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.