Finding That Perfect Cup Of Coffee

By KOMO Staff & News Services

SEATTLE - Coffee beans are a lot like grapes; different varieties have different flavors. Here’s how the expert tasters at Consumer Reports magazine explain it. "If you like full-bodied coffee with low acidity, for instance, Jamaican Blue Mountain may be for you. Sumatran tends to be full-bodied with earthy notes; Kenyan, medium-bodied with berry notes."

For its December issue Consumer Reports rated dozens of brands of coffee, decaffeinated and regular. Based on this round of testing, the editors conclude that:

* High price doesn't guarantee high quality
* Kona coffees, which normally are expensive, can be second rate
* Decaffeinated coffee can be first-rate. In fact, the magazine says "some decaffeinated versions outshine or nearly match their regular brand mates."
* Coffee-shop brands may not shine. The editors say coffees from Gloria Jean's, Seattle's Best, and Starbucks "are good at best."

If you want to get the most flavorful cup of coffee (decaf or regular) the magazine's Erin Gudeux recommends buying whole beans and grinding them yourself. "Overall we found that the whole bean coffee does tend to have a better flavor," she says.

More...