The Costco Kirkland Signature Whole Bean Coffee We Weren't Impressed With

Most self-proclaimed coffee snobs might not be impressed with any of Costco's Kirkland Signature coffee beans, but at $13 for a 2.5-pound bag, you really can't argue with the price. That being said, if you're just looking for an affordable, everyday bag of coffee beans, Costco's Kirkland Signature brand is worth giving a shot. There is one Kirkland bag in particular, however, that our taste testers were underwhelmed with. In Tasting Table's ranking of five Kirkland Signature whole bean coffees, they found the Kirkland Signature French Roast to be the most disappointing of the bunch — which is saying a lot, seeing as the visible oil that coated the beans and, in turn, their hands, didn't provide high expectations.

There are signs that indicate you just got a premium bag of coffee beans — and oily-ness isn't one of them. Oftentimes, it's an indication of one of two things: that the beans have been over roasted, or that they've been sitting on the shelf a very long time. Knowing this, our taste testers weren't expecting to pick up much of a flavor profile from Kirkland's French Roast beans, and it turns out they were right not to. The coffee from these beans was about as bland as it comes, and the only taste descriptor that could come to mind was bitter. 

Some customers have gone as far as to say Kirkland's French Roast tasted burnt or "extremely roasty," which is really just another fancier way of saying it. It's even reportedly clogged a few peoples' machines.

Now, plenty of people enjoy a dark roast — French roasts being one of the most popular. But there's a very fine line between roasted and burnt, and there's a few ways you can tell the difference, starting with how they look. If your beans are black in color and look oily or shiny, that will be your first sign of caution. If you're looking close enough, you're also likely to get a whiff of how they smell. If you breathe in a charred smell, consider that your second warning. But that can also depend on the blend you're drinking, as some have intentionally smokey notes and some coffees, such as those from Ethiopia and Costa Rica, are known to be more oily. 

The only way to know for sure that your beans are burnt is to brew them. If you notice that they're brewing quicker than normal, that could indicate that the beans are dissolving — a result of them being over roasted. Then, you might notice a layer of oil on the top of your coffee cup, indicating that the oils have separated from the beans — another result of them being over roasted or burnt. 

If all of these signs are present, your coffee is likely going to taste overwhelmingly bitter and burnt. Your best bet will be to splash some coffee creamer in it and sip slow.