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Jun 8 2011

Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve vs. Dark Magic

Posted by Mary Beth
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I decided to do a comparison of these two Green Mountain K-Cups.

Sumatran Reserve and Dark Magic are both very dark roasts, but the flavors are quite different. I recommend brewing them at the 10oz setting unless, of course, you like to drink lead–this is potent stuff.

Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve is a very rich dark roast with some bitter tones. It’s not as spicy as Tully’s Italian Roast but you do get some bite in there. I’ve also started to detect a burnt aftertaste. The first time I tried this K-Cup I used the 8oz setting, and I loved it. I just couldn’t drink very much (about 2 oz)–it was REALLY strong. I use the 10oz setting now and that works pretty well.

Sumatran Reserve is one of my favorite K-Cups to serve guests. It reminds me of coffee you might get at Starbucks or other coffee shops. I’ve always been a fan of Sumatran blends, but most are medium roasts and I tend to like those better. It has a good depth of flavor, but I’ve personally grown tired of this K-Cup. Maybe I need to toughen up and try it at the 8oz setting again.

Green Mountain Dark Magic is wonderful. It’s a strong blend, but it’s also nice and smooth. Dark Magic is rich, full-bodied and has a bit of sweetness. It also keeps the same delicious flavor throughout with not even a touch of bitter aftertaste. So far, I haven’t tasted another coffee that is similar to Dark Magic. This is one of my go-to K-Cups. It never gets old. Plus, I feel like I’m really getting my money’s worth because I brew a larger cup.

The first time I tried Sumatran Reserve I was blown away, but that was before I tried Dark Magic (which I hated the first time because I had it on the 8oz setting). Sometimes the brew setting really makes a difference, and these are two examples. My advice is to see for yourself. Do some experimenting to get your K-Cups just right. And, if you like dark roasts, give the Sumatran and Dark Magic a try. I’ll bet you will enjoy at least one of them.

Comments (3)

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  1. David Zemens
    June 26, 2011

    These are my two favorite coffee blends and you’ve reviewed them both in one post! What are the odds?

    I absolutely love Dark Magic. In fact, it’s the first thing I think of when I wake up. Makes me early morning start something I look forward to. Very intense flavor, with a strong finish, but never bitter at all.

    I have been trying to find Green Mountain Kenya but it seems to have been pulled from the shelves. Either that or the beans cannot be found anymore. I miss the distinct flavor.

    Oh, well…I’ll stick with Dark Magic and Sumatran Reserve for now!

    • Mary Beth
      June 28, 2011

      That’s great. I know some days it’s hard to try something new because I know how wonderful my Dark Magic is. I did try Kenya AA recently, and thought it was very good–it reminded me a little of Double Black Diamond. Do you ever order online? My friend who gave me the Kenya got hers from a site called Alpine Valley Coffee.

    • Nick
      January 23, 2016

      I’ve tried both of those blends and really like the Dark Magic but not the Kenya.Another great Dark Roast I like a lot is Martinson’s.

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