Review of Starkbuck's Caffe Verona Ground Coffee

This past month I was chosen by Buzz Agent to try out 2 new additions of ground coffee, that recently had been added to the Starbuck's line of ground coffee.

I liked Pikes Place, but didn't love the bold burnt aftertaste that it left behind. I was hoping that the included bag of Caffe Verona would taste similar to Pike's Place, only more mild.

Caffe Verona comes in a white sealed bag, the first thing I noted was that the bag was not vacuum sealed, which was a bit of a disappointment. I find that coffee that is sold in vacuum sealed bags are fresher tasting coffee. A lot of coffee companies as of lately though have not been using air tight vacuum seals though which is really a downer for a coffee lover like myself.

The scent when the bag was opened was that of fresh coffee, but it was not a harsh burnt scent like the other bag. It was mild as I expected it to be, but the aroma was also pretty lacking. Usually when I open a new bag of coffee the scent quickly fills the air, but Caffe Verona actually required me to stick my nose up to the bag and sniff. I like mild coffee, and Caffe Verona smelled weak. I hoped that when I brewed it, it would release more flavor than what the scent was putting out.

While brewing Caffe Verona did in fact give off a pleasant mild scent. Once done, I made up my cup of coffee as I usually do.

Taste:
 
Cafe Verona by Starbuck's has a pleasant smooth flavor, with a very subtle roasted flavoring added to it. You really get a full mouthful of the flavor as an aftertaste, but it is a pleasant one. There are no bitter aftertastes, and what you have is a full smooth delicious brew.

Due to the fact that Caffe Verona did not come in an air tight bag, I was expecting the coffee to taste old, or stale, but I was surprised at how fresh this one was.

I have come across other opposing viewpoints in regards to Caffe Verona, I have to say though that if you add less grounds to your coffee maker, the result is a perfect cup of coffee. With this particular coffee being bold on it's own, adding less makes the flavor all the more mild, with just a hint of roasted flavoring. My advice, when brewing a pot of Caffe Verona would be to use less. If you like strong brews, than add more.

Overall:
 
I have never been a fan of hot coffee from Starbuck's, but Caffe Verona has changed that feeling. It's hands down the best ground coffee I have ever tried from Starbuck's, and likely I will continue to purchase this one once the bag is fully finished.