Caribou Blend Review: Roast Level, Flavor, and Who It Suits

Q: What is the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is a dark-roasted coffee blend known for its rich, balanced flavor.

Caribou Coffee opened its first coffeehouse in Edina, Minnesota, in 1992 and grew into one of the best known coffeehouse brands in the Midwest. With a reputation for delivering exceptional gourmet coffee, Caribou Coffee has solidified its position in the industry. One of their standout offerings is the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, a dark-roasted coffee blend that will awaken your taste buds and delight your senses.

Caribou blend review, in short: Caribou Blend is a full bodied house coffee from Caribou Coffee that is sold as a medium roast but leans dark, with dark chocolate and dried fruit flavors. It blends Central American, South American and Indonesian beans. Buy it if you want more body than a typical grocery medium roast and less smoke than a true dark roast.

Key Takeaways:

Caribou Coffee opened its first coffeehouse in Edina, Minnesota, in 1992.
The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is sold today as a medium roast, though Coffee Review measured it as dark in 2010.
Expertly roasted in Minneapolis, the blend combines coffee beans from Indonesia, Central, and South America.
The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend offers a pungent aroma, flavors of dark chocolate and raisin, and a smooth mouthfeel.
Caribou Coffee is committed to sustainability and the Caribou Blend is Rainforest Alliance certified.

Table of Contents

The Art of Roasting

Caribou Coffee takes pride in the art of roasting and the expertise of its skilled roasters in Minneapolis. With careful attention to detail, they carefully roast the coffee beans to open up the best flavors and aromas. This dedication to the craft is evident in every batch of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend, a premium coffee that exemplifies the artistry of roasting.

Caribou sells the blend as a medium roast, though a 2010 Coffee Review lab reading placed it in dark roast territory. The blend consists of carefully sourced coffee beans from Indonesia, Central, and South America, ensuring a diverse flavor profile. Each region contributes its unique essence, resulting in a truly indulgent coffee experience.

As the beans are roasted to perfection, they develop flavors of dark chocolate, raisin, and hints of lemon. This combination creates a luxurious and satisfying taste that coffee enthusiasts appreciate. The result is a premium blend that embodies Caribou Coffee’s commitment to providing the best gourmet and specialty coffee to its customers.

So, whether you savor your coffee for its rich flavors or enjoy the energizing aroma, the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is designed to please your senses and improve your coffee-drinking experience.

The Perfect Roast for Your Palate

Caribou Coffee’s roasting process is carefully matched to achieve the perfect balance between flavor profiles and roast levels. The fuller medium roast of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend brings out the chocolate and dried fruit side of the beans, creating a full-bodied cup of coffee.

The rich flavors of dark chocolate and raisin mingle harmoniously with the subtle hints of lemon, resulting in a dynamic and satisfying flavor profile. This unique combination offers a premium coffee experience that is truly extraordinary.

Whether you enjoy your coffee black or prefer to add a splash of cream and sugar, the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is versatile enough to accommodate your personal taste. Its bold flavors and smooth mouthfeel make it a perfect choice for both coffee connoisseurs and casual coffee drinkers alike.

Savor the Finest Coffee Beans

Caribou blends coffees from Central America, South America and Indonesia for this bag, and the Indonesian share is what gives the cup its heavier, earthier base.

Caribou Coffee sources its coffee beans from renowned coffee-growing regions, ensuring that every batch of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend meets the highest standards of excellence. These premium coffee beans undergo a rigorous evaluation process to ensure their quality, taste, and origin.

From the first sip to the last drop, the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend captures the essence of a truly memorable coffee experience. Indulge yourself in the art of roasting and savor the finest coffee beans expertly crafted into a premium blend that surpasses expectations.

The Caribou Coffee Experience

Caribou Coffee is more than just a coffee blend – it is an experience. With a motto of “Life is short. Stay awake for it,” Caribou Coffee is dedicated to providing customers with a memorable and enjoyable coffee drinking experience. The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend embodies this commitment to excellence. From the moment you open the bag and inhale the pungent aroma, to the first sip that delights your taste buds, Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend delivers a premium coffee experience.

The blend’s unique flavors and smooth mouthfeel make it stand out among other coffee blends. Whether you are a coffee connoisseur or simply someone who appreciates a great cup of joe, the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is sure to satisfy your cravings. It is the perfect choice for those who want to indulge in a gourmet coffee that is considered one of the best coffee blends in the market.

Visit the Caribou Coffee website or call their hotline for more information on the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend and other specialty coffee offerings.

Caribou Blend at a Glance

Here is the short version of what you get in the bag today, pulled from current retail listings and Caribou’s own history.

Detail	Caribou Blend
Roaster	Caribou Coffee, which opened its first coffeehouse in Edina, Minnesota, in 1992
Roast level on the bag	Medium
Origins	A blend of Central American, South American and Indonesian coffees
Formats	Whole bean, ground, and K-Cup pods, including a 40 ounce bulk bag of whole beans
Sourcing	Caribou announced in January 2012 that all of its coffee came from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms
Independent rating	87 points from Coffee Review in November 2010
Best for	Drip and French press drinkers who want a full, chocolatey house coffee

Medium or Dark? Why the Labels Disagree

Read enough about Caribou Blend and you will see it called both medium and dark. Both descriptions have a source. Caribou and its retailers sell it as a medium roast. When Coffee Review tested it in November 2010, its lab measured an Agtron reading of 34 for the whole beans and 47 for the ground coffee, numbers the publication classed as dark.

Agtron readings measure how much light roasted coffee reflects, so lower numbers mean darker beans. Roast names, on the other hand, are not standardized. One company’s medium can be another company’s dark, and a big roaster’s house blend often sits darker than a specialty roaster’s medium. The practical translation: expect the full body and bittersweet chocolate of a medium dark cup, not the bright fruit of a light roast. Our guide to light roast vs dark roast explains what shifts in flavor, acidity and caffeine as beans get darker.

Keep in mind that the 2010 tasting notes describe the blend as it was roasted at that time. Recipes and green coffee sources shift over the years, so treat those notes as a helpful guide rather than a guarantee for the bag in your cart.

Caribou Blend vs Other Coffeehouse House Blends

Most people buying Caribou Blend at the grocery store are standing in front of the same four or five coffeehouse bags. Here is how the roast labels line up.

House blend	Roast on the bag	What to expect
Caribou Blend	Medium	Full body, dark chocolate and dried fruit, with a darker lean than the label suggests
Starbucks Pike Place Roast	Medium	Smooth and roasty, with cocoa and toasted nut notes
Dunkin’ Original Blend	Medium	Lighter bodied and mild, easy with milk and sugar
Peet’s Major Dickason’s Blend	Dark	Rich, full bodied and intense
Caribou Daybreak Morning Blend	Light	Caribou’s brighter option for people who find Caribou Blend too heavy

If you like Caribou Blend but want to compare it against smaller roasters, our best medium roast coffee list covers bags that work for drip, pour over and espresso.

Whole Bean, Ground or K-Cup: Which Format to Buy

Whole bean keeps the chocolate and dried fruit notes longest. Grind right before brewing and buy a bag you will finish within a few weeks of opening. Our whole bean vs ground coffee guide shows how quickly pre-ground coffee loses aroma.
Ground is the easy pick for a drip machine. Fold the bag tight, clip it, and keep it away from the stove and the sunny window.
K-Cup pods trade freshness control for speed. Brew at 6 or 8 ounces so the blend keeps its body instead of turning thin.
The 40 ounce bulk bag only makes sense for offices or heavy drinkers. For everyone else, freshness fades before the bag runs out.

Who Should Buy Caribou Blend

Buy it if you want a dependable house coffee with more body than most grocery medium roasts, you drink it with or without a splash of milk, and you like chocolate and dried fruit more than citrus and flowers. Skip it if you prefer bright, tea like coffee, in which case Caribou’s own Daybreak Morning Blend or a true light roast will suit you better. For more coffee comparisons and gear picks, visit Coffee Rank IQ.

Caribou blend review: FAQ

What is the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend is a dark-roasted coffee blend known for its rich, balanced flavor.

Where are the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend beans roasted?

The beans are expertly roasted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Caribou Coffee roaster location.

What is the origin of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

While the exact origin is not disclosed, it is a blend of coffee beans from Indonesia, Central and South America.

What is the roast level and Agtron rating of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

Caribou sells it as a medium roast. When Coffee Review tested it in November 2010, it measured Agtron 34/47 (whole bean/ground), which that publication classed as a dark roast.

What is the price of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

Prices vary by retailer, bag size and format. Coffee Review listed it at $10.99 for 16 ounces back in 2010, so check current listings before you buy.

What are the flavors and aroma of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

In Coffee Review’s November 2010 blind assessment, the blend showed a pungent aroma of scorched wood and pruny sweetness, with dark chocolate, raisin, hints of lemon and savory cardamom in the cup.

What is the mouthfeel of the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

The coffee has a smooth and silky mouthfeel.

Where can I buy the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

You can purchase the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend at Caribou Coffee retail stores or online through their website.

Is Caribou Coffee a reputable brand?

Yes. Caribou Coffee has operated since 1992 and sells its beans and K-Cup pods through major grocery chains as well as its own coffeehouses.

Is the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend environmentally friendly?

Caribou announced in January 2012 that all of its coffee came from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, a standard covering environmental and social criteria. Look for the seal on the bag you buy.

Who would enjoy the Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend?

The Caribou Coffee Caribou Blend suits people who enjoy a full, darker leaning medium roast with some aromatic finesse.