Eight O'Clock Coffee 100% Colombian

Coffee: 100% Colombian

Brand: Eight O' Clock Coffee

Price: $4.99

Eight O'Clock Coffee has won best taste awards several times, so I decided to try it out. At $4.99 for 12oz. the price can't be beat. I was surprised when I opened the bag to find that the bean had a very dry look and appeared to be cracked. Yet I am not one to judge on apperance, so I put the beans in my grinder and ground away. The ground beans have a distinct bitter smell, which began to dismay me a little.

My first taste of Eight O' Clock Coffee actually turned out better than I expected. There was a medium bodied flavor and a certain level of smoothness. There were no discernible undertones with this coffee, in fact the aftertaste was mostly bitter, and the coffee flavor was bland.

While I was drinking this coffee several thoughts came to mind. First, this is a good thermos coffee. Putting coffee in a thermos ruins the integrity of the coffee, so you don't want to waste your favorite coffee by putting it in a thermos. Eight O'Clock's medium bodied flavor will keep well for hours and will not dissapoint, you know what you are going to get. I can imagine myself opening up a thermos of Eight O'Clock and enjoying it with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It is a working man's coffee, a step above Folger's and Maxwell House, but only a step.

While the price is right the taste is only mediocre. For a dollar more you can purchase Pleasant Morning Buzz and have a far superior coffee experience. If you are a coffee lover, stay away from Eight O'Clock, unless you find yourself in a situation where you are drinking coffee from a thermos and eating peanut butter and jelly.

Pleasant Morning Buzz

Coffee: Pleasant Morning Buzz

Brand: Whole Foods 365 Everday Value

Price: $5.99

I picked up this coffee yesterday when I went to Whole Foods to pick up some flouride free toothpaste for my 17 month old daughter. I love the ambience of Whole Foods and their apparent dedication to locally grown produce and organic products. I am still undecided on whether it is merely a genius marketing ploy or an actual concern for health and the environment. I needed to pick up some coffee as I was running out and really couldn't bear another day of drinking Eight O'Clock Coffee.

Since my wife and I are trying to stick to a new budget I passed over the more expensive Allegro and boutique coffees and made my way to the end of the aisle. Surprisingly, there were only a few options of coffee for the 365 Everday Value brand. The name of the coffee caught my attention, as I am always looking for a "pleasant morning buzz," so I picked up a bag and also it's decaffeinated counterpart Buzz Free Decaf.

Pleasant Morning Buzz is a dark roast which combines Central and South American beans. I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor of this coffee. The combination of beans combines a smooth first taste, while the dark roast packs a punch. Their is a slightly nutty flavor which is complemented nicely by chocolate undertones. The aftertaste is slightly acidic, but not enough to detract from it's full-bodied flavor. The dark roast is reminiscent of a Starbucks roast, and provides a strong aroma and flavor.

I have never been impressed by a generic store brand coffee before, but I was satisfied by the bean quality and the even roast of this coffee. For fans of dark roast coffee and strong flavor, Pleasant Morning Buzz offers an affordable alternative for Starbucks Breakfast Blend or colombian coffees. They have the strong flavor and bitter aftertaste characteristic of this type of roast at a price that won't break the wallet.