolate-forward flavor with some tartness, possibly citrus fruits. Perhaps the coffee’s ‘cheeky and playful’ personality comes from its sweet and sour flavors.
The coffee leaves a clean aftertaste, refreshing the palate without an immediate desire for the next sip.
Pour Over With Filter Paper
For my pour-over coffee setup, I use:
- IKEA Overst Coffee Pour Over Set
- Hario Coffee Filter Paper
- IKEA Riklig Glass Pot
I start with 20 grams of coffee grounds and gradually add 360ml of water. This ensures a steady pour to soak the grounds evenly. The entire brewing process takes about 3-4 minutes.
The result is a pour-over coffee that’s noticeably lighter and more refined than the French press method. It does not have as many fine particles, which can be seen from the bottom of the coffee glass – less sediments.
The filtration process also seems to reduce the smokiness and bitterness, likely due to the filter paper’s removal of some oils and fine particles.
This method allows for a clearer expression of the coffee’s flavor profile – the coffee feels and tastes cleaner on the palate.
I notice the chocolate notes becoming more pronounced and occasional hints of citrusy tartness coming through. There’s also a bit of vanilla creaminess, but it’s subtle.
While my personal preference leans towards the richer body of a French press brew, I can see why some people may enjoy the pour-over version of the Smart Ass Roast.
Espresso
For the espresso, I began by finely grinding the coffee beans down. Afterward, I tamped the grounds into the filter basket. I fitted it into my Wacaco Minipresso GR, a portable, hand-operated espresso device.
I then poured hot water and manually pumped it to extract the espresso.
The espresso produced boasted a rich and creamy crema. The aroma of the crema was more subtle than the typical dark roast espresso, lacking the burnt, smoky scent, and had a noticeable fresh and acidic, tart aroma.
This is expected since the Smart Ass Roast is a medium roast, which means it will not taste the same as regular espresso roasts.
Tasting the espresso was again a combination of chocolatey sweetness and citrusy tartness, with a bit of vanilla creaminess in between.
It was definitely less intense than a typical espresso. While you may be tempted to just gulp down regular espresso. With the Smart Ass espresso, you can actually let the coffee sit in your mouth for a bit.

Kicking Horse Smart Ass Roast vs Popular Medium Roast
I decided to compare the Smart Ass Roast with other favorite medium roasts of mine. I selected the following medium roasts for the comparison:
- Community Coffee American Classic Roast
- McCafe Premium Roast
- Dunkin Original Blend
- Lavazza Qualita Oro
Just as with the other coffee roasts, I prepared them using a French press and tasted each one after the other with the Smart Ass Roast.
While the Smart Ass Roast might not top this list, it certainly holds its own among these popular choices. I would place it above the offerings from Lavazza but not quite on par with Dunkin, McCafe, or Community Coffee’s roast.
My issue is the odd combination of chocolaty and citrusy tartness in the coffee. As nice as it is, the combination made the coffee less enjoyable to my palate than more ‘regular’ medium roasts.
The coffee would perform much better if it kept the chocolatey notes while reducing the acidity. Some fresh bread, malty, or toasty notes would make the coffee much better.
But then, this is, in the end, my personal preference. You may have a different take on how the Smart Ass Roast performs compared to the other coffee in this list.
Is Kicking Horse Coffee Smart Ass Roast For You?
Having tried Kicking Horse Coffee’s Smart Ass Roast, I’d describe it as a medium roast with an unexpected kick.
Rather than sticking to the classic, familiar flavors, Kicking Horse seems to have infused this roast with bold, distinctive tastes.
The flavors that stood out to me were the chocolatey sweetness and citrusy acidity. This combination of flavors may be seen in polar opposites – people usually either love them or not.
You will see it as refreshing, cheeky, or even naughty if you love it. If you don’t, you will see it as an odd combination. I belong to the latter but feel free to disagree with me.
Speaking of which, the Smart Ass Roast is likely a good fit for those open to exploring some adventurous flavors in their coffee.