Monkey Bite

Dive into the heart of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters with our signature Monkey Bite Espresso, which is at the center of every espresso beverage at Bird Rock Coffee Cafes. This blend of African and South American coffees is sweet, complex, and a perfect example of modern third-wave espresso.

Named for the harrowing monkey attack that our founder Chuck suffered through in Kenya, this blend is a top seller at the cafes and online. Our seasonal blend is carefully crafted and tested to be pulled as delicious straight espresso, drip coffee, or in a traditional milk-based drink (like a Cortado). This is the same fantastic blend we use in all our retail cafes.

For espresso machines, we recommend a dose of 22 grams, resulting in about 24 grams (call it a fluid ounce) and a total extraction of 27-34 seconds, with the first drops visible at 10-12 seconds.

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters' Monkey Bite presents a compelling study in complexity and balance. Rather than leading with a single dominant note, this offering demonstrates the roaster's ability to coax multiple layers from their beans—a hallmark of thoughtful roasting that honors rather than masks origin character. The interplay between sweetness and the coffee's more intricate flavor dimensions invites the kind of contemplative tasting that reveals something new with each sip.

For those exploring how different roasting approaches shape a coffee's final profile, this lot offers insight into how restraint and precision can unlock nuance. Explore Bird Rock Coffee Roasters to discover their broader range, or consult the flavor wheel to develop your own sensory vocabulary for identifying the specific sweet and complex notes at play here.