I’m back from Alaska and slowly working my way back into the reviewing business. It seems like nearly forever since I’ve reviewed anything, including the Qwowi standby, K-Cups. Luckily, I’ve still got a bit of a coffee stash in reserve so at least there’s variety to help me get back into the swing of things (which it’s turning out is no easy task).

Today’s sample comes to us from our friends at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.  After working through the seasonal blends they sent me last month, I’m back to the extra bold lineup, which includes today’s variety; Sumatran Reserve.

The Aroma

Mildly smokey with just a hint of spice

Drinking it black

Green Mountain’s Sumatran Reserve has a rich earthy flavor.  A good bit of what I like to call good ol’ coffee bean flavor is preserved throughout the experience.  It finishes with a hint of spice that tickles the tip of the tongue and then disappears.  As with most (if not all) dark roasts, acidity is mild.

As I’ve come to expect from Green Mountain, Sumatran Reserve is very smooth, and while I’m not one to go drinking coffee black, the total lack of harshness means I could if I felt so inclined.

With Cream and Sugar

Drinking Sumatran Reserve poses a bit of conundrum for me.  As I said, I’m unlikely to drink it black, but I’m not exactly overwhelmed by the blend when cream and sugar are added.  I find that some of the earthiness (good earthiness, not dirtyness) gets lost in the sweetness.  Perhaps going very light on the cream and sugar is the best way to enjoy this blend.

While not an exact match, Sumatran Reserve reminds me a bit of the Tim Horton’s I drank in Toronto and for two days in Whitehorse.  I know Tim’s has many fans among Qwowi readers (and contributors for that matter), so perhaps the resemblance is a very good thing.

Final Thoughts

Sumatran Reserve, while not my favorite among Green Mountain’s Extra Bolds, is still a very good cup of coffee.  For those who prefer a lighter roast Sumatran, I’d recommend checking out Timothy’s Sumatran Gold.

What I’ve discovered over the course of the first 35 K-Cup reviews is that one can pretty much expect Green Mountain’s offerings to range somewhere between good and outstanding (let’s leave the flavored varieties out of the equation for now), and while Sumatran Reserve is closer to good than it is to outstanding, fans of Sumatran beans should definitely check out a box as part of your Café EXPRESS subscription.

Shameless Plug

You can help support the K-Cup Challenge (and yes, Qwowi too) by visiting my sponsors (like Green Mountain Coffee Roasters) for all your K-Cup needs.  I’ve already mentioned Green Mountain’s Café EXPRESS program, which allows you to save $2 on every box of K-Cups you order (including Sumatran Reserve).

If you don’t have one already, or are looking to upgrade, Green Mountain can hook you up with your very own Keurig home brewer, including the very stylish B70 or the entry level B40.  Either way you’re pretty much guaranteed a great cup of coffee to help you start your day.

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