Waitrose Monsooned Malabar Coffee

Waitrose Monsooned Malabar CoffeeIndia is renowned for its tea, not its coffee, and that holds true here. We gave this the benefit of the doubt and had three goes at this, but every time it just got worse and worse. The first glug lulls you into a false sense of security before the after burn kicks in, leaving your entire thorax ripped out and lying in your lap. You just have to grin and bear it and hope the pain goes away. If you read the side of the packet, the writing was always on the wall for this one: they basically leave the bloody thing out in the rain - presumably going moldy - and then try and turn this neglect into a marketing gimmick. Give it up lads. 3/10.

What the Manufacturer's say: 

"Waitrose Monsooned Malabar coffee comes from the Kulverdikhan farm in the Bababudangiri region of the Karnataka state, South India. The original estate house was founded in 1950 and the original owner was Gregory Joseph Coelho, whose name was used to set up the company, Coelho Coffee Exports, in 1991. This coffee is famous for the special way it gains its flavour characteristics. The beans are seasoned and aged in the humid monsoon air before being left to dry in the warm winds, creating a unique and distinctive flavour."

Tags: 
Waitrose
Strength 4
India

8.13793
Average: 8.1 (29 votes)
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Your rating: None

Comments

Judge Hank's picture

Submitted by Judge Hank on 8/11/11.
Yea that's one way to word it, my fellow judges decided to pour it down the sink in make a Lava Java instead. It's the second Waitrose coffee and these things pack a flavoursome punch. One that is just too strange to be enjoyed. We opted to drop this to a 5 spooner due to the strong flavour and it just didn't work out. The grain was excellent and the colour extremely dark. The packaging is swarve and if you're into a strong coffee try this puppy out. I'm plumping for a 4/10, it's too much for me. I would describe it as Pungent which is not a word I wish to associate with my coffee's. Should your neighbour keep borrowing your coffee i'd switch to the Waitrose brand cause it looks like your being cool when secretly your poisoning them instead. I'm no way giving up on Waitrose though they have provided 2 rather different coffees and did you read the way these ones gain it's flavour? "The beans are seasoned and aged in the humid monsoon air before being left to dry in the warm winds" Awesome.

Submitted by james on 13/3/12.
Sorry I disagree with the judge. I buy the beans and really enjoy this one. 9/10. Full of flavour. Off to try Marks and Spencers next.

Submitted by lord of meyrick (not verified) on 17/6/12.
Love this coffee, but seems to have disappeared of the shelves.

Submitted by fiona (not verified) on 17/9/12.
What are these guys on - this coffee is my favourite - i think the former adverse comments must come from nescafe drinkers what do they know about coffee ? Waitrose please put it back on your shelves ....

Submitted by Philip Taylor (not verified) on 2/10/12.
Absolutely staggered at your reviewer's negative assessment; unlike almost all other strength-5 coffees, Monsooned Malabar lacks any trace of acidity and produces the most marvellous deep rounded coffee I have ever tasted (and that include real Jamaican Blue Mountain, when real Blue Mountain could still be reliably sourced). Mr (or Ms) Reviewer : please, bin your pre-ground junk, buy yourself some of Waitrose Monsooned Malabar AA beans, grind them not too finely and make yourself a cup using a one-use paper cone in a ceramic filter. Serve with Jersey cream, Manbre coffee sugar, and tell me if it isn't the best cup of coffee you have ever drunk. Scores 9/10 only because the "use by" date is unreliable at best, and vastly over-stated at worst".

Submitted by rouge on 10/9/13.
First of all, my thanks to judge-nooge, sysop, for fixing my registration, as he knew that I was going to add to the posts disagreeing with his disappointed assessment in the lead post. I’ve been trying to drink nice coffee since 1971, when I got a job in an office just round the corner from a small retail roaster (rotating roaster drum in the window, only one roast, only one blend take it or leave it). This soon closed down and ever since I’ve been jumping from blend to blend, trying to find something to suit. I’ve finally managed to settle down with this product. The first thing you notice is the “mouth feel”, that hard-to-describe tactile sensation that seems to present to the palette a soft enveloping and very slightly unctuous feeling. It slips down a treat, as they say. The next, of course, is the flavour. This is strong and distinctive; I've seen it described as “musty” or “spicy” but to me there seems to be a slight hint of truffle, but otherwise all coffee. Lastly, no bitterness: plenty of strength, plenty of flavour but no kick on the tongue. Because of a temporary (I hope) shortage last week I was forced to try out a packet of java (strength four) from the same shop but with this one the “strength” came from the bite, with a very thin texture and no flavour. I'm a poor pensioner now and I can't afford to waste stuff, but the rest of that packet went in the bin. Ultimately, of course, you’re going to have to make up your own mind and I can't really say I'm sorry If you don't like it: supplies are occasionally scarce and if it gets too popular it’ll be harder still to get my hands on the stuff!

Submitted by judge-nooge on 10/9/13.
We're gonna have to re-visit this one. Waitrose - send us your last consignment toute suite!

Submitted by adrianmusson on 2/11/14.
After reading the judge reviews followed by the comments I had to give this a try. First impressions were not good. Having just come back from Italy where I tried many different varieties of coffee I was shocked at how bad this tasted. I have tried it espresso, latte and americano with and without sugar. Didn't like any of them. I accept that some of you have enjoyed this coffee but find myself unable to determine why.

Submitted by cressetmama on 8/2/16.
It's become the standard supermarket ground coffee chez cresset, replacing the Percol Americano we used to like.