With fall clearly winding down, and winter slowly taking over, I am admittedly a bit late with this review of Green Mountain’s Autumn Harvest Blend.  The good news is the blend is still available, but when it disappears for the year at least I’ll be way ahead of the curve for next year.

Green Mountain sent me a box of what they say is a blend of light and dark coffees (which I guess makes it a medium roast).  I’ve done quite a bit of experimenting with this particular variety (more than I usually do), and while it probably doesn’t rank as one of my favorites, it without question, makes for an infinitely palatable cup of coffee.

The Description

Boasting a palette of light and dark roasted coffees nearly as colorful as the autumn leaves, this special blend offers brisk and smoky flavors perfectly attuned to the season.

The Aroma

The aroma of Autumn Harvest Blend is sweet, and thankfully, not at all like a pile of leaves. Maybe it’s the blend, maybe it’s the marketing, maybe I’m making it up altogether, but I think the aroma definitely conjures images of a fall morning; damp and dewy, yet strangely comforting.

Drinking It Black

Autumn Harvest Blend is a fairly dry coffee, somewhat tart coffee, with strong caramel notes. It’s a bit of a cheek-tugger for sure. The roast is naturally sweet with a medium body, and most importantly it’s not the least bit bitter.

With Cream and Sugar

As I mentioned above, I’ve done a fair amount of experimenting with this blend, trying to find the right mix of cream and sugar. The first couple times through I over-sweetened it a bit, and didn’t much care for the results. A more conservative approach, however; yielded much better results. The lesson is that there’s enough natural flavor in the beans. Too much sugar will spoil the flavor – at least it did for me.

Final Thoughts

Although it’s not my favorite medium roast, it’s pretty good in its own right. Besides, I always get a kick out of Green Mountain’s seasonal offerings.

Maybe I’m just a gullible fool buying into the marketing, maybe it’s because I’m drinking in on a fall morning, but whatever; my story is that Autumn Harvest Blend invokes a sense of falling leaves, the onset of winter, and all the goes along with the changing seasons.

While not one I would drink every day, it’s a great option for those who like the body of a dark, but prefer the weight of a light roast. It’s an excellent compromise. Of course, it’s also perfect for anyone just looking to try someone new.

Shameless Plug

It wouldn’t be a K-Cup-Challenge Review without a shameless plug. And since this review happens to coincide quite nicely with the heart of the holiday shopping season (at least at the time or writing), I’m going to strongly suggest that you do some of your holiday shopping at my favorite coffee roaster; Green Mountain.

As I’ve pointed out a couple dozen times before, Green Mountain carries the entire lineup of Keurig Home Brewers, including my personal favorite, the B70, as well as the brand new, highly portable, highly awesome B30 Mini Brewer (available in red) (review/video).

Of course the also offer a huge assortment of K-Cups, including Autumn Harvest Blend, as well as winter seasonals; Holiday Blend & Gingerbread (review). If none of the above is what you’re looking for, the also offer a collection of unique gifts and samplers.

You can also Save $2 on Every Box when you join Green Mountain’s Café EXPRESS program.

Green Mountain has also very recently introduced a Refer A Friend Program. If you refer a friend to Green Mountain and that friend buys a Keurig Brewer, you’ll both get two free regular variety samplers.

While you’re here, check out the growing list of K-Cup reviews in my K-Cup Challenge.