As was the case with my first two reviews of Diedrich K-Cups (for Keurig Brewers), my sample of Diedrich French Roast was provided by Qwowi’s sponsor from the West Coast, 1 Great Cup.

As I was kicking of the K-Cup Challenge, lining up sponsors, and generally getting things started, the Diedrich brand wasn’t even on my radar.  That, of course, changed with my first cup of Paradiso House Blend.  The Diedrich Colombia furthered my growing affection for the brand.  And now we’re back for our 3rd try with DiedDiedrichrich; this time with their French Roast.

As you may recall from previous reviews of French Roasts, I’m not what you might call a fan of the genre.  The last time I tried one I found myself wondering why anyone would intentionally subject themselves to a single mouthful, let alone an entire cup.  The K-Cup Challenge, however, is all about sampling every K-Cup variety we possibly can, and for better or worse, that means more French Roast.  Today, that French Roast is from Diedrich.

Description

This is the darkest of our roasts. It is a blend of coffees that lend themselves particularly well to being roasted so heavily, producing a very hearty taste with a light desirable toasty flavor. It is a strong, but not bitter or burnt taste, and is certainly not for the faint of heart.

The Aroma

Generally speaking, French Roast coffee tends to smell a lot like the French. It’s often a little smokey, a little stinky, and at times, downright offensive. Diedrich’s, however, breaks from that mold a bit. It has a strong, rich, coffee aroma, but nothing about it cries out for a bar of soap, a hot shower, and an attitude adjustment.

Drinking It Black

Creating a good French Roast, at least to this non-roaster, seems to be a very precise balancing act.  Not enough roasting and you come up short on the flavor that makes French Roast what it should be.  Too much roasting and you end up with a charred mess of burnt beans which can make French Roast what it too often is.

Much to my surprise, Diedrich has succeeded where many others have failed.  Their French Roast K-Cups are deep, rich, and toasty, but unlike many others, they are not bitter, burnt, or crusty (I think I just described one of my aunts).  There is a complexity of flavor here that is helped along by the presence of more acidity than one would expect in such a dark roast.

Diedrich’s is the first French Roast I’ve encountered so far that’s clean enough, and tasty enough to drink black.

With Cream and Sugar

Too often I’ve had to use cream and sugar to make an otherwise lousy cup of coffee drinkable.  Thankfully, Diedrich’s doesn’t need the help.  Still, every cup tested for the K-Cup Challenge must get a dose.

Maybe it’s a byproduct of my low expectations, but I’m in a truly happy place here (no, I’m not naming dwarfs again).  Everything about this cup is near perfect (we’re scoring this like old school gymnastics…I’m not giving out any 10s until I find my Nadia or MaryLou).  The body and texture in your mouth.  The aroma that tickles the olfactory senses.  And of course the intense, yet exceptionally smooth flavor.  I’m pretty much having a full-body French Roast experience right now.  Can I have some privacy please?

Final Thoughts

I could go on and on about the aroma, and flavor, and all the other things that make Diedich French Roast so damn good, but in the interest of simplicity, I’ll offer just this:

For the first time, I understand why so many people love French Roast coffee.

Shameless Plug

On countless other occasions I’ve begged you to visit my sponsors for all your Keurig and K-Cup needs.  I’m not going to do that today.  You’re an adult, you need your coffee.  I trust you’ll make the smart decision and spend your money where it makes the most sense, but if I might make one suggestion…

OneGreatCup.net offers a huge selection of K-Cups, as well a as a complete line of Keurig Brewers and accessories.  I personally love the B70 brewer.  If you’ve already got your brewer you’ll need coffee.  Why not pick up a box of Diedrich French Roast?  Why not indeed.  If you’re just getting started, or just can’t make up your mind (I get it, the variety can be a little overwhelming), pick up a Diedrich variety pack, which includes all of the Diedrich blends I’ve reviewed so far, plus a couple others I’ll be getting to shortly.

While your here, check out the growing list of reviews from the K-Cup Challenge.

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