SOLAR SIP - Whole Beans

Another Update: Excellent coffee. Smooth taste. Low acid (in terms of burning my stomach) but with a fresh/bright taste (so it’s not flat tasting). Update: Seller contacted me with clarification about the acid content and an offer to make things right. I’m updating my review because of the good customer service. Previous: False and misleading statements! Coffee is not as described online. This is described as “100% Arabica” but the package says it is “Arabica & Robusta Blend”. Online it says “Low Acid Coffee”. The package says both low acid coffee and “Bright Acidity”. I didn’t want any sort of acidity and I did want 100% Arabica. Amazon requires this to be returned 20 mile round trip from me. I’m not doing that so I’m just stuck with this. Beware. Worst possible value and your stomach isn’t likely to enjoy “bright acidity” if you wanted “Low Acid”.

Has caffeine kick but very little coffee flavor to my taste. Fine for someone not looking for taste. I tried putting more grinds, my head is spinning still not much taste.

I really like the taste.

It is strong and tatsy. I need to add less amount as it is stringer than my previously coffee

A low to mild taste of coffee or favor on this roast, won’t get this again …

I really enjoyed this coffee. I ground this up to use in my espresso maker and the resulting espresso was smooth, creamy and delicious. The aroma and taste were slightly nutty with a small hint of dark fruit and chocolate. The low acidity nature of the beans means that I can enjoy it without having my stomach go crazy first thing in the morning. I also tried this as cold brew and the flavor had an opportunity to shine a little better. The caffeine content seemed to be on par with what I usually drink and did not over energize me or leave me ffling sluggish, so about perfect for me. For the price, $11.19 for 12 oz, delivered if you have Prime, is a good deal.

I was a little worried that this coffee was a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. Most premium coffees are 100% Arabica. Vietnam grows both, but it is a leading producer of Robusta beans, which can be grown at a lower altitude. Robusta beans tend to have a stronger flavor and more caffeine. Robusta tends to be used more for instant coffee and some lower priced brands. On the other hand, there is a great French-influenced coffee culture in Vietnam—I once even brought coffee beans back home from a trip there. I needn’t have worried. The listing mentioned that this coffee is a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans in unstated proportions, though the package itself doesn’t say anything about what kind of beans it contains. Once I brewed it (on a recently cleaned drip coffee maker), the resulting coffee is smooth and mild tasting. If anything, it’s blander than I’m used to. There is a very faint sourness. It seems to have plenty of caffeine. It’s not an exact match for my preferences for coffee, but it’s totally fine and suitable for our daily morning coffee. The box also contained a smaller sampler package of a different coffee, “Active Blend.” I haven’t tried it yet.

I generally prefer light to medium roast coffees due to the fruity flavors they tend to retain. This one while a little past the medium roast stage has a mild nutty flavor with a hint of chocolate. It seems to have low acidity but after recently chewing on a Szechuan Peppercorn, my tongue has been in a constant state of tingle, so hard for me to tell the level of acidity in anything. The beans are on the small side and a bit weighty, so if you typically weight your dose before brewing, you may need to add a gram or three to your measure. If you’re a scooper, you may be fine with your normal measure. To me, the flavor is not bold enough to be considered “Premium” so I don’t think I will be buying any more of this brand. However, if you like mild flavored coffee with nutty, chocolate notes, this may be your jam.