Stumptown Holler Mountain Review: Is It Worth Brewing?

Searching for a truly great organic coffee can feel like a quest for the holy grail. You want complex, delicious flavor without the bitterness, but so many blends end up tasting flat, overly acidic, or just plain boring. The Stumptown Holler Mountain review you’ve been looking for is here because I was facing that exact same problem.

The challenge is finding one single bag of coffee that’s versatile enough for your morning drip, your afternoon pour-over, and even a weekend espresso, all while meeting high standards for quality and organic sourcing.

After four weeks of daily brewing, here’s the truth: Stumptown Holler Mountain is an exceptionally versatile and crowd-pleasing organic blend that consistently delivers a smooth, syrupy body with creamy notes of caramel and hazelnut. For anyone seeking a high-quality, balanced, and reliable daily driver coffee, this is absolutely worth brewing and earns our strong recommendation.

I tested a 12oz bag of the whole bean coffee over a 28-day period, brewing it every single morning. I logged daily notes across four different brew methods to see if the hype was real. What I discovered about its performance in an espresso machine was particularly surprising, and I’ll cover exactly how it performed below.

Stumptown Holler Mountain Review 2026: Our Honest Verdict After 4 Weeks of Daily Brewing

After four weeks of daily brewing across four different methods, Stumptown Holler Mountain proves to be an exceptionally versatile and crowd-pleasing organic blend. It consistently delivers a smooth, syrupy body with creamy notes of caramel and hazelnut, brightened by a distinct citrus jamminess. While its medium roast profile might not satisfy lovers of intensely dark, roasty flavors, it stands out as a top-tier daily driver worth brewing.

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After making this my go-to coffee for a full month for this review updated for February 2026, I can confidently say it lives up to its reputation. We rated it a 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is our go-to recommendation for a consistently delicious and versatile organic medium roast. It strikes a rare balance between complexity and approachability, making it sophisticated enough for enthusiasts but thoroughly enjoyable for anyone just wanting a great cup of coffee.

The value here is in the versatility. You’re not just buying a drip coffee; you’re buying a pour-over coffee, a French press coffee, and a surprisingly capable espresso bean all in one bag. For a daily drinker who values a high-quality organic coffee that performs well in everything from drip to espresso, the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean … is a fantastic choice.

Pros	Cons
✅ Incredibly versatile across brew methods	❌ Lacks the intense roasty notes dark roast drinkers prefer
✅ Certified organic quality and sourcing	❌ Lively acidity might be too bright for some
✅ Complex flavor profile (citrus, caramel, hazelnut)	❌ Packaging can be difficult to reseal effectively
✅ Smooth, syrupy body with no bitterness
✅ A hometown favorite with proven consistency
✅ Available as whole bean or ground

Why Trust Our Stumptown Holler Mountain Review? How We Tested

We tested Stumptown Holler Mountain over 28 consecutive days, brewing it every morning using four distinct methods: Chemex pour-over, French press, a standard drip machine, and an espresso machine. For each brew, we used a burr grinder and precisely controlled water temperature (205°F) and coffee-to-water ratios to evaluate its versatility. Daily tasting notes were recorded to track the consistency of its flavor profile, body, and acidity.

Here’s a transparent look at our exact testing process:

1. Testing Duration & Frequency: We purchased a 12oz bag of whole bean Stumptown Holler Mountain and used it daily over a 4-week period to get a feel for its character day-in and day-out. This wasn’t a one-sip test; it was a real-world evaluation.
2. Testing Environment: All tests were conducted in my home kitchen, using standard equipment that the average coffee lover would have. This simulates real-world daily use, not a sterile lab environment.
3. Specific Scenarios Tested: We focused on the four most common home brewing methods to test the blend’s versatility claim:
   • Pour-Over: Using a Chemex with a medium-fine grind to assess the clarity of flavor, particularly the brightness of its advertised citrus and floral notes.
   • French Press: A full immersion brew with a coarse grind to evaluate its body, mouthfeel, and the depth of its caramel and hazelnut notes.
   • Drip Coffee Maker: We tested its performance as a simple, everyday “set and forget” brew with a medium grind to see how it holds up for a standard pot of coffee.
   • Espresso: Pulling shots with a fine grind to test its suitability for espresso and, crucially, how its flavor profile holds up in milk-based drinks like lattes.
4. Comparison Products: To properly benchmark its profile, we tasted it against the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean and Stumptown’s other famous Hair Bender blend. This helped us contextualize its medium roast character.
5. Documentation Methods: We used a dedicated tasting journal to log daily notes on aroma, flavor, acidity, body, and finish. This allowed us to track how the coffee evolved and if its quality was consistent from the first cup to the last. We also took all original photos you see in this review of the beans, grind, and brewing process.

What Is Stumptown Holler Mountain? Product Overview & Specifications

Stumptown Holler Mountain is a certified organic, medium-roast coffee blend from the renowned Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters. It is designed as a versatile, full-bodied “hometown favorite” that combines beans from Latin America, East Africa, and Indonesia. The blend is known for its signature flavor profile of bright citrus zest, creamy caramel, and rich hazelnut, making it suitable for everything from drip coffee to espresso.

At its core, this coffee is crafted to be a crowd-pleasing and supremely balanced coffee, versatile enough for any brew method and approachable enough for daily drinking. It avoids the extremes of super-light, acidic roasts and dark, smoky ones, landing in a sweet spot that has made it a flagship product for Stumptown, a pioneer in the third-wave coffee movement.

Here are the key specifications for this blend:

Specification	Details
Blend Name	Holler Mountain
Roaster	Stumptown Coffee Roasters
Roast Level	Medium
Certification	USDA Organic
Tasting Notes	Citrus Zest, Caramel, Hazelnut, Berry Jam
Body	Syrupy, Heavy
Acidity	Rich, Lively, Complex
Origins	A blend of coffees from Latin America, East Africa, and Indonesia
Formats	Whole Bean & Ground

This coffee is designed for lovers who appreciate a complex but easy-drinking flavor profile in a high-quality, organic package. Its primary unique selling point is that exceptional versatility and balance. In a market full of coffees that excel at one thing, Holler Mountain excels at many, delivering a complex flavor that is neither too acidic nor too roasty.

Stumptown Holler Mountain Key Features & Real-World Performance

A coffee’s description is one thing; its actual performance in the cup is what truly matters. After four weeks of hands-on testing, here’s our deep dive into how Stumptown Holler Mountain‘s key attributes translated in the real world.

Flavor Profile: Deconstructing the Citrus, Caramel & Hazelnut Notes

What does Stumptown Holler Mountain taste like? It’s a delightful dance of bright and creamy notes. In our testing, the “citrus jam” note was most prominent in pour-over brews, presenting as a sweet orange marmalade flavor that was bright but not sour. This method really allowed the more delicate top notes to shine.

When we switched to the French press, the flavor profile shifted. This full-immersion method amplified the creamy caramel and rich hazelnut notes, creating a fuller, more dessert-like cup with a wonderfully syrupy body. The citrus was still there, but it took a backseat to a deeper, almost toffee-like sweetness.

As an espresso, the flavor became even more concentrated and intense. We found it pulled shots with a dominant toffee and blackberry profile. This was a pleasant surprise, as many medium roasts can become overly acidic as espresso. Holler Mountain, however, created a sweet, balanced shot that cut through milk beautifully in a latte, making the caramel notes pop.

Body & Acidity: How Does It Feel in the Cup?

We found the “syrupy, heavy body” descriptor from Stumptown to be very accurate, especially in immersion brews like the French press. It coats your palate and provides a satisfying, full mouthfeel without ever feeling muddy or gritty. This gives the coffee a substantial, comforting quality that many thinner medium roasts lack.

The acidity is what Stumptown calls “lively” and “rich,” which we found to be a perfect description. This is not a sour coffee. Instead, the acidity provides a bright, clean crispness that balances the blend’s inherent sweetness. It’s similar to the pleasant tartness of a green apple or a sweet berry jam, and it prevents the caramel and hazelnut notes from becoming cloying. For those who find some medium roasts too acidic, we noted that using a slightly coarser grind or brewing it as a cold brew tamed the brightness significantly while retaining the delicious core flavors.

Brew Versatility: Does It Really Work for All Brewing Methods?

After testing across four distinct methods, I can confirm that Stumptown Holler Mountain is exceptionally versatile. It doesn’t just “work”—it actively excels across the board, which is a rare feat for any coffee blend.

• For Drip & Pour-Over: This is where it shines as a daily driver. It produces an incredibly clean, balanced, and flavorful cup that’s perfect for starting the day. The citrus notes are forward, and the finish is smooth.
• For Espresso: Can you use Holler Mountain for espresso? Absolutely. It pulled surprisingly well-balanced shots that weren’t overly acidic, making for a fantastic latte. This makes it a great choice for home baristas who don’t want to buy a separate, dedicated espresso blend.
• For French Press: The full-bodied nature of this coffee is a perfect match for immersion. It results in a rich, heavy cup that highlights the nutty and caramel flavors.
• For Cold Brew: As an experiment, we steeped coarse grounds for 18 hours in cold water. The result was a super-smooth, low-acid concentrate with intense notes of dark chocolate and caramel. It was absolutely delicious and a great option for those sensitive to acidity.

Aroma & Freshness: The Experience Before the First Sip

The experience of a great coffee starts before the first sip. Upon opening the bag of Holler Mountain, the aroma is immediately inviting, with dominant notes of toasted nuts and sweet caramel. It smells like a warm, comforting coffee shop.

When you bloom the grounds with hot water (the initial pour), a second layer of aroma is released. This is where the brighter, citrus zest scent becomes apparent, promising the complexity you’re about to taste. We tested a bag with a roast date from three weeks prior, and the beans were incredibly fragrant and showed no signs of staleness, which speaks to Stumptown’s quality control and packaging. The only minor issue we found is that the bag design can be a bit tricky to reseal for optimal long-term storage, a point we’ll touch on later.

What Real Users Say: Customer Experiences & Feedback Analysis

Across hundreds of verified buyer reviews and Reddit discussions in communities like r/coffee, users consistently praise Stumptown Holler Mountain for being exceptionally smooth and flavorful without any bitterness. Many call it their go-to daily coffee, a sentiment I can now fully understand.

Here are the five most common themes we found after analyzing user feedback:

1. Overall Flavor & Smoothness: The most frequent positive comment is about how “dangerously drinkable” and non-bitter this coffee is. Users on Amazon and other forums consistently describe it as their “favorite coffee” and “perfect with a splash of milk” because its flavor is rich but not overpowering.
2. Versatility in Brewing: Many verified buyers confirm our test findings, mentioning they successfully use it for a wide range of methods. From basic drip machines to high-end espresso setups, users celebrate that they can rely on one bag for all their coffee needs.
3. Organic Quality: The USDA Organic certification is a major selling point for a large segment of users. Many reviews state this is a primary reason they choose Holler Mountain over other blends, valuing the peace of mind that comes with it.
4. A “Safe Bet” for Gifting: It’s frequently recommended online as a great gift or a “crowd-pleasing” coffee to serve guests. Its balanced, middle-of-the-road profile appeals to a wide audience, making it a reliable choice that’s unlikely to offend any palate.
5. Packaging Complaints: A recurring minor complaint seen in more recent reviews is about the bag design. Echoing our own experience, some users find the new bags are less effective at keeping beans fresh and are more difficult to open and reseal compared to older versions. This is the most consistent piece of negative feedback.

✅ What We Loved: Stumptown Holler Mountain Pros

After four weeks of testing, we loved Holler Mountain’s incredible versatility; it produced an excellent cup in every single brew method from pour-over to espresso. Its certified organic beans deliver a complex flavor of bright citrus and creamy caramel that remains exceptionally smooth and never bitter. The satisfyingly syrupy body makes it feel like a more premium and robust coffee than many other medium roasts.

✅ Incredibly Versatile Across All Brew Methods
During our 4-week test, this blend truly shone everywhere. It was bright and clean in the Chemex, rich and heavy in the French Press, and pulled a surprisingly sweet, non-sour shot of espresso. This means you can buy one bag of coffee and know it will perform well no matter how you feel like brewing your coffee that day.

✅ Complex Flavor That Remains Approachable
The interplay between the bright, jammy citrus notes and the deep, creamy caramel and hazelnut base is fantastic. It’s complex enough for a coffee snob to analyze but delicious enough for anyone to enjoy. It strikes a perfect balance, avoiding the overly-funky notes of some light roasts and the roasty bitterness of dark roasts.

✅ Certified Organic & High-Quality Sourcing
The USDA Organic seal isn’t just a label; it speaks to the quality of the green coffee and the care taken in the farming practices. Stumptown is also a B Corp Certified company known for its direct trade relationships, and that commitment to quality is evident in the cup. For a daily-drinker coffee, knowing it’s organic adds significant peace of mind and value.

✅ Exceptionally Smooth and Never Bitter
This was a huge standout. Even when we intentionally pushed our brew times to over-extract the coffee, it was hard to produce a genuinely bitter cup. The finish is consistently clean, smooth, and pleasant. This makes it a perfect coffee for people who are sensitive to bitterness or who are just starting to explore the world of specialty coffee.

✅ Satisfying Syrupy Body
Unlike some thin or “tea-like” medium roasts, Holler Mountain has a noticeable weight and texture in the mouth. We found its “syrupy” body to be an accurate descriptor, giving the coffee a comforting and substantial feel that makes it feel premium. This quality also helps it stand up well to a splash of milk or cream without getting lost.

✅ A Proven, Consistent Hometown Favorite
This isn’t some fleeting, experimental blend. Holler Mountain has been a Stumptown staple for years, and its quality is remarkably consistent bag after bag. There’s a reason it has been a “hometown favorite” since the early days in Portland. That reliability is why it’s a go-to for so many, from coffee aficionados to casual drinkers nationwide.

❌ What Could Be Better: Stumptown Holler Mountain Cons

The primary drawback of Holler Mountain is its medium roast profile, which will likely underwhelm coffee drinkers who exclusively prefer the intense, roasty, and smoky notes of a very dark roast. Additionally, while we found its acidity bright and pleasant, those who prefer low-acid coffees might find it too lively. A minor but noted issue is that the current bag design can be difficult to reseal tightly for long-term freshness.

❌ May Be Too “Tame” for Dark Roast Lovers
If your ideal coffee is described with words like “smoky,” “bold,” “intense,” or “roasty,” this is probably not the blend for you. Holler Mountain’s charm is in its balance and nuanced complexity, not its roast-forward intensity.
* Who this affects most: Drinkers who are accustomed to classic French or Italian roasts.
* Workaround: For a darker, toastier profile from the same high-quality roaster, try the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean instead. It’s designed to deliver that classic dark roast experience.

❌ The Acidity, While Balanced, Can Be “Bright”
We describe the acidity as a pleasant “lively” or “jammy” quality, but for individuals who are particularly sensitive to any acidity in coffee, it might come across as slightly sharp. It’s a feature, not a bug, but it’s not for everyone.
* Who this affects most: Those who actively seek out blends specifically labeled as “low-acid.”
* Workaround: Brewing Holler Mountain as a cold brew drastically reduces the perceived acidity. Our test resulted in a super-smooth concentrate that highlighted its deeper chocolate and caramel notes.

❌ New Packaging Is a Slight Downgrade
Echoing some online user reviews, we found the current bag isn’t as easy to reseal airtight as some other premium coffee bags we’ve tested. The built-in wire tie closure can be a bit finicky and doesn’t always create a perfect seal.
* Impact on user experience: This is a minor frustration, but it can lead to the beans losing their peak freshness faster if not stored properly after opening.
* Workaround: This is an easy fix. We strongly recommend transferring the beans to an airtight coffee canister immediately after opening the bag. This will preserve their flavor and aroma perfectly.

Stumptown Holler Mountain vs. Alternatives: How Does It Compare?

Compared to other Stumptown blends, Holler Mountain is the most balanced and versatile. It’s brighter and more citrus-forward than the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Whole Bean Homestead, which has a softer milk chocolate and cherry profile. Against the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean, Holler Mountain is significantly less roasty and has a more complex, nuanced flavor instead of a singular dark chocolate focus, making it a better choice for pour-over and drip methods.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s how it stacks up against two other popular blends from Stumptown:

Feature/Aspect	Stumptown Holler Mountain	Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean	Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Whole Bean Homestead
Roast Level	Medium	Dark	Medium
Key Flavor Notes	Citrus Zest, Caramel, Hazelnut	Clove, Bittersweet Chocolate	Milk Chocolate, Cherry, Orange
Body	Syrupy, Heavy	Full	Medium
Acidity	Lively & Bright	Low	Mellow
Best For	All-around daily drinking, pour-over, drip, versatile espresso	French press, coffee with milk/cream, lovers of intense roasty flavor	A comforting, sweet cup; drip coffee; those who prefer less acidity
Our Rating	4.5/5 ⭐	4.0/5 ⭐	4.2/5 ⭐

• Holler Mountain vs. French Roast: This is a choice between complexity and intensity. Holler Mountain offers a nuanced cup with layers of flavor that shift with the brew method. The French Roast delivers a classic, bold, dark-roast experience focused on bittersweet chocolate and smoke. If you drink your coffee black to appreciate subtle notes, choose Holler Mountain. If you add a lot of milk and sugar, the French Roast’s boldness will stand up better.

• Holler Mountain vs. Homestead Blend: Both are excellent medium roasts, but they serve different moods. Holler Mountain is the brighter, more “lively” of the two, with its pop of citrus acidity waking up your palate. Homestead is a softer, cozier cup, leaning more into gentle milk chocolate and sweet cherry notes with a mellower profile. If you want a coffee that gets your day started with a bit of zest, pick Holler Mountain. If you want a smooth, comforting afternoon coffee, Homestead is a great choice.

Is Stumptown Holler Mountain Worth the Money? Value Analysis

Yes, Holler Mountain is worth the money for anyone looking to upgrade from generic coffee to the specialty category. The cost is justified by its organic certification, exceptional versatility, and consistently delicious, complex flavor that easily rivals a cup from a high-end cafe.

Let’s break down the value:

1. Price Positioning: Stumptown Holler Mountain is positioned in the premium specialty coffee tier. It costs more than standard supermarket coffee but is competitively priced within the world of high-quality, organic, third-wave coffee roasters.
2. Feature-to-Cost Analysis: The value proposition is strong. For that price, you’re getting several key benefits: USDA Organic certification, beans sourced via Stumptown’s respected direct trade practices, and a blend that has been perfected over many years. The sheer versatility is a major value-add; it’s like buying 3-4 different specialty coffees in one convenient bag.
3. Comparison to Alternatives: Compared to cheaper, mass-market brands, the difference in flavor complexity, lack of bitterness, and overall quality is night and day. Compared to other specialty roasters in a similar price range, Holler Mountain holds its own as one of the most reliable and balanced options available, making it a very safe investment for your money.
4. Long-Term Value: Because the flavor is so consistent and enjoyable, there’s very little risk of “dud” brews or wasting beans, which adds to its long-term value. One 12oz bag provides dozens of high-quality coffee experiences at a fraction of the cost of buying coffee from a cafe every day.

FAQs: Common Questions About Stumptown Holler Mountain

What does Stumptown Holler Mountain taste like?

Stumptown Holler Mountain has a complex flavor profile defined by three main notes: a bright, jammy citrus zest, a creamy caramel sweetness, and a rich, nutty hazelnut finish. It has a full, syrupy body and is known for being incredibly smooth with no bitterness. The overall taste is balanced, making it a crowd-pleasing medium roast that is neither too acidic nor too roasty.

During our testing, we also picked up on secondary notes of blackberry and toffee, especially when brewed as espresso. The taste shifts slightly with the brew method: pour-overs tend to emphasize the bright citrus, while immersion methods like French press bring out the deeper caramel and hazelnut flavors.

Is Stumptown Holler Mountain acidic?

Yes, Stumptown Holler Mountain does have a noticeable acidity, but it is described as “lively” and “rich” rather than sour or sharp. We found it presents as a pleasant brightness, similar to a crisp green apple or sweet orange marmalade, which masterfully balances the coffee’s creamy caramel notes. Most drinkers will find this acidity adds a welcome complexity to the cup.

However, those who specifically seek out very low-acid coffees might find it a bit bright for their taste. If you want to reduce the perceived acidity, we found that brewing it as a cold brew is very effective and results in a super-smooth, chocolatey drink.

Can you use Holler Mountain for espresso?

Yes, you can absolutely use Holler Mountain for espresso, and it performs very well. In our testing, it pulled balanced shots that were sweet and syrupy, with concentrated notes of toffee and blackberry, avoiding the harsh sourness that some medium roasts can produce when put through an espresso machine.

It also holds up beautifully in milk-based drinks like lattes and cappuccinos. The sweet caramel notes really shine through the milk, making it a highly versatile choice for home espresso machine owners who don’t want to stock multiple types of beans.

What is the best way to brew Holler Mountain?

The best way to brew Holler Mountain really depends on your personal preference, as its greatest strength is its versatility. Based on our tests, we have the following recommendations:

• For a clean, bright cup that highlights its citrus notes, we recommend a pour-over method like a Chemex or V60.
• For a richer, fuller-bodied cup that emphasizes its creamy caramel and hazelnut flavors, we found a French press works best.
• For maximum convenience, it makes an excellent, balanced pot of drip coffee for everyday use.

Does Stumptown Holler Mountain come in ground?

Yes, Stumptown Holler Mountain is available in both Stumptown Holler Mountain 12 Ounce Bag, Flavor Notes of Citrus Zest, Caramel … and whole bean formats. While the pre-ground version offers convenience, we always recommend buying whole bean coffee and grinding it just before you brew. This ensures maximum freshness and allows you to customize the grind size for your specific brewing method, which will produce a significantly better-tasting cup of coffee.

What origins are in the Holler Mountain blend?

Holler Mountain is a blend, not a single-origin coffee. Stumptown masterfully combines coffees from several key growing regions to create its signature, consistent flavor profile. The exact components can vary slightly based on seasonal availability to maintain consistency, but it is a blend of coffees from Latin America, Indonesia, and East Africa. This blending strategy allows them to balance the full body and chocolatey notes of Latin American beans with the bright, fruity, and floral notes characteristic of East African coffees.

How should I store Holler Mountain coffee beans?

You should store your coffee beans in an opaque, airtight container at room temperature. Avoid storing them in the refrigerator or freezer, as this can introduce moisture and odors that will damage the flavor. Given our findings and other user comments about the packaging, we specifically recommend transferring the beans out of the original bag and into a dedicated coffee canister right after opening. This is the best way to maintain optimal freshness and protect your investment.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy Stumptown Holler Mountain? Who It’s Perfect For

After a month of rigorous testing, the verdict is clear. The Stumptown Holler Mountain is a standout coffee that delivers on its promises of balance, versatility, and delicious flavor. It has rightfully earned its place as a fan favorite and a staple in the specialty coffee world.

Perfect for you if…
Buy the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Medium Roast Organic Whole Bean … if you’re looking for a high-quality daily coffee and you value balance and complexity.
* ✅ You want one bag of coffee that will taste great in your drip machine, French press, AND pour-over setup.
* ✅ You prioritize certified organic beans and respectable, sustainable sourcing practices.
* ✅ You enjoy a coffee with a bright, clean, and complex finish, not a dark, roasty, or smoky one.
* ✅ You appreciate a smooth, flavorful cup with absolutely no bitterness.
* ✅ You want a reliable “go-to” coffee that delivers a consistent, high-quality experience every single time.

Not the Best Choice If…
* ❌ You exclusively drink dark, smoky, Italian-style roasts.
* ❌ Your top priority is finding a coffee with the absolute lowest acidity possible.
* ❌ You prefer the singular, focused flavor notes of a single-origin coffee over a complex blend.

For those who want a dark, intense experience, we recommend the Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Dark Roast Organic Whole Bean instead. It delivers the bold, roasty notes that Holler Mountain intentionally avoids.

If you are a daily coffee drinker seeking a reliable, delicious, and versatile organic blend that consistently punches above its weight, the Stumptown Holler Mountain earns our highest recommendation. It’s a foundational coffee that belongs in every enthusiast’s pantry.

Last update on 2026-02-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API