Today’s sample of Timothy’s Sumatran Gold Extra Bold was dug out of a pile of boxes tucked away in a cabinet in the corner of my office kitchen.  We’re still hoping to land a Timothy’s distributor to provide us with samples, but for now, there’s still plenty of untapped variety right down the hall.

Before we get into the review itself; a quick word about K-cups with the “Extra Bold” designation.  There seems to be a misconception (at least in these parts) that “Extra Bold” is synonymous with Dark Roast or even Extra-Dark Roast.  In actuality, the Extra Bold designation simply means that a particular variety of K-Cup contains more ground coffee than a standard K-cup.  Extra Bold cups (at least those that I’ve seen), run the gamut from medium to dark roast.  The term Extra Bold relates much more to the body than it does to the roast.  Now on to the review…

Full Description

Powerful enough to stand up to cream, this coffee is made even more energetic by making it extra bold. From the Mandheling region of Indonesia, Timothy’s Sumatran Gold has been enjoyed in our Cafes for over 30 years. This coffee is seriously aromatic and as thick as the jungles it grew from.

The Aroma

Timothy’s Sumatran Gold Extra Bold is every bit as aromatic as they claim. Yes, it smells like coffee, but there are also strong hints of fruit.  I’m thinking berries.  I think this is the first time I’ve actually been able to detect “fruit notes”.  This is a real coffee tasting milestone for me.  Anyway..bottom line, it smells good.

Drinking It Black

Sumatran Gold is a well-balanced, medium-bodied blend.  No one flavor really stands out, but it still manages to be a very tasty cup.  The acidity is near perfect.  It’s not overpowering, nor is it the least bit flat.  It drinks smooth, although there is some slight bitterness to the finish.  It’s good black, but not so good that I’m actually going to drink it that way.

With Cream & Sugar (Splenda)

Timothy’s Sumatran Gold fights the good fight against cream and sugar, and the flavor holds its own with generous portions of cream and sugar are added.  While the box says it’s a medium roast, my contention is that it creeps a little bit towards the dark side (granted this could be a situation where the extra bold designation leads to a stronger cup).  The richness is a step above Dunkin Donuts, and is actually more like a good cup of Peet’s.

Final Thoughts

What can I say, I love this blend.  It’s the first Sumatran K-Cup I’ve tried thus far, and even if it turns out to be the worst of the lot, it’s still makes for a really good cup of coffee.  If your brewer has multiple settings, I’d encourage you to experiment until you find the consistency you like.  Based on flavor alone, this is nothing less than a must-try K-Cup.

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