Yahoo News Are ground coffee bags an ingenious invention? 6 of the best, tried and tasted
In a move that may divide and confound tea and coffee drinkers, Taylors of Harrogate has launched a £2 million television advertising campaign for a product which it touts as a “genius invention”: ground coffee, served in a tea bag-like pouch for convenience (with none of the equipment faff or mess often associated with the freshly ground stuff).
Simply place a bag in your vessel of choice, pour over hot water, allow to brew and sip.
Later this year, Nescafé Azera is set to follow Taylors’ lead with its own smoky Espresso Roast and fruity Americano blend bags in the UK, with an £8 million marketing push.
So – are coffee bags an abomination (in terms of taste, as well as the excess packaging), or are they better than you might think? Certainly, “not enough people know they exist,” says Kelly Wright, the senior brand manager for Taylors. So in this week’s taste test, we compared a selection of the best available…
Percol Fairtrade Smooth Colombian coffee bags
£3.50 for 80g (10 bags), Waitrose
These eco-friendly sachets are home compostable. The coffee itself is subtly nutty with a hint of lemon; after brewing for four minutes it tasted bright, and not too bitter. A gentle way to greet the morning.
8/10
Cru Kafe Organic Long Black coffee bags
A convenience brew for the eco-conscious: these bags are Soil Association Organic-certified, with no pesticides or solvents used. Nutmeg and raisin notes are welcome. Remarkably like a proper cup of filter coffee.
10/10
Costa Coffee Mocha Italia signature blend coffee bags
£2.70 for 80g (10 bags), Ocado
The distinctive caramel flavour is instantly recognisable as a Costa brew. A slow roasted blend of arabica and robusta beans, we found it a little harsh and overwhelming on the palate.
6/10
Taylors of Harrogate Rich Italian coffee bags
£2.85 for 75g (10 bags), Waitrose
Wrapped in foil, although certified carbon neutral, this blend of African and Latin American ground beans is a little too strong; bitter dark-chocolate flavours dominate over the almond notes.
7/10
Real Coffee Bag Home Blend
£3.99 for 135g (15 bags), realcoffee bagco.com
The only coffee bags ever to have been awarded a prestigious Great Taste award, this is a medium-roast brew well suited to afternoon sipping: a touch of cocoa is balanced with sweet red fruitiness.
9/10
Lyons No.3 Coffee Bags
£2.60 for 125g (18 bags), Sainsbury’s
Lyons donates to Project Waterfall to provide safe water for coffee-growing communities with every box purchased. Its medium-strength coffee has a nondescript flavour, but tastes better than instant powders and granules.
7/10
