Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade - BzzAgent

As most of you may know by now I am a BzzAgent. As a BzzAgent I receive free items to test and review. These free items range from cosmetics to coffee. It is free to sign up! Today I am here to review Green Mountain Coffee K-Cup Packs. I was sent 3 sample packs of each of the following flavors/roasts: Extra Bold Sumatran Reserve, Colombian Fair Trade Select, Vermont Country Blend, and Wild Mountain Blueberry. First off, I just want to say, that I do not, in any way, consider myself a coffee or food connoisseur. All I can really say is that I like what I like. I realize that is not very helpful, but I figured I would put it out there.



A little about Green Mountain Coffee - They are fair trade certified. If you are unclear what "Fair Trade" is, the company describes it as:

• Helping farmers get a fair price for their beans
• Improves working conditions
• Assists in protecting the environment
• Supports community development with projects resulting in new schools, roads, health clinics and safer drinking water.

To Summarize: Not only are you getting a good cup of coffee to start your morning off right, but by buying Fair Trade you are improving the quality of life for farmers. 

If you would like to learn more about Green Mountain Coffee, please feel free to visit and "like" their website: http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/

Sumatran Reserve: Sumatra is one of the world's more exotic coffee destinations...and peopled by folks of great character. Sumatran coffees tend to show tremendous character, too, and ours is no exception. ... Our roast is now deep and deliciously dark, offering sweet palate of brown sugar and spice notes. (Website Description)

First and foremost, the first thing that struck me about this coffee was the bitter spice taste. It is definitely a dark roast. Even after preparing it, as I do with all my coffees, with 2 splenda and skim milk, the taste was still unbearably bitter leaving a bitter/sour aftertaste. I would not recommend this coffee to be consumed on an empty stomach. On the plus side, it does pack a punch as far as caffeine. You wont need more than 1 cup of coffee a day with this roast, and if you drink it black, more power to you! I personally, could barely even tell that I had any sweetener in there. Strong stuff! I have had Sumatran Coffee from other brands and it is still strong but at the same time a little smoother and didn't make me wince at the taste.

Sumatran Coffee paired with my Homemade Pumpkin Cheesecake

Vermont Country Blend: An engaging blend that reveal itself in layers. A darker-roasted base offers mellow, toasty flavors and a velvety mouth-feel  while lighter-roasted, select American beans provide clarity, and a winning finish. The result is a blend that is at once brisk and bright, yet undeniably smooth....A lovely cup whether you're celebrating a crisp autumn day in the country, or longing for one. (Website Description)

Smooth & Delicious! This is a well balanced blend that is great alone or with breakfast. It is not to heavy or bitter. It has a great balance on the tongue without the acidity of some other stronger coffees. It will not overpower the flavor of the food you are eating with this beverage. Also, this is a good option for a "coffee for breakfast" type coffee drinker, as it is not too acidic and would sit in your stomach nicely. I find that if a coffee is too bitter or bold/acidic, my stomach will be sensitive for the rest of the day. This is a great blend for any time of day.

Colombian Fair Trade Select: Tastes like a late-summer Saturday morning. Our Colombian fair trade coffee is a sunny, warming cup with aromas that recall Gramma's homemade apricot jam. In the cup, look for lime-citrus brightness and flavors of green apples and sun-plumped raising. Its finish shimmers with sweet notes of grape and walnut. (Website Description)

This is slightly stronger than the Vermont Country Blend, but again it is nicely balanced and a little milder than other Colombian brews I have had before. The note I tasted most in this particular blend was the citrus character it had to it. This cup of coffee packed a punch, but managed to be very pleasant on the tongue without being to acidic.

Wild Mountain Blueberry: At first, people thought we were crazy. Blueberry coffee? Then they tasted it...and soon the coffee department was abuzz with word that we'd hit on The Next Big Thing. For some, it's the aroma...juicy, sweet and oh-so-slightly buttery. For others, it's the flavor...sun-kissed wild blueberries with just a hint of caramel sweetness. (Website Description)

At first brewing, there is a strong artificial blueberry smell. Nonetheless, this was fairly tasty and good alone or with a blueberry muffin as it may be difficult to pair this flavor with anything else that has any flavor. Some family members that were around when I was brewing this coffee, really could not take the smell of it. It is a very weak and light coffee, you taste the artificial blueberry in there, but it is not a coffee with a lot of body. This is okay if you just want to drink it alone. It is not my first choice in flavored coffee - I'm a french vanilla girl personally.


Overall, I was pretty impressed with Green Mountain Coffee. Of course, as with most things it is a hit-or-miss, and coffee preferences vary person-to-person. I would say try Green Mountain Fair Trade Certified Coffee, one good deed deserves another, right? :) Maybe you can find yourself a New Favorite, and at the same time you're enjoying your next coffee you can feel good about how your choice helps others in the process. If you ask me, that is definitely enough to warrant trying Fair Trade Certified coffee. You can find these blends at your local supermarket, Target, Walmart, and sometimes even BJs/Costco/Sam's Club. Give it a try, it will in no way hurt, in fact, it will benefit not only you, but those that provide us with our ever beloved morning coffee.