Lidl Deluxe Honduras Cristobal

Found three wonderfully packaged coffees in Lidl for around £3.30 each for 250g of beans and the useful wooden barrel. There is little information in English regarding the beans - the info on the backs of the barrels is in German.

Descriptions are in German

Honduras coffee used to be mediocre, but has gained a reputation recently for the improvement  in quality coffee from a handful of areas. The coffees are not seen as the highest quality, but as very decent. The Cristobal name only comes up in relation to Honduras coffee to a single grower, Cristobal Fernandez who is used by Blue Bottle Coffee distributors. I have enjoyed the Honduras coffees I have had from Tesco and Monoprix, so was hoping for a bit more than I am getting so far from this Lidl Deluxe.  There are chocolate notes and some violets and lime, which is very attractive, but the whole is a a little sludgy, not clearly defined, and finishing with a little bit of bitterness. I am playing around with the brewing as I see some potential here, but as yet I haven't found the right amount or right grind.

I found the right amount - just over three spoons, and ended up really enjoying this coffee.

Score: 7

Lidl Tea & Coffee

Twinings Apple Crunch

This is quite fresh and delicate with a pleasant apple and rosehip flavour. It's OK.


Score: 4

***

Twinings

Lidl Deluxe Uganda Erussi

Found three wonderfully packaged coffees in Lidl for around £3.30 each for 250g of beans and the useful wooden barrel. There is little information in English regarding the beans - the info on the backs of the barrels is in German.

Descriptions are in German

Uganda mostly produces the lower quality Robusta coffee which is used in instant and espresso coffees, but there are a handful of regions where decent quality Arabica coffee is grown. Erussi is a region in the north of Uganda.

The coffee is pleasant, soft and easy drinking with little character. It's OK, but the Kenya Masai is the better buy.


Score: 5

Lidl Tea & Coffee

Lidl Deluxe Kenya Masai

Found three wonderfully packaged coffees in Lidl for around £3.30 each for 250g of beans and the useful wooden barrel. There is little information in English regarding the beans - the info on the backs of the barrels is in German.

Descriptions are in German

The beans take the name of the Masai which is a protected region in Kenya named after the Masai people. Coffee is grown there, and is considered amongst the best that Kenya has to offer.

Highly regarded coffee is grown in the Masai Mara

I have had a Deluxe Kenyan coffee from Lidl, which I didn't really take to as it was too strong and too acidic for my personal taste. I find this Kenya Masai coffee to be more refined, more balanced, more pleasantly drinkable, but lacking in distinct character. It's an easy drinking everyday coffee provided you find the right amount of beans to use. I like to use three and half spoons of beans, ground fairly fine. There are faint lime notes in the finish. It makes a very pleasing and satisfying coffee. I could happily drink this again and again.


Score: 8

Lidl Tea & Coffee