Eight O’Clock Coffee Reviews

Ordered coffee directly from their website back in February and it never made it to my door. The tracking info stuck on 'label created' the entire time, meaning the shipping company never even got the package. I kept getting false emails saying it shipped, was on its way, or got held up by weather. Then they claimed it was lost in transit, which made no sense since the carrier never picked it up in the first place. The whole experience was frustrating. They gave me conflicting stories and didn't actually do anything to fix it. If you're thinking about ordering from them for the first time, be aware that you might lose money and get nothing but excuses in return. I'd skip this company if you want dependable service and honest updates.

These folks are honestly terrible. It's been a week since I ordered and still no package. They said it would arrive by February 20th but that didn't happen. The person on the phone was really rude, and every time I called back I got a different story. One minute they say it's out of stock, the next they promise it's going out that evening. I have no idea what evening they mean because nothing ever shows up.

I've stuck with Eight O'clock coffee since the A&P days, almost 45 years now, switching back and forth between their Original whole bean and Colombian blends. But I can't recommend them anymore and won't be buying from them again until they get their act together. For most of those decades, they made quality medium roast whole bean coffee at a fair price. The last couple years though, the quality has tanked. I'm talking broken beans, husks, hulls, chaff, and unripe quakers throughout. My last bag of Colombian Peaks was basically unroasted bits with a few decent beans mixed in. I reached out asking what was going on and just got the runaround. When I asked about roast dates, they told me to check the package, but there's no roast date printed anywhere, only a best by date. This is not the company I knew for so long.

My wife and I have been faithful Eight O'clock customers for more than 40 years, usually grabbing their Original, but we treat ourselves to their 100% Colombian whole bean sometimes. We pick it up at a warehouse club for about $14 per 38 ounce bag. The coffee comes in that classic red foil heat sealed pouch with a one way valve. Inside you get medium roasted beans with just a light oil finish, still mostly on the dry side. It's an Arabica blend mixing Supremo and Excelso varieties. You'll spot some broken beans, which makes sense at this price point, but honestly the defects don't mess with how the final cup tastes. Grind 50 grams to a medium coarse, brew with 40 ounces of filtered water, and you get a bright cup with nice acidity, medium body, and hints of red wine, milk chocolate, and hazelnut. The finish is smooth and well rounded with zero bitterness. The ground coffee smells amazing, and the brewing aroma is just heavenly.

My spouse and I have been buying Eight O'clock Original whole bean for over four decades. We've tested plenty of other options but always end up back at this one because of its smooth, rich taste and lack of bitterness. It's 100% Arabica and honestly holds its own against the pricey specialty brands out there. The bag itself is great quality. You'll notice the beans vary in size and shape since they're sourced from multiple regions. My one gripe is the number of broken and damaged beans in each bag. The roast is medium with just a touch of oil on the surface. I grind about 50 grams to a medium coarse and brew with 40 ounces of filtered water. The smell of the ground coffee and the aroma during brewing are both really nice. You get medium nutty flavors with bright acidity, nice body, and a smooth, clean finish. It's a solid everyday coffee for people watching their budget.