What has Ciao done? I don't like the new layout at all!
What has Ciao done? I don't like the new layout at all!
Member since:05.03.2005
Reviews:154
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Lyons Fresh Coffee Bags
It had to happen really, we've had tea bags for ages and over the years several companies have attempted to introduce the British coffee drinking public to coffee bags. Lyons have now jumped on the bandwagon with their version of coffee bags.
The Product
A one cup bag of ground coffee to make a cup of 'proper' coffee in an instant. Sounds promising, doesn't it? Proper coffee without having to use a coffee maker, percolator or filter machine. Proper coffee in the same time as it takes to make a mug
of instant.
The coffee bags are sold in a green foil pouch with the Lyons logo and the slogan 'Coffee Perfection Since 1904' in white . The product name and details in gold and a small picture of coffee beans against a red background completes the simple packaging design. The packaging is eye catching and it looks quite classy! The coffee bags are individually foil wrapped making them convenient to take to work or out and about. The pack contains 18 x 7g coffee bags and the price is currently £1.55 in Sainsbury's supermarket. Obviously other stores pricing may vary.
The actual coffee bags are very similar to a tea bag in appearance, but much larger. They are made of a similar material as tea bags, a papery mesh fabric. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Place the coffee bags into a mug pour over freshly boiled water, leave to brew for 3-5 minutes dependant on taste, remove the bag and serve however you like your coffee. Presumably this means add your sugar, milk, coffee whitener or whatever you usually add to a cup of coffee!
My Experience
I drink my coffee black, without sugar and very strong, so I didn't hold out much hope of one bag being adequate for my taste. I wasn't disappointed! One bag of Lyons coffee brewed for 5 minutes, produced a weak, dark brown, odd looking brew.
I tried the coffee as it was and the first sip was quite disgusting! I could have been drinking hot water with a granule or two of instant coffee dissolved into it. It was truly undrinkable, so I poured it away and started again, this time using two coffee bags.
This time I left the drink to brew for a full 7 minutes. I removed the bags and tried my second attempt at coffee bag coffee.
First the aroma..... Mmmm...and what aroma might that be? My coffee certainly didn't have any!
Then the appearance.... The colour was very much better, more like the deep, dark coffee I usually enjoy.
Now onto the all important part of the review, the taste of the coffee...... It was the least 'coffee-like' coffee that I have ever come across, no flavour to speak of other than a hint of coffee. The drink also carried a bitter after taste, similar to the coffees one can buy with added chicory. In fact I double checked the packaging to see if there was chicory in the coffee bags, but no, only ground coffee. So I deduced that this was just a rather bitter coffee.
The worst part about the whole experience was to come when I finished my drink. A thick sludgy substance coated the bottom of my coffee mug. The thought that that sludge was probably coursing it's way around my digestive system was almost too much to contemplate, so I washed the cup hurried and gave up on coffee bags!
Manufacturer Details
Made in Italy for Gala Coffee Ltd and marketed under the 'Lyons' trade name. Further details may be obtained from their website www.coffeeperfection.com
Postal address for Gala Coffee
Gala Coffee Ltd, The Roastery, Riverside Way, Dartford, Kent, DA1 5BS
The manufacturer states that the coffee bags are ideal for taking to work, travel, camping, sailing, for coffee in a rush or for 'just you'. The punch line is ?Use Anywhere-all you need is a mug and a kettle? The product has been produced under the Rainforest Alliance guidelines and Lyons declare that the coffee bags are 30% Rainforest Alliance certified.
My Thoughts & Conclusion
If you love your coffee as much as I do, give these a miss! The idea is great, but sadly in my opinion the product simply isn't up to the job of producing a decent cup of coffee. It is a pity to have to say it, but I would prefer a cup of instant coffee over these coffee bags. An expensive impulse purchasing error!
Thank you for reading İbrittle1906 February 2009 ciao.co.uk
NB Review also on dooyoo under same pen name.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Feb 22nd, 2009
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (97%):
