Coffee Bean Direct Mocha Java Style, Whole Bean Coffee, 5-Pound Bag

This is the second bag of coffee I have purchased from Coffee Bean Direct and they get a 100% approval rating from me! The prices really are great, and with the Amazon Prime shipping- the overall price truly can't be beaten. I love french roasted coffee- and this does not disappoint. If you do not like the smokey taste, then simply, do not buy any coffee that has the term "french roast" on the package!I didn't know what to expect from a Papua New Guinean coffee, and I was pleasantly surprised. It has a smokey, chocolate-cream taste. If it were a wine, it would be a Pinotage!Coffee Bean Direct roasts their beans fresh to order. When I purchased the first 5-pounder in February ('11) of the Brazilian French Roast, it had a roasting date of a few weeks earlier in January. On this package that I ordered in June, it also had the roasting date of January. So, it appears that Amazon is selling a large shipment they acquired from them months ago- be informed of that possibility.I have seen many people concerned about the five pounds not staying fresh once opened. Whatever you do- DO NOT REFRIGERATE OR FREEZE- that is some sort of urban legend/myth (lol) and actually speeds up the stale taste! This is an easy fix!- Do what all coffee distributors do: store in a vacuum-sealed foil package. How? For the five pound bag, you will need about 10 gallon-sized VACUUM food storage bags (found in supermarket) and basic aluminum foil (also in supermarket.)1)Rip off one sheet of aluminum foil about 12-16 inches long2)Lay foil flat on counter3)Gently pour, roughly, 1/2 pound of coffee beans into the center of the foil sheet4)Fold both of the width-side edges neatly over the center of the beans5)Fold the length-side edges neatly over the top and towards the center (much like sloppily wrapping a rectangular present)6)Place this foil package in the vacuum food storage bag- making sure that longer portion of the foil package is put in the bag parallel to the seal of the bag, which would leave much empty space between the foil package and the top of the bag.7)Seal the bag, then vacuum-seal the bag by using the hand pump (can be purchased with the vacuum bags)8)Do this with the remaining coffee beans (leave the amount of beans in the bottom of the coffee bag that you will be using within the next few days)9)Check each plastic bag, by using the pump again to make sure they are vacuum packed.10) Place each bag neatly and carefully either in a box, or a canvas bag (or some sort of storage to keep light out)11) Store in a room temperature closet (about 60-75 degrees F)- making sure the bags will not be moved around too much or dropped as the vacuum seal could break.12) Check the vacuum seal periodically and re-pump if necessary13) This coffee will stay fresh for months this way!May seem like a bit of work, and adds to the cost with the price of the vacuum food storage bags- but, it's worth it!

I'm having a difficult time deciding how to review this coffee. Here's why...I have no complaints about the condition or quality of the product in the bag. As is typical of previous orders of other varieties of coffee by Coffee Bean Direct the beans in the bag were of good quality, uniform size and roast and reasonably fresh. Properly ground, these beans provide a nice crema when pulling shots of espresso and the beans, while certainly a dark roast, are not overroasted and therefore not so oily that they clog the burr grinder every few cycles like some beans. Also good for drip and press pot if you prefer those methods. Now here's the difficult part...I don't really much like the flavor, acidity or mouthfeel of this coffee. There is nothing wrong with it per se. It just doesn't fit a profile I like. First, I prefer my coffees to be low to medium acid. This roast of these beans is quite acidic, or at least the bag of beans I received was quite acidic, and not something I want to sip much of or for long. Second, the flavor isn't bad, it just isn't appealing to my tastes. And finally when it comes to mouthfeel, for me there isn't really that much. The brew is thin tasting and watery even when brewed quite strong.Now there is a saving grace for me with a dark yet acidic and thin-feeling coffee like this, and that is that it makes a great dessert coffee with everything from cheesecake to pastries and chocolates. The acidity and dark roast flavor helps cut through the sweetness of desserts and provides some balance. I just don't eat that much dessert or have dessert often enough to justify five pounds at a time of this particular coffee.Bottom line: Good quality beans, well roasted. If a dark roasted, acidic coffee suitable for serving with after dinner dessert courses is what you're after, I think this may be it. It's just not for me. Consider my three star rating of this coffee to be neutral. That's as fair as I can be.

After reading other reviews on this coffee, I was conviced I had to try it. It's o.k., but really tastes much more like the cheaper WalMart brand coffee. It doesn't even compare to Starbucks, not even close. I wanted to give it a fair try, and after about a dozen cups I can say, I am disappointed enough to not reorder it. If Coffee Bean Direct coffee's are all like this, I won't be a return customer at all. I have a one cup coffee maker, grind the beans fresh for each cup, so it's not a case of making a pot and letting it sit. I really wanted to LOVE it after reading other reviews, but I just don't, and I doubt I will even after five pounds. I'm gonna try roasting the beans a little more myself to see if that makes any difference. I've never done that, but at this point, with 4 1/2 pounds of coffee beans left, I have to try something to make them taste better.. If that works out, I'll post again, but I'm not holding out much hope. If you want really great coffee, you should look elsewhere, Coffee Bean Direct is just not cutting it...Good luck.July 9th,2012: Update. Well, I tried "roasting" the beans a little more. Took a small amount and put them in the toaster oven for 15 min. at 400 degree. They smelled good, but tasted horrible. So I'm using the beans as I bought them, and making due. Still not the great coffee I had hoped for, but drinkable. Someone wrote a review of these beans talking about how they had a "chocolaty and vanilla" flavor. Way off base! Or, it was someone at coffeebeandirect.com with a phony review. Not even close. When I am finished struggling thru this five pound bag, NO MORE..!