About Kick Ass
If there’s something worth doing, we think it’s worth doing great. This remarkable blend of beans is the spirit of Kicking Horse Coffee, and a bold invitation to wake up and kick ass with us.
Aroma: Smoky, sweet vanilla and dark chocolate.
Tasting notes: Chocolate malt, molasses, liquorice and an earthy lingering finish.
Recommended brew methods: French press, drip machine, pour-over, cold brew.
Big Ideas. Things That Matter & Why
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Why Fairtrade?Kicking Horse Coffee only uses coffee that is certified good and fair for both the coffee drinkers and for farmers. Fairtrade uses profits from coffee to empower farmers and to invest in their community’s future. |
Why Organic?Just. Organic coffee means good products and principles. It means the best in coffee, and the best in intentions. It means smart farming, planning for tomorrow, and not sacrificing for the future. |
Why Sustainable?The future is for good. Kicking Horse Coffee is committed to the community. To being socially responsible. To good practices for the planet and future generations. |
kenM –
I stopped drinking coffee many years ago on my doctor’s advice d/t upset stomach. He explained that it wasn’t the caffeine, but the ‘volatile oils’ in coffee that upset my stomach, & that I should switch to tea which has the same amount of caffeine. I’ve been drinking a pot of green tea daily every morning with no ill effects. About once a week, I’d purchase a coffee from Starbucks or WAWA & it didn’t bother me I guess ’cause it was only occasional. About a year ago I discovered French Press & purchased one, & some whole beans with the intention of re-locating my once or twice weekly habit to my home, saving money in the process. This coffee was so good, I quickly began increasing my consumption to 3, 4, 5 times a week. Guess what? No stomach upset ever! And the taste is never bitter. Plus, despite the caffeine levels(it packs a good kick), I’ve never had trouble falling asleep, & I usually drink one 14oz mug in the evening between 7 & 9 pm, & go to bed by 11. I use about 25 grams of beans in a Bodum 4cup press, weighing, then grinding them in a spice grinder until I can afford a quality burr grinder. Filling the press about 2/3 full with 195 degree water(from a Breville programmable tea maker) makes enough for 1 full mug. I let it brew for 5 minutes. Black, with a teaspoon of raw honey finishes my perfect cup of coffee. Sometimes I’ll add a few mls of real vanilla extract or 1/2tsp Ceylon cinnamon. Kicking Horse 454HP is an excellent, quality product. The best I’ve experienced since my first cup over 50 years ago.
L. Parent –
Amazing coffee! I’ve purchased Death Wish, Valhalla Java, San Francisco Bay, Starbucks – all manner of whole bean coffees, and this was the absolute best. It is smooth, non-acidic, mellow and yet somehow still kicks you in the backside and gets you going in the morning. I found I needed a little less beans for a couple of cups than I did with other coffees, so even though it’s a 10oz bag, I’d say it easily goes as far as a 12oz bag of most coffees, maybe even a little further. I have also had the decaf of this, and it is delicious as well. There’s a great aroma, a nice amount of oil, and it works great in a French Press. Treat yourself to some Grizzly Claw. It makes getting out of bed bearable. Bearable, Grizzly Claw – see what I did there?? 🙂
Rachel B –
Best Coffee Ever!I’m always hesitant even if a product has great reviews so I tried it out myself.I got the “Kicking Horse Coffee, Kick Ass, Dark Roast.”I’ve been trying out different coffee and this one and Lavazza are best.I actually think I like this better though because it really is FRESH. Just opening it was a beautiful smell. It did not smell rancid like other coffee beans or have a sour taste.I love how it has a deep dark slightly bitter (NOT sour or acidic) taste. Kind of like semi-sweet or dark chocolate. It left a “clean” feeling.If that makes any sense it’s like having a homemade cookie vs a processed cookie. One tastes good and make you feel good after while the processed tastes good but after makes you feel sick.I have a sensitive stomach so this was AWESOME. It did not give me cramps or a headache!Definitely going to be my number one pick. :)I grinded 10g coffee beans in my Epica burr for 5 seconds to achieve a medium-coarse texture.I measured out 6oz. of fresh filtered water and placed it all together in my Moka Pot under medium heat.I like 50/50 of coffee and milk.So happy to find a coffee that met all my expectations. Dark, bold, not acidic/sour, doesn’t upset stomach and is fresh and affordable! Woohoo!
EvA –
When I started on buying this coffee over a year ago, it was the next best big thing out there for me. Seductively aromatic, with dark yet not burned lightly oily beans, delivering no bitterness, only the electric jumpstart and coffeine bliss, cup after cup. Even my jura maschine seem to approve, though intended for dry beans. I got so enthusiastic about this brand, that I’ve tried all of their flavors (except decaf), and this one was definitely number 1, followed by Kick Ass. I do enjoy drinking coffee during the day, even evenings, I tried a lot of different brands in my life, favouring the italians ones most, but this one was something out of ordinary in every aspect. From my last two orders however, I feel like “horse” has been hamped by a “donkey”, and their “offspring” isn’t very attractive. Very oily beans, bitter like hell taste even to the extend of scratching my throat although being drunk with creamer. It is very unfortunate, as the price is continuously increasing while quality seems to slides down. I gave it now generously 2 stars, as I mix it with my italian coffee for semi decent taste, but it’s not what it was for sure.
Sev S. –
The short & sweet:Pros: good quality, fresh beans.Con: might be too sweet for people that like espressoI am a big espresso fan and usually aim to try new flavors out there. Kicking Horse has been always on my mind when purchasing beans but I can’t recall the last time I actually did. So, when I ran out of my personal batch, I decided to give them a try. I love medium roasts, although most of the ones I get are usually light because I prefer the bitter/acidity taste for my specialty drinks (mix with milk). Nevertheless, I wanted to try the Cliff Hanger medium roast and see if I would like it.Beans: the beans are oily and fresh in the packaging, and smell deliciousEspresso: straight up pulled shot, the Cliff Hanger is aromatic and gives off (to me & my nose) a light taste of dark chocolate. It is sweet to the taste and acidity levels are minimum.Macchiato: I think this is where this bean shines! A macchiato with the Kicking Horse tastes heavenly! There is a sweet spot for any bean and I think this is it!Cappuccino: I do enjoy sweet cappuccinos, but do have to say the coffee is a little distant in this mixtureLatte: I feel like this blend is too “smooth” for lattes and gets lost in the milkOverall: I think the Kicking Horse is a great bean if you want to use it for espressos, macchiatos or cappuccino. If you are an avid latte drinker and like the coffee taste, this might be on the lighter side for you.
gatorNic –
The decaf is ok. Just doesn’t seem to have much complexity. The bag I received was over 4 months old. Which honestly with all the options out there I would rather get something that is much fresher. I would even be open to ordering it from them directly to insure a newer bag, but they don’t seem to have that option. Might give it a chance again if I can find a fresher bag, if I happen to run into it in a local store. Otherwise, I’ll pass.In my search for a good decaf a couple tips..1. I think most decafs you need to add a little extra to each cup or you’ll think it’s watery. Decafs just seems to be a little lacking in comparison to the regular version of the same coffee. So if you are going 16-18g a cup, probably would skip up to 18g-20g. 2. If you coffee is overly acidic you are probably over extracting, it’s not always the coffee. Go with a coarser grind or bring down the water temp a bit as a test.Edit Update: Reduced to 1 star. I ended up throwing away about half the bag. Wasn’t worth it and I don’t think it was a bad bag. Just not very good. Better and fresher options out there
Red Sky –
I’ve been drinking Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend decaf for a few years, and found it quite tasty for a decaf, but as of this morning, Kicking Horse 454 Horse Power decaf is my fave. How did I decide to step up to the Horse? Science! Well, kitchen science, anyway.I ran a taste test today, comparing Major Dickason and Kicking Horse. First, I ground the Horse beans in a burr mill to the same grind as the Peet’s beans. Then I made the two test cups of coffee simultaneously with the pour-over method using Hario cones and Hario unbleached filters, with no filter rinsing.For each cup I used 54 grams of coffee and 190 grams of water. Nothing magic about these numbers – I like my coffee pretty strong, and the amounts looked about right for my 8-ounce test cups. I alternated the pouring between both cups which were on scales to even out the water between them.I don’t use cream or sugar in my coffee, and tasted both coffees black, sipping water between tastes. I even used identical cups marked underneath to remove some bias. I noticed right away that one coffee was slightly sour/acidic, and the other was not. The acidic one had some sweet notes that were overshadowed by the acidity. The other coffee had a slightly bitter dominant taste, but was more complex and balanced. The coffees tasted similar to me, but the balanced on the clear winner, especially since it was low in acidity. I do like a little bitter kick, but not acidity.My winner turned out to be the Kicking Horse, to my surprise. I then put a few grains of baking soda in the Peet’s to neutralize most of the acid, but the resulting flavor was pretty dull in comparison to the 454 Horse Power. So that’s the story of how I got a new favorite decaf coffee.
R. Mandl –
(*Reviewer’s note–I bloody well didn’t receive anything from anyone for this review, and neither should anyone else. There).If you’re reading this, you’re a coffee purist like I am (others call us snobs, but we all know better.) And like me, you’ve been disappointed all too often by recommendations that have led you to more of the same– acidic, flat, unremarkable brews. Starbucks, Coffee Bean– even Peet’s can be overrated, and the only thing they consistently provide is inconsistency. However, the 454 from Kicking Horse, while a bit pricier than our usual fare, is worth every penny. It’s a delicious, lush roast with hints of baker’s chocolate, a smooth finish, and very low acidity. In sum, it’s a superb coffee. In my quest for the ultimate cup–which is not over, but has dramatically narrowed–I also found some terrific advice to really getting the most mileage out of your beans.First, a burr grinder really does make a difference. I used my old blade grinder for years, and my coffee was always decent. However, the more I read, the more I thought about trying one. I bought a Cuisinart, the $45-ish jobby. Short story is that instead of pulverizing the same beans over and over, which makes your grind size inconsistent, it grinds the beans once as they pass into the hopper, and you can control the coarseness. I’d get one.Next, search online for articles about how much coffee to use; there’s lots of great info abounding. Boiled down, they say that bean to water ratios matter, and they’re right. It’s 55 grams of coffee to one liter of water. Sounds like a pain to measure, but it’s not. Once I got a cheap scale here on Amazon ($10 or so) I figured out how much my press and carafes held, and used some basic math to dial in the right amount of coffee. It was easy, and our presses and carafes hold similar volumes. Anyway, I just poured the beans into a measuring cup, took note of the mark, and put the scale away.I also tried veering away from my permanent gold filter. Sacrilege, maybe, but my wife likes her coffee less gritty, and I wondered if sacrificing the natural oils vs. the grit was a good trade. It was. In fact, I’m coming to prefer the paper filter taste (Melitta non-bleached), or rather, the texture, over the gold filter. I still like the permanent filter, although my French press beats them both. Medium-course grind from the Cuisinart, six minutes in sub-boiling water, stir once, and it’s like nothing I’ve had before. Sinfully aromatic, big mouthfeel, and eminently enjoyable. I don’t think I’ve had a better cup of coffee. It also makes a great pot of drip, noticeably better. And regardless of what anyone says, your own preferences are paramount. What’s best is what you like the most. Drip, press, single cup it–choose your weapon.But I’m burying the lead–the quality of the beans makes the cup more than anything else, and the Kicking Horse 454 is superior to most coffees I’ve had; it vastly outclasses all the bitter slop we’ve been led to believe tastes good. I’ve also tried the Kick Ass, and I prefer the 454. It’s roastier and richer. I’ve also noticed that some reviewers say that the 454 tastes burnt, heavy, etc. Of course, we all have our own taste buds, but I respectfully submit that this is bunk. The 454 is my new mainstay because I dislike burnt, heavy coffee as much as I dislike weak, acidic coffee. The 454 has exceptional balance.If nothing else, it’s worth your while to try it, and experiment with your brewing methods like I did. I’ve finally arrived at a consistently excellent brew, and I’ll warrant your thoughts about coffee will change if you do the same.
B –
Simply Outstanding – the entire family agrees! I don’t do many reviews but after purchasing and drinking all week, I had to this time. A full, deep, rich, velvety cup of coffee – WITHOUT the bitter, burnt, sludge-like aftertaste (You Know . . . . “coffee” from that large-chain coffee company that has managed to convince the lemmings it actually tastes good once it’s covered up with 10 thousand calories of flavorings).If cream and/or sugar is part of your routine, it takes very little of either to “tone down” a strong cup. Like most people, I’ve been searching for great coffee (whole bean) for the last 20 years. If you’re interested in what I’m comparing 454 to, here’s a history of past “likes”, starting with the earliest favorite:Seattle’s Best (until it was bought out by “you know who” years ago)Dunkin DonutsIllyDunkin & Illy (Combined) – that combination was actually pretty good for a whileCaffe’ Artigiano (Vancouver Canada – House Blend)Klatch Coffee (Bella Espresso – for straight coffee)Atomic Coffee Roasters (Diesel)Montana Coffee Traders (Grizzly Blend) – I STILL LOVE THIS ONE, HOWEVER THEY NO LONGER SHIP TO CALIFORNIA (Prop 65 (and other lawmakers) screw us out of our FREEDOM of choice!)New Favorite: Kicking Horse Coffee, 454 Horse PowerAgain – BIG flavor, no bitterness. One thing I found interesting – the smell when it’s initially ground. You know how we always say “It would be nice if coffee tasted like it smells?” It doesn’t start out with that huge coffee smell like others do, but the FLAVOR actually tastes like what other coffee’s only smell like. BUY IT. GRIND IT. ENJOY IT. P.S. By now, most people already know this – but if you don’t have a filtered water system, or a coffee machine with a built in water filter, do yourself a BIG favor and buy a ZeroWater or Brita Pitcher – and use it! Whichever coffee you like, you’ll just like it better!
Bluznvice –
Ok, reviews about personal tastes you can take or leave since everybody has their own preferred tastes. I gave up caffeine and I’m hoping to find a brand of decaf that will get as close as possible to regular coffee to use in my Chemex and Aeropress. Yeah, I know…it’s just not the same as regular but I’ve had some pretty crappy regular coffee (Army). With that in mind, here’s my take on the Kicking Horse SWP Decaf: Meh.I tasted it side by side with Don Pablo Columbian decaf, Trader Joe’s French Roast decaf, and a local roaster’s SWP. For my tastes (I like it very dark), it’s better than the Trader Joe’s, about the same as my local roaster, but noticably lacking the complexity and richness of the Don Pablo. Considering that it’s almost double the cost of Don Pablo, I’m confident in striking this one from my list of contenders.