Kicking Horse Coffee Review: Which Blend Is Worth Buying?
Kicking Horse Coffee review shoppers have several bold blends to choose from. I tested Three Sisters, Grizzly Claw, and Kick Ass as whole beans in my Hamilton Beach drip coffee maker. Here is which blend I would buy again, which one suits dark-roast drinkers, and which bag failed to stand out.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Kicking Horse Coffee review shoppers face a wall of colourful bags with names like Three Sisters, Grizzly Claw, and Kick Ass. The names make you smile. They do not tell you which coffee belongs in your shopping cart.
I have brewed Three Sisters, Grizzly Claw, and Kick Ass from whole beans. I grind the beans at home, brew them in my Hamilton Beach drip coffee maker, and drink every cup black.
Always black.
Cream and sugar have their place, but not in my coffee. A black cup leaves nowhere for weak or bitter coffee to hide.
Here is my quick verdict. Three Sisters is the best Kicking Horse Coffee blend for most coffee drinkers. It is smooth, balanced, and easy to enjoy throughout the morning. Grizzly Claw is my choice when I want a bolder dark roast and an extra boot to the butt. Kick Ass is decent, but it sits awkwardly between those two better choices.
Kicking Horse Coffee Review: My Quick Verdict
| Category | My choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Three Sisters | Smooth, balanced, and easy to drink |
| Best dark roast | Grizzly Claw | Rich flavour with a stronger presence |
| Best everyday coffee | Three Sisters | Milder without tasting weak |
| Best morning wake-up call | Grizzly Claw | Full-bodied and assertive |
| Best for a drip coffee maker | Three Sisters | Balanced results without fuss |
| Best first Kicking Horse purchase | Three Sisters | Broadest appeal |
| Most disappointing of the three | Kick Ass | Good, but less distinctive |
| Best researched decaf choice | Kicking Horse Decaf | Swiss Water Process with dark-roast flavours |
My recommendation is simple.
Start with Three Sisters if you are unsure. Choose Grizzly Claw if you already know you love dark, full-bodied coffee.
Compare Kicking Horse blends and find the roast suited to your taste in my Amazon storefront collection. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
How I Tested These Kicking Horse Coffee Flavours
I bought whole beans, ground them at home, and brewed them in my Hamilton Beach drip coffee maker.
This was not a laboratory experiment. No one wore a white coat. There were no clipboards or tiny tasting spoons. This was a practical Kicking Horse Coffee review from someone who drinks coffee every day and wants a good cup without turning breakfast into a chemistry class.
I drank every blend black and considered:
- Aroma
- Smoothness
- Strength
- Bitterness
- Flavour
- Finish
- Whether I wanted another cup
That last test matters.
A coffee might have an impressive list of tasting notes. If I do not want another cup, none of those fancy words will rescue it.
I personally tested Three Sisters, Grizzly Claw, and Kick Ass. Information about Smart Ass, 454 Horse Power, and Kicking Horse Decaf comes from official product specifications and supporting research.
I have not tasted those three. I will not pretend otherwise.
Is Kicking Horse Coffee Good?
Yes. Kicking Horse Coffee is good grocery-store coffee, especially for people who prefer medium and dark roasts.
I would place it above many standard supermarket brands for flavour and variety. It offers a sensible middle ground between cheaper mass-market coffee and smaller local roasters charging considerably more.
The company uses Arabica beans certified Organic and Fairtrade. Fairtrade Canada also lists Kicking Horse among the brands participating in its Canadian program. That gives us independent confirmation beyond the claims printed on the bag. Read more through Fairtrade Canada.
The coffee is roasted in Invermere, British Columbia. Both Kicking Horse and Lavazza corporate records identify the Invermere operation as its Canadian roasting and manufacturing base.
Still, Kicking Horse is packaged retail coffee. A bag sitting on a supermarket shelf will not always match coffee roasted last week by your local coffee shop.
Kicking Horse uses a best-before date instead of printing a clear roast date. The company says an unopened bag has an 18-month freshness period from roasting. You need to count backwards from the best-before date to estimate when your beans were roasted.
That is a nuisance. I would rather see the roast date printed clearly on every bag.
What Kicking Horse Coffee does well
- Offers clear medium and dark-roast choices
- Sells whole beans and ground coffee
- Works well in a standard drip coffee maker
- Uses Organic and Fairtrade certified Arabica beans
- Provides consistent flavour
- Appears in many Canadian stores
- Offers several bag sizes
- Gives useful tasting and brewing information
Where Kicking Horse Coffee falls short
- Prices sit above many mainstream grocery brands.
- Bags lack a clear roast date.
- Some dark roasts taste too smoky for lighter-roast drinkers.
- The coffee bags are not recyclable.
- Several blends overlap in flavour and strength.
- Large bags lose value if they sit open for months.
Kicking Horse delivers good coffee. It does not perform miracles.
Which Kicking Horse Coffee Blend Is Best?
Three Sisters is the best Kicking Horse Coffee blend for my everyday cup.
It delivers enough flavour to keep a black-coffee drinker happy without becoming heavy or tiring. Grizzly Claw places a close second and wins my dark-roast category.
Kick Ass finishes third among the blends I tested. I did not dislike it. I simply found no strong reason to choose it over the other two.
| Blend | Roast | Published flavour profile | Strength | Best for | My experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three Sisters | Medium | Stone fruit, cocoa and toasted notes | Medium | Smooth everyday coffee | Personally tested |
| Grizzly Claw | Dark | Dark chocolate, brown sugar and roasted hazelnut | Strong | Bold morning coffee | Personally tested |
| Kick Ass | Dark | Smoky chocolate, molasses and an earthy finish | Medium-strong | Smoky dark-roast drinkers | Personally tested |
| Smart Ass | Medium | Red currant, sugar cane and milk chocolate | Medium | Brighter, fruitier coffee | Researched |
| 454 Horse Power | Dark | Earthy, sweet tobacco and licorice | Strong | Heavy dark-roast drinkers | Researched |
| Decaf | Dark decaf | Chocolate and roasted hazelnut | Full flavour with little caffeine | Evening coffee | Researched |
Published tasting notes and brewing recommendations come from the Kicking Horse Coffee Canada product collection.
Three Sisters: My Best Kicking Horse Coffee Blend
Three Sisters is the bag I would place in your hands if you had never tried Kicking Horse Coffee.
It is a medium roast made from a mixture of light, medium, and dark-roasted beans. Kicking Horse describes aromas of dried fruit, toasted coconut, and chocolate malt. Its listed tasting notes include stone fruit and cocoa.
My reaction was less technical.
Three Sisters tasted smooth, balanced, and easy to drink black. It had enough body to feel satisfying without grabbing me by the shirt collar before breakfast.
This is my patio or cottage-porch coffee. It belongs beside a comfortable chair on a quiet morning when nobody needs anything from me for at least half an hour.
That is my idea of luxury these days.
Three Sisters also worked well in my Hamilton Beach drip coffee maker. I did not need special equipment, a complicated recipe, or a barista standing nearby with a stopwatch.
Buy Three Sisters if:
- You want a balanced medium roast.
- You drink more than one cup in the morning.
- You dislike harsh or smoky coffee.
- You want an easy introduction to Kicking Horse Coffee flavours.
- You use a standard drip coffee maker.
- You drink your coffee black.
Skip Three Sisters if you want a heavy dark roast with a larger punch.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review its current formats and tasting notes on the Kicking Horse Three Sisters product page.
Grizzly Claw: Best Kicking Horse Coffee Dark Roast
Grizzly Claw is the coffee I reach for when the morning needs more persuasion.
This dark roast has a full body with published notes of dark chocolate, cacao nibs, brown sugar, and roasted hazelnut. Kicking Horse recommends it for drip, French press, and pour-over brewing.
My cup was rich and bold without becoming unpleasantly bitter. The stronger flavour held up well when served black.
Grizzly Claw is not my peaceful patio coffee. It is my “get moving, Al” coffee.
Some mornings deserve a gentle nudge. Other mornings need an extra boot to the butt.
Buy Grizzly Claw if:
- You enjoy dark chocolate flavours.
- You want a full-bodied cup.
- Medium roasts taste too gentle for you.
- You drink coffee black.
- You want a flavour which stays present after each sip.
- You need your morning coffee to announce its arrival.
Skip Grizzly Claw if smoky or heavy coffee bothers you.
My rating: 4.5 out of 5
See its current options on the Kicking Horse Grizzly Claw product page.
Kick Ass: Good Coffee With a Better Name
Kick Ass has the boldest name in this Kicking Horse Coffee review.
Unfortunately, the name did more work than the coffee.
Kicking Horse describes this dark roast as smoky and sweet, with chocolate malt, molasses, licorice, and an earthy finish. The company recommends it for drip machines, French press, and pour-over brewing.
My result landed between Three Sisters and Grizzly Claw.
It tasted stronger and smokier than Three Sisters, but it did not give me the rich dark-roast experience I enjoyed with Grizzly Claw. It was fine. Fine is not a strong buying recommendation when two better bags sit beside it.
Buy Kick Ass if:
- You enjoy smoky dark roasts.
- You like earthy or molasses flavours.
- You want something stronger than Three Sisters.
- Grizzly Claw sounds too chocolate-heavy.
- You find it at a good sale price.
Skip it if you want the smooth balance of Three Sisters or the richer punch of Grizzly Claw.
My rating: 3.5 out of 5
Check the latest sizes and specifications on the Kicking Horse Kick Ass product page.
Other Kicking Horse Coffee Flavours Worth Considering
I have not personally tasted the next three blends. These recommendations rely on the company’s published flavour profiles and brewing guidance.
Smart Ass
Smart Ass is a medium roast with listed notes of red currant, sugar cane, milk chocolate, and honeyed berries.
It sounds brighter and fruitier than Three Sisters. Choose Smart Ass if you prefer lively fruit notes over dark chocolate or smoky flavours.
Kicking Horse recommends Smart Ass for drip coffee, French press, pour-over, and espresso.
I would still direct first-time buyers toward Three Sisters. Its flavour profile looks safer for someone unsure about fruity coffee.
454 Horse Power
454 Horse Power is a dark roast made with Indonesian beans. Its published flavours include earthiness, sweet tobacco, and black licorice.
This sounds like the most aggressive dark-roast option in this group.
I would not recommend it as your first Kicking Horse purchase unless you already enjoy heavy, earthy coffee. Grizzly Claw offers a friendlier dark-roast starting point.
If black licorice makes you run from the room, take the hint.
Kicking Horse Decaf
Kicking Horse Decaf uses the Swiss Water Process. Swiss Water explains its process uses water, temperature, time, green coffee extract, and carbon filtration to remove caffeine without chemical solvents. You will find a clear explanation on the Swiss Water Process website.
The Kicking Horse Decaf flavour profile includes chocolate and roasted hazelnut. The company recommends it for drip, French press, pour-over, and espresso.
This looks like a sensible evening option for dark-roast drinkers. It also suits anyone reducing caffeine without giving up the coffee ritual.
Decaf does not always mean absolutely caffeine-free. Mayo Clinic lists roughly one milligram of caffeine in an average eight-ounce brewed decaf coffee, while the amount varies by coffee and preparation. Mayo Clinic’s caffeine guide offers useful context.
Is Kicking Horse Coffee Worth the Price?
Kicking Horse Coffee is worth the price when you value good flavour, whole beans, Canadian roasting, and independent certifications.
As of July 2026, Kicking Horse lists many 284-gram ground bags at $16.99 CAD. Whole-bean bags commonly cost $25.99 for 454 grams or $35.99 for 850 grams through its Canadian website.
Prices change, so treat these figures as a comparison point rather than a permanent promise.
| Size | Listed price | Approximate cost per 100 grams |
|---|---|---|
| 284g ground | $16.99 | $5.98 |
| 454g whole bean | $25.99 | $5.72 |
| 850g whole bean | $35.99 | $4.23 |
The 850-gram whole-bean bag offers the lowest cost per 100 grams when buying directly.
Still, a larger bag only saves money if you drink it while the beans remain fresh. Saving ten dollars loses its charm when the final third of the bag tastes tired.
Buying one bag from a local grocery store also avoids shipping costs. Check prices at the Kicking Horse website, Canadian grocers, and Amazon before ordering.
I would pay the regular price for Three Sisters or Grizzly Claw. I would wait for a sale before buying Kick Ass again.
What Makes Kicking Horse Coffee Different?
Kicking Horse Coffee started in a garage in Invermere, British Columbia, in 1996. Both the company’s Strong Roots history and Lavazza’s corporate records confirm the year and location.
The ownership story needs a straight answer.
Lavazza acquired an 80 percent interest in Kicking Horse Coffee in May 2017. Its annual report described Kicking Horse as a Canadian organic and Fairtrade coffee company based in Invermere.
More recent Lavazza sustainability reports list Kicking Horse Coffee as an Invermere-based Canadian manufacturing subsidiary within the Lavazza Group.
So, is Kicking Horse Coffee Canadian?
Here is the honest answer:
- Kicking Horse started in Canada.
- Its roasting and manufacturing operation remains in Invermere.
- The company says all its beans are roasted on Canadian soil.
- Kicking Horse belongs to the Italian-owned Lavazza Group.
Calling it Canadian-roasted is accurate. Calling it fully Canadian-owned is not.
You will find the ownership details in the Lavazza Group 2017 Annual Report.
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What Do Organic and Fairtrade Mean Here?
Kicking Horse says all its coffee uses Organic and Fairtrade certified Arabica beans.
Its Organic certification means the beans follow certified organic production standards. Kicking Horse identifies ECOCERT as its certifying body and states annual audits take place.
Fairtrade certification deals with trading standards, producer organizations, labour conditions, and the Fairtrade Premium paid for community or business projects.
Fairtrade Canada independently features Kicking Horse as a participating coffee brand. That second source matters. A company saying nice things about itself is marketing. Independent certification gives the claim more weight.
Certification does not guarantee you will enjoy every blend. Ethics and taste are separate buying decisions.
A responsible coffee still needs to taste good.
Does Kicking Horse Coffee Have More Caffeine?
The names Kick Ass and 454 Horse Power sound like warnings from your cardiologist. The names do not prove those blends contain more caffeine.
Caffeine in your cup changes with:
- The amount of coffee used
- Serving size
- Grind
- Brewing method
- Brew time
- Bean and roast variables
Kicking Horse estimates a 12-ounce drip coffee made with two tablespoons of grounds contains around 140 milligrams of caffeine.
For comparison, Mayo Clinic lists about 96 milligrams for an average eight-ounce brewed coffee. The figures are not contradictory because the serving sizes differ and caffeine varies between brews.
Do not choose a blend based on the toughest horse name. Choose by roast and flavour.
Who Should Buy Kicking Horse Coffee?
Kicking Horse Coffee suits you if:
- You prefer medium or dark roasts.
- You grind whole beans at home.
- You use a drip coffee maker or French press.
- You drink coffee black.
- You value Organic and Fairtrade certification.
- You want widely available Canadian-roasted coffee.
- You want more flavour than basic bargain coffee.
- You prefer practical brewing over coffee-shop theatrics.
Who Should Skip Kicking Horse Coffee?
Look elsewhere if:
- You prefer delicate light roasts.
- You demand a printed roast date.
- You buy coffee based only on the lowest price.
- You dislike smoky, earthy, or chocolate-heavy profiles.
- You expect every bag to taste like a fresh local micro-roast.
- You take months to finish a large bag.
Kicking Horse is good grocery-store coffee. It is not a replacement for every independent roaster in Canada.
Where to Buy Kicking Horse Coffee in Canada
Kicking Horse sells coffee directly through its Canadian website. The online shop includes whole beans, ground coffee, pods, subscriptions, and several bag sizes.
You will also find selected blends through:
- Major Canadian grocery stores
- Amazon Canada
- Walmart Canada
- Well.ca
- Independent food and coffee retailers
Compare the package size before comparing prices. A cheaper bag might also contain less coffee.
Check the best-before date when buying in person. Kicking Horse says the roasting date falls 18 months before the printed best-before date.
If two bags cost the same, choose the one with the later best-before date. It should be the fresher bag.
Coffee shopping does not need to become a second job.
Kicking Horse Coffee Review FAQs
What is the best-tasting Kicking Horse Coffee?
Three Sisters is my best-tasting Kicking Horse Coffee for regular use. It is smooth, balanced, and flavourful without becoming heavy.
Dark-roast drinkers should choose Grizzly Claw.
What is the mildest Kicking Horse Coffee?
Among the three blends I tested, Three Sisters tasted the mildest. It still had enough flavour and body for drinking black.
Kicking Horse also sells the lighter-roasted Hola blend, which I have not tasted.
Which Kicking Horse Coffee is best for a drip coffee maker?
Three Sisters is my first choice for a standard drip coffee maker. It produced a balanced, dependable cup in my Hamilton Beach machine.
Grizzly Claw also worked well when I wanted a stronger dark roast.
Which Kicking Horse Coffee is best for espresso?
Kicking Horse produces Cliff Hanger Espresso for espresso preparation.
The company also recommends Smart Ass and Hola for super-automatic espresso machines with built-in grinders. Lighter and medium roasts often behave better in those grinders than oily dark-roast beans.
Does Kicking Horse Coffee have a lot of caffeine?
The amount depends on your serving size, measurements, and brewing method. A dramatic blend name does not prove higher caffeine.
Kicking Horse estimates about 140 milligrams in a 12-ounce drip coffee prepared with two tablespoons of grounds.
Is Kicking Horse Coffee made in Canada?
The green beans grow outside Canada. Kicking Horse says all its coffee is roasted in Canada at its Invermere, British Columbia operation.
Who owns Kicking Horse Coffee?
Kicking Horse Coffee belongs to the Lavazza Group. Lavazza purchased an 80 percent interest in 2017. Recent Lavazza reports continue to list Kicking Horse within the group.
What does Kicking Horse Three Sisters taste like?
Kicking Horse lists stone fruit and cocoa among its tasting notes.
I found it smooth, balanced, and milder than the dark roasts. It worked well black from my standard drip coffee maker.
Final Kicking Horse Coffee Review Verdict
This Kicking Horse Coffee review produced two easy recommendations.
Buy Three Sisters if you want the best all-round blend. It is smooth enough for a relaxed morning and flavourful enough for black-coffee drinkers.
Buy Grizzly Claw if you prefer a bold dark roast. It is richer, stronger, and better suited to mornings when polite encouragement has failed.
Kick Ass is decent, but it does not beat either winner.
Three Sisters owns the comfortable chair on the cottage porch. Grizzly Claw handles the mornings when someone needs to tip you out of it.
Have you tried Kicking Horse Coffee? Share your favourite blend in the comments. Your recommendation might save another coffee drinker from staring at six horse-themed bags in the grocery aisle.
References
External references used:
- Kicking Horse Coffee Canada
- Kicking Horse Coffee FAQ
- Three Sisters product information
- Grizzly Claw product information
- Lavazza Group 2017 Annual Report
- Fairtrade Canada
Please note: the opinions expressed in this post should never be construed as advice. The thoughts are based on my experiences and those of my friends and family. I am not a restaurateur or a formal barista. I just love coffee and love sharing what I learn with everyone. Please enjoy and share your favourites in the comments section.
Also: If considering a change in diet, exercise, nutrition and/or supplements, you must consult your medical practitioner to make sure that what you are about to embark upon doesn’t interfere with your current treatments.
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