Trader Joe's Medium Roast

There are times when a medium roast coffee hits the spot, especially as a change-up to a dark-roasted coffee rut. Trader Joe's coffees come in generously-sized 14 oz cannisters, and at moderate prices.

Trader Joe's Medium Roast is arabica beans toasted to a soft brown City or City+ roast, and not oily at all. A little dryish to look at, really. Once through the burr grinder, you get some little blonde flecks here and there, and the aroma is a bright, woody smell.

After an appointment with Mr. Coffee (auto-drip), some smooth wood, just on the border of grassy, and coffee flavors abound. Just as it looks and sounds, a medium roast. A nice complement to a mild Dominican cigar with a shade-grown Connecticut wrapper, or dovetailing nicely with the floral twang of a Juan Lopez or Bolivar petit corona.