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@ted

Ted Chan, Managing Editor

Member since

Preferences: Barista for Coffee Roast, mainly drinking espresso and pourover. I try to take a sommelier type approach to coffee, and generally know how varietals/regions should taste (but also like being surprised!)

Gear: Lucca Spaziale A53 Chemex Coffee Maker Alessia Moka Pot Hario v60 - Ceramic at home, plastic on the road

Reviews(1095)

4.28(1095)

1095 ratings
Ratings here are based on aggregated user reviews of individual roasts
5 star
20%
4 star
66%
3 star
12%
2 star
2%
1 star
1%
  • Decaf K-Cup Third Rock Coffee
    Flag of United States Bethesda, Maryland

    2.00(1)

    I have never seen this Third Rock Coffee brand before running into it at Marriott. This is some crappy coffee.

    A front of the palate that has some cigarette like characteristics, more an ashy way than burned. Not great aftertaste. A little bit of prune but no meaningful acidity. Drank a little and poured it out.

    Cupping Method:K-Cup in Marriott Courtyard in New York City

    Rated: 2.00
    3 months ago · See more
  • Nitro Cold Brew Downeast Coffee Roasters
    Flag of United States Pawtucket, Rhode Island

    2.00(1)

    I wrestled a bit with what to do here. I had a horrible, skunked nitro cold brew at Spirit Cafe in Waterbury. It was 1/2 foam and just shouldn't have been served.

    I contacted Downeast and they said they'd notify them, but didn't really do much to make up for it, and I never heard back.

    While I like Downeast, I think they have to control the end product and I can't give them a break on it. It'd be 1 star but at least they responded.
    Rated: 2.00
    4 months ago · See more
  • Honduras Light Roast Microlot Blue State Coffee
    Flag of United States South Windsor, Connecticut

    2.00(1)

    Noted that there was a quality control issue and I felt this bag was quite over roasted to be a light (maybe a medium dark).
    Rated: 2.00
    7 months ago · See more
  • Vigorosi Coffee Blend Amora - CLOSED
    Flag of United States Montgomery, Alabama

    2.00(1)

    This is an old review that I found in my messy email notes. I noted that I strongly disliked this coffee as it was very bitter, and my friend who was giving it to me got stuck with it because she had accidentally signed up for an Amora subscription.
    Rated: 2.00
    8 months ago · See more
  • Etopia Moca Sidamo Ethiquable
    Flag of France Paris

    1.75(2)

    Barely drinkable. Pleasant aroma pre and post brew. Has some positive characteristics including a bit of tea and fruitiness but it is overwhelmed by an intense oak wood and bitterness that is present from the beginning to end.

    Cupping Method:Bought a bag at Carrefour in Madrid. Very inexpensive (5 Eurofor a large bag).

    Rated: 2.00
    10 months ago · See more
  • Classico Cold Brew Illy
    Flag of Italy Trieste

    2.00(1)

    Not a big fan of this cold brew. Not bitter or acidic so a bit hard to explain and pretty smooth and has a nice caramel undertone. It's almost too nutty at the top of the palate and then has an unpleasant after taste. I sort of get like a cooked mushroom, which is great for dinner, but not super awesome for canned cold brew. Classico as espresso works quite well, so I'm not sure what's happening here. Maybe a skunked can?

    Cupping Method:Can (I think I bought it from Eataly in Boston), put in my fridge and drank it 3 days later.

    Rated: 2.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • Moxy Blend Nguyen Coffee Supply
    Flag of United States Brooklyn, New York

    2.67(3)

    Couldnt get it to work in any format, pourover, espresso, or Moka. Great aroma out of the bag. Possible overroast as listed as medium but a little bit of carbon overshadowed everything.
    Rated: 2.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • This was described as a medium roast. Maybe I just got a bad batch.

    I got a lot of dark roast, and just a touch menthol. Pretty bitter. Ill try the roaster again since its local and seems to have good values. Had it at a local cafe in Worcester as drip, then tried icing it when I got home to mellow it out (45 minute or so drive). Could work better as espresso than drip?

    Cupping Method:House blend at cafe in Worcester

    Rated: 2.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • Cold Brew Classic Black Can Nguyen Coffee Supply
    Flag of United States Brooklyn, New York

    1.00(1)

    This is my second shot with Nguyen Coffee Supply, after not especially liking their Moxy Blend. I bought a can of their Classic Black Cold Brew at Whole Foods last week to give them another tried. Nguyen Coffee Supply, is an Vietnamese-American brand and I want to support.

    The verdict, it's not for me.

    This cold brew had pronounced rubbery notes, reminiscent of the criticisms often thrown at Robusta beans. The taste profile leaned heavily towards a burned flavor, and while I wouldn't describe it as harsh, it left an aftertaste reminiscent of cigarette ash. A dark roast cold brew often carries a depth of flavor, but in this case, it felt overpowering.

    This was a first for someone who rarely leaves a cold brew unfinished. But it's essential to remember that taste is subjective. What might be overpowering for one could be just right for another.

    Cupping Method:Cold brew can for Whole Foods

    Rated: 1.00
    7 months ago · See more
  • Decaf Espresso J.P. Licks Coffee Roasters
    Flag of United States Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

    1.00(1)

    Roasted to oblivion dark roast with heavily burned flavors. Hard to believe this was an Americano given how strong the burnt and carbon taste was. Even smells burned. Should be marketed as very dark or Italian roast, not just plain 'ol generic dark (what the person at the counter said) or French (what the website said). Maybe this batch just happened to be overroasted. Tried it hot, let it cool down, had a few sips and then tossed it.

    I'm a big fan of JP Licks ice cream and have taken my kids here for years, so sorry to have to flame them here. Just didn't feel like ice cream and wanted a hot decaf on a cold, rainy day.

    Cupping Method:Hot Americano on a coldish rainy day at JP Licks in Davis Sq

    Rated: 1.00
    11 months ago · See more
  • Rathskeller House Blend Pavement Coffee
    Flag of United States Boston, Massachusetts

    1.00(1)

    If it wasn't a caffeine emergency, I would have just tossed this one. Most sour and acidic shot of espresso I can remember.

    Guessing it was a severe underextraction. I watched the barista process and nothing seemed off. It's an excellent Marzocco machine they have. So might just need tuning or the dosage if off. Only other thing I can thing is a batch of extremely underroasted beans.

    I'm back here at Boston University next week for a VERY long meeting so perhaps I will give it anotehr try.

    Cupping Method:Doppio at Pavement BU location, Marzocco Strada 3

    Rated: 1.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • Iced Coffee Drink Royal Mills
    Flag of United States Honolulu, Hawaii

    1.00(1)

    This is ungodly bad, overly sweet, and stuffed with chemicals and artificial ingredients. Definitely a throwback drink. Might be palatable with tons of ice on a very hot day.

    Cupping Method:Can

    Rated: 1.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • Bold & Smooth Cold Brew SToK
    Flag of United States Colorado

    1.00(1)

    I bought this for a camping trip and poured it out. I didn't realize it was sweetened, but I can live with most supermarket cold brew but for some reason I thought this was wretched. Of course just one person's opinion.
    Rated: 1.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • 100% Bolivian Valverde Coffee Roasters
    Flag of United States Salisbury, Massachusetts

    1.00(1)

    I keep a pile of coffee in my nuclear winter pile. Unfortunately this one went in. It was clearly a dark dark roast with the oil, crack, dark scent. It smelled burned and menthol and should not have passed quality control. I gave it a shot in the Moka Pot anyhow, and the results were pretty bad.

    I will try to give this local roaster another try as I like their values.
    Rated: 1.00
    1 year ago · See more
  • Estate Blend Organa
    Flag of United States

    1.00(1)

    Something not right, maybe the worst coffee I've ever had. Acrid and bitter. Somehow it was organic and free?
    Rated: 1.00
    1 year ago · See more
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