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The Kitchn’s reviewer tasted and ranked medium-roast coffees from 10 brands, naming Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast the top pick. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend placed second, while Stumptown Holler Mountain and La Colombe Nizza received honorable mentions.
The Kitchn named Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast its top choice after a reviewer brewed and tasted medium-roast beans from 10 brands. Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend came in second, in a product review that offers shoppers a shortlist rather than a controlled or independently replicated assessment of coffee quality.
The reviewer said Bulletproof stood out for a floral and fruity aroma, followed by citrus and warm-spice flavors and a bitter dark-chocolate finish. It received the highest score of the coffees tested, finishing 1.5 points ahead of the others, according to the review. The blend is described as 100% Arabica, sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms in Central and South America.
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend was the runner-up. The reviewer described it as smooth and balanced, with aromas of strawberries, tart cherries and hazelnuts and a toasty, chocolate-like taste. The review lists it at $8.99 for 14 ounces at Trader Joe’s at the time of publication and says it is sold whole-bean and pre-ground. It is also described as certified organic and fair trade.
The review gave honorable mentions to Stumptown Holler Mountain, praised for caramel, stewed berry and lemon notes and its use in espresso or iced coffee, and La Colombe Nizza, characterized as a smoother, toastier option suited to drip coffee and espresso. The supplied article text cuts off before providing the complete Nizza assessment, so further detail about its ranking is not available here.
A Shortlist for Home Coffee Buyers
For shoppers facing a crowded coffee aisle, the tasting provides a comparative set of four named options across different price points and flavor descriptions. Its top two picks also offer distinct buying considerations: Bulletproof is the reviewer’s flavor favorite, while Trader Joe’s is presented as a lower-priced alternative with both whole-bean and pre-ground formats.
The results are best read as one reviewer’s preferences, not a universal ranking. Coffee flavor depends on factors including origin and processing, and individual tastes differ. The review may help readers identify beans to try, but it does not establish that the winner will suit every palate or brewing setup.
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How the Coffee Tasting Worked
The reviewer said the coffees were selected based on availability, popularity and price, with the group ranging from $8 to $22 and most costing about $15 at the time of tasting. The test focused on whole-bean coffee, rather than pre-ground products, and took place in one afternoon. The reviewer said only a few sips of each coffee were taken.
Each coffee was sampled in a random order and scored for texture, appearance, smell, willingness to buy and taste. The reviewer said scores were tallied after all evaluations were complete. The article explains that medium roasts are intended to balance brighter notes often associated with lighter roasts and deeper, chocolate-like flavors associated with darker roasts; that description is general guidance, not a finding unique to this test.
“It was the clear favorite — by far.”
— The Kitchn reviewer
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Limits of a Single Afternoon Tasting
The review does not provide enough information in the supplied text to determine the brewing recipe, water conditions, grinder settings or detailed scoring scale. Those factors can affect the taste of brewed coffee, and the results reflect one reviewer’s palate. The article also does not report a panel of tasters or repeated tests across different days.
Prices and availability may have changed since publication; the review itself says prices were accurate at the time it was published. The source text ends partway through the La Colombe Nizza section, leaving its full assessment and any additional brands or test findings beyond the named results unclear.
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Check Current Prices and Availability
The review does not announce a follow-up test or a future tasting date. Readers considering any of the coffees should check current prices and stock with the retailer, since the listed prices were tied to publication. They can use the flavor notes as a starting point, then choose based on brewing method and personal preference.
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Key Questions
Which medium-roast coffee ranked first?
Bulletproof Coffee Original Medium Roast ranked first in the Kitchn reviewer’s tasting of 10 brands.
What came in second?
Trader Joe’s Wake-Up Blend was the runner-up. The review described it as balanced, toasty and chocolate-like, with fruity and nutty aromas.
How were the coffees judged?
The reviewer said each coffee was sampled in random order and assessed for texture, appearance, aroma, willingness to buy and taste. The test took place in one afternoon.
Is Bulletproof the best coffee for everyone?
The review reports one reviewer’s preference, not a universal result. Taste, brewing method and preparation can affect which coffee a person prefers.
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