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[jbviau]

REVIEWER BIAS:
I tend to prefer unflavored medium- and dark-roasted coffees. I'll make the occasional exception for a fantastic or intriguing coffee that falls outside my comfort zone. I have little interest in decaf pods (sorry!) because I'm practically immune to caffeine, but I'll try them if they're available. Questions and suggestions are welcome!

TASTING:
Most of my early reviews are based on an 8-ounce cup brewed using my Senseo. With the Senseo I would pre-wet the pods. I've now switched to a Grindmaster OPOD that does this automatically. Within a review for a given coffee, if the comments are based on an OPOD brew they'll be preceded by *OPOD*. After brewing, I always take a few sips black before adding a squirt of half and half unless otherwise indicated.

RATING SYSTEM:
This may evolve, but for now I'll just divide the coffees into four tiers. Within a tier there's no explicit ranking. I'll stick to alphabetical order.

*FAVORITES* IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES (at the moment):
100% Kona: Baronet's Fancy (Medium Roast), with a very honorable mention for the Coffee Artisan's Extra Fancy.


Wow! (Not to be missed!)

Baronet 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain Medium Roast - *OPOD*: Smells fantastic right out of the package. Very distinctive aroma in the cup. Smooth. Great rich flavor without feeling overly heavy or light in the mouth. Crisp. Orange? Didn't need or want to add cream, but I tried adding a little squirt toward the end. With cream, surprising sweetness emerges. Orange, chocolate notes pop out. Simply wonderful.
Baronet 100% Kona Fancy (Medium Roast) - *OPOD*: Delicate. Light, woody flavor. Notably good body. Nice sparkle but less tangy than the Coffee Artisan's 100% Kona pod and smoother as it cools. Flavor better without cream. Thanks to EricBNC for the free sample.

Cafe Invento French Roast Fanatic - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram French Roast) *OPOD*: Wonderful aroma. Great, straightforward dark roast. Sweet. Smoother than the Sultry Sumatra. Fine black but delicious with cream. Espresso characteristics. Very large pod. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Coffee Artisan 100% Kona Extra Fancy - *OPOD*: Exceptional aroma, both before and after brewing. Lightly sweet. Bit of citrus. Hard-to-place flavor notes somewhere between molasses and aromatic wood. Really nice. Made Aloha Island's Diamond 100% Kona, my previous Kona favorite, taste flat afterward in comparison.
Coffee Artisan Papua New Guinea - *OPOD*: Sweet tobacco dry aroma? Smells "deep" when brewed if that makes any sense. Sumatra-esque. Full body. Refreshing sweetness. Agree that subtle fruitiness develops as it cools. Really digging this black though it's very good with cream also.

Fratello Colombian Villarrica Cup of Excellence - *OPOD*: Floral component to the aroma along with brown sugar. Nice long finish. Crisp acidity ("red apple" works for me). Delicious, shimmering flavor.
Fratello Costa Rican Calle de Copey Cup of Excellence - *OPOD*: Honey in the wet aroma. Something like "oatmeal" also when piping hot (understand that reference). Very clean, silky cup. Amazingly creamy. Light fruity acidity comes in after a few minutes. A pleasure to drink. As if someone took Fratello's Costa Rican Co-op Palmares and turned up the volume.
Fratello El Salvador Cup of Excellence 2007 - A fantastic full-bodied medium roast. Yum.
Fratello Ethiopian Idido Misty Valley - *OPOD*: Intense blueberry aroma right out of the package that carries into the cup. Full, almost syrupy body. Amazing fruit. Clean. Touch of sweetness (amplified by cream). I might actually prefer this black. Great flavor goes on and on.
Fratello Honduras Las Amazonas Cup of Excellence - Wonderful. Understated in a way but truly great. Creamy. Delicious dark roast aroma along with lively fruit. Thanks to mattsense for providing the sample.
Fratello Honduras Marcala - Fantastic. Very flavorful. "Buttery and silky mouth feel"? You betcha.
Fratello Nicaraguan Fina El Limoncillo Pacamara Peaberry - Exceptional. Can't beat the original description: orange, pine, black cherry, cloves, apple, with grapefruit acidity.
Fratello Nicaraguan Los Milagros Cup of Excellence - Wonderful rich flavor. Extremely smooth. Would be fine black. Like the El Salvador COE but with a bit more depth. The roast tasted almost dark when piping hot.

Higgins & Burke Black Pearl - Wonderful rich aroma. Bit of an edge. More aggressive (and darker) than their Midnight Mirage. Full-bodied even as it cools. Satisfying flavor that's hard to pin down. Especially good with cream. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Reunion Island Sumatra Ketambe Dark - Beautiful sweetness. Would be fine black. A classic.


Solid (You could buy a box and not regret it)

Aloha Island Decaf 100% Kona Dark Roast - *OPOD*: Uber-smooth. Hint of aromatic wood. Little sweetness in the finish. Occasional bitter edge, but nothing to complain about. Enjoyed this black. Nice caramel notes with cream. Thanks to an anonymous donor for the free sample.
Aloha Island Diamond 100% Kona - Drank it black. Fantastic aroma. Intriguing ruby color. Extremely smooth. Flavor improved as it cooled. Quite a pod! Made every k-cup I drank for the next few days seem harsh.
Aloha Island Gold 100% Kona - *OPOD*: Nice body. More lively than the Platinum or Diamond. Good and earthy. Refreshing touch of sweetness. Preferred this with a spot of cream. Thanks to an anonymous donor for the free sample.
Aloha Island Platinum 100% Kona - Smelled fantastic. A treat. Good smoothness and flavor, but I wasn't totally blown away.

Baronet Sumatra Mandheling - Pretty tasty. The Gourmet Cafe Sumatra doesn't have much of an edge over this one.

Black Mountain Gold Costa Rica - A little thin-bodied but nice. Spicy taste and aroma.
Black Mountain Gold Kenya AA - *OPOD*: Good flavor. Pleasant bite to this coffee but still smooth, relatively mild.
Black Mountain Gold Moka Java - Cooler spelling than the Fratello Mocca Java but not as good in the aroma or flavor departments.

Cafe Invento House Blend - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram House Blend) *OPOD*: Good aroma. Darker than I'd expected. Little bite reminds me of their Sultry Sumatra pod. Wanted cream with this one. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Cafe Invento Ogopogo Ride - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram BLAST) *OPOD*: Bold. Smooth. Would be fine with a larger-than-average drop. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Cafe Invento Sultry Sumatra - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram Sumatra) *OPOD*: Nice toasty aroma. On the large side for a pod. Pleasant char. Sweet. Good flavor. Lively. Bold. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Cafejo Adrenaline Explosion - Standout flavor. Still good the second and third times I had it but with less wow factor. This really made an impression on me as it was one of the first pods I ever tried after graduating from Senseo pods.
Cafejo Breakfast - Bright and sweet. Flavorful. Only the second breakfast blend that's impressed me in pod format. Very nice.
Cafejo Espresso Italiano Gold - Dark. Floral.
Cafejo Kenya - Didn't love this black, but with cream it was really good.
Cafejo Kona Blend - Nicely done. Distinctive flavor. Right up there with Timothy's at the top of the heap of Kona blends.
Cafejo Signature - Can't find anything wrong with this one.

Coffee Artisan Celebes Kalossi - *OPOD*: Full-bodied. Earthy zing to it. Fruit in the finish. I get the "refined Sumatra" reference.
Coffee Artisan Dark Side - *OPOD*: Thoroughly enjoyed this black. Great everyday dark. Pleasant tinge of smoke. Subtle chocolate notes emerge with cream.
Coffee Artisan Indian Mysore - *OPOD*: Almost savory aroma prior to brewing (like a dry spice rub). Mild. Good body. A little scorched dark chocolate toward the end. Fun to taste.
Coffee Artisan Jamaican Blue Mountain - *OPOD*: Alluring aroma. Smooth. Delicate, well-balanced acidity somewhere between lemon and orange. Clean. Spicy. Light roast. Wonderful to drink black. Cream not necessary but accentuates cocoa notes. A treat, especially at this price!
Coffee Artisan Organic Mexican Altura Decaf - *OPOD*: Pleasing wet aroma. Solid flavor (toast?). On the thin side in terms of general mouth feel but enough body to handle cream. Soft and clean.
Coffee Artisan Rwanda Ingoboka - *OPOD*: Aroma something special both before and after brewing. "Snappy mandarin acidity" is right. Winey citrus notes prominent. Lightly sweet. Preferred this with cream.

Coffee Sense French Roast - *OPOD*: Robust but easygoing. Wet aroma much more appealing than dry. Drank it black at 8 oz. and loved it. Very nice at 7 oz. too. Plain black JavaOne wrapper. Thanks to zrrrzzt for the free sample.
Coffee Sense Sumatra Mandheling - *OPOD*: Nice aroma, both dry and wet. Malty? Smooth. Little fruit. Medium-dark. Baker's chocolate finish with cream. Low-to-mid-range solid at 8 oz. Less enjoyable at 6 oz. Plain black JavaOne wrapper. Thanks to zrrrzzt for the free sample.

Cool Beans San Francisco Blend - A top-shelf dark. Lopsided pod construction though.

Distinctively Yours Decaffeinated - *OPOD*: Nice aroma. First sip felt thin, so not the most full-bodied medium roast out there. Smooth. No decaf bitterness. Detected some fruit with cream. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Distinctively Yours European Dark - *OPOD*: Seems to be roasted to just short of French. Hint of char without any butterness. Somewhat flat/one-dimensional. Reminded me of Coffee People's Organic k-cup. A low-end "Solid." Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Eldorado Colombian Popayan Supremo - *OPOD*: Small symmetrical pod. Initially too bright for my taste, but grew on me. Smooth and fruity. Decent body. A lower-tier "Solid."
Eldorado French Quarter Blend - *OPOD*: Strong and spicy (from the chicory?) with a little bite. Handles cream well.

Fratello Acid Jazz - *OPOD*: (2009 version with Colombian Huila Pitalito + Kenya Giathuga Nyeri) Sweet, earthy aroma. Enjoyable black. Smooth. Spicy. Bright. Kenyan beans balance out the acidity and add depth of flavor; (2008 version brewed using Senseo: Little bit spicy. On the thin side. Bright.)
Fratello Bavarian Dutch Chocolate - *OPOD*: Simple cocoa aroma and flavor. Not overpowering.
Fratello Bolivian Telmo Cahuana Cup of Excellence - First sip had cherry, winey notes. Chocolate in the aroma. A kind of neat, compact flavor that might be what people call raisin (combined with nuttiness).
Fratello Brazil Daterra Sweet Blue - *OPOD*: Great aroma. Hint of citrus without being winey or all that bright. Prefer this with cream. Chocolate notes emerge especially as it starts to cool. Balanced. Little something extra in the finish. A coffee to savor.
Fratello Brazil Sete Cachoeiras (Rainforest Alliance) - Nutty. Wonderful. Chocolate in the aroma. I drank half a case of this when I first stumbled into the pod world.
Fratello Cerro Alto - Would be great black. Apricot in the aroma? On the light side but very nice flavor. Super easy to drink.
Fratello Coconut Fiesta - One of the few flavored pods I'd try again. Surprisingly good. Coconut notes not strong or cloying at all.
Fratello COHO Dark Organic Fair Trade - Really interesting texture to this coffee. Husky. Little smoke in there? Like it a lot.
Fratello Colombian Huila Pitalito - *OPOD*: Livelier than the original Colombian Supremo. More fruity notes. Green apple edge to it. Slightly thinner mouth feel as a result.
Fratello Colombian Supremo - Great sweetness. Really full body. Very happy with this one. Beats Cafejo's Colombian Gold easily in my opinion.
Fratello Costa Rican Co-op Palmares - *OPOD*: Apt description from Fratello's cupping notes: "Thick body of milk chocolate fudge and a clean silky finish." Almost too clean! Wonderful, hard-to-place aroma. Apple acidity only hinted at black (absent with cream, which I don't recommend for this one).
Fratello Costa Rican Coopedota Tarrazu - Smooth, light without becoming too thin-bodied. Clean. Creamy. Little caramel in there?
Fratello Ethiopian Sidamo - Bright and fruity. Could drink this black. Not quite the Peet's Ethiopian Supernatural equivalent I was trying to find in a pod, but good nonetheless.
Fratello French Saigon Dark - On the easy side for a dark roast. Solid.
Fratello Highlander Grogg - *OPOD*: Strong butterscotch aroma but subdued flavor in the cup, allowing the coffee to assert itself. Decent black. Even better with cream and/or sugar. Hazelnut notes. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Fratello Kenya AA - *OPOD*: ("newer" version with date code 07 03 2008) A delicate dark. Nice subtle flavor. Clean. Very little "snap." Would make a good morning coffee; (older version from different batch: Middle-of-the road dark. Didn't complement the chocolate I ate with it well at all.)
Fratello Marachesh Blend - Velvety is right. Very good. Lively. Great aroma.
Fratello Mocca Java - *OPOD*: (2009 version with Ethiopian Kembata + Sumatra Tabu Jamu) Lively. Well-balanced medium roast. Nice depth of flavor. Earthy aroma. Subtle berry notes; (2008 version brewed using Senseo: Solid blend of the Sidamo and Sumatra.)
Fratello Moka Sanani - Almost too light of a roast but the fruitiness compensates. Body rounds out with cream. Earthy, savory aroma.
Fratello Nicaraguan Free Trade Organic - Smooth and very sweet. Delicious. Straightforward.
Fratello Nicaraguan Mama Mina Estate - Chocolate aroma. Good body. Crisp.
Fratello Panama Diamond Mountain Esmeralda - *OPOD*: Citrus and chocolate come through in wet aroma. First impression on tongue: not flat but thick (spreading out). Good body. Lemony sparkle in the background delicately held in check. Deep, satisfying flavor. Cream adds dimension especially to the aroma.
Fratello Peru Organic Decaf - *OPOD*: Good and strong. Robust flavor. Fine to drink black.
Fratello Snakebite - Wow. A really robust dark. Good body. More straightforward than the Gunsmoke. Smells like roasted beans.
Fratello Sumatra Organic Fair Trade - *OPOD*: Woody aroma. Subtle but distinct black pepper notes. Nice flavor balance. Decent body but not "syrupy." Would have preferred a darker roast than Full City.

Gourmet Cafe Breakfast Blend - *OPOD*: Pleasant, mild flavor without feeling weak or excessively thin-bodied. Not my favorite breakfast blend, but still very nice.
Gourmet Cafe Colombian Supremo - *OPOD*: Another good Colombian pod. Slightly more thin-bodied than Zavida's version. Preferred this black.
Gourmet Cafe Estate Costa Rican - More mellow than I'd hoped for, but still a great cup.
Gourmet Cafe French Roast - Very good but not exceptional.
Gourmet Cafe Kona Blend - *OPOD*: Mild and sweet. Kona flavor profile comes through somewhat.
Gourmet Cafe Sumatra Mandheling - *OPOD*: Fantastic black, at least piping hot. Medium roast. Low acidity. A bit thin with cream as it cools; (Senseo: Smooth. Very good, but not my favorite.)

Higgins & Burke Midnight Mirage - *OPOD*: Very dark roast. Smooth. Robust. Thoroughly enjoyed this with cream. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

JavaOne Estate Costa Rican - *OPOD*: Simple but satisfying enough. Nice black (though subtle bitter notes develop while cooling) or with cream.

JavaPodz Blueberry Cobbler - *OPOD*: Drinkable black, amazingly. Definite buttery berry aroma. Works well with cream. Thanks to goheels for the free sample.

Kienna Mission Bridge - *OPOD*: Nice aroma. Smooth. Flavorful. Decent body. Medium-dark.

Lavazza Caffe Filtro - Tried this at the Hilton and liked it. Very smooth and tasty, even when made in the crappy Cuisinart pod machine that was in my room.

Molto Espresso Roast - I might never have tried this but for a free sample they sent. Really liked it. A great every-day dark.

Nossa Familia Teodoro's Italian Roast - *OPOD*: Nice and clean. Medium roast leaning toward dark. Not bold but flavorful. Quick finish.

PODhead Italian Blend (8g.) - NB: This is a 44mm. pod that's not designed for the Senseo (too small and thick). Still, the coffee is good enough that it might be worth your time to finesse the pod if you don't have a Melitta One:One machine. See my post at the top of the third page of this thread for details. Recommended method for Senseo: 10-12g. in a T-sac using the double pod holder. Your choice as to 4 or 8 oz. drop. Great aroma. Nice little tang. Robust flavor. Reminds me of the Cafejo Espresso Italiano. Thanks to yobob for the samples.
PODhead Sensation Milano Espresso Roast - *OPOD*: Big symmetrical pod. Could barely get OPOD to latch using normal pod holder. Robust. Toasty. Smooth.
PODhead Sensation Narragansett Blend - *OPOD*: Big symmetrical pod. Nice acidity. "Snappy." Great aroma. Medium roast. Nutty finish.

Reunion Island Brazil Bahia Blue - *OPOD*: Intriguing sweet tobacco aroma out of the package. Noticeable acidity (could pass for orange). Smooth. Good flavor. Lingering sweet finish. Subdued chocolate mostly in the nose. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Reunion Island Colombia Las Hermosas - Smelled great right out of the package. Flavorful. Nice mineral quality to it. Decent body.
Reunion Island Donut Shop Blend - *OPOD*: Fruity aroma that carries into the cup. Roast is light but flavor isn't. Would be good black. Can hold up to a little cream.
Reunion Island Espresso - The most memorable aroma in quite a while. Almost floral. Delicious.
Reunion Island Fair Trade Organic French Roast - *OPOD*: A lighter French Roast. Good flavor. Refreshing. Caramelized aroma but no hint of char in the cup.
Reunion Island Fair Trade Organic Sumatra Koro - *OPOD*: Spicy aroma out of the package. Smooth in the cup. Not as dark as the Sumatra Ketambe. Good body. Bit of a cherry finish. Burnt cocoa notes. Earthy. Preferred this without cream.
Reunion Island Kona Blend - *OPOD*: Nice dry earthy aroma. Mild. Woody. Sweet. Drank it black.
Reunion Island Privateer Dark - Very nice. Let it sit a moment before drinking.
Reunion Island Privateer Dark Extra Bold - *OPOD*: 12-gram pod. Cocoa notes more noticeable. Medium-bodied. Bit of char.
Reunion Island Rainforest Alliance Guatemala Dark - Eye-opening cinnamon spice in the aroma. A good cup. Wanted more body but tasty enough.
Reunion Island Rainforest Alliance Guatemala Dark Extra Bold - *OPOD*: Still good! More full-bodied than the non-bold version.
Reunion Island Sweet Unity Farms French Roast - *OPOD*: Unusual dry aroma of sweet tobacco + fresh earth? Enjoyed this black. Can handle cream. Gentle for a dark roast when piping hot with more char developing and aroma and flavor becoming less complex as it cools.
Reunion Island Sweet Unity Farms Mahale Highlands - *OPOD*: Smells great. Little brighter than I'd like in the morning (in that sense recognizably E. African) but not excessively so. Nice underlying flavor. Sweeter with cream.
Reunion Island Sweet Unity Farms Tanzania Medium Roast - *OPOD*: Smooth, light, and tasty. Citric finish (more so as it cools). Appetizing aroma. Could probably be improved with a shorter drop; (first try, possibly from different batch, brewed using Senseo: Bright acidity. Heavy on the winey notes. Way too sharp until it cooled and settled down a bit. Smelled great though.)
Reunion Island Vanilla Hazelnut Cream - *OPOD*: Subtle flavor. Allows coffee to shine through. Nice.

Timothy's Breakfast Blend - Smelled like caramel. A good light roast (gasp!). My wife loved it.
Timothy's Decaf Colombian - Shared this with my wife. Liked it black. Good body.
Timothy's Kona Blend - Good in a k-cup, good in a pod. A keeper.
Timothy's Parisian Nights - *OPOD*: Bold and dark. Uncomplicated. Tiny bit of pleasing char in the finish.
Timothy's Rainforest Espresso - A winner. Dark and dependable.

Van Houtte Midnight Express - *OPOD*: Fat, symmetrical pod. OPOD had a little difficulty swallowing it. Shorter-than-average drop. Very robust, solid dark. Toasty. The k-cup version pales in comparison.

Wolfgang Puck Sorrento Columbian - Nice fruitiness. I prefer this to the WP Fair Trade Columbian Organic.
Wolfgang Puck Sumatra Kopi Raya - Dark without being toasty. A nice tang. Chocolate in the aroma.

Zavida 100% Colombian - *OPOD*: Good flavor. Could easily drink this black. A solid, no-nonsense cup. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Zavida Viennese - *OPOD*: Nice roasty aroma and flavor. Medium-dark. Smooth but with a bite to the finish. Pod mostly sealed but coming apart in two small places. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.


Try before you buy (Free sample, anyone?)

Aloha Island 100% Kona Dark Roast - *OPOD*: Nice earthy/peaty aroma. Dark roast flavor profile definitely noticeable...too noticeable in this case. Thin body. I really prefer the Diamond Private Reserve. Thanks to Jeff for the free sample.
Aloha Island 100% Kona Espresso Roast - *OPOD*: Same issues as with the Dark roast version above. A tiny bit better in the body department, but not much. Thanks again to Jeff for the free sample.
Aloha Island Estate Blend Medium Roast - *OPOD*: Smooth. Woody. Sweet. Very mild. A touch of cream adds needed depth. Would probably have been a "Solid" if the pod were 10 grams instead of 8. Thanks to goheels for the free sample.

Archer Farms Breakfast Blend - (now discontinued at Target but confirmed as rebranded JavaOne Breakfast Blend) Didn't love this, but my wife thought it was fine. A little mild for my taste.
Archer Farms French Roast - (now discontinued at Target but confirmed as rebranded JavaOne French Roast) I've had much worse. Good flavor balance. On the verge of being a "Solid."

Baronet Costa Rican Florfina Tarrazu - Enjoyable aroma both dry and wet. Thin-bodied at 7 oz. Slightly bitter finish until it cools. Scorched chocolate but nothing more. Acidity muted (not getting citrus). Preferred this with cream. Thanks to EricBNC for the free sample.
Baronet Donut Shop Blend - Overly tart. 12-gram pod. Thanks to goheels for the free sample.
Baronet European Blend - A so-so medium roast that does the job with cream.
Baronet Izzy's Blend - Better than the European Blend. Just ok.
Baronet Organic Costa Rican - Hard to describe. Almost nutty. Too light of a roast for me.

Black Mountain Gold Kona Blend - *OPOD*: Good but lacking in Kona flavor. Tasted like a darker roast than expected. If I'd never had Cafejo's and Timothy's Kona pods, and if I'd never tried 100% Kona, I might have bumped this up to a "Solid."

Cafe Invento Donut Shoppe - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram Donut Shop Blend) *OPOD*: Lively. Borderline tart. Needed cream. Bit of an acrid finish. Not much to like here. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Cafe Invento Fair Trade Mosaic - (confirmed as special rebranded Baronet 12-gram FTO Small Village Blend) *OPOD*: Decent medium roast. Good aroma. A little bright for my taste. Needed cream. Fruity. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Cafe Invento Juan's Colombian - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram 100% Colombian) *OPOD: Earthy aroma. Citrus acidity in the cup. Good flavor. Tannic/astringent finish. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Cafejo Colombian Gold - Nothing special in my opinion.
Cafejo Costa Rica - Enjoyable, compact, raisiny flavor comparable but ultimately inferior to Fratello's Bolivian COE. Inviting aroma.
Cafejo French - Quite good but weaker than expected. Not your eye-opening morning coffee like, for example, the Adrenaline Explosion is. Wanted more body. Save this for later in the day.
Cafejo Guatemala - Hard to believe this is a dark roast. Not "rich" as advertised. In between sweet and dry. Mineral-like flavor. Enjoyed this but found it wanting. If it were soup, I'd say it needed salt.
Cafejo Sumatra - Pretty tasty, but 8 oz. may be too big of a drop for this one. Wish it had tasted as hearty as it smelled before brewing.
Cafejo Vienna - A nice medium roast. Pleasant smoky spice to it. Smooth. Was a "Solid" until it cooled a little and thinned out more than I would have liked.

Coffee Artisan Malawi - *OPOD*: Mysterious spice in the background. Sweet. Delicate. Intriguing aroma. Slightly winey finish.
Coffee Artisan Panama Boquete - *OPOD*: As described, sweet and fruity with a smooth, earthy finish. Mild. Medium-bodied. Cream can overwhelm. Nice all around, but too light-hearted for my taste.
Coffee Artisan Puerto Rican - *OPOD*: Mild. Little light-roast tang. Not enjoying the finish. Buttery is right, I guess, but not full-bodied. Much better with cream for me.

Coffee Sense Brazilian Santos - *OPOD*: Tasted washed out at 6 oz. (didn't attempt 8 oz.). Overly mellow medium roast. Not my favorite Brazilian pod by a long shot. Flat, musty wet aroma. Plain black JavaOne wrapper. Thanks to zrrrzzt for the free sample.

Community Coffee Dark Roast - *OPOD*: Passable. Smells good in the cup. Preferred this with cream due to slight tang while cooling. Flavor has a malty bite to it. Wouldn't miss it much if I were from LA.

Cool Beans Chocolate Raspberry - Exactly how I imagined it would taste. Drinkable but not something I'd crave.
Cool Beans French Roast - First impression: too acidic. Settled into a drinkable dark afterward but nothing more.
Cool Beans Hazelnut - Not bad.

Distinctively Yours 100% Colombian - *OPOD*: On the dark side for a medium roast. Hint of bitterness in the finish that was muted by cream, which also rounds out the body. Enjoyed the aroma more than the taste here. "Grassy" is right. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Distinctively Yours Costa Rican Tarrazu - *OPOD*: Tangy lemon flavor I didn't enjoy. Needed cream. Too light for my taste. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Fratello Bull Rider - Aroma more intriguing than taste. Robust. Solid but not earth-shattering.
Fratello Costa Rican Organic Fair Trade - Jammy tang. Raisin notes.
Fratello Dixie Voodoo - *OPOD*: Definite aroma of burning cedar. Exciting coffee. No bitterness, but an intriguing aftertaste similar to baker's chocolate; Senseo: Smoky and a little bitter. Needed cream.
Fratello Guatemalan Nueva Granada Rainforest - Earthy? Hard-to-describe flavor that's enjoyable but a little flat.
Fratello Gunsmoke - Was almost surprised to like this after all the talk of smoke. One of the better darks. Pleasant smell of char while brewing (and afterward) without a burnt taste. If smokiness weren't an acquired taste I'd have put this pod in the "Solid" tier.
Fratello House French Dark - Fine but not much to write home about. Overstuffed pod. A lighter dark roast.
Fratello Kauai Blend - Better flavor than the Pluma but still too light for my taste.
Fratello Mexican Pluma - Fine but unexceptional.
Fratello Mexican Organic Fair Trade - Better than the Pluma. A head-scratcher. Almost meaty taste to this coffee. Umami?
Fratello Outlaw Blend - Pretty good for a "blank slate" coffee. Like a donut shop blend.
Fratello Snicker Doodle - Smells great. Tastes fine. Would have been better with sugar or alcohol.
Fratello Sunshine Coast Medium Organic Fair Trade - Liked this. Smooth, balanced, with a little nuttiness. Too mellow/thin when cool. Almost a "Solid."

Higgins & Burke Passage to Colombia - Darker roast than expected. Herbal note. Sharp finish. Better, more complex flavor with cream. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

JavaOne House Blend - *OPOD*: Mellow, low-acidity medium roast. Acceptable. Yawn. Finish rubbed me the wrong way with or without cream. Thanks to zrrrzzt for the free sample.

JavaPodz Chocolate Cappuccino - *OPOD*: Smelled like chocolate liqueur. Too sharp in the cup. Subdued flavor. Light roast. Very thin-bodied brew. Thanks to goheels for the free sample.

Kienna Alberta Grizzly - *OPOD*: Burnt aroma out of package. Nice flavor. Straightforward. Seems darker than the Backpackers Brew. Hint of char (borderline acrid) in the finish.
Kienna Backpackers Brew - *OPOD*: Leather/licorice aroma before brewing. Flavor profile reminiscent of Caribou's Mahogany k-cup. Bold but flat. Woody.
Kienna Costa Rica - *OPOD*: Non-descript flavor. Decent body. Falls apart as it cools after solid first sip. Tasted stale by the end.
Kienna Decaf Colombian - *OPOD*: Little bite to it. Holds up to cream. So-so flavor. Bitter.
Kienna French Dark - *OPOD*: Smooth. Fine but unexciting. Loses appeal as it cools.
Kienna Kona - *OPOD*: Stale dry aroma right out of the package. Initially unrecognizable as Kona. Thin-bodied. Smooth and pleasantly earthy while hot. Tangy as it cools. Too mild. Bitter finish. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Kienna Organic Peruvian - *OPOD*: Smelled old out of the package. Decent flavor. Medium-dark. Cream overpowers aroma. Thin body. "Off" finish.

Lavazza Dark Roast - Unobjectionable but next time I'd probably pass on this. Stale?

Maxwell House Original - *OPOD*: Aroma better in the cup than straight out of the package. Smooth. A "blank slate" coffee. Bit of a burnt aftertaste. Better with cream. Thanks to an anonymous donor for the free sample.

Melitta Buzzworthy - Not a flat-top pod but fit fine. Taste was just ok. Burnt aroma. Comparable to the Archer Farms Dark Roast but not quite as good. Tons of foam.

Molto Tanzania Peaberry - *OPOD*: Mild. Smooth. Nothing special piping hot. Body thins out as time goes on. Should be consumed black with a small drop.

PODhead Sensation Colombia Medellin Supremo - *OPOD*: WAY too acidic. Verging into sour. Medium-thin body. Symmetrical pod.
PODhead Sensation Costa Rica Peaberry Dark - *OPOD*: Caramel and chocolate notes, especially with cream. Pleasing, almost chewy body. Not too dark. Acidity noticeable but not overwhelming until the last third of the cup. Too tangy toward the end. Symmetrical pod on the large side.
PODhead Sensation Guatemala Antigua - *OPOD*: Thin-bodied. Overly bright. Nice aroma but a disappointment in the cup.
PODhead Sensation Kenya "AA" Washed - *OPOD*: Initial sourness that fades. Medium body. Sweet. Winey sparkle. Stale finish.
PODhead Sensation Mexico Altura Coatepec - *OPOD*: Winey/sour right off the bat. Acidity settles down eventually, but not enough. Reedy/earthy flavor. Thin body. Almost an "Ugh."

Reunion Island Chocolate Buttercrunch - *OPOD*: Toffee aroma. Relatively little chocolate flavor. Had no desire to finish this cup once it started to cool and thin out.
Reunion Island Colombia Las Hermosas Extra Bold - *OPOD*: Not as enjoyable as the non-bold version for whatever reason.
Reunion Island Ethiopia Oromia - *OPOD*: Touch of blueberry in the aroma straight out of the package. So-so coffee. Can't handle cream. Nice "cooling" finish. Tastes like a breakfast blend. Slightly icky aftertaste when cool. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Reunion Island Fair Trade Organic Colombia - Just muted overall compared to RI's Colombia Las Hermosas. Not bad but nothing special either.
Reunion Island House Blend - *OPOD*: Unobjectionable but unexciting.
Reunion Island Island Reserve - Too winey for my taste. Had to add a little sugar. Good richness though. I'll give this a second try soon.
Reunion Island Maple Cream - *OPOD*: Big maple aroma right out of the foil package. After brewing, much more subtle maple flavor in the cup. Pretty good for a flavored coffee. Predictably weaker than I'd like. Can hold up to cream and sugar though.
Reunion Island Organic Holiday Blend - Smells good and fresh right out of the package. Decent medium roast with cocoa and cherry notes in the finish. Noticeable acidity. Borderline too sharp even with cream. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Reunion Island Pumpkin Spice - *OPOD*: Weak and too cinnamon-heavy just like Green Mountain's Pumpkin Spice k-cup. Not terrible though. No pumpkin flavor until cream is added (as usual).
Reunion Island Rainforest Alliance Guatemala - *OPOD*: Sharp acidity initially. Needed cream. Not getting that cinnamon aroma that the dark roast version had. Tang develops as it cools. Thin mouth feel. Subtle and fleeting richness.
Reunion Island Rainforest Alliance Guatemala Extra Bold - *OPOD*: Still don't love this without cream despite the extra coffee. Nutty tang.
Reunion Island Sweet Unity Farms Kilimanjaro Dark - *OPOD*: Good but thin-bodied, which brings some char forward. Smooth enough. A little sweet. Doesn't stand out. Better with cream (dark chocolate notes).
Reunion Island Sweet Unity Farms Zanzibar Blend - *OPOD*: Aroma rich as described. Smooth but thin-bodied and a little too sharp. Flavor improves as it cools, becoming more complex. Cream doesn't round this one out as much as I'd hoped but enhances the roasty nose.

Senseo Dark Roast - This came with the Senseo, and it was drinkable relative to their insipid medium roast (see below for more on that). NB: I can't recommend pods that aren't individually wrapped.
Senseo Mystic Valley Colombia Blend - *OPOD*: Not as watery as I'd expected at 8 oz. Can handle a little cream. Below-average aroma. Smooth but flat and lacking in flavor. Thin-bodied. Develops a stale, "off" aftertaste. Sharp and aggressively unpleasant at 5 oz.
Senseo Vienna - Also a free sample that came with my machine. Not bad for a flavored coffee. NB: I can't recommend pods that aren't individually wrapped.

Timothy's Colombian Dorado - Overstuffed pod. Liked it better with cream. So-so body. Decent taste, but for my money I'd go with Fratello's Colombian Supremo.
Timothy's Italian Blend - *OPOD*: Initial tartness. Thin-bodied. Light roast flavor profile.

Wolfgang Puck Fair Trade Columbian Organic - Not my favorite medium roast. Got better as it cooled. Decent flavor but lacking in body. Caveat: This is one of my wife's favorite pods. She adds extra cream and sugar.
Wolfgang Puck Jamaica Me Crazy - *OPOD*: Butterscotch aroma/flavor along with coconut. Unpleasant without cream and sugar. Odd, slightly sour finish. Thanks to Bren for the free sample.
Wolfgang Puck Provence French Roast - Pod smelled burnt prior to brewing. Very robust. Aroma of bittersweet chocolate. Bite crossed the line into bitterness eventually.
Wolfgang Puck Reserve - Liked this at first. Hard-to-place tobacco-like aroma. Winey notes became unpleasant and body thinned out after a minute.

Zavida Rainforest Alliance 100% Organic - *OPOD*: On the light side. Mellow. Earthy, almost Kona-like flavor in some respects. Little tang as it cools. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.


Ugh (Don't give these to people you like)

Aloha Island 10% Kona Lava Java - *OPOD*: Revoltingly bitter. Cream only helped a tad. I love dark roasts, but not this one. What is wrong with the AI darks? Thanks to an anonymous donor for the free sample.

Baronet Dark Kenya AA - Icky foam. Too tangy/sharp. Not enough body.

Cafe Invento Chocolate Nut Cake - (confirmed as rebranded Baronet 12-gram Chocolate Babka) *OPOD*: Smells awful, like a chemical spill inside a Cinnabon factory. More muted in the cup but sharp sourness. Blech. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
Cafe Invento Hazelnut Basket - *OPOD*: Acrid initially. Hazelnut flavoring has gross custard notes. Cream absolutely necessary but can't work wonders. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Coffee Sense Colombian Supremo - *OPOD*: Excessively bitter with an unpleasant tang in the background. Little (if anything) to like with or without doctoring aside from the aroma. Plain black JavaOne wrapper. Thanks to zrrrzzt for the free sample.

Fratello Kahlua Cream - Note to self: keep your kahlua and coffee separate. One-dimensional flavor leading to unpleasant burps later.

Higgins & Burke 1912 Signature Blend - *OPOD*: Intriguing aroma betrayed in the cup by combination of orange-like tartness, thin body, and acrid finish. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.

Senseo Medium Roast - Truly foul. I couldn't get rid of these fast enough.

Wolfgang Puck Rodeo Drive - *OPOD*: Bitter, odd aftertaste that comes and goes with or without cream. Medium-light roast. Decent body, but I don't want this in my mouth. Not sweet as advertised. Thanks to starryeyes for the free sample.
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[jbviau]

MANY more reviews are coming! I just started with the Wolfgang Puck pods because WP was generous enough to send me quite a few free samples (thanks!), and I promised I'd post my thoughts. I hope they're useful to some of you.
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[jbviau]

Added the Reunion Island pods I've tried so far and a token "Ugh" pod. Hope I don't offend any kahlua lovers!
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[starryeyes]

I found your reviews quite useful. I'll be receiving my new Bunn plus free pods early next week. A good portion of those pods will be Reunion Island so I'm hopeful that they will be good. I think I'm going to place an order with Coffee Artisan for some Fratello pod. I'm just having a problem on what to order.
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Keurig B66
Nespresso Le Cube----oui, oui
Bunn My Cafe (Refurb)

[VydorScope]

[jbviau]

[mattsense]

Nice work!
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[jbviau]

Ok, I added my favorite Fratello coffees. More to come later. Thanks, Matt! You too!
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[jbviau]

UPDATE: All of the Fratello coffees are up. Phew! Lots of those. Am I missing any? Have to check.
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[starryeyes]

Thanks for the reviews. Wow, good work. I'll be making some of my choices from your recommendations. Looking foward to tasting this brand. I just wish there was an online retailer in Canada that carried Fratello being that they are from Canada.
_________________
Keurig B66
Nespresso Le Cube----oui, oui
Bunn My Cafe (Refurb)

[mattsense]

While I would of course recommend buying from Chad, Fratello did team up with Be'ato coffee which is out of Canada.

http://www.beato.ca/

HTH

Matt
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[starryeyes]

Matt, I have checked out that site and I don't see pod coffee anywhere.
I also e-mailed Russ at Fratello coffee and he confirmed that their pod coffee was only sold in the US.
_________________
Keurig B66
Nespresso Le Cube----oui, oui
Bunn My Cafe (Refurb)

[starryeyes]

I was just curious about trying the Fratello because of all the rave reviews. I probably won't be buying it very often until the exchange rate improves. I'm glad to find out that Reunion coffee is decent and that's readily available here. Of course there is Timothy's and Van Houtte but I'm already buying their K-cups. I noticed Cafe Invento has coffee pods which I can get easily. I haven't seen anyone commenting on those pods, so perhaps I'll place an order in the near future.
_________________
Keurig B66
Nespresso Le Cube----oui, oui
Bunn My Cafe (Refurb)

[mattsense]

My apologies for not realizing they do not sell it in pod form. Trust me though, Fratello is worth the wait
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Matt's Pod Reviews!
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[jbviau]

Added a few Kona pods. Starryeyes, definitely give Fratello a try. Don't any of the U.S. e-tailers ship to Canada at a reasonable price?
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