Percol Colombia Arabica Coffee

Percol Colombia Arabica CoffeeAfter yesterday's Percol Debacle with a strength 4 that was so weak, sickly and milky that I may as well have just have put my mouth directly on the cow's udder, we decided to really spoon this one up as even Percol grade it a strength 3 - which as we all know is the weakest coffee strength known to man. So at 7 spoons the initial waft wasn't bad - I could smell coffee over the cow shed - and it looked fine too. It looked professional. But professional coffees are never really that good are they? I mean, they start well, but after a few glugs you're used to it and wishing you'd just stayed at home and made one yourself. They claim "a hint of nuts" - which is the usual bollocks - unless it refers to the bloke who does their packaging which this time looks like a packet of salt and vinegar. So - ideal for those after-dinner-party moments where you don't want to disgrace yourself, but don't want them hanging around too long discussing it. Drink and go. 5/10

What the Manufacturer's say: 

"Unmistakably Colombian. A tantalisingly rich aroma with a hint of nuts. Complex flavours creating a smooth, full-bodied coffee with attractive citrus notes on the finish. As you approach Bogota from 30,000ft up you'll notice that Colombia sits at the gateway to South America. Colombia is a land of extremes; from Cartagena to Bogota the coffee adventurer will experience a real diversity of culture and beauty. For a start, it has opposing Atlantic and Pacific coasts - and it seems like the weather regularly tries to empty these two oceans over the rainforests. Which must be good for the plants (and arabica coffee) - Colombia has over 130,000 species, including Victoria Amazonica - a giant water lily with pads that can support the weight of anything from a poisoned dart frog to a small child. Bogota is fast and elegant, a heady mix of futuristic architecture, colonial style, and hot-blooded everything. This is the capital of coffee and it runs in the veins of the people. Bogotanians are not renowned for their quality of sleep so you might not get chance to unpack your pyjamas!"

Where you can buy it: 

buy a bucket from Amazon...

4
Average: 4 (7 votes)
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Comments

Judge Hank's picture

The verdict is in and one person said, 'maybe fruity'. The packet claims 'nuts' on this one and as it's bigger brother from yesterday was a flop we upped the ante. It was spooned up to 7 and left a little longer and made with the same loving care a geek gives to his usb catapult. The colour was a vibrant yellow and I almost expected Chicory to be written on the packet. It's not. It's touted as a strength 3 and I didn't seem to enjoy any of it. It was almost bitter and almost dry. I just didn't know what to make of it. I'll have to try it one more time when it's not 8:50 am in the morning after a long night. It's my experience however this is perfect coffee time! So if you really need a coffee, this isn't the one. For those who enjoy a lightweight girly coffee that hints at something more. Perhaps a girly coffee that works out once a week, this is just the one you're looking for. Definitly not for me so just a 5. It could be lower but I would bet those who enjoy the mellow yellow are going to like this blend.

Perhaps this was a particularly well brewed cup, but this definitely went down like a coffee from certain well known coffee houses dotted around the high streets of Britain. This is not to say that the standard of coffee in these places is somehow better than the homemade variety, though it does highlight the craziness of spending a couple of quid in starbucks when for almost the same price you can get a load more cups out of some ground beans and a cafetiere. Not the finest example of coffee available, but nothing wrong with it either – Although it does seem to have misplaced the nuts that were advertised on the packet...

It has a medium roast, grade 3, though still manages to be fairly assertive with a fair amount of burnt notes. The coffee is gritty and sludgy in the mouth - something I've experienced before with Percol coffees. There are some bright notes, with pleasant acidity, and the coffee finishes with a pleasant chocolate and hazelnut flavour. I could possibly like this if it were not for the gritty grind. I've tried this a few times now at various strengths, temperatures and brew times, and I've not quite managed to get a totally satisfying brew out of it - sometimes it's too thin, other times too acidic - though on the whole it's not offensive, and while unremarkable can be acceptable and pleasant.