mmmmm, coffee coffee coffee

Anymore, walking down the aisles at the grocery store, trying to choose coffee is ridiculous. There are so many different brands out there, each with a variety of flavors, some costing upwards of $10.00 for a 12 ounce bag. But is spending the extra money really worth it?

I spent some time over the weekend comparing two different coffees, seeking which one really is more consumer and coffee drinker friendly. Seeing as coffee is practically pumping through my veins on a regular basis, I wanted to know how to get more bang for my buck.

 

I compared Dunkin’ Donuts Original Blend with Folgers House Blend coffee, two coffees I drink on a regular basis. Between them, I paid attention to price, texture, aroma, flavor and strength. I used the same amount of water and the same amount of coffee with each brew in order to control the trials.

Starting with price, I have to say, although I enjoy the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, it’s hard to spend ten dollars on a 12 ounce bag. Folgers is most definitely more friendly to my bank account at its five dollars for a ten ounce container. Regardless, I had to know if being frugal was really worth it.

When making the coffee, I noticed the Dunkin’ Donuts was ground much more finely than the Folgers. Also, the Dunkin’ Donuts had a richer color. Folgers seemed to still have pieces of the bean shell in the grounds, which may cause issues during the brewing process.

I also noticed the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee had a more pleasant aroma. Just smelling the coffee gave me a jolt. I like my coffee strong, so this was very pleasing to me. The Folgers had a more bitter aroma to it, which was odd, since it’s a medium roast coffee; typically, the darker the roast the more bitter the smell.

The Dunkin’ Donuts coffee had a deep flavor. It was robust, but not overpowering. Folgers, however, tasted more watered down. In order to get the heavier flavor I enjoy, I needed to add more coffee to the filter before I brewed. However, the Folgers did have a more pleasant aftertaste, with a hint of cinnamon.

Now, the most important part: strength. To anyone who drinks coffee on a regular basis, this is crucial when selecting a brand. I prefer my coffee strong, but not so strong I’m going to shake out of my clothes after only one cup. Dunkin’ Donuts hit the nail on the head with this one. After only one cup I could feel the zing of energy, I was alert and the coffee was effective. Folgers, however, left something to be desired. The only way to get it close to an equivalency with Dunkin’ Donuts would be to eat the grounds straight. It was weak, and not worth the damage to my kidneys to attempt to drink as much as I would need to get the end result I would like.

In the end, I would pick the Dunkin’ Donuts. Although it can be almost double the price, there are two more ounces per purchase and less coffee used in the brewing process. Folgers may be half the price, but you have to use twice as much to get a descent end result. Looks like it’s Dunkin’ Donuts for this coffee connoisseur from now on.