Blue Bottle Bella Donovan

Bella Donovan is one of Blue Bottle's darker, bolder blends, with tasting notes of dark chocolate, cherry, and subtle spice over a creamy body. It is built to stand up to milk, which is why it is a popular choice for lattes and cappuccinos as well as straight espresso.

Despite sometimes being described that way in listings, Bella Donovan is a blend combining coffees from Brazil and Ethiopia. The Brazilian component contributes the chocolatey body while the Ethiopian component adds the fruit and spice complexity.

Blue Bottle was founded by James Freeman in Oakland, California in 2002, starting as a single coffee cart obsession with freshness. Nestlé acquired a majority stake in the company in 2017, though Blue Bottle continues to operate as a separate specialty brand.

It is designed primarily as an espresso, pulling well as a shot or with milk, but its roast level also works nicely in a French press or moka pot. For drip methods, use a standard ratio of roughly 1 part coffee to 16 parts water and a medium grind.