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Tchibo Mellow Roast
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Ah Christmas, a fabulous time of year for free loot. The problem being, that this little boy doesn't usually
get very much. This year though, Santa was kind enough to drop some free coffee in my lap. As gifts go, coffee
is practical, economical and bound to please at least the palette.
The object of our review is Tchibo Mellow Roast. It came in a box along with its stronger
brother, Tchibo Exclusive and a decorative tin in which to store your coffee. We'd recommend skipping
the tin as storage and just displaying it proudly.
The Bitter Bean can tell you all about Tchibo Exclusive in his very own exclusive review found in
our August 18, 2000 issue. I've tried it and have to agree with The Bean, that
Exclusive is pretty darn good for
a pre-ground coffee. It's a straight forward flavour that can not be mistaken for anything but coffee.
With their Mellow Blend, Tchibo try's to broaden its appeal by giving the coffee a milder taste.
First off, the smell is devine. I could not take my nose out of the bag when I first opened it, mostly becuase I had just
run out of coffee and had a real jones-on for a cup. It's ground really fine which could cause flavour problems, cause
with a fine
grind, you get more flavour, but its harder to gage the intensity. A little to much grind and its way to full tasting, leaning
towards muddy.
That said, if'n you measure it right, Tchibo Mellow Roast is a great drinking coffee. It's sweet, but
has plenty of body. There is not a sharp edge to be found, but it's far from dull. It dances on the tongue just like a
good coffee should. It has a round feeling as it spreads on your tongue, and I've learned that to be the sign of a well
balanced coffee with proper coffee characteristic.
I'm not so sure I'd be buying Tchibo as my coffee staple. My preferences still lie with unground
coffee beans. Even cheap beans can rivel the flavour of pre-ground, but then again, some beans are cheap for
a reason and no cost savings can make then drinkable. What Tchibo does is make inoffensive coffees that do not make you want
to retch and its price is on par with the Maxwell House's and Nabob's.
Do yourself a favour. The next time your at your market and are grabbing for that name
brand pre-ground, make a detour
and give Tchibo a try. It may not be the best coffee around, but it's a real alternative to the super market coffee
glut.
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