TL;DR
The Kitchn’s reviewer sampled and scored 10 whole-bean medium-roast coffees, naming Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast the top pick. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second; the results reflect one reviewer’s tasting, not a broad consumer or laboratory test.
The Kitchn has named Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast its top pick after a reviewer sampled and scored 10 brands of medium-roast beans, citing the coffee’s citrus, spice and dark-chocolate flavors. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend was the runner-up, while the ranking reflects one reviewer’s tasting rather than a larger consumer survey.
The reviewer said Bulletproof stood out for its floral and fruity aroma, zesty citrus taste and warm-spice notes, followed by a bitter dark-chocolate finish. It scored one and a half points higher than the other coffees, according to the report. The blend is made with 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 and balanced, with aromas of strawberries, tart cherries and hazelnuts and a toasty flavor. The report listed it at $8.99 for 14 ounces at Trader Joe’s when the article was published, and said it was available whole-bean or pre-ground and certified organic and fair trade.
The report also gave honorable mentions to Stumptown Holler Mountain, described as having caramel, stewed-berry and lemon notes, and La Colombe Nizza, whose reported flavors included brownies, honey and green apple. The source excerpt does not include the full ranking or tasting details for all 10 coffees.
What the Top Picks Offer
The test gives shoppers a side-by-side editorial comparison of familiar medium-roast options, with flavor descriptions that may help narrow a crowded market. Its top two picks also span different price points: the report described Trader Joe’s as a budget option, while the tested coffees overall ranged from $8 to $22, with most around $15 at the time.
The results are useful as a buying guide, but they are not proof that one coffee will taste best to everyone. Coffee preference depends on brewing method, freshness and individual taste. The reviewer’s own ranking should be read as a single-person assessment, not an independently replicated quality rating.
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How the Coffee Test Was Run
The Kitchn reviewer said they were a coffee drinker and barista who evaluated medium-roast coffees from 10 brands. The selection focused on whole beans, with brands chosen based on availability, popularity and price. The coffees were sampled randomly in one afternoon, and the reviewer recorded notes and ranked them before tallying scores.
Scores considered texture, appearance, smell, willingness to buy and taste. The report says the reviewer took only a few sips of each coffee. It frames medium roast as a middle ground between the brighter flavors associated with light roasts and the richer, more chocolaty notes often associated with dark roasts.
“It was the clear favorite — by far.”
— The Kitchn reviewer
Arabica coffee beans Rainforest Alliance certified
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Limits of the Taste-Test Results
The article describes a single reviewer’s tasting; it does not report a blind panel, consumer survey or laboratory testing. The available source material also does not provide the full scores, the complete list of 10 brands, or detailed results for every coffee. It is unclear whether the coffees were brewed using identical equipment and recipes, and the report does not establish how freshness or roast dates may have affected the tasting.
Prices were stated as accurate at the time of publication, so current prices and availability may differ. Readers’ flavor preferences and brewing setups may also produce different results.
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What Shoppers Can Check
The report does not announce a follow-up test or further review date. Shoppers interested in the picks can check the brands’ current listings and local retailers for availability, price and roast-date information. Comparing whole-bean and pre-ground formats, then brewing coffees with the same method at home, may help readers judge which flavor profile suits them.
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Key Questions
Which coffee won The Kitchn’s medium-roast taste test?
Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast ranked first among the 10 coffees sampled by the reviewer.
What was the runner-up?
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second. The report described it as balanced, with fruity aromas and a toasty flavor.
How were the coffees evaluated?
The reviewer sampled coffees from 10 brands and considered texture, appearance, aroma, willingness to buy and taste. The tasting took place in one afternoon, according to the report.
Was the test a blind or consumer-panel tasting?
The source does not say that it was a blind test or a consumer panel. It describes the observations and ranking of one reviewer.
How much did the coffees cost?
The tested coffees ranged from $8 to $22 at the time of tasting, with most around $15. The report listed Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend at $8.99 for 14 ounces when published; prices may have changed.
Source: rss
