Holiday Gift Reviews: Coffee Bean Direct

To say that I'm a coffee lover would be an understatement. I'm retired FROM the coffee business and went INTO the biz because I LOVED coffee so much that I wanted to work with it and around it. From doing private pressings at over-priced dinner parties to just connecting over a cup with my regular customers, I enjoyed EVERY detail. Because of this, I enjoy trying coffee that has been roasted by smaller, independent companies.

Coffee Bean Direct, is just THAT. They are NOT a middleman, repackaging coffee - but, rather a small roasting company that takes pride in producing the finest coffee. Experience has taught me that small roasters like these tend to be a little on the higher priced side, primarily because they work in smaller batches and take the time to make sure that what we the customer gets is the BEST that they have to offer. I was shocked to find out that Coffee Bean Direct actually sells their coffee at WHOLESALE price levels directly to the public.

I was sent a package of their Sumatra Mandheling to try. They had heard me "announce" that this was my FAVORITE coffee (I think they were trying to get on my good side frankly). I love the smooth, bold flavor of the Indonesian coffees, as there's virtually no acidity in them. I'm pleased to tell you that their roast was a good combination of quality beans and a nice light roast (there is a tendency to OVER ROAST Sumatra as the coffee doesn't show a lot of color in the roasting process), producing a coffee that is as good in the morning as it is for dessert.

Being the holidays, I think that a coffee basket makes a great gift for the coffee lover in your life. Like me, "A" loves nothing more than a GREAT cup, and if I remember correctly, I've sent her gifts of coffee in the past.

Coffee Bean Direct has coffee (and tea) gift baskets that your recipient won't soon forget. With prices ranging from $29.95 to $99.95 - it will be EASY to find the RIGHT basket. These hand-crafted gift baskets come stuffed with fresh ground coffee, fine teas, and other assorted goodies for the connoisseur on your gift list. I'd love to give one of these baskets to a teacher or my son at college (the school's coffee is always so YUCKY and STALE).


Medium Coffee Lovers Gift Basket $49.95

• Three 1lb Bags of Fresh Ground Coffee
• A 12oz Package of Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
• One Package of Cookies
• Six Assorted Biscotti
• Two Coffee Bean Direct Coffee Mugs

Large Combo Gift Basket $99.95

• Three 5oz Bags of Loose Leaf Tea
• Three 1lb Bags of Fresh Ground Coffee
• One 12oz Package of Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans
• One Package of Chocolate Wafers
• One Box of Cookies
• One Package of Tea Biscuits
• One 1.75oz Jar of Pure Honey
• Two Coffee Bean Direct Ceramic Mugs
• One Coffee Bean Direct T-Shirt
• One Box of T-Sacs
• Six Assorted Biscotti

If you LOVE coffee and you want a quality roast, I found the Coffee Beans Direct offers quality at great prices.

Ratings are based on a 5-cup scale

Roast: 5
Flavor: 5
Prices: 5
Overall: 5

Review by Broad "Z" - Zippy

Thank you to Coffee Bean Direct for sending me a sample packet of the Sumatra to try for this review. I was in no way compensated for this post and all opinions are strictly my own.