My thoughts on flavored coffees...
First: My coffees aren't flavored...they're flavorful!
Foremost:
Do you put catsup on a great steak? Why not?
Just as catsup will mask the flavor of a great piece of meat, a flavoring such as hazelnut or carmel will mask the flavor of a great coffee.
On the other hand...just as catsup may improve the taste of a poor piece of meat, a flavoring will mask the taste of a poor coffee.
I suspect that it is the stale, low quality coffees that get the flavor added so it can be sold for a premium price.
Why not buy a quality coffee and a little bottle of flavoring? That way you get the best of both worlds. Especially, if you're having a party, instead of buying a half pound of six different flavored coffees, buy a couple of pounds of a quality coffee, make one pot (instead of six) and let your guests add the quantity and flavor of their choice!
Foremost:
Do you put catsup on a great steak? Why not?
Just as catsup will mask the flavor of a great piece of meat, a flavoring such as hazelnut or carmel will mask the flavor of a great coffee.
On the other hand...just as catsup may improve the taste of a poor piece of meat, a flavoring will mask the taste of a poor coffee.
I suspect that it is the stale, low quality coffees that get the flavor added so it can be sold for a premium price.
Why not buy a quality coffee and a little bottle of flavoring? That way you get the best of both worlds. Especially, if you're having a party, instead of buying a half pound of six different flavored coffees, buy a couple of pounds of a quality coffee, make one pot (instead of six) and let your guests add the quantity and flavor of their choice!