TL;DR
Get kitchen staples and gadgets delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
The Kitchn reported that Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast ranked first in its taste test of 10 medium-roast coffees, scoring a point and a half above the other entries. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second; Stumptown Holler Mountain and La Colombe Nizza received honorable mentions.
The Kitchn named Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast its top pick after tasting and scoring 10 brands of medium-roast coffee beans, reporting that the winner finished a point and a half ahead of the rest. The product review described the coffee’s flavor as a mix of citrus, warm spices and dark chocolate; Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend came in second.
The reviewer said the test focused on whole-bean coffees, with brands selected for availability, popularity and price. The 10 coffees cost between $8 and $22 at the time of the tasting, while most were priced around $15. The reviewer sampled them in one afternoon, brewed each coffee, took a few sips, and ranked them after evaluating appearance, texture, aroma, willingness to buy and taste.
Bulletproof’s coffee stood out to the reviewer for its floral and fruity aroma, followed by zesty citrus and warm spice, with a dark-chocolate finish. The report said it earned the highest score, ahead by 1.5 points, but the supplied material does not specify the scoring scale. It also said the blend uses 100% Arabica beans from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms in Central and South America.
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend was the runner-up. The reviewer described a smooth, balanced cup with fruity aromas, a toasty taste and a chocolate note. The report listed it at $8.99 for 14 ounces at Trader Joe’s and said it is available whole-bean or pre-ground, as well as certified organic and fair trade. Stumptown Holler Mountain and La Colombe Nizza were also highlighted for their distinct flavor profiles and versatility.
How the Rankings Guide Coffee Buyers
The tasting gives shoppers a side-by-side editorial recommendation in a crowded category, where roast labels alone do not explain how a particular coffee will smell or taste. Its top two picks offer different price points: Bulletproof took the highest score, while the report presented Trader Joe’s as a more affordable option. The result may help readers narrow a purchase, but it reflects one reviewer’s tasting rather than a broad consumer survey or laboratory analysis.
The other recommendations also show that a medium roast can suit different brewing preferences. The reviewer said Stumptown Holler Mountain worked well for espresso and iced coffee, while La Colombe Nizza was suited to drip coffee and espresso. Those observations are useful as shopping guidance, not a guarantee that every drinker will taste the same notes.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What the Taste Test Compared
The Kitchn’s report frames medium roast as a middle ground between the brighter flavors associated with lighter roasts and the deeper, more chocolaty character often found in darker ones. It says medium roasting can retain some of the coffee bean’s original flavors while adding toasty, caramelized notes, and describes the style as a fit for drip coffee.
The reviewer tested the coffees blind to the final rankings in the sense that scores were tallied only after the evaluations were complete, according to the report. The supplied account does not say the brands or packaging were concealed during tasting. The recommendations therefore come from a structured but informal product test, not a controlled blind trial.
““It was the clear favorite — by far.””
— The Kitchn reviewer
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Coffee Comparison
The source does not provide the full scorecard, identify every coffee included, or explain the scale behind the 1.5-point margin. It also does not give detailed brewing parameters, such as the coffee-to-water ratio, water temperature or grind setting, which can affect taste. The reported flavor notes are the reviewer’s subjective impressions, not measurements shared by all tasters.
Prices and availability can change. The article says prices were accurate when it was published, but the supplied source material gives no publication date for checking them against current store listings. The review also discloses that The Kitchn may earn a commission if readers buy products through its links; it says the publication independently selects the products.
Arabica coffee beans Rainforest Alliance
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Check Prices and Brewing Fit
The report does not announce a follow-up test or additional results. Readers considering the recommendations can check current prices and product availability, then choose based on how they brew coffee and which flavor descriptions appeal to them. For a more direct comparison at home, they can use the same brewing method for each coffee and compare freshly ground samples; that would be a personal tasting, not a replacement for the review’s findings.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which coffee won The Kitchn’s medium-roast taste test?
Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast ranked first among the 10 coffees. The reviewer described citrus, warm spice and dark chocolate notes.
What was the runner-up?
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second. The review described it as balanced and toasty, with fruity aromas and a classic chocolate flavor.
How were the coffees evaluated?
The reviewer sampled 10 brands in one afternoon and scored them on appearance, texture, smell, taste and willingness to buy. The scores were tallied after all evaluations, according to the report.
Are the listed prices current?
Not necessarily. The report says its prices were accurate at publication, but the supplied material does not include a publication date. It lists Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend at $8.99 for 14 ounces at the time.
Source: rss
NFL season / tailgating Picks
team gear
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
