Coffee Beans

I Tested Starbucks Espresso Roast Decaf Nespresso Coffee

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by Nigel Ong

Starbucks coffee can come in many formats – whole beans, grounds, instant coffee, RTDs (Ready-To-Drink), and capsules like Nespresso pods. 

While some versions of Starbucks can be far from the original, Nespresso capsules generally do well, at least in my experience. Will the Espresso Decaf Nespresso do the same?

I picked up some Starbucks Espresso Roast Decaf in Nespresso capsules to try this out. I’ll brew it in several popular espresso coffee formats and sample them. I’ll also compare it with the regular Espresso Roast Nespresso to see if the flavors differ.

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I Tasted Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Mocha Java Medium Roast

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by Nigel Ong

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) may not be as big as Starbucks, but it has a strong presence on the US West Coast and in many parts of Asia. Their coffee shops are known for providing great roasts and good service.

I picked up a bag of their popular Mocha Java blend and see if I could replicate the same taste at home. 

In this post, I will brew and sample the CBTL Mocha Java blend and compare it with other relevant coffees in my collection before deciding if you should try this coffee.

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My Tasting: Intelligentsia Coffee’s Organic El Gallo roast

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by Nigel Ong

Intelligentsia is known as one of the main leaders in the third-wave coffee movement, alongside Counter Culture and Stumptown. I have had some Stumptown and Counter Culture Coffee, but not Intelligentsia. 

This made me pick up a couple of Intelligentsia bags to share my findings here. This time, it’s Organic El Gallo’s turn.

I will brew and sample Intelligentsia Coffee’s Organic El Gallo roast in this post. I will also compare its flavors against other relevant coffee and decide if you should try this roast.

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I Tasted Lavazza Espresso Italiano Roast Coffee Beans

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by Nigel Ong

Lavazza is a giant in European coffee, producing coffee roasts, instant coffees, and pods. It also offers coffee machines and equipment. Aside from their regular roasts, they offer Espresso roasts in the Lavazza Espresso Italiano Roast.

From my review of Lavazza coffee, it is a hit or a miss. Some, like Qualita Oro and Crema e Gusto, are great roasts, while the Qualita Rossa is disappointing. What about the Espresso Roast?

In this post, I will review the Lavazza Espresso Italiano roast. I will first brew it before trying the coffee with popular flavorings. Finally, I will compare the coffee with other espresso roasts.

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I Tasted Intelligentsia Coffee House Blend Beans

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by Nigel Ong

Let’s just say I actually quite look forward to writing this particular review. I have been seeing Intelligentsia coffee being raved online by drinkers, and it made me wonder if the coffee is as good as everyone seems to claim. 

Let’s start with the house blend – the most symbolic roasts of a coffee roastery. 

I will brew and sample the Intelligentsia Coffee House Blend in this review. I will also compare it with other relevant coffee in my collection before deciding if you should try this coffee.

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My Tasting of Starbucks Guatemala Antigua Medium Roast Coffee Beans

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by Nigel Ong

Starbucks is more than just its regular roasts. It also carries many single-origin roasts and some limited releases. One of the more popular single-origin roasts is the Guatemala Antigua.

With over 13,000+ positive reviews on Amazon, this roast certainly has its own legion of fans. Curious, I picked up a bag to try it out myself. 

In this post, I will open a fresh Starbucks Guatemala Antigua Roast bag, brew it three ways, sample it, and then compare it against other relevant coffee roasts in my collection.

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Taste Testing Community Coffee House Blend

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by Nigel Ong

Community Coffee is not an unfamiliar roaster to me. I have sampled several of their roasts, such as the American Classic, Breakfast Blend, New Orleans Blend, and more. So far, so good. 

However, it occurred to me that I had missed out on what was supposed to be their original roast – the House Blend. So, I picked up a bag to try it out.

I will brew and sample the Community Coffee House Blend in this post. I will also compare it with other relevant coffee in my collection before deciding if you should give this blend a try yourself.

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Tasting Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato decaf coffee

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by Nigel Ong

Decaf coffee usually gets a bad rep – people either consider decaf coffee drinkers’ wimps’ or simply dismiss it for its weaker flavor. 

However, things have improved significantly with the improvements in the decaffeination process and blending. Some roasters successfully blended decaf coffee to taste just as good as the original. 

Will this be the same case for the Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato Roast? I picked up a can to find out. 

In this review, I will sample the Lavazza Caffè Decaffeinato. I’ll brew the coffee several ways and then sample it with popular flavorings. I’ll also compare the roast with relevant coffees to see if you should try it.

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Lavazza Crema E Gusto Classico Coffee: My Taste Test

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by Nigel Ong

Lavazza is one of North America’s most popular Euro-style coffee roasters, and it is easy to find their roasts. I have found some of their coffee enjoyable, such as the Qualita Oro, while the Qualita Rossa is a bit wanting.

What about the Lavazza Crema E Gusto? From the packaging, the coffee looks impressive. But the real test will be on how it tastes. 

In this review, I will sample the Lavazza Crema E Gusto. I’ll brew the coffee several ways and then sample it with popular flavorings. I’ll also compare the roast with relevant coffees to see if you should try it.

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Taste Test of Nescafe Classic Decaf Instant Coffee: My Review

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by Nigel Ong

Nescafe may not be the most popular instant coffee in the US, but it is the default instant coffee in other parts of the world. It is particularly appreciated in Europe and many parts of Asia. 

As a result, Nestle made many versions of Nescafe, some regular and some premium. I have also reviewed some Nescafes extensively here as well. 

One of the more popular styles of Nescafe is the Nescafe Classic decaf. Will it taste inferior to the original Nescafe? What about other Nescafe instant coffee? Let’s find out.

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