Having never been too much of coffee drinker before I discovered the joys of Keurig coffee makers, I was largely of the opinion that decaf coffee was pretty much pointless.  I mean, if it’s not going to wake you up in the morning, why bother?  Over the last few months, however, I’ve found myself craving coffee later and later into the day.  If I’m going to drink coffee at 9 PM, I’m left with 2 options; stay up half the night, or drink decaf.  With an alarm that goes off before 6AM, the latter seems like the way to go.

My sample of Caribou Decaf was provided by K-Cup Challenge sponsor, Shoffee.com.  For the most part, I’ve been very happy with varieties of tried from Shoffee, and as I guy solidly on board with the Caribou Blend (caffeinated), I would be plenty happy if the decaf variety amounted to more of the same.

The Description

Achieving balance in life is a challenge. Caribou Coffees signature blend meets that challenge, balancing a big-bodied, syrupy taste with a clean, snappy finish. The secret of this blends relaxed complexity is a rich hearty Indonesian bean, perfectly proportioned with Central American and South American varieties for lively fruit tones.

The Aroma

The aroma of Caribou Blend Decaf should be instantly recognizable for those who have already tried the regular variety. Most prevalent in the aroma are the velvety fruit notes.

Drinking it Black

Caribou Blend Decaf is smokey, and fairly acidic; although I didn’t notice until way after the finish. There is a slight bitterness that lingers a bit, but it’s not a deal-breaker or anything. As far as the flavor itself is concerned…it starts a bit nutty and finishes with the same touch of fruit that is present in the aroma.

While it’s certainly more than palatable black, I definitely prefer this blend with cream and sugar.

With Cream and Sugar

Just as with the caribou blend, the decaf plays very nicely with cream and sugar and makes for a very pleasant cup of coffee. It’s definitely a step above what you’ll find at your local big box coffee factory.

Final Thoughts

Fans of Caribou coffee, and more specifically the “Caribou Blend” will feel right at home with this decaf offering. I’m hard pressed to tell the difference between the two, which means there’s no need to trade a good cup of coffee for a good night’s sleep. Admittedly, this is the first decaf I’ve written a review for, but it’s among my favorites of the k-cup decaf varieties that have found their way into my B70.

Shameless Plug

I’ve running out ways to say this (which could be a problem because I’ve still got about 150 K-Cup varieties to try), but I’d really appreciate it if you’d support merchants like Shoffee.com who, through their generosity in providing samples, make the K-Cup Challenge possible.

Joe and the team at Shoffee have everything to meet your K-Cup needs, including Caribou Blend Decaf, and a complete selection of Keurig Brewers.  While browsing Shoffee.com make sure you check out their cupoftheweek blog for weekly deals on Keurig K-Cups.

While you here, check out the growing list of reviews in my K-Cup Challenge.

I found a surprise on my porch the other day from my friends at Shoffee.com.  I was expecting a few more boxes of K-Cups as part of Shoffee’s continuing support of the K-Cup Challenge.  What I wasn’t expected was a box of Caribou’s new Mahogany blend.

Overall I’ve been very satisfied with the Caribou Blend and Caribou Sumatra that I’ve reviewed so far.  I count both among a select few that both my wife and I can agree on (she prefers easy drinking light coffees, while I prefer the richer flavors most commonly found in darker roasts).  Thus far Caribou has proven to be excellent middle ground.

I’ll admit that I had taken notice of the Mahogany Blend at Shoffee.com, but with Caribou Decaf already on my list, I was afraid that I might get a little Caribou heavy.  All that said, I’m not one to look a gift horse (or gift Caribou) in the mouth, so the unexpected arrival of Caribou Mahogany leads to an unplanned review of Caribou Mahogany.

What it says on the box

Bold molasses, spice and semi-sweet chocolate flavors combine with notes of aromatic woods and leather to create a comfortably rugged and robust dark roast blend.

What I really got a kick out of is my wife, who after reading the description, blurted out “why would anyone want to drink coffee that tastes like leather and wood”?  Let’s find out, shall we?

Additional Description

Caribou Coffee Mahogany Keurig K-Cups produce a dark brew that is rugged by nature and roasted to perfection. Coffees from Sumatra, Guatemala, and El Salvador are combined to achieve a perfectly balanced blend.

The Aroma

In this reviewers opinion, Caribou Mahogany smells a bit like a catcher’s mitt.  As difficult as it may be to believe, I actually mean that in a good way.  Anyone who has ever played ball most likely has an affinity for the smell of an aged, but well conditioned glove.  It’s the smell of rugged class, and Caribou Mahogany has it.

Drinking it black

This is the part where I really try and compare the flavor sensations I’m feeling, to what the box says I can expect.  Drinking Caribou Mahogany black I’m getting leathery, with a hint of spice.  I actually thought the finish was spicy, that is until about 15 seconds after my latest sip I started tasting a bit of molasses – just like it says on the box.  It’s strange…there is a delay before this otherwise very deep and dark blend finishes sweetly.

Mahogany is the by far the darkest of the Caribou blends I’ve sampled so far.  It’s somewhat reminiscent of a French Roast, although there’s more character here.  It’s about as subtle as a board to the head, and although not bitter, it may be more than those who prefer their coffee light and sweet will want to handle black.

With Cream and Sugar

Caribou’s Mahogany blend does not want cream and sugar, and fights it off admirably.  It’s does smooth it out a bit, but does little, actually nothing as far as I’m concerned to improve the flavor – nor does it need to.  The leather tones remain intact which is good, and perhaps the sweetening will bring it to a more comfortable place for your average coffee drinker, but…

Caribou Mahogany is a cup of morning anger, and my feeling is it’s best when consumed black.

Final Thoughts

Despite its bite, and unwillingness to play nice with cream and sugar, there is something I really like about this blend that I just can’t put my finger (or tongue) on.  Maybe I just like saying cari-boo.  Whatever it is, I keep going back for cup after cup of this unusual, and borderline spectacular blend.

I’ll concede that this coffee isn’t for everyone, and for most there are probably more appealing dark roast alternatives, but all the same, I’m drawn to it and look forward to my next cup.

We’re definitely bucking the Caribou trend, however, as there is absolutely no way my wife will ever finish a cup of this stuff.  There is no middle ground on this one, which is fine.  That leaves more Caribou Mahogany for me.

Shameless Plug

You want Caribou Mahogany, but you don’t have Caribou Mahogany.  This really isn’t a problem because my friend Joe at Shoffee.com does.  Joe can hook out up with Caribou Mahogany or any of the other Caribou Blends I’ve reviewed so far.

Coincidentally, Shoffee also happens to have one of the best selections of K-Cups anywhere on the net, so even if Caribou isn’t for you, with all of the Coffee and Tea for Keurig Brewers, I guarantee you’ll find something you like.

I would also encourage you to check out the Shoffee blog at CupofTheWeek.com.  Each week you’ll find a new box of K-Cups for only $8.99.

While by now it should probably go without saying; while you’re here, check out the growing list of reviews in the K-Cup Challenge.

I’m not sure if it’s the earth-toned boxes, or just the word “Caribou” (it’s fun to say…Cari-booooo), I’m drawn to the brand.  So yeah, I guess they did their market research, because I found myself wanting to sample all Caribou Coffee I can without regard to what it might actually taste like.

What it says on the Box

“The aroma of fresh autumn leaves and fragrant cedarwood laced with clean butterscotch sweetness and bittersweet chocolate.”

I find myself wondering if I’m about to drink a cup of coffee or down a mulch sundae.  Do I need a spoon?  Whatever, I’m game.

Additional Description (lifted from the Caribou Coffee Website)

Grown in northern Sumatra, this special coffee is alive with intense flavors. The creamy body of the coffee is infused with a sweet herbal note and delicious aromatic woodsy tones – Sumatra Samosir Batak finishes with a rich butterscotch creaminess.

The Aroma

I can’t say with any degree of confidence that Caribou Sumatra actually smells like autumn leaves (and I’ve raked a few in my day), but it’s a pleasant enough aroma, that’s almost velvety on the senses.  And yes, I suppose there’s a hit of something herbal in the air.

Drinking it black

Spare me a moment for a rant.  Maybe I’m just not palate isn’t sophisticated enough to taste some of the flavors some manufactures tell me I should be experiencing in their coffees.  In the descriptions they’ll put things like “the sweetness of boysenberry with the earthy flavor of pine nuts, and a citrus finish”.  Granted, I just made that one up, but you get the point.  People…it’s a bean, it grows in dirt.  How come I never see “bitter with the taste of dirty bean with an earthwormy finish”?  Sometimes, after all, that’s the truth of it.

All that said, however; there are occasions where the descriptions can act as a legitimate guide when you find yourself playing “name that flavor” with a cup of coffee.  Such is the case with Caribou’s Sumatra.  Now once again, I’m not buying into the autumn leave aroma thing, but it is indeed a creamy cup of medium-roast coffee.

The flavor is indeed earthy, with just a hint of cocoa.  It finishes with just a bit of spice.  Caribou Sumatra is a good, although not spectacular cup of black coffee.

With Cream and Sugar

As is my way, I tried a few cups with cream and Splenda, and well, it was ok.  Truthfully, I could take it or leave it, and well, I figured I’d spent enough time with it.  It was time to write the review and move on.

As I sat down this morning, however; I figured I’d try one more cup of the Sumatra.  This time I passed on the Splenda in favor of actual sugar.  Now I’ve said it before; in most cases Splenda will work just fine, but there are some blends that really need the real stuff.  Caribou Sumatra is most certainly one of those blends.

Granted, I used more than sugar than I normally would (Sumatra wants to be sweet, I think), but the result really improved my perception of the coffee.  For me, things like caramel, and indeed, butterscotch are difficult to taste in black coffee.  With a bit of sugar, however, things can change.  Make no mistake, my Caribou Sumatra didn’t miraculously transform itself in to a butterscotch candy, but I did discover the slightest hint of what I’ll call “butterscotch commonality” – and well, I enjoyed it.

Final Thoughts

In this coffee drinker’s opinion, Caribou Sumatra is a bit of enigma; a near-dark roast coffee that desperately wants to be light and sweet.  As a black, it’s just ok, but when it’s light and sweet, it’s very good.

I cannot in good conscience recommend Caribou Sumatra to you folks out there who like a hearty cup of black joe.  There are, after all, better choices among the deep and darks.  For light coffee drinkers looking for perhaps a bit more body than what they’re getting now, I’d say give the Caribou Sumatra a try.  It’s extremely well suited to generous helpings of cream and sugar.

Shameless Plug

We’re very grateful to have great sponsors like Joe and the rest of the team at Shoffee.com helping us out with the K-Cup Challenge.  And while I can only say “thanks, Joe” so many times, you can certainly help me out by thinking of Shoffee.com for your K-Cup needs.

Shoffee has one of the best selections of K-Cups anywhere on the web, and great prices.  So why spend your money at one of those huge online warehouses when you can buy your Caribou Sumatra (and any other variety you might like) from the relative little guy who’ll give your order the personal attention it deserves?  Besides, do the big guys have anything like CupofTheWeek.net where you can get great deals on a different box of K-Cups each and every week?  No they don’t, and you know why?  It’s because the big guys (like Amazon for example), suck… at least for coffee.  You are, after all, buying a staple of your morning routine, not a freakin TV.

While you’re here, checking out the growing list of reviews in the K-Cup Challenge.

Qwowi’s review of Caribou Coffee’s Caribou blend is sponsored by Shoffee.com.

Although I had never tried Caribou Coffee before, it was highly recommended to me by Qwowi’s own Sara Sullivan and generally I trust her opinion on such things.  So when Joe at Shoffee asked me what I’d like him to send for review, Caribou Coffee was an easy choice, and what better way to start than with their signature blend.

What it Says on the Box

Our signature blend begins with a delighful heaviness on your palate and finishes with a relaxing balance of savory bittersweet chocolate, earthy and fruity flavors.

Additional Info (from the Caribou Web Site)

Achieving balance in life is a challenge. Caribou Coffee’s signature blend meets that challenge, balancing a big-bodied, syrupy taste with a clean, snappy finish. The secret of this blend’s relaxed complexity is a rich hearty Indonesian bean, perfectly proportioned with Central American and South American varieties for lively fruit tones.

Aroma

I wish I could tell you about the complexity, rich fruit scents, and all that stuff that I’m maybe supposed to be smelling.  I whiffed every which way I could, and quite frankly, all I smelled was coffee.  That’s definitely not a bad thing.  I really like the smell of coffee, so I’m comfortable with that.

Drinking It Black

In contrast to the Green Mountain Kenyan AA I reviewed last time around, the flavor of Caribou Blend, when sampled black, is farily disinteresting, or non-descript.  Admittedly, it’s a bit of an apples to oranges comparison, so we’ll reserve full judgement on such things until after we’ve sampled Caribou’s foray into Kenyan AA. 

Like the aroma, the lack of complex, or distinc flavors isn’t a bad thing, it just doesn’t leave me with much to talk about.  I will attest, however; that as described, Caribou Blend does finish with a hint of chocolate.

With Cream and Sugar

While I’m not nearly the light and sweet guy (not to suggest I’m heavy and bitter) I once was, I still prefer my coffee with cream and sugar.  Caribou Blend begs for cream and sugar.  Hell, it practically demands it.  In my opinion there should actually be a disclaimer on the box “for best results add cream and sugar”. 

Adding the two staples of coffee drinkery (yes, I’m making up words again), transforms a smooth, yet forgetable cup of coffee, into something that most commuters would love to have in their cups for the morning drive.  My drive is long enough where drinking coffee on the way in is a bit like gambling; but I digress.  My point is that Caribou Blend tastes really good with cream and sugar.  Is that simple enough?

Final Thoughts

Caribou’s Caribou Blend definitely trends to the mild side, but that doesn’t mean it lacks flavor.  For black coffee drinkers, I don’t think it’s the best option out there, but for the majority of coffee afficianandos I’d definitley encourage you to at least pick up some Caribou Blend in a sampler, if not a whole box (seem below for where you can get one). 

For those of you keeping score at home, we’re 3 for 3 with House Blends for Keurig Brewers (Green Mountain, Diedrich, and now Caribou).  We’ve got plenty more brands to try, but it’s already clear to me that down the road we’re going to need to have a “House Blend Showdown”. 

As I’ve said with each of the other House Blends; it’s a better cup of coffee than you’ll get from that big honkin’ chain store.  Even better, if you make your Caribou Blend at home or in the office, you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the drive through behind the guy that just ordered 12 breakfast sandwiches and a box o’ joe.  What the hell is it with that guy anway?

Shameless Plug

Please visit the sponsor of this review, Shoffee.com.  They carry a huge selection of K-Cups as well as the full line of Keurig Brewers and Accessoreis.  While you’re there, pick up a box of  Caribou Blend.  You should also check out Shoffee’s Cup of the Week site for weekly K-Cup deals and giveaways.

Without sponsors like Joe at Shoffee the K-Cup Challenge wouldn’t be possible, so please supprt me by supporing them.  And speaking of the K-Cup Challenge…  While you’re here at Qwowi, check out all of the reviews from our K-Cup Challenge.