by Nigel Ong
Peet’s is a popular coffee roaster, probably most known for its Major Dickason Dark Roast. However, there are also other roasts in its offerings, which are also rather popular.
One of these is the Big Bang Roast. It seems to have received many good endorsements from coffee reviewers, which interested me in trying this coffee out myself.
I reviewed The Big Bang Roast from Peet’s Coffee in this post. I will brew the coffee three ways and then sample it with flavorings. I will also compare it against other medium roasts and decide who would enjoy the coffee.
About Peet’s Big Bang Roast
Peet’s Coffee & Tea, commonly known as Peet’s Coffee, was founded in 1966 by Alfred Peet in Berkeley, California. Alfred Peet was known for his commitment to quality coffee beans and roasting techniques.
He’s often credited with pioneering the craft coffee movement in the US and inspiring other coffee entrepreneurs. These include the founders of Starbucks, who originally sold Peet’s beans in their stores.
Peet’s remains one of the major players of gourmet coffee in the US today. Their most popular roasts include the Major Dickason Dark Roast and the Big Bang Medium Roast.
The Big Bang Roast was first introduced as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Peet’s in 2016. It’s described as a vibrant and bright blend, capturing the spirit of Alfred Peet’s innovative style.
Reviewers use terms such as ‘a blast of tropical fruit’ when describing Peet’s Big Bang Roast. I wonder if I will taste the same with the coffee myself.
How Does Peet’s Big Bang Roast Taste?
First Impression
My bag of Peet’s Big Bang Roast is large, at 18 oz (about 510 gm). There are smaller bags, in 12 oz (about 340 gm.). The packaging shows Peet’s intention to be a premium coffee roaster, with intricate designs and clear information printed.
I enjoy seeing the roast and best-before date printed on the coffee bag. This shows that Peet’s wants to sell you fresh coffee instead of trying to pass stale.
When I open the coffee bag, I can smell the fragrance of coffee, with some additional notes of milk chocolate. I can also pick up a whiff of fruitiness in the coffee, which is a pleasant surprise.
My coffee came in ground form, good for direct use in a French press, coffee dripper machine, or pour-over. However, you will need to grind the coffee down to an even finer consistency for espresso machines.
For brewing, I will use three major brewing styles:
French Press: This brewing style makes a murky, full-flavored coffee with floating particles. This should allow me to sample the coffee in all its ‘glory.’ I expect full flavor and strong flavor with this coffee.
Pour Over With Filter Paper: This method produces a ‘cleaner’ version of the coffee without too much oil and particles floating about. This should help me to sample more of the subtle notes.
Espresso: Espresso may be more common with darker roasts, but I found it generally able to concentrate flavors very well, especially at the crema. Brewing an espresso should help me better appreciate the flavors in this Big Bang Roast.
French Press
I relied on my Bodum Caffettiera French press for this brewing style. I used the 1:12 coffee-to-water ratio recommended by Illy Coffee, similar to my other coffee reviews.
I added 15 grams of coffee and 180ml of hot water at around 185°F (about 85°C). After stirring the coffee ground, I let the concoction brew for 4 minutes before pouring myself a cup.
As I sipped the coffee, my palate picked up tastes that I would best describe as tropical. The Big Bang Roast has notes of chocolate and tropical citrus fruits. I cannot describe what they are; perhaps pineapples, mango, and lime?
There is some smoke with the coffee, but not too much, as this is a medium roast. It gives the coffee a little kick, but not to the point that it covers up the other notes.
I particularly enjoy the long finish. The coffee’s flavor stays with me even after I have swallowed it. There is a soft, caramel-like taste on my tongue at the finish.
Pour Over With Filter Paper
My pour-over brewing method is based on what Starbucks recommends. I added 10 gms of ground coffee and about 180ml of hot, off-boiling water. I took it slowly during the pouring process, first focusing on wetting and blooming the coffee.
Once that was done, I slowly poured in the rest. It took about 5 minutes to complete the whole brewing process.
My coffee came out with fewer sediments and particles floating about, with some slight translucency. This definitely is a cleaner cup of coffee than the French press.
Flavor-wise, I tasted less smoke, with a stronger fruity note in the coffee. The chocolate note is also stronger, with the caramel sweetness appearing well at the finish.
I prefer French press coffee, but surprisingly, I prefer the French press version here.
Espresso
I don’t think Peet’s intended to have the Big Bang Roast made into an espresso. However, I wanted to see if I could concentrate the flavors of the coffee into a small cup of espresso.
I grabbed my Wacaco Minipresso GR and pulled an espresso shot out of the Big Bang Roast. This portable, hand-operated espresso maker is one of my favorite coffee tools and is more affordable than an espresso machine.
What I get in return is a great-smelling coffee with rich, velvety crema. Presentation-wise, it has a lighter color on the crema, probably because it is a medium roast with little color on the beans.
Taste-wise, I can taste a stronger concentration of smoke and earthiness in the espresso. There is also a stronger chocolate and cocoa note in the coffee itself.
I, however, found the crema a little harder to enjoy. I suppose so much of the citrusy notes were gathered up at the crema; the crema has a less pleasant sour taste. You may like the sourness if you enjoy an acidic, sour cup of coffee.
What Flavorings Work Well With Peet’s Big Bang Roast?
Sugar And Sweetener
People drink their coffee with many types of sweeteners, which means I should try the Big Bang Roast with some, too. I have two ready to try out here:
- Regular brown granulated sugar
- Equal artificial sweetener (Aspartame)
I made two cups of black, pour-over Big Bang Roast coffee. I then added a sugar stick into my first cup and two drops of Equal to the other.
I think sugar adds a bit of shine and texture to the coffee. I can see how the sugar makes the coffee shine a little brighter and gives the coffee a thicker texture.
Flavor-wise, the sugar also helps elevate the chocolate and citrus fruits more, masking some smoky and woody notes.
There is not too much smoke in the coffee, which means the sweetness tastes a little natural to me. It does not have to compete with the smoke for my palate’s attention.
My issue is with the Equal sweetener. It does pretty much similar things as sugar in flavor, but the sweetness seems to come a bit later than sugar.
On top of that, the sweetness has too long of a finish, lingering on my palate long after I have swallowed the coffee. The whole experience feels unnatural compared to sugar.
Milk And Creamer
Aside from sweetness, many drinkers enjoy their coffee with fat and cream. For this, people usually use cow’s milk and coffee, so I’ll use the same ingredient here:
- Whole, fresh, UHT cow’s milk
- Coffee Mate non-dairy coffee creamer
Again, I brewed two fresh cups of Big Bang Roast coffee. I added a milk shot (about 1 oz or 30 ml) to the first cup and two teaspoons of Coffee Mate non-dairy creamer to the second cup.
Both milk and creamer made the coffee’s aroma smell creamier, turning the coffee into a more indulging experience.
I like how they also take out the smoke and woody edge of the coffee and soften it. The fat and cream in milk and creamer also help to make the coffee smoother and easier to sip.
To me, the milked version tastes better than the one with creamer. Creamer also does its job, but the milked cup tastes more natural. The milked version seems more satisfying to me.
Ice
Lastly, I thought I’d experiment with the Big Bang Roast chilled. I poured a cup of fresh, slightly concentrated French press brew into a glass filled to the brim with ice.
The ice muted many of the coffee’s flavors and enhanced the coffee’s citrusy, acidic notes. I think it becomes a little bit intense. If you like acidic, bright coffee, this can be a refreshing drink since it is a bit sour and cold.
However, I am not a fan since it is too sour. I prefer the deep, dark bitterness from a cold iced Americano made from a dark roast.
Peet’s Big Bang Roast vs Peet’s Major Dickason Roast
I’ll compare the comparison section by comparing Peet’s Big Bang Roast against its more popular cousin, the Major Dickason Roast.
I can clearly tell that these two roasts are roasted with different objectives. Both coffees are probably roasted as a sipper – to be enjoyed as black coffee, sipped slowly.
However, the Big Bang Roast has a lighter flavor and has chocolatey, citrusy notes. The Major Dickason Roast is heavier, with more smoke and earthiness. It also does not have citrus notes but instead a cocoa-like deep flavor.
Peet’s Big Bang Roast vs Popular Medium Roast Blends
It may sound odd to compare Peet’s Big Bang Roast with popular grocery store blends, but I have my reasons. Most of us have tried these blends, so my descriptions may help you understand how the Big Bang Roast tastes.
I pulled out these medium roast blends, made coffee with them, and sipped them side by side with the Big Bang Roast:
Big Bang Roast may be an interesting blend. However, I would not place it first on the list. Instead, I’ll have Dunkin Original Blend first.
My reason? It is a more proper blend. Malty, comfortable taste without a strong edge. In turn, The Big Bang Roast has a smoky, citrusy taste, which is a little edgy.
This means more people may not like the Big Bang Roast than Dunkin Original Blend. Plus, I found the most satisfaction when sipping the Dunkin Original Blend.
Peet’s Big Bang Roast vs Regular Coffee
Finally, I picked up a regular Americano from 7-Eleven and drank it alongside my Big Bang Roast. The idea here is to compare it against regular $1 coffee from gas stations and convenience stores.
It goes without saying here, but the Bing Bang Roast wins hands down.
The Big Bang Roast has much more quality and aroma. It is smoother and has more depth in flavor and taste. The coffee leaves me much more satisfied, too.
The regular coffee tastes flat, and the bitterness lacks character. The coffee also has a bit of water taste, suggesting underbrewing. It could also be too much water and not enough coffee.
Is Peet’s Big Bang Roast For You?
Peet’s Big Bang Roast is a great coffee. It should be a great daily coffee that you can sip any time of the day.
It has more citrus notes, so the coffee can be a little sour to some drinkers. Aside from that, there is nothing much to worry about. The smoke is mild, and there is not too much earthiness, meaning the coffee is not too bitter.
If you find the acidic, citrusy notes too much, mellow it with milk or creamer. I found it useful, and perhaps your palate would appreciate it too.Do understand that I am reviewing this coffee from my palate, so my preferences may differ. Sample your own coffee, and decide if you like it or not. You can find Peet’s Big Bang Roast here.