Angels Cup Blind Tasting. This one didnt work for me. A burst of aspirin bitterness front of palate, then grapefruit zest. Not smooth or even and a touch tannic in the aftertaste.

Cupping Method:Hario v60 pourover

I bought a bag of this, and I haven't gotten a great result from a few different extractions. I think this bag is roasted a bit past light. It's probably a little bit more acidic and maybe a little bit more bitter roast. The most drinkable one I probably did a little bit too much water which softened up the problematic notes a bit.

Cupping Method:Pourover, v60 and Chemex attempts. Purchased from Concord Market.

Has some good flavor characteristics but it is too acidic for an after dinner decaf.

Cupping Method:Nespresso

It's a weirdly balanced, not quite right espresso. It can be covered up with milk but it's very heavy on the cedar and tobacco. Maybe just not my thing.

Cupping Method:Lungo and espresso out of Delonghi Lattissima 660

Some elements work, decent crema. Doesnt taste too robusta. But I think woody for sure and a bit bitter. Not really sure why this one made it to market.

Cupping Method:Lungo, espresso

I don't love this. I think I know what they are trying to do with the chicory. It's drinkable on a hot day but I'd go for the Colombian cold brew can. It's better than some of the truly awful bottled cold brews out there.

Cupping Method:Cold brew can from supermarket

Angels Cup Blind tasting.

There are some good thing here but a cedary woody note that is too strong. Its present at the beginning and lingers as a slight bitter note at the end. I get some black tea, mandarin, and maple syrup character that is nice.

Cupping Method:Hario V60 pourover

This one falls pretty flat. It's mostly smooth but not especially bold or flavorful for a Sumatra. A little bit bitter mid-palate but not overwhelming. Drinkable but nothing special, especially compared to the 100% Colombian which is very good.

Cupping Method:Compostable pod in office waiting room machine

Take it or leave it with Dunkin espresso. Just kind of flat and uninteresting.

This coffee is fairly smooth and has some really nice mid/main palate characteristics. Bright citrusy, floral, brown sugar. But it has just a bit of bitter/woody start for me that lingers, like a touch of wormwood and aspirin.

Cupping Method:This came in the Onyx Advent calendar in 2022, but it is broadly available from them.

Too sweet for me.

I think this is a good coffee that might not be a fit for my personal palate or maybe I didnt quite get the pour over right. Theres a lot going on in the front of the palate here with milk chocolate and burst of umami. A finish for me of underripe star fruit. Just didnt seem to balance out into something pleasant for me.

Cupping Method:Chemex pourover, 207F, natural filter

Way too umami forward for me. Decent acidity, black tea. Too much soy sauciness to me (had another Ethiopian this morning where it was just a hint).

Cupping Method:Pourover at Blue Bottle store in Chestnut Hill, MA

A nutty espresso with a lot of acidity. Strong trailing berry and yes, fig finish as described and linger that is clean. Great aroma but too heavy on the acidity. Sampled 2x as Doppio. Also had flat white and latte. In NYC midtown store. Did like the experience at this shop and bought their other blend Goodness Galileo and liked that one much, much more.

Cupping Method:In Gumption Times Square store, 2x. Wife had as flat white and latte.

Hmm, I can't say I'm a huge fan of this one.

Appealing aroma on the grind.

I think it is relatively smooth. The medium chocolate note is pleasant. There's enough natural sweetness.

It's not robusta but it has that sort of rubbery/chemical overtone to it. That overruns any fruitiness for me here with my standard preparation. I don't get any of the best traits of a typical Ethiopian, tea, stonefruit.

I cannot recommend this one.

Cupping Method:18:1, 92C on the Hario v60. 28 days from roast.

Wasn't sure if this should go under a specific Snickers listing or Victor Allen but duplicating it here for now.

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Brutally sweet with a slight chemical mouthfeel. Caramel tastes right, but not the nuttiness.

It does taste like a Snickers but mostly serves to remind you how important texture is in the composition of a Snickers bar.

Cupping Method:Grabbed a bottle by request for a friend from Target in Watertown, MA and tried a little.

Brutally sweet with a slight chemical mouthfeel. Caramel tastes right but not the nuttiness.

It does tastes like a Snickers but mostly serves to remind you how important texture is in the composition of a Snickers bar.

Cupping Method:I grabbed a bottle by request for a friend from Target in Watertown, MA and tried a little.

I didnt really like this coffee starting from the aroma. It smelled a bit stale/chemical. I dont think the coffee really taste like that, just has bitter/tannic mid-palate thats not balanced off by flavor/acidity. Mightve been a funky batch as the decaf of this i had yesterday was much better.

Cupping Method:Marriott coffee maker (Fairfield Inn, Syracuse NY) with Pure Life spring water

I thought this Knob Creek Whiskey Barrel Aged Guatemala was horrible. I was expecting a little spice or oak infusion here to accent the coffee but I think its just too strong. It was stronger than Id wanted in any mixed drinks. I actually recoiled. I wouldnt even call it coffee.

Cupping Method:Sampled it as cold brew at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in New York City

Folgers Classic Roast brings a sense of nostalgia, being the choice brew of many, including my own parents.

While it boasts a delightful aroma straight from the jar, its taste has subtle notes of chemical undertones that might be attributed to its robusta content. Though labeled as a medium roast, its flavor profile aligns closer to a dark roast, characterized by a fleeting hint of sweetness a unique tartness. However, its predominant bitterness lacks balance. The initial burst of aroma from the freshness seal is commendable, though one wishes it could persist a bit longer.

Cupping Method:Instant at my parents house

While this coffee has good values and drinks OK as a dark roast, I can't give Urth Caffe a pass for calling it a light roast.

They are not light roast as they are clearly cracked and oily. It's probably fair to call it a Medium-Dark or Vienna Roast.

That said, I got a good result when I ran it through the espresso machine IF you assume it's a Vienna Roast. Smooth, chocolatey, nice medium crema with dark roast characteristics, a touch of smoke and clove.

I think Urth Caffe reminds me of a lot of places I've been in Los Angeles restaurant and cafe-wise. It's a bit eclectic, frenetic, and trying to satisfy everyone. It's not clear labels used elsewhere apply. Maybe they are saying this is lightly roasted compared to their other darker roasts. Enjoy the Urth Caffe experience means embracing that spirit.

Cupping Method:Espresso

Weird, this decaf was terrible hot, and it's terrible cool. It had a moment where it was warm where it worked. It's very plummy and has a woody bitterness that's not a ton but tastes like biting dried ginseng. It doesn't have pleasant mouthfeel and I didn't want to drink any more after a couple sips.

Cupping Method:Tasting against 2 other instant formats, Snowy Owl steeped, and Nescafe classic

OK, if you read enough of my reviews, I have an appreciation for top-selling and especially legendary products. I've been trying a lot of instant coffees in Europe, and I'm actually tasting Nescafe side-by-side with a Marcilla decaf that is much better. I can honestly say I don't get it here with this Nescafe classic. It's drinkable but quite woody with a slight bitter aftertaste and no winning acidity. A little bit of plum jam makes it palatable.

Cupping Method:Instant at a hotel in Spain

Barely drinkable for me. Pretty woody and a bit bitter.

Barely drinkable with some bitterness and woody character.

Cupping Method:At a restaurant in Madrid with postees

Before I proceed, let me share my adoration for the oleato concept which I really enjoyed on occasion in Northern Italy. These unique blends, crafted with quality olive oil, render a harmonious balance of smoothness and spice, which can be truly extraordinary when executed correctly.

Starbucks has long been known for its innovative, sometimes daring, beverage offerings in the world of coffee. I rarely feel Starbucks mis-engineers something, but the Iced Oleato Caff Latte with Oatmilk, serves they can sometimes miss the mark. I actually love that they're trying this concept, even though it's a complete longshot for adoption in my opinion.

The Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew is a testament to this potential (my editorial review here: https://coffeeroast.com/roaster/starbucks/oleato-golden-foam-cold-brew). However, the same magic is, unfortunately, missing in their Iced Oleato Caff Latte with Oatmilk.

My experience with this beverage began at a Starbucks outlet in Waltham, on a day when I was in a high-calorie mood and heading to a rugby match. The suggestion to try the oleato latte iced seemed appealing, especially considering my previous pleasant experience with the Golden Foam Cold Brew.

The disappointment, however, was swift. After a brief pause for errands, I returned to find the beverage had morphed into a cold, oily concoction, where layers of oil had separated, presenting an unappetizing sight and a less than delightful texture (see photos).

While the Partanna olive oil, known for its intense flavor profile and grassy undertones, might seem like the culprit here, it's not the core issue. It's the implementation of the concept that falls flat. The intermingling of icy coldness and robust olive oil, which should have been harmonious, instead becomes unpleasant texture-wise, transforming a potential delight into an unwelcome mouthful.

In its current state, the Iced Oleato Caff Latte with Oatmilk should not remain a part of the Starbucks menu - hot is fine. Its idea may hold potential, but its execution needs revisiting and refinement. The beautifully complex notes promised by this drink can be better experienced and appreciated in the Oleato Golden Foam Cold Brew.

Cupping Method:Starbucks in Waltham, MA

Nice looking bag of beans. Clear dark roast aroma but no oils. Roast-driven dark that is pretty bitter with some dark chocolate, and some carbon coal. Very little crema under multiple extractions - maybe some freshness issues? I used a fresh grind 4x within 2 days of the bag, no issues with roast/experiation date. I know that doesn't sound great, but it's not terrible given it's organic and the price is very low.

Cupping Method:Espresso machine at different temps

Wanted to like this more but it just has a hazelnut French vanilla type thing going that to me tastes artificial. That definitely is not my bag. I think that is the chicory speaking, but doesnt have the acidity balanced to offset it. Though I think on the flipside lovers of those flavors might find the same more natural way to get that profile.

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

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.