Eight O’Clock Original Review

by Mike on December 22, 2009 in Coffee Reviews

The Drink: Eight O’Clock Original
Type: Whole Bean Medium Roast
Overall Rating: Two Out Of Five Coffee Cups

A long time ago, in a far away place, Eight O’Clock coffee was my favorite coffee in the grocery store. Recently, I’ve tried a few of them again, each disappointed me more and more. The French Vanilla was drinkable, the Hazelnut was okay and the Original is just a notch or two above gas station coffee. It’s not the fond and pleasat memories that I have.

The problem starts with the warning label on the bag. It says “Best when used by 10/0/1/2010.” I understand that they need to make money and rotating coffee out every two weeks probably isn’t very profitable for a company of their size or target market, but there’s no way that coffee is going to be fresh next October. It wasn’t even fresh when I had it in late December of 2009. Based on the best used by date, I’m going to assume that means my coffee was roasted in October of 2009 or even worse, 2008. They need to understand that I need to have a chance of at least getting fresh coffee. I know I’ve said this before and I’ll probably say it many times, but companies should really start adding a “roasted on date” so serious coffee lovers can pick a fresh bag.

Anyways, rant over. Review time.

The aroma. It was “nice,” a sweet-nutty smell with a hint of cinnamon.

The taste didn’t have much to it. There really wasn’t much more than a mild nutty flavor. I couldn’t pick anything else out of it and I tried.

Plus, it was missing something other than a “roasted on date.” It was missing the after taste. There was nothing.

Throw in a slightly bitter taste and I didn’t even want to finish my cup. That’s a bad sign.

I supposed it could be labeled as an everyday kind of coffee, but if I was going to drink a lot of it, I’d want to give it some life with a flavored creamer or something. I’m not even sure if my favorite peppermint creamer could save this one.

Overall, it earns a two out of five on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale. It’s drinkable and better than what the corner gas station sells, but it’s not much better. I bought the coffee when it was on sale for buy one get one free, I think even if it’s on sale, I’ll pass next time.

What has your experience been with Eight O’Clock Coffee.

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Tagged as: Eight O'Clock Coffee

Article by Mike Crimmins

Mike Crimmins is the highly caffeinated blogger behind Daily Shot Of Coffee. Besides drinking way too much coffee, he's obsessed with the Yankees and getting dirty on his mountain bike.

Mike has written 584 awesome articles.

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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }

Melody December 22, 2009 at 10:49 pm

Hi Mike! That’s an interesting review. I have had 8 O’Clock coffee but not recently. Actually, I do kind of associate it as a gas station brand of coffee! I just don’t think it’s a true specialty coffee house – How could it be if they even sell Vanilla or Hazelnut coffee??

Though to be very fair here, I tend to think that the use by dates on Starbucks flavorlock bags are too far out from the roast date too. I really think the very maximum that coffee is okay from flavorlock packaging is like six months. I think those bags can do a lot of hold in aroma, flavor, and intensity, but it’s not perfect! One year from roast date is shockingly too long (I know precisely how the Starbucks dates work, and it is not one year).

Melody

PS: Always great to read your blog! I’m jealous! You do such a great job of finding good topics.
Melody´s last blog ..Starbucks schwag: Episode 2-The Via Ready Brew cap OPEN THREAD

Mike December 23, 2009 at 3:57 pm: That’s interesting how you associate it as a gas station brand.

I’ll agree that flavor lock bags are better than nothing but a bag roasted two weeks ago has a huge difference in taste then one roasted two months ago.

The topics are the easy part! I literally have enough ideas to fill up next month already. I just wish I had more time to write.

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Anne December 23, 2009 at 10:12 am

I’m way too cheap to buy eight o’clock coffee so I really can’t comment. Yet again, I drink Maxwell House on a regular basis ~ ‘nough said.

I did want to ask, when you taste test coffee do you add milk or non-flavored creamer or do you drink it black? Just curious. Thanks.

Mike December 23, 2009 at 4:00 pm: Anne,

I think you’re going to be my project! We’ll have you drinking good coffee somehow. Maxwell house just isn’t acceptable JK!

When I taste the coffees, I start with it just black. However, if it feels like it could taste better with sugar or milk, I’ll add something along those lines just to see.

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Extreme John December 23, 2009 at 10:23 am

As soon as I read “Original” I just had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good, but than again you know me and the flavored coffee’s.
Extreme John´s last blog ..10 Reasons I Wouldn’t Copy Your Article

Mike December 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm: I wouldn’t even recommend their flavored coffees to you at this point.

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Allen December 23, 2009 at 11:46 pm

I don’t mean any disrespect. I’ve enjoyed following your blog, watching you go from pensive coffee drinker to respectable coffee reviewer … but looking at how “far” you’ve come since this blog’s beginnings and observing your changing tone I can’t help but think that given another year or two you’ll have completely shifted target readership, “Average coffee drinkers” being the present target.

I guess it’s the nature of the beast. You can’t very well highly review anything in the grocery store–anything affordable, for that matter–when there are so many quality, four and five star beans out there. And I wouldn’t turn that stuff away if it was being sent to me, I don’t fault you that! But I don’t envy your new found revulsion at the things you once loved, either. I am lucky in that I can still enjoy 8 o’clock coffee or home-brewed dunkin donuts, even if it isn’t the best coffee in the world. Traveling, I can buy a cup of Joe at the gas station and, while not blown away by the particular blend can still take comfort in having coffee by my side. It’s not often I “Don’t want to finish the cup” — but I’m starting to get that feeling, around here.

Mike December 24, 2009 at 12:05 am: You’re definitely on to something. I am tainted because I have been able to taste some amazing coffees this year.

As far as the 8 O’Clock coffee, I don’t think it’s the same coffee that I remember.

My parents drink Maxwell House, I was thinking of doing a post of which coffees at the grocery store taste the best. Or which affordable coffees taste the best.

For me what bothers me is that I keep finding great coffees that are more expensive. Now, I wouldn’t hesitate throwing down $15 for a pound of quality coffee, but I know that’s not in everyones budget. That bothers me that a lot of coffees that I like are more expensive.

I’ve started planning the 2010 posts already and a lot of it includes searching out different places to get coffee (that aren’t coffee shops). I think I needed to extend that search to affordable coffee that has above average tastes.

Anyways, definitely appreciate and respect your opinion. This coffee blog has already been far more successful than I ever dreamed and I appreciate the guidance and direction.

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Melody December 24, 2009 at 12:17 am

Mike – Wait. Did 8 OClock coffee send you that bag of coffee to review? As I read the comments I had that impression. That sort of cool that your blog has that kind of influence.
Melody´s last blog ..Reader response: Starbucks gear

Mike December 24, 2009 at 11:00 am: Melody – This coffee I bought for myself. I actually bought it because I was noticing that a lot of my reviews were higher end, so I purchased it in an attempt to even things out.

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