by Nigel Ong
Many people seem to enjoy pissing on Folgers, especially coffee connoisseurs. Its commonality also made it not appealing to coffee drinkers, assuming it is a mass-produced, low-quality coffee.
However, just because connoisseurs say the coffee is bad, does not mean it actually is. I prefer to find this out myself. If you wonder how Folgers coffee roasts taste, join me in my little experiment here.
In this post, I will be brewing the Folgers Breakfast Blend several ways and sample it. I will also try the coffee with flavorings and compare it against its contemporaries.
Ready? Let’s go.
About Folgers Breakfast Blend
Folgers do not need much introduction – you may have seen them on your store aisles all your life. This is an American roastery founded by James A. Folger in 1850. Today, it is part of the JM Smucker Company, a food conglomerate.
Aside from its instant coffee, Folgers also offers diverse coffee products, including ground coffee and pods. Folger’s also offers many ground coffee roasts; each has its distinct flavor profile.
In my hand today is the Folgers Breakfast Blend. This is a light roast blend, blended for smoothness and easy drinking. Folgers do not mention the origins of the beans on the canister, leaving some space for imagination.
How Does Folgers Breakfast Blend Taste?
First Impression
I was greeted with a coffee aroma when I opened the coffee can. It was very pleasant, and I could not help but put my nose closer for more sniffs.
The coffee aroma is light and slightly acidic. I would describe it as something similar to mustard or mayonnaise. The acidic smell made me drool, and I wanted to bite into something savory.
There is also some light smoke, but it is more woody and toasty than roasty. The aroma reminds me of toasted bread and cereal.
Once I was satisfied with the sniffing, it was time to get brewing. I pulled out my coffee gears and got started. Here are the things I use in this review:
- Bodum Caffettiera French Press
- IKEA Overst Coffee Pour Over Set
- Hario Coffee Filter Paper
- IKEA Riklig Glass Pot
- Wacaco Minipresso GR Espresso Maker
French Press
I use this brewing method because it allows me to sample the coffee with all its oils and fine particles. With the French press, I expect a murky, full-flavored coffee with particles floating about.
I use my trusty Bodum Caffettiera French press for this one, although you can always use your French press of choice. If you prefer a cheaper option. Check out IKEA’s Upphetta French press.
On the first sip, I immediately noticed the softness of the coffee. The coffee has little smoke, but it is more like a woody, toasty taste. It is light and easy on the palate.
I also picked up some cereal-like taste, perhaps cornflakes. There’s also some acidic, mayo and mustard-like flavor, which helps to open up my appetite to bite into something.
This may be odd, but I picked up a slightly alcoholic taste. I think it compliments the coffee and makes it more woody and toasty.
Pour Over With Filter Paper
Next, I brewed some pour-over coffee, using the pour-over brewing method from Starbucks. The idea here is to simulate the coffee-dripping machine most of us use to brew coffee at home.
I added 20 grams of ground coffee and slowly poured 360ml of water. Early on, I focused on wetting and blooming the coffee ground. Once I cover all areas, I slowly add more water. It took about 5 minutes to brew the coffee.
As expected, the pour-over coffee tastes lighter and cleaner, making the already light and easy coffee easier on the palate. It definitely tastes less ‘dirty’ than the French press brew. This may be because the filter paper removed some coffee oils and particles.
The coffee now tastes a little more cereal and toast bread-like, with a slightly stronger acidic tone. The sweetness is also more prominent, and I would describe it as the sweetness you taste when you place a piece of cornflakes on the tongue, a very mild, starchy type.
Espresso
It may not make sense to brew a light roast as an espresso. Still, I think espresso condenses the flavor, allowing me to sample the coffee better.
The coffee ground is too coarse for espresso, so I first run them through a grinder to refine them. Then, I filled the refined coffee ground into my Wacaco Minipresso GR and pulled a shot.
The espresso came out well, with rich, velvety crema. I do not think the crema is as thick as your regular espresso roasts, but it is there to give the espresso a good flavor.
When sipping, the usual ‘smash’ is not there. This is a light roast, so it will not punch your palate like a regular espresso. Instead, I detected a stronger, toasty, woody flavor on the espresso, with a slightly acidic mayonnaise flavor.
The espresso is quite enjoyable, and I wanted something nutty and sweet to go along with it. I grabbed a granola bar from my fridge and enjoyed it with the espresso.
What Flavorings Work Best With Folgers Breakfast Blend?
Not everyone drinks their coffee black, so it only makes sense that I further experiment with the Folgers Breakfast Blend with them. Here are some of the most common flavorings and what I think about them with the coffee:
Sweetener
Here, I have two types of sweeteners. One is regular sugar, and the other is artificial sweetener. I brewed two cups of French press coffee and poured one sugar stick into the first cup. I added two drops of Equal artificial sweetener to the second cup.
For both cups, I do not think you really need any sweeteners. The coffee tasted very light and easy and even had a slight sweetness to it. If you must add more sweeteners to the drink, perhaps you have a sweet tooth.
In fact, consider giving the Folgers Breakfast Blend a try in black. You may be surprised by how the toasted bread and cereal-like sweetness make the coffee so much better to enjoy. If you prefer sweetness, pair it with something sweet, like a donut.
Milk
I made another French press brew with the Folgers Breakfast Blend. Then, I added a shot (about 30ml) of fresh, whole, UHT cow’s milk.
The taste is as I expected. The slight sweetness from the lactose in the milk feels natural to my palate. The creaminess from the milk also blends well with the coffee, making it even more mellow and easy.
I also like how the coffee gets thicker and glides in my mouth easily.
However, since the coffee is light, adding too much milk and drowning out the coffee can be easy. Add too much milk, and you will end up with a cup of coffee-flavored milk instead of coffee with milk.
Creamer
I added two Coffee Mate creamer sticks to my fresh coffee cup. I instantly regretted my decision.
Creamers usually add more creaminess to the coffee than milk, which means that two sticks are overkill with a mild and soft coffee like the Folgers Breakfast Blend. I was overwhelmed by the Coffee Mate taste here.
I made another cup of coffee and slipped in only a stick this time. It tastes much better, with a balance of creaminess and the toasty, woody notes from the coffee. However, if I have to choose between creamer and milk, I’ll go with milk with my coffee here.
Ice
Breakfast Blends are usually crafted to be enjoyed hot since not many would love coffee ice cold in the morning. However, iced coffee usually can alter the flavor of a coffee a bit, so I thought I’d try it out and see if the flavors change much.
I poured a cup of fresh French press brew into a glass filled to the brim with ice, chucked in a straw, and started sipping.
The ice muted many of the coffee’s flavors. I notice a stronger, bitter, slightly alcoholic note, but it is not enough. It does not give me the satisfaction of a glass of iced Americano.
I do not think Folgers Breakfast Blend makes good iced coffee, but feel free to experiment and see if you agree.
Folgers Breakfast Blend vs. Popular Breakfast Blends
I have a couple of Breakfast Blends sitting around in my stash, so I thought I’d compare them. I pulled out the Starbucks Breakfast Blend and the McCafe Breakfast Blend. I brewed French press coffee with all three and sipped them side by side.
Taste-wise, I think the Folgers Breakfast Blend leaves me most satisfied. It is light but has a bit more flavor and depth than the other two. I think the stronger, woody, toasty flavors in the Folgers blend help to make the coffee tastier and more hearty.
I will have the McCafe blend in second place and the Starbucks blend in third. But then, try these coffees out yourself and see which you prefer.
Folgers Breakfast Blend vs. Popular Light Roasted Coffees
I also have light-roasted coffees in my growing collection. Since the Folgers Breakfast Blend is a light roast, let’s drink these coffees side by side.
Again, I made coffee out of the Starbucks Veranda Blend and the McCafe Breakfast Blend and sipped them side by side with the Folgers Breakfast Blend.
Again, I seem to prefer the Folgers Breakfast Blend. The Veranda Blend does not have as much body and acidic notes as the Breakfast Blend, which means it leaves me a little hanging.
The McCafe Breakfast Blend, meanwhile, has the same problem. It lacks the depth of flavor compared to the Folgers.
Perhaps the Folgers Breakfast Blend is roasted a little darker than the other two, causing it to have a stronger flavor. I gave this a check online, and some reviewers also thought the same.
Folgers Breakfast Blend vs. Regular Coffee
One last thing would be to compare the Folgers Breakfast Blend against regular coffee. I do not mean those from your Starbucks or Dunkin, but regular gas stations and convenience stores.
I picked up a regular Americano from a 7-Eleven and drank the coffee side by side with a cup of Folgers Breakfast Blend.
My verdict? Just put in some time and effort, and brew yourself a cup at home. The Folgers’ Breakfast Blend just tastes better and is much more satisfying. The 7-Eleven coffee just tastes flat and has a strong earthy taste that may remind you of dirt.
The difference is actually quite stark, too. If you blindfold me and ask me to taste the coffee, I can easily tell which is which.
Who Is Folgers Breakfast Blend For?
Folgers Breakfast Blend is a light, easy-to-sip coffee. Rather than smoky and bold, this is a soft, toasty coffee that has a cereal-like sweetness. I thoroughly enjoyed my cup and think this is the best regular, light-roast coffee blend I have tasted.
I think the Folgers Breakfast Blend delivers a bang for your buck. It is cheaper compared to your regular Starbucks, McCafe, or Dunkin coffee but tastes only a bit less. It also blends well with sweeteners, milk, or creamer too.
If you enjoy a decent wake-me-up kind of coffee, this is the one to sip daily. You can also enjoy this coffee all day, even in the afternoon or evenings. It should also be a good coffee to sip as a digestif, especially after a good savory meal.