How to Taste a Coffee Sample Pack at Home

A coffee sample pack lets you compare several coffees before choosing a full-size bag. With a few small brews and simple notes, you can find the roast and flavor profile you actually want to drink every morning.

Our Best Sellers Sample Pack includes six 2 oz packs of drip-ground coffee: 6 Bean Blend, Cowboy Blend, Breakfast Blend, Peru, Mexico, and Bali. Here is a relaxed way to explore them at home.

Compare two coffees at a time

Pick two samples for your first comparison. Try Breakfast Blend alongside 6 Bean Blend to explore different roast styles, or compare Peru with Bali to begin exploring the single origins in the pack.

You do not need to finish the whole sampler in one sitting. Compare a pair, choose a favorite, and try another pair on a different day. Small servings give you plenty to notice without making six full mugs.

Keep your brewing routine consistent

Use the same brewer, water, filter type, and recipe for each sample. Follow your brewer's instructions and measure the coffee and water the same way each time. If you have a kitchen scale, write down the amounts so you can repeat them.

The sampler comes drip ground, so start with a drip brewer or another brewer suited to that grind. You do not need a grinder for this pack. If you usually make espresso or cold brew, check the grind options on the individual coffee before buying your next bag.

Coffee makers for your sampler

You can use a drip brewer you already own. If you are shopping for one, these two options offer different ways to fit coffee into your routine.

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker: An option for brewing into a single mug or making a carafe to share. It includes a stainless steel thermal carafe. View the OXO Brew 8-Cup on Amazon (paid link).
• OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker: An option for people who want a programmable wake-up timer and a thermal carafe for their morning routine. View the OXO Brew 9-Cup on Amazon (paid link).

Check the current listing for dimensions, filter requirements, and availability before choosing a brewer. For a fair tasting, use the same machine and recipe for both samples.

Notice four things in each cup

Let the coffee cool to a comfortable sipping temperature. Smell it, take a small sip, and describe it in your own words:

• Aroma: What does the coffee remind you of before you sip?
• Flavor: Do you notice chocolate, nuts, fruit, caramel, or something else?
• Body: Does the coffee feel light, rounded, or heavier in your mouth?
• Finish: What flavor stays with you after swallowing, and do you enjoy it?

You do not have to find every tasting note printed on a product page. A useful note might simply be “rounded, chocolatey, would drink again.”

Try it the way you normally drink it

If you enjoy coffee with milk or sugar, include that in your comparison. You can try a small sip plain first, then add your usual amount to both coffees. The goal is to find a coffee that suits your everyday cup.

Keep the additions equal so you are comparing the coffees fairly. If you want to change the recipe, try that as a separate experiment.

Keep a simple tasting record

For each sample, write down its name, your brewing recipe, three descriptive words, and an answer to one question: “Would I choose this tomorrow?” Revisit your two favorites using the same recipe before deciding on a larger bag.

If you enjoy exploring individual growing regions, browse our single-origin coffees. If you prefer comparing blends, explore the coffee blends collection. Our single-origin versus blend guide explains the distinction.

Find your next everyday coffee

Ready to make your own comparison? Start with the Mugslurp Best Sellers Sample Pack, or explore all our coffee sample packs. Take your time, keep your notes simple, and let your own taste choose the winner.

Slurp Boldly.

For more brewing fundamentals, visit the National Coffee Association's About Coffee brewing guide.