What is the best coffee?

The news is a-buzz. Consumer Reports has picked the best ground coffee and it isn’t (shock) Starbucks!!!!!

While it is somewhat interesting that a properly conducted taste test did pick out a ground coffee winner, let’s all take a deep breath and a step back.

First off, the test looked only at 100% Columbian. Very nice, we all like Columbian coffee. But this is a blend – for all the companies included – of Columbian coffees, not a single variety. Consumer Reports actually did dig in and test a lot of coffee brands including premium brands like Peets and Caribou. So good for Eight O’Clock, the overall winners – for a budget, low-priced coffee, they are obviously doing a good job of blending, roasting and distributing to keep it relatively fresh. And $6.28 a pound (on average) is a great price.

So how can we top that? Let’s do some math. I can buy a home roaster for $100. I drink (let’s say) a pound of coffee a week. With Eight O’Clock I am spending 52 times $6.28 or $326.56 a year. But I can buy a nice quality Columbian green coffee (which keeps nearly indefinitely) for $3.82 per pound in 10-pound quantities from Sweet Marias. So, home, fresh roasted Columbian coffee costs me 52 times $3.82 plus $100 or $298.64 for the first year. Subsequent years cost $198.64.

The final point? Well – actually what the Consumer Reports panel likes may well not be what you like. But having said that, Eight O’Clock has at least earned a trial from me next time I buy ground coffee.

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