Columbian coffees put to taste test

Beans from Counter Culture get top ratings

SAN ANTONIO – Although most java drinkers choose to wake up to a cup made with ground coffee, a growing number are turning to fancier alternatives, like gourmet or premium coffee. Some are even grinding their own beans. Consumer Reports tested 21 Colombian coffees in a search for the tastiest.

If someone wants the freshest-tasting coffee, give whole beans a try. Consumer Reports coffee experts focused on Colombian coffee, ground and whole bean, which ranges from $5 to $25 a pound.

The experts tasted blind and top-rated La Golondrina Colombia Certified Organic from Counter Culture. It’s a complex coffee with fruit and citrus notes with traces of berry, floral and chocolate. At 59 cents for a six ounce cup, it might seem steep for a home brew, but it beats coffeehouse prices.

Whole beans from Allegro Colombia Agustino Forest from Whole Foods have notes of citrus, honey, milk chocolate, malt and toast. At 23 cents a cup, it’s a Consumer Reports Best Buy and rated very good.

Another Best Buy, Kirkland Signature Colombian Supremo whole bean from Costco, which costs 13 cents a cup. The medium-dark roast has chocolate notes and a hint of dried fruit.

Consumer Reports tested pre-ground coffees that were very good, including Gevalia’s Colombia. It has “fruity top notes” and sells for just 16 cents a cup.

To keep coffee fresh, do not keep it in the refrigerator or freezer, where it can pick up moisture and flavors from other foods. Heat and light oxidize the beans’ oils, so put it in an airtight container in a kitchen cabinet.

If people want the best-tasting coffee, Consumer Reports advised people to avoid grinding their beans at the market, because the coffee can pick up the flavors of other beans.


About the Author:

Marilyn Moritz is an award-winning journalist dedicated to digging up information that can make people’s lives a little bit better. As KSAT’S 12 On Your Side Consumer reporter, she focuses on exposing scams and dangerous products and helping people save money.