Imaginary Collective

We Taste: Dark chocolate and berries accompanied by a syrupy body

TJ Eisenhart and Andrew Dahlhiem are two guys who raced at the top level of professional cycling. They both began their careers with the US National Team before taking two different paths en route to the same end point. 

TJ moved to Europe where he spent several years as part of the BMC program in the World Tour while Andrew stayed in the US and focused on the domestic calendar racing for Bissell Pro Cycling, Canyon and Arapahoe Resources. Eventually both riders found their way to the Greenville based Holowesko-Citadel Pro cycling team.

After several years, TJ and Andrew left the team to start Imaginary Collective with the sight of starting a brand within the sport to break away from the traditional European cycling culture. Bringing a fresh take and bright colors to a historically black/ white profession, Imaginary Collective is changing the way professional cycling is viewed with a more hands on approach of product design and development with each partner.

The Imaginary Collective, offered by Methodical Coffee, presents a profile defined by the interplay of dark chocolate and berries. In the broader landscape of specialty coffee, roasters often seek to balance the deep, grounding bitterness of cocoa-toned beans with the vibrant, acidic brightness found in fruit-forward profiles. Understanding how these specific characteristics interact can be a rewarding exercise for any enthusiast looking to refine their palate.

When evaluating such a profile, it is helpful to reference a flavor wheel to better identify the nuances within these broad categories. While dark chocolate notes often provide a structured, heavy mouthfeel, the addition of berry-like qualities can introduce a complex, jammy sweetness that lingers on the finish. By exploring these distinct flavor markers, drinkers can develop a more precise vocabulary for describing the sensory experience of their morning cup, moving beyond general impressions toward a more technical appreciation of the roast.