Just for strong coffee drinkers. (Taylors Hot Lava Java Coffee)

Member Name: Stephen Patrick

Product:	Taylors Hot Lava Java Coffee
Date:	18/12/07 (165 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Strong, rich, and lots of caffeine

Disadvantages: leaves more sediment than usual

I've been drinking quite a bit of coffee recently, and whenever I finish a bag off I like to try a different sort. I chose this one for a couple of reasons, the first being that I like strong tasting coffee with plenty of caffeine, the second being that I've enjoyed other coffees from Taylors in the past.
My first cup didn't impress me ever so much, it tasted significaantly less strong and not as rich as the Waitrose French Continental that I find is a good staple coffee to have in. But perhaps I hadn't got the water hot enough, or made a mistake with the length of time I brewed it, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt, and made some more a bit later, hoping that it would turn out better. The second pot did turn out better, I found that it is suited to a longer brew time, which is needed for all the flavour to come out. Other coffees don't normally need this long, and tend to go bitter, but this one seems to benefit. I left it in for about 6 minutes I think, using a normal measurement of coffee. After I'd got that right, the coffee was quite pleasant, the strength didn't seem to come in the aftertaste as it does in some coffees, but was prominently rich and quite drinkable with milk, though didn't taste too nice black to me. It wasn't as bitter as I was expecting it to be, and I can't fault it on that point, but it always has a bit of a burnt taste to it, though not enough to make it unpleasant.
I don't know if I'd buy this coffee again, it does have a lot of caffeine in it, which will be a put off for some people, though obviously not others. It isn't my favourite tasting coffee, but I've drunk worse, and this is something different, and perhaps worth trying if you must have your coffee strong, and to its credit, it is surprisingly smooth compared to other coffees that are a similar strength. If you aren't after a strong coffee, I can't see a reason to buy this, but if you are a fan of them then I won't discourage you from trying it.

Summary: Strong, best taken with milk.