Tully's French Roast KCup

Manufacturer: Tully's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today we're sitting down with a good cup of joe, the Tully's French Roast. Tully's French Roast is a deep ebony color. It comes off the brewer ringed with tan froth and coated with swirling oiliness, The nose picks up aromas of smoke and roasted nuts.

On the palate there are roasted nuts, almonds and walnuts in particular. Some smokiness highlights the roast. There is a fleeting bitter oiliness, as well as some woody notes. Tully's French Roast is medium-bodied with a slight astringency as well as some mouth-coating oiliness. The finish has roasted nuts complimented by smoke and some bitter undertones.

Tully's French Roast is a bit one-dimensional, but what it does, it does well. There are some very nice roast and nutty notes here that are prominent, but not overpowering. If you like dark roast coffee, Tully's French Roast is well worth a try.

Green Mountain Coffee Lake and Lodge K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today we are tasting the Lake and Lodge Blend KCup from Green Mountain Coffee. While this is a dark roast, this is not an "extra bold" KCup (extra bold K-Cups contain added coffee for a fuller flavor), which is a bit of a departure from my usual tastes. The Lake & Lodge brews up a light mahogany in color with a touch of red. It comes off the brewer with a thin ring of white froth and a faint sheen of oil on top. The nose detects lightly roasted nuts and a touch of woodiness.

On the palate there is a woody note of oak and cedar with a bit of tannin. There is just a hint of the bite of unsweetened cocoa. Lightly roasted walnuts and almonds provide some nuttiness. There is also a light acidity that hints at bananas. The Lake and Lodge has just a touch of chewiness and drying tannins. Overall, the mouthfeel is fairly light for a dark roast. The finish has soft oak and nutty notes.

Being a fan of big dark roasted coffees, I had my concerns prior to tasting the Lake and Lodge Blend, seeing as it isn’t an “extra bold” K-Cup. It turns out my concerns were unfounded. While the Lake & Lodge blend is on the light-bodied side, the flavor doesn’t suffer at all. The flavors are light, subtle and refreshing. If you like light-bodied coffee, then this is the dark roast for you.

Barista Prima House Blend KCup

Manufacturer: Barista Prima
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A+

We're wrapping up our reviews of Green Mountain Coffee's Barista Prima line of European-roast style K-Cup coffee's. I have been eagerly awaiting my opportunity to try the House Blend, as this was out of stock on the GMC website for a while. I am happy to report that my patience has been rewarded in spades. The House Blend brews up a deep chestnut brown in color, topped by a light tan froth and some faint swirls of oil. The nose detects smoky, roasted nuts along with a fruity berry note in the background.

The Barista Prima House Blend hits the palate with a fruity acidity up front followed by a bite of espresso-like bitterness, which comes as a nice 1-2 punch combination. There are berry notes and a faint lemonade citrus note on the fruity side. Unsweetened cocoa is present on the bitter side. Woody notes of oak, applewood and smoke fill out the flavor profile nicely. The House Blend has a full, coating mouthfeel. The finish has unsweetened cocoa and roasted almonds over fading acidity and fruit notes.

As much as I have enjoyed the Barista Prima coffeees I've tried up to this point, the House Blend is truly the pinnacle for me. The House Blend is full-flavored, complex and strikes the perfect balance between acid/fruit and deep roast without either side becoming overpowering. To match the big flavor, the body is full with a sumptuous richness. The Barista Prima House Blend has everything I'm looking for in my everyday coffee, and will pair excellently with any chocolate that has a lively fruit note such as the Domori Porcelana or the Amano Madagascar. I can't recommend this one enough, this coffee is as good as it gets.

Barista Prima French Roast KCup

Manufacturer: Barista Prima
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today we continue our reviews from the new Barista Prima KCup line with their French Roast. The Barista Prima French Roast brews up a deep mahogany/rosewood color. It comes off the brewer with a tan-brown froth along with swirls and drops of oil on top of the cup. The nose picks up aromas of smoke, roasted nuts and cocoa/cocoa butter.

The palate leads off with more roasted nuts. There is a sharp initial bitter bite that drops off to a background of bittersweet chocolate. There are notes of hickory smoke and earthiness along with a faint orange peel note. The Barista Prima French Roast is medium-bodied with a hint of oiliness. The finish has highlights of earth, wood and BBQ pit smokiness, all over a bitter bite of 100% cocoa dark chocolate.

As expected, this is another great dark roast from Barista Prima. There is a nice woody smoke to this coffee, but most notable to me is a nice unsweetened chocolate bitterness. This coffee would be a great pair to a very high percentage chocolate, such as the Lindt Excellence 99% dark chocolate.

Speaking of high-cocoa percentage chocolates, join us next week as The Dark Chocolate Blog hosts a theme week of 100% cocoa dark chocolate bars. If you're after the purest of the pure chocolate rush, then we will have three bars reviewed to get you your theobroma fix.

Barista Prima Columbia KCup

Manufacturer: Barista Prima
Location: Columbia
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Today's tasting is yet another KCup from Barista Prima, their Columbia. While technically billed as a medium roast, the Columbia is more deeply roasted than the typical medium roast coffee. Off the brewer there is a nut-brown colored froth along with a moderate amount of oil. The coffee itself is mahogany in color. There are aromas of roasted almonds and toast on the nose.

The palate picks up a cedar-like woodiness. There is some cocoa along with an unsweetened chocolate-like bitter bite. The Columbia has a moderate acidity leading to a faint note of lemon zest/oil. There is a notable roasted nut flavor as well. The Barista Prima Columbia is medium bodied and coats the tongue a bit. The finish has cocoa and roasted almonds.

Green Mountain has done a fantastic job selecting premium coffees for their Barista Prima line. The Columbia isn't as heavily roasted as some of the other Barista Prima coffees, but it does have enough of a bite for me. Easing back on the roast opens up some nice acidity that a heavier roast tends to mask. This is yet another must-try coffee from Barista Prima.

Barista Prima Italian Roast KCup

Manufacturer: Barista Prima
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Today’s tasting is the Italian Roast KCup from Green Mountain’s new Barista Prima line of KCups. The Barista Prima KCups are all deep-roasted varieties, so these should be right up my alley. The Italian Roast comes off the brewer with a light tan crema and a decent amount of oil on top of the cup. It is deep mahogany in color. The nose has lots of smoky, roasted notes that remind me of a big roasted porter.

On the palate there is unsweetened chocolate up front that gives a pleasant bite. Walnuts and roasted nuts are here along with a fleeting hint of banana. There is a touch of fruity acidity that hints at cherries and provides a bit of counterbalance to the deep roast. The Barista Prima Italian Roast has a full body with a slightly coating mouthfeel. The finish has lingering bitter cocoa notes along with roasted nuts.

This is my first taste of the Barista Prima KCup line from Green Mountain, and I must say that I really like where this is going. The Barista Prima Italian Roast is rich, complex, and loaded with the deep roasted flavors that I love in my coffee. I’m looking forward to sampling more of the Barista Prima line based on what I see here.

Tully's Kona Blend K-Cup

Manufacturer: Tully's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is a review of Tully's Kona Blend K-Cup. The coffee brews up a light mahogany color with just the faintest shimmer of oiliness visible on top. The nose detects berries and a light roast note that reminds me a bit of grilled corn.

Sipping the Kona Blend reveals light roasted notes along with some bittersweet chocolate. There is a distinct grilled vegetable flavor on the center of the tongue. A faint cherry/berry note sits in the background along with a hint of sweetness and black pepper. There are some nutty notes as well with pistachios and almonds. The Tully's Kona Blend has a smooth body and finishes rather short with roasted veggies and bittersweet chocolate.

The Tully's Kona Blend has an interesting flavor profile that works pretty nicely. The flavors here seem a bit subdued for my tastes, but I do prefer my coffee to have big roasted flavor. If you like your coffee on the milder side, the Kona Blend from Tully's is well worth a taste.

Green Mountain Coffee Sumatran Reserve K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Location: Sumatra
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A+

In my cup today is the Sumatran Reserve K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Sumatran Reserve is an organic, fair-trade certified dark roast coffee. Off the brewer, the cup is ringed with a latte-colored froth and coated with a faint, swirling, oily sheen. The coffee brews up mahogany in color. The nose detects a delicate aroma of roasted nuts.

On the palate there is a roasted nuttiness similar to roasted almonds. The nuttiness is balanced with a hint of unsweetened cocoa. There is a touch of acidity with some berry undertones. The Sumatran Reserve is light-to-medium bodied, and has little oiliness or chewiness to speak of (especially for a dark roast). The finish has a faint lingering cocoa bitterness paired with roasted nuts and a hint of earthiness.

The Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve is a great balanced, complex coffee. The flavors are subtle, with no one characteristic overpowering the rest. This may not be the deepest-roasted coffee out there, but dark roast fan or not, you owe it to yourself to try this coffee. This is simply one of the best.

Tully's Italian Roast K-Cup

Manufacturer: Tully's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

In my mug today is the Italian Roast K-Cup from Tully's. The Italian Roast is deep mahogany in color and comes off the brewer ringed with an off-white froth. There is a fair amount of oil on top. The nose detects earthy and woody notes, along with berries over a background of roasted aromas.

On the palate there is more of that woody/earthy character from the nose, along with a rich roasted note. There is a lingering (yet not overpowering) bitter kick. There is a touch of acidity that brings out a hint of fruitiness. Chestnuts and cocoa sit in the background as well. The Tully's Italian Roast is medium-bodied with a slightly chewy mouthfeel. The finish has lingering earthy & roasted notes over an oily bitter kick.

The Tully's Italian Roast is a dark roast you can sink your teeth into.  I enjoy that it has a bit of a bite to it. It has a nice rustic quality with a good roast character.

Caribou Coffee Obsidian K-Cup

Manufacturer: Caribou Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A+

Today's tasting is the Obsidian K-Cup from Caribou Coffee. As one can glean from the name, the Obsidian is a dark roast coffee, very dark. The Obsidian brews up deep ebony in color with a swirling oily gloss on top. A golden tan froth rings my mug as I pull it off the brewer. The aroma has a powerful roasted character with peanuts and cocoa.

The Obsidian leads with a distinct dark chocolate flavor that clings to the palate. There is a rich, deep-roasted flavor with earthy and woody notes with a nice touch of smoke. Roast cashews and a faint bacon note are here in the background. There is the perfect balance of bitterness here to compliment the roast without overpowering. The Obsidian has an almost chewy mouthfeel as the oils coat the tongue pleasantly. The finish has a lingering bittersweet cocoa and roast nuts with a hint of smoke.

The Caribou Coffee Obsidian is a top-notch dark roast coffee. This is well-balanced, with big roasted flavor. The bittersweet chocolate note is what really sets this one apart for me. For obvious reasons, the Obsidian pairs quite well with dark chocolate (I paired my most recent cup with the Amano Dos Rios). Highly recommended.

Coffee People Jet Fuel K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A

Today we complete our trifecta of extra bold coffees from Coffee People. As far as I'm concerned, the bar has been set pretty high by naming this blend "Jet Fuel". I'm a big fan of big coffee, so let's see if the Jet Fuel delivers. The Jet Fuel brews up a deep brown, almost ebony, in color. There is a light tan froth along with a moderate amount of oil on top of the cup as it comes off the brewer. The nose detects roasted notes along with earth and spicy undertones.

Up front, the Jet Fuel hits the palate with a sharp bitter bite similar to a very dark chocolate. There is an earthy note along with some mushroom flavors. A black pepper spiciness is here as well as a roasted nut undertone. The Jet Fuel has a full body with a tannin-like astringency. The finish is nice and long. The bitter kick simmers down after time leaving a lingering coffee-oil and cocoa flavor highlighted by some spice on the tip of the tongue and a faint roasted nut note.

The Jet Fuel K-Cup really lives up to its name. This is a very bold coffee with a nice bite to it and a long, lingering finish. If you're a fan of really dark chocolate, or if you just like a coffee that bites back, then this is the coffee for you. I will definitely be keeping some Jet Fuel K-Cups on hand for when I need an eye-opener.

Coffee People Wake Up Call K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People

Manufacturer Website

Rating: A

Today we have another K-Cup from Coffee People up for review. As one would expect by the name, the "Wake Up Call" blend is a full-flavored, extra bold coffee. The Wake Up Call brews up a deep mahogany in color with some orange highlights and a faint oiliness on top of the cup. The nose has roasted notes, nuts and a faint citrus.

The Wake Up Call hits the palate with a vibrant acidity that is paired with a solid bitter undertone which hangs around without being overpowering. Complex highlights abound, with cocoa, caramel, citrus, almond and chestnuts all playing a support role here. The Wake Up Call is medium-bodied with some chewy astringency. The finish has lingering cocoa bitterness paired with a roasted nut undertone.

Coffee People have themselves another winner with the Wake Up Call K-Cup. This is a bold, complex coffee with a nice kick and some excellent rich flavor. Highly recommended.

Coffee People Black Tiger K-Cup

Manufacturer: Coffee People
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A-

On the tasting block today the the "Black Tiger" K-Cup by Coffee People. The Black Tiger brews up a deep, dark brown color with a hint of ruddiness. Straight off the brewer there is a light golden-brown froth along with a very faint oiliness on top of the cup. The nose has earthy notes along with smoke and some roast.

On the palate there is a nice acidity paired up with a bitter kick up front that fades to an oily, roasted coffee backbone. Some hazelnut flavor is present along with some earth. There is a bit of a fruity note in the back that has a bit of a green pepper herb/spice undertone. The finish has roasted nuts and earth fading to a slight astringent oiliness with some faint roast.

The Black Tiger is an interesting take on a dark roast coffee. This a complex, balanced and full-flavored coffee. The Black Tiger doesn't seem to be as roast-forward in flavor as the typical dark roast and that allows more subtle complex flavors shine through.

Revv Pulse K-Cup

Manufacturer: Revv Coffee

Manufacturer Website

Rating: B-

Next up for review from Revv Coffee is the Revv Pulse. Revv have taken their energy drink philosophy a bit further with the Pulse by adding guarana and ginseng, two herbs commonly found in energy drinks, to their high-octane coffee. I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of flavored coffee, so I'm curious to see how these additions affect the flavor of this coffee.

The Revv Pulse K-Cup brews up a deep cherrywood color with a light white froth and just the faintest sheen of oil on top. The nose detects light roasted and nutty notes. On the palate, there is a light roast character along with a faint nutty note. There is a distinct herbal/grassy character here as well that plays well with the roast notes. A bitter bite is present here as well, but it is not the typical bitter kick from a dark coffee. Instead, it is reminiscent of the bitter, almost medicinal, taste most energy drinks have. I'm going to assume this is from the guarana, since ginseng doesn't typically have a strong bitter flavor. The Revv Pulse is light-to-medium bodied and has a finish that fades rather quickly as the roast and bitter notes fade.

The Revv Pulse is an interesting concept, but I'm not quite sold on it. On one hand, the herbal notes from the ginseng and guarana do compliment the coffee rather well. On the other hand there was a bitter bite that I found to detract from the flavor a bit. I'd be interested in trying a Revv with ginseng but no guarana, since all guarana brings to the table is more caffeine and that could be handled by more/stronger coffee in its stead. If you like energy drinks, then you may find the additional herbs in the Pulse to be OK, but I'll be sticking with the regular Revv.

Revv K-Cup

Manufacturer: Revv Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Revv Coffee takes an interesting spin on coffee marketing. They have embraced the energy kick that so many of us turn to our coffee for and seem to be vying for a share of the energy drink market that has become so popular over the last few years. The question is whether the flavor is as bold as the caffeine kick it provides.

The Revv brews up deep, ruddy brown in color topped with a light tan froth and a moderate amount of shimmering oil. The nose has light roasted notes highlighted by some smoke and fruit. On the palate there is a bright flavor. There are some light roasted notes that fade into the background. Smoke and almonds play supporting notes and a mild acidity rounds out the flavor. The Revv is medium-bodied with a fairly short finish leaving roasted notes and a touch of oiliness on the tip of the tongue.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised with the Revv K-Cup. I was expecting something a bit more overpowering to match the "high-octane" marketing. Instead, what I found was a bright, flavorful coffee that is smooth and easy-drinking. This is not a coffee reserved for truck drivers and college students pulling an all-nighter. The flavor here makes it well worth a try.

Emeril's Big Easy Bold K-Cup

Manufacturer: Timothy's
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

The next K-Cup up for review is the Emeril's Big Easy Bold from Timothy's. As we shall soon see, and as one would expect from a product endorsed by Emeril Lagasse, the flavor on this coffee is truly kicked up a notch. The Big Easy Bold brews up a deep mahogany on color with a nice oily sheen across the top of the cup. The nose gets a big whiff of roasted peanuts along with a faint smokiness.

On the palate the Big Easy Bold hits you with a big roasted flavor. There is a nice, complimentary earthiness present along with some roasted peanuts. There is just enough of a bitter undertone to round out the flavor without being too assertive. There is a touch of acidity, along with a bit of a pepper spice note. The Emeril's Big Easy Bold is medium-bodied with a moderate-length finish led by roasted, earthy and smoke notes.

Timothy's (now part of Green Mountain Coffee) has a real winner on their hands with the Big Easy Bold. This has the biggest flavor of any K-Cup coffee I've tried to date. The Emeril's Big Easy Bold has a big, complex flavor with a really nice roast. This one will always be in my cupboard, and will spend a lot of time in my morning cup as well.

Green Mountain Coffee Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B

In my home state of Rhode Island there can be as many as a half dozen donut shops within any given square mile. While I'm sure they sell their fair share of donuts, most of the donut shops make their real business selling coffee. Green Mountain Coffee's Donut House line aims to provide the same easy-drinking cup of joe that seems to be mainlined by so many caffeine addicts.

The Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup brews up deep brown in color with just the faintest trace of oil on top of the cup. The nose is nutty with a hint of smoke. On the palate there is a light roasted flavor with some smokiness. There is a nuttiness with flavors of walnuts and roasted peanuts. A faint caramel note sits in the background as well. The Donut House Extra Bold has a fairly light body with no bitterness of note. The finish is led by more nutty flavors, and hangs around just long enough before a fairly quick fade.

The GMC Donut House Extra Bold K-Cup is a bit more mellow than I like my coffee. Having said that, it's has some nice flavor for a light roast coffee. If you're the type who likes extra cream and sugar in your java, the Donut House Extra Bold  is a good choice. The flavor here will mesh well with the added sweetness while still holding up to milk/cream without getting watered down.

Green Mountain Coffee Dark Magic K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

Today's tasting is the Dark Magic K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. True to its name, the Dark Magic brews up deep ebony in color with a light tan froth and a faint oily sheen on top. The nose detects deep roasted aromas, along with some nutty undertones.

On the palate there is a rich roasted, smoky flavor with notes of dark toast and roasted almonds. There is a fleeting bitterness reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate. The Dark Magic is medium bodied and quite smooth for such a dark roast. The finish has more roasted flavors and fades rather quickly.

The Green Mountain Dark Magic has a rich, roasted flavor that you expect from a dark roast coffee. What is unexpected is how smooth this coffee is. The Dark Magic is notably mild for such a dark roast. If you like your coffee flavorful without being bitter or overpowering, then the GMC Dark Magic is the coffee for you.

Green Mountain Coffee Espresso Blend K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: A

Up next for review is the Espresso Blend K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Espresso Blend is a deep mahogany on color. Fresh off the brewer there is a nice mocha-colored "crema" and a very faint oily sheen on top of the cup. The nose picks up deep roasted aromas along with nuts and some spiciness.

On the palate there is a deep, rich, roasted flavor. The Espresso Blend has some pleasing mild bitter undertones and some oiliness that really fills out the full, almost chewy, mouthfeel. Nutty notes of hazelnuts and roasted almonds ate notable. There are also some hints of cinnamon and black pepper spice. The finish on the Green Mountain Espresso Blend may not be as long and full as a "true" espresso, but there are some great lingering roasted notes along with a nice bitter kick.

One of my biggest concerns when I decided to try out the K-Cup brewer was that without control of how much coffee goes into the brew it may not be as strong and rich as I like it. The GMC Espresso Blend K-Cup took that concern out back and put it out of its misery. This coffee has enough punch/flavor that I could happily make this my everyday coffee. But where I think this coffee really shines is as an after-dinner treat paired with a sweet dessert like a great dark chocolate. The Green Mountain Espresso blend is one coffee I will be sure to keep on hand at all times.

Green Mountain Coffee Double Black Diamond K-Cup

Manufacturer: Green Mountain Coffee
Manufacturer Website
Rating: B+

We're starting off our coffee reviews with the Double Black Diamond K-Cup from Green Mountain Coffee. The Double Black Diamond brews up a deep brown color reminiscent of cola. Straight out of the brewer, there is a light white froth and a slight oily sheen on top. The nose detects roast peanuts and a faint smokiness.

On the palate there is some acidity that is on the light-to-moderate side, just enough to round out the flavor. Roasted notes as well as some nuttiness build with time. A mild bitter bite with some slight oiliness build up along with the roast. There are some nice earthy and smoky undertones that play a support role. The finish on the Double Black Diamond is a moderate length and has lingering roasted notes along with some smokiness.

We're starting off on the right foot with our coffee reviews here. As you'll soon see, I'm a big fan of dark roasted coffees with big flavor and the Double Black Diamond is right up my alley. The roasted flavors take center stage, with some nice supporting notes that really fill out the flavor.