6 OF THE BEST

Coffee bags

By Madeleine Howell

In a move that may divide and confound tea and coffee drinkers, Taylors of Harrogate has launched a £2million television advertising campaign for a product which it touts as a “genius invention”: ground coffee, served in a tea baglike pouch for convenience (with none of the equipment faff or mess often associated with the freshly ground stuff).

Simply place a bag in your vessel of choice, pour over hot water, allow to brew and sip.

Later this year, Nescafé Azera is set to follow Taylors’ lead with its own smoky Espresso Roast and fruity Americano blend bags in the UK, with an £8million marketing push.

So – are coffee bags an abomination (in terms of taste, as well as the excess packaging), or are they better than you might think? Certainly, “not enough people know they exist,” says Kelly Wright, the senior brand manager for Taylors. So in this week’s taste test, we compared a selection of the best available…

PERCOL FAIRTRADE SMOOTH COLOMBIAN COFFEE BAGS £3.50 FOR 80G (10 BAGS), WAITROSE

These eco-friendly sachets are home compostable. The coffee itself is subtly nutty with a hint of lemon; after brewing for four minutes it tasted bright, and not too bitter. A gentle way to greet the morning. 8/10

£2.85 FOR 75G (10 BAGS), WAITROSE

Wrapped in foil, although certified carbon neutral, this blend of African and Latin American ground beans is a little too strong; bitter dark-chocolate flavours dominate over the almond notes. 7/10