Aldi Alcafe Italian Blend

£1.69 from Aldi. Roast 5. A blend of Arabica and Robusta beans. This is cheap coffee, but is surprisingly not offensive. It is drinkable, and very robust and forgiving, so very easy to make. There's no character or finesse, but it's not blunt. I think the use of Robusta rounds it out so it doesn't become aggressive. There's little in the way of attractive flavours, but there are roasted notes and you know you're drinking coffee. Those who drink Costa and Starbucks type coffee will find this quite acceptable. Those who enjoy single estate beans of character will find this lacking in interest and flavour. I thought I was a single estate bean of character sort of person, but I think in reality I fall somewhere between the two camps. I didn't object to this, and for the price I would buy it again.

Rating: 4

Coffee roasts

Aldi tea and coffee

CafeDirect Colombia

This has a lively fruity acidity combined with a light and pleasant roastiness. It is fairly forgiving and doesn't need precise measurements or precise timing to make an acceptable morning brew.  Light and refreshing and quite perky, this is a decent everyday coffee, though lacks depth and interesting for anything more than just something to have with breakfast.


Score: 5

Cafedirect

Colombian coffee

Percol Plantation Wharf Dark Rich coffee

Well, it's cheap (79p for 150g from Home Bargains, but it's not that great. It lacks backbone, character, flavour, and most of the things we drink coffee for. The Laid Back coffee in the same Plantation Wharf series is quite drinkable, but this is indistinct and sludgy, and lacking in weight and body. It seems to fail in all respects, apart from price. However, it's not foul - it can be drunk, so it gets points for that.

Rating: 2

79p at Home Bargains

Percol

Coffee roasts

Percol Plantation Wharf Laid Back coffee

Nutty and sweet with a balanced roasty flavour. Easy drinking. Strength 3. This is a flexible and forgiving coffee, easy to make, and very cheap - 79p for 150g from Home Bargains. There's no character here, this is simply an everyday drinking coffee. Nothing to get excited about, and not one to give guests to impress, but it works fine as a casual cup of coffee. Don't be put off by the price.  I'd be happy to buy this again at the price.

The coffee isn't Fair Trade - instead, Percol (the main brand of  the Food Brands Group), operates their own Good for Life charity that supports families in third world communities.

Rating: 4

Percol