Reunion Island - Espresso Dark Roast

Well this is my first foray into getting pod espresso, so I was pretty jacked to rip into this. Reunion Island is one of the more expensive premium brands so I had pretty high hopes.

I looked at the pod, didn't look any different. A bit larger than a typical pod, but once again too big for the single cup insert and too small for the double cup insert.

This however is "espresso" and I have the Senseo espresso insert. Yeah, well it's too big for that too, but in my usual manner I made it fit. Wet the pod in the holder, firmly press down on the top of the unit and then latch the lever (my now famous "press and latch" method).

Hmmm, since it's espresso should I use less water like you would for a typical little cup of espresso? Seemed to make sense. Was waiting for that rich espresso aroma to billow forth and it never happened. Tried the creamy result and... nada. Nothing. Yeah it was strong, but there was no symphony of flavor like you get with typical espresso. In fact it really felt like overly strong bold coffee, not espresso.

Hmmm, thought I, perhaps this is one of those coffees that uses "espresso" to describe the roast rather than the product you brew. I didn't see what the espresso insert did, so I put that away. Next cup I made I brewed as a regular cup in the single cup insert using my patented "wet, press and latch" method, single cup insert, 3rd water level. Not bad. Still not very espressoish in my book, but a passable bold blend that is strong but not super flavorful. That's how I drank most of the box, occasionally using the double cup insert and a coffee filter (my "hexigonal coffee filter for pressure" method) because I really felt like I might break the  lever 'cause the pod really is too big for the single cup insert. I found I could get it in there if I let the pod really soak and get mushy. If it's dry you just can't close the lid.

I was nearly finished with the box when I thought, since the pod is so big, perhaps I should use the double cup setting. Eureka! That's the ticket! Double cup setting, water level 1. That makes this a pretty good cup of joe and a decently full cup of coffee. A teaspoon of agave syrup (my sweetener of choice) and this Reunion Island Espresso Dark Roast is a half-way decent morning pick-me-up.

No, it wasn't the knock-me-out espresso adventure I was looking for, but with the proper brewing, the subtle flavors within the dark roast come out and make this cup enjoyable.

Stay thirsty my friends. ;)

Donut Shop Classics - Blueberry Cobbler

I'm generally not a fan of flavored coffees, but I do like to switch things up a bit for fun and what's more fun than Blueberry Cobbler!

Well I don't know where anyone got the idea that this tastes anything like blueberries or cobbler, but there is a round sweetness that is reminiscent of blueberries, but that's about it. Overall it's not disgusting, it has that sameness you get from most flavored coffees be they hazelnut or vanilla or some sort of "International" flavored blend. It's rather middle of the road as far as body, not light not bold. I certainly didn't spit it out and managed to finish the box. I'm trying some of these other Donut Shop flavors and we'll see if there is much of a difference.

Donut Shop pods are some of the cheapest around and have 15 pods. I wet them first in the single cup holder and use the "press and latch" method. (Hey! I just named my technique!)

P.S. How is Blueberry Cobbler Coffee a "classic?" I don't remember grandpa talking about the great blueberry cobbler coffee the diner used to sell back in the day. ;)

Java One - House Blend

 Ok this is getting ridiculous, I drink the coffee, scan the packet upload everything, but not manage to make a post. I have to get better at this. I should be writing about the coffee while I'm actually drinking it to be the most fair and accurate. Instead I drink the entire box and post about it weeks later.

At any rate that's the case with Java One House Blend. I finished the box off a couple weeks ago. It did leave an impression though. I can't describe the taste, I just remember noting that it was much better than I expected a "house blend" to taste and I made a mental note to make sure I bought this again. So all I can tell you is that I liked it, it had good body, on the heavy side like I like and when I get more I'll update with more detailed taste notes.

And if I remember correctly this is one of the more reasonably priced brands, though the box only holds 14 pods. Like most off-Senseo brands, the pods are a little big for the single cup insert and too small for the double cup insert. I wet the pod and firmly press the top of the unit down before pushing the lever to minimize the stressing of the plastic lever (which I'll probably break eventually). I brew it at level 3 on the single cup setting.

Melitta Buzzworthy

Melitta's Buzzworthy is just that, good for a caffeine buzz. I don't know if it has more caffeine than a typical cup, or if it's just the mental suggestion of the name, but what it lacks in robust flavor it makes up for with that little bitter tweak you taste/feel when drinking a bold cup first thing in the morning.

I thought it was pretty good, but now that I've tried several more brands I need to go back and re-review for a true comparison. I drank this while moving so I didn't get a chance to fully review and note at the time. I just remember thinking this is one to try again.

Melitta pods are some of the most economical with 18 pods per box and under $6.

Baronet French Roast

Another one I didn't get a chance to review when I drank it since I was in the middle of moving. These pods are larger than typical single cup pods, but I found that using the 2-pod insert did not give it a really tight fit and the hot water just went around the pod rather than through it.

My solution was to take a typical paper coffee filter and fold it into a small hexagon the size of a pod and place it on top of the pod. This put enough pressure in the machine to force the water through the pod and get a decent cup-o-joe.

The Baronet coffees are a pretty good deal, you get more per-box than the typical pod box. I did enjoy the French Roast, and will update the flavor profile when I try again.

Reunion Island - Privateer Blend

Unusual flavor, not particularly great. I'm sketchy on the details since I forgot to post about this when I drank it. I just remember that I wasn't thrilled with it and probably wouldn't get again.

Reunion Island coffees are on the more expensive side, so if I'm going to pay a premium price, I better love it!

Marley Coffee - Lion's Blend

For my first non-Senseo brand, I tried Marley Coffee's Lion's Blend. It's considered a Medium Dark coffee. As I've said I lean towards the bold or robust spectrum of coffees and this is on the low-end of bold.

Different is a rather vague term to use, but this coffee is just that, different. Not drastically so, but in a mild, gentle spice sort of way. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. It is definitely a step up from the Senseo pods flavor-wise, but not so bold to put off a regular coffee drinker.

The box of 15 pods runs about $1-$1.50 more than the typical box of pods I see on the coffee sites.

Brewing took a bit of work on my end. I'm not sure of the .oz size, but the pods are larger than a Senseo pod. If you use the 1 pod insert it's a very tight fit. If you use the 2 pod insert it's too loose and the water may go around the pod and you'll get a cup of very week coffee. More of a meow rather than the Lion roar indicated by the name.

My solution, as I've been experimenting with different pods is to use the 1 pod insert, moisten the pod, pour off any excess, place it in the brewer and rather than let the lever do the work of compressing the pod, push down on the brewer before pushing down the lever. That way the arms the come out and pull the head down are not under the stress of compressing the pod.

Hopefully I'm not damaging the brewer, but it works for me.

If you do not moisten the pod first, the water might not come through and either stay in the brewer or squirt out the sides.

I use the 1 cup, 3rd level setting (5 .oz) for my water level.

Senseo Pods

When I got the Senseo from my wife on Christmas I got a variety of Senseo pods. While they weren't that bad, they weren't that great either. I can't give detailed notes at this point, since I went through them awhile ago, but I will update this post as I will probably re-try them.

Regular - ok
Kona - ok - sorry but there is nothing like 100% Kona. Most blends you find are 10-15% Kona coffee and this pod is no different.
Kenya - bold and probably my a fave of the Senseo flavors so far.
Sumatra - was pleasantly surprised - I usually don't like Sumatra blends from other premium brands and this wasn't bad.
Dark Roast (French Roast) - Not as flavorful as a typical French roast, but not bad compared to the other Senseo flavors. When I see this in the grocery store I usually pick it up, since I rarely see pods in the grocery store.

The big benefit of these pods is that they fit the Senseo brewer perfectly. As you will see in the subsequent reviews the "pod fit" has a great deal to do with the ease of use and quality of output.