Review: Mug Sized Classic Roast

We can all agree that sometimes a small cup of coffee is not what the doctor ordered - sometimes you need a mug. In fact, before the Senseo came along, I wouldn't have considered drinking coffee in such small quantities, so it's nice to know that Senseo makes double sized pods to cater for those of us who obviously drink coffee in much larger quantities than our fellow human beings. (That's sarcasm, by the way.)
So, here's the alternative to using two normal sized pods - a mug sized pod which creates a mug-sized drink. Here in the UK, you can choose between Senseo Classic Roast, which is described as 'smooth and aromatic with fresh tasting notes', or the Senseo Dark Roast, which is 'rich and full flavoured with hints of almond and dark chocolate'. Today, I'm test driving the Classic, which I picked up at my local Tesco for £3.29 for 2o cups.

I don't pretend to be a coffee expert - I like a fairly mild cup, all things considered, and I adore flavoured coffees, which I think might be something of a sacrilege to real coffee connoisseurs. So, let's just get that out of the way before we get started on what I thought of this variety.

After several days of getting by with the Tesco Colombian Supremo, my first reaction to this blend was, 'argh!'. Compared to the medium strength of that pod, this is much stronger, almost bitter tasting. It does have a rich aroma, and it certainly filled up my mug nicely, but as a medium strength blend, this might be just too strong for most people. I'd love to know what the dark roast tasted like in comparison.

Once I got over the shock, the coffee took on a smoother taste, and it definitely has a 'fresh' aftertaste - which is slightly acidic. However, it's still a little rough around the edges for me, and I think I'll stick to using this when I want to make two smaller cups from one pod. (To do this, you just place the mug sized pod into the two cup pod holder, arrange two small cups, one under each spout, and press the double cup button. The Senseo will make two cups at the same time, which is great if you want to grab a quick drink with a friend.) Alternatively, this gives you a great buzz if you need a fast hit of caffeine, but I'm struggling to imagine anyone relaxing with this as their 'gourmet' option'.