Our review of Jarhead Java 100% Colombian coffee.

First, a big thank you to Jarhead Java’s founder and CEO, Matt Phillips, who sent us some samples of his coffee.

Matt has an interesting story that stretches from 1979 all the way through to founding this coffee company.

He spent 35 years in the coffee business, living and working both in the U.S. and Brazil.

And when he retired...well...instead of putting his feet up, he got busy. Unlike plenty of his peers, who headed out to the nearest golf course, Matt volunteered to deploy to Iraq as part of the OIF LOGCAP logistical support mission. He deployed to Iraq in 2008 and forward deployed to FOB Warrior/Kirkuk.

When he got back from Iraq he founded Jarhead Java, and combined his 35 years’ experience in the coffee business with his vivid memories of his time in Iraq.

That’s why a full 50% of the profits from sales of Jarhead Java coffee go to the non-for-profit Semper Fi Fund and their program, America's Fund. The money donated goes towards supporting critically injured members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

To my mind this is entrepreneurship at its best and most noble. Jarhead Java is about leveraging a lifetime of business experience to help brave young people who have made sacrifices in service to their country.

Onto the coffee...

We were sent a bag of ground coffee and a box of K-Cups. Usually we like to start with whole beans and grind them ourselves. But in this case we opened the bag moments before brewing to minimize any loss in flavor. And, as always, we used our Bonavita drip brewer to make the coffee.

This is a bold roast with 100% Arabica beans from Colombia. By that I mean it’s a medium roast coffee, but on the dark side of medium.

As always, I asked my wife to taste it first, as she’s the better taster. And, as always, I waited nervously for her opinion. Nervously, because she has definite opinions on coffee, either positive or negative.

Fortunately, she loves Javahead Java.

This is a strong coffee. A perfect “get up in the morning” coffee. It has enough of that coffee bitterness to give you the jolt you’re looking for. But that bitterness is nicely balanced with a citrus sweetness. Not a chocolate sweetness, like you might expect from an Indonesian coffee. Definitely a citrus sweetness, like you get when eating an orange. There is something floral in there too.

Bold and strong, but also fresh and lively.

I think they got the roast just right. I have tried some Colombian coffees that feel a little thin. With Jarhead Java you get a full, bold feel in your mouth. You get the “coffee jolt”. And you get that freshness as well.

That’s a pretty impressive combination. Good beans and some excellent roasting.

Add that to the support of a good cause, and you get a pretty good reason to give this coffee a try.

You can buy direct from the Jarhead Java website.

NOTE: This product was sent to us free in return for a review. (That said, we always reserve the right NOT to review a free product if we don't like it, or feel you wouldn't like it.)