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The Kitchn’s reviewer named Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast the top pick after tasting and scoring 10 medium-roast coffees. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second, while Stumptown Holler Mountain and La Colombe Nizza also earned honorable mentions.
The Kitchn named Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast its top choice after a reviewer tasted and scored 10 medium-roast coffees, describing the winning cup as balanced and layered with citrus, warm spices and dark chocolate. The result is a product recommendation based on one reviewer’s tasting, not a controlled assessment of how all coffee drinkers will rank the beans.
The reviewer said Bulletproof’s coffee stood out for a floral, fruity aroma, a citrus-forward sip and a dark-chocolate finish. It scored 1.5 points higher than the other coffees in the review’s scoring system. The article identifies the blend as 100% Arabica beans sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms in Central and South America.
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend took second place. The reviewer described it as smooth, with bright fruit notes and a toasty, chocolate-like finish, and noted that it is sold whole-bean or pre-ground. The review listed its price as $8.99 for 14 ounces at Trader Joe’s at the time of publication, and said it was certified organic and fair trade.
The article also gave honorable mentions to Stumptown Holler Mountain and La Colombe Nizza. Holler Mountain was praised for caramel, stewed berry and lemon notes and its suitability for espresso and iced coffee. Nizza was described as rich and smooth, with brownie, honey and green-apple notes, and as suitable for drip brewing or espresso.
How the Picks Differ
The ranking gives shoppers a shortlist across different price points and brewing uses. Bulletproof was the reviewer’s clear favorite for a layered cup, while the listed price and availability of Trader Joe’s blend may make that runner-up attractive to shoppers looking for a less expensive option. The other recommendations offer alternatives for espresso, iced drinks or a toastier, less fruit-forward profile.
The findings are most useful as a guide to the reviewer’s preferences. Coffee taste varies with brewing method, water, grind size and individual palate, so the ranking does not establish that one bag will be best for every household. The test does, however, show how the reviewer compared multiple brands using the same stated criteria.
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How the Tasting Was Run
The reviewer said the coffees were selected based on availability, popularity and price, with whole-bean varieties prioritized over pre-ground coffee. The 10 products ranged from $8 to $22, and most cost about $15 at the time of tasting. Each coffee was sampled in a single afternoon; the reviewer said they took only a few sips of each.
Scores were based on texture, appearance, aroma, willingness to buy again and taste. The reviewer sampled the brands in random order, recorded notes and ranked each one before totaling the scores. The article frames medium roast as a middle ground between the brighter profile commonly associated with light roasts and the deeper flavors of dark roasts, while noting that origin and processing also affect flavor.
““It scored the highest out of all the other coffees by a point-and-a-half.””
— The Kitchn reviewer, on the score difference
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Limits of the Coffee Ranking
The article does not provide the individual scores, full scoring rubric or detailed brewing specifications for all 10 coffees. It also does not say whether the tasting was blind, identify the roast or package dates for each bag, or report how many people took part beyond the reviewer. The source’s opening material names the winning coffee, runner-up and two honorable mentions, but does not provide enough information here to reconstruct the complete ranking.
Prices and product availability can change. The review says prices were accurate when published, but its supplied material does not give a publication date, so readers should check current listings. The taste descriptions are the reviewer’s assessments, not claims that every drinker will detect the same notes.
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Check Current Prices and Formats
The Kitchn’s article does not announce a follow-up test or a future update date. Readers considering one of the recommended coffees can check current prices, bean formats and sourcing information with the retailer or coffee maker, since the listed details reflect the review’s publication period. Those comparing the picks at home can use the article’s stated criteria—aroma, texture, flavor and willingness to buy again—while keeping brewing method consistent.
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Key Questions
Which medium-roast coffee did The Kitchn rank first?
Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast ranked first in the review. The reviewer praised its citrus, warm-spice and dark-chocolate notes and said it scored 1.5 points ahead of the other coffees.
What coffee came in second?
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend was the runner-up. The review described it as smooth and balanced, with fruity aromas and a toasty finish.
How many coffees were tasted, and how were they judged?
The reviewer sampled 10 brands in one afternoon and assessed texture, appearance, aroma, willingness to buy again and taste. The article says the coffees were sampled randomly and scored before the final ranking was calculated.
Is Bulletproof’s coffee guaranteed to taste best to everyone?
No. The result reflects one reviewer’s tasting and scoring. Coffee preferences and brewed flavor can vary with a person’s palate, grind, water and brewing method.
Source: rss
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