by @amitgiant
THE ULTIMATE BEANS & GROUND COFFEE
COMPARISON FOR TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
by AmitGiant
Hong Wing
- Smells weak, when dry.
- Smells okay brewing.
- Needs sweetener, a lot.
- Tastes odd, almost like drinking gas; unimpressed. I got accustomed to the taste eventually but didn’t enjoy it any better.
- The aftertaste is not great, like instant coffee.
- Good caffeine strength, however.
Members Selection - Premium Excelso
- Smells okay but not like real ground coffee does.
- Better smell when brewing, but still average.
- Needs a lot of sweetener.
- The initial taste is not great at all (worst than Hong Wing), almost unnatural but eventually, you get used to it, though I wouldn’t recommend it one bit.
- Didn’t like the aftertaste either, just like instant coffee.
- Not strong caffeine.
Jose Perez - Ground
- The smell is not great, average, okayish.
- Okay smell brewing.
- Needs sweetener but not a lot.
- Acceptable taste but is not great or smooth. I got accustomed to this taste and may buy this one again.
- Acceptable aftertaste.
- Caffeine is okay.
Cafe Brasil
- Smells bad, like cheap coffee when dry.
- Better when brewing.
- Needs sweetener.
- The taste is not bad, but not great; not smooth. This was okay over time, but not great. A nice option on a budget.
- Okayish aftertaste.
- Average Caffeine boost.
Nice option on a budget
Real Taste - Dark Roast
- Smell is okay dry.
- Better when soaked.
- Doesn’t need sweetener.
- Surprised by this taste, though it requires more serving size than the rest. It was nice and may buy this one again or try the other options they have.
- Acceptable aftertaste.
- Caffeine is good.
Per serving
Jose Perez - Beans
- Beans smell nice.
- Better when brewing.
- Can do with sweetener but not necessarily.
- Acceptable Taste, better than the Ground option. Compared to Jose Perez Ground Coffee this was richer in taste and I may buy this again.
- Acceptable aftertaste.
- Caffeine is nice.
Dunkin' - Original Blend
- Beans smell nice.
- Nicer when brewing.
- Nice Taste, really smooth.
- Does not need sweetener.
- I really enjoyed this one and was surprised by the quality of this commercial American brand. Will definitely buy it again if it’s available locally.
- Nice after Taste.
- Caffeine is really good as well.
Lavazza - Classico
- Beans smell wonderful.
- Really lovely brewing smell.
- Does not need sweetener.
- Great Taste, really smooth and enjoyable. I really enjoyed this one and was surprised because I’ve never come across this brand before.
- Really nice aftertaste.
- Caffeine is great as well.
Worth it
Lavazza - Expresso
- You’ve gotta love the smell of the beans
- Wonderful smooth taste and enjoyable.
- Does not need sweetener.
- This is definitely my go-to selection of coffee beans henceforth. I like the fact you’re getting beans and can ground yourself for a fresher taste. Extremely pleased with this.
- Really nice smooth aftertaste, almost satisfying.
Worth every bit
Lavazza - Gold Selection
Really similar to the Lavazza Classico and is now my daily coffee brew.
Though the Lavazza Espresso may taste much nicer and smoother, this is more cost-effective and the supply lasts longer.
But more affordable per serving
Now my daily coffee
In Conclusion
My top three favourite coffee brands are Lavazza, Dunkin’, and a tie between Volcanica and Jose Perez Coffee Beans. If foreign brands like Lavazza or Dunkin’ weren’t available I’d go for the Jose Perez Beans for sure or the Real Taste brand, which are locally produced.
I prefer coffee beans over ground coffee for its freshness and transparency in ingredients. I stay away from instant coffee due to the use of additives, such as oats, and its weaker strength.
I would not recommend the Members Selection brand; it visibly contains questionable ingredients, though the packaging says otherwise.
Overall, I enjoyed exploring different coffee brands and look forward to discovering more in the future. Hope this information helps you make better choices when brewing real coffee at home.
Keep brewing!