New Extra Bold K-Cups: Espresso, Kenyan AA, and 10% Kona Blend

Green Mountain recently launched a trio of new Extra Bold K-cups, and I grabbed up all of them to try out. The 10% Kona blend, the Kenyan AA, and the Espresso Blend all have 20% more coffee in the K-cups to make them just a bit stronger and richly flavored. I have been a fan of the K-Cup system for a while now, and despite all the coffee makers that come through the SingleServeEspresso kitchen, The Keurig B70 brewer has found a permanent home on the counter top for everyday use. It’s flexible, versatile and pretty darn convenient.

Over the past week or so, I have been experimenting and I have to say that none are perfect, but I have found another combination that makes me pretty happy with the results. Long time readers will remember that I found a very similar mash-up that I enjoyed before, the Timothy’s Rainforest Espresso together with an Organic Sumatran Extra Bold for a bit of body. One on the 5.25 ounce setting and one on the 7.25 ounce setting into an extra large mug.

Well, history has repeated itself, and I have to say that I like another combination, the Extra Bold Espresso K-Cup and the Kenyan AA Extra Bold K-Cup on top. Overall, the Extra Bold Espresso was a bit flat, but full bodied when I drank it. Potentially a bit low in acidity, which didn’t allow a lot of top notes to come through. The Kenyan AA is excellent on its own, is bright and very flavorful with hints if blueberries in the cup. I loved this alone, but for a deeper and richer experience, I mashed the two together one morning and have been drinking them that way ever since.

The 10% Kona Blend Extra Bold is a nice typical blend for a Kona variety that is medium roasted, lightly flavored and light bodied. The flavor is mild, not too burnt, potent or particularly acidic. Friends dig them, but they are a bit weak in the morning for my routine. I like them in the afternoon on the weekends when I am in the mood for something a bit different, and not so loud.

Finally, I will sneak in that we also bought the Green Mountain Hot Chocolate K-Cups, and people around the house love them too. The kids are digging the idea of making their own with the B-70 just like we do, and because it’s so easy, they are on their own, with no fears of them using the microwave when they made Hot Chocolate by nuking the water until it boiled over. Jay has a good review of the Hot Chocolate K-Cups over at SingleServeCoffee.com.

Don't forget the
Keurig 27-Cup-Capacity K-Cup Spinning Carousel to store all of those great K-cups.

April 18, 2007

New Extra Bold K-Cups: Espresso, Kenyan AA, and 10% Kona Blend