Coffee that tastes like Eight O'Clock Coffee?

by Clarence
(Keokuk Iowa, USA)


QUESTION:

What brand of bean would come close to the Eight-O'clock brand?

ANSWER:

It's never easy trying to buy beans that match the taste you are used to when buying a particular brand you like.

Most branded coffees are made from a blend of beans, often from a variety of different origins...like a mix of Central American beans, plus some from the Far East etc.

In addition, each brand, whether it be Eight O'Clock or Starbucks, has its own secrets when it comes to how they blend and roast the beans they use.

Even when you buy a "Colombian" coffee from different companies, there can be a significant variety in tastes...because of the differences in where exactly the beans were grown, and how they were blended and roasted.

If you really like the Eight O'Clock coffees, there are certainly plenty of places you can buy them if you live in the U.S.

Comments for Coffee that tastes like Eight O'Clock Coffee?

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Dec 07, 2022
 Tim Horton's comes close
by: AnonymousElizabeth

I normally drink Eight o'clock columbian peaks, for years. I got tired of chasing it down, always scarce or out of stock. Last year there was even a bad batch. So I decided to try different brands and I'm glad I did because now 8:00 tastes awful! Just bleeecchh. The packaging is different too.
In my coffe tasting adventures, I have found the Tim Hortons brand columbian style tastes very close to what 8:00 columbian peaks used to taste like. It's really quite good! I like Green Mountain too, although it's not too similar.
Good luck finding your own alteritive to 8:00! Store brand tastes better at this point. I'm done with it.
Feb 10, 2022
 Eight O' Clock coffee sucks
by: Anonymous

My wife and I have been drinking Eight O' Clock coffee for as far back as our senior years will allow. We drink the French Vanilla in the 12-ounce bags that we have been buying from Amazon in a six-bag carton. Recently we have noticed the taste has gone away and flavor is flat. Both the coffee and French Vanilla flavors gone. We even tried mixing it with a off brand hoping to bring back some of the flavor, but no luck. Time to change brands. Some companies just cannot keep selling a good product without changing for a bigger profit. I would have thought the switch from 16-ounce bags to 12-ounce bags would have given them enough profit to keep producing a quality tasting coffee.
Oct 10, 2021
 What happened to Eight O’Clock coffee?
by: Anonymous

I like many others on this thread have been enjoying 8 o’clock coffee Colombian whole been for years. The last five bags that I have purchased, the beans smell bad, it doesn’t have that oily sheen on them, and the coffee is almost undrinkable. I called the company and they apologized and sent me some coupons. Originally, I thought maybe I just had a few bad/old bags, but upon purchasing more, it’s the same exact way. Any recommendations on coffee that tastes as good as the old 8 o’clock coffee?
Aug 06, 2021
 Re: coffee that tastes like 8 o'clock Colombian coffee.
by: John Newton

Any Colombian supremo type of coffee beans will taste like 8'oclock Colombian coffee. Grind the coffee fresh, use a pour over filter or moka pot to make it.
Apr 04, 2021
 This is my choice
by: Ron Korn

Lavzza Classico (red label) excellent replacement
Mar 27, 2021
 Time to find a new brand. Sad.
by: Victoria

I have to agree with the previous comments. What has happened to the Colombian Peaks beans? Where has that deep dark oil coating gone? The last 5 bags of 8 O'Clock beans that I have bought have been light brown, dry and spew sawdust-looking debris all over my grinder. In addition the Colombian peaks beans no longer have that rich full taste. I will also be looking for a new bean. Anyone have any suggestions?
Mar 12, 2021
 Dried up
by: Anonymous

I’ve used 8 o’clock coffee for years but the last few bags I could tell the beans were old and dry. When I ground them the texture was flaky. When brewed the grounds would blow all over inside the coffee maker. Sad to have to find a new coffee.
May 12, 2020
 Coffee now tastes bad
by: Anonymous

I have been drinking 8 O’clock coffee for over 30 years. I have recently noticed it just does not taste good at all and haven’t had a good cup in months. When I said something to my Husband husband about how I don’t enjoy my cup of coffee anymore, he said he has been feeling the same way, The coffee just does not taste good anymore. We will be looking for a new brand. Such a shame.
Jan 13, 2020
 8 Oclock bought out by Tata of India
by: Anonymous

8 Oclock coffee brand was bought out by Tata of India in 2013, and ruined the brand and the taste.
May 05, 2019
 Retired
by: Linda

I remember walking in a grocery store and that coffee smelled so good....... sixty years later it still smells so good snd now I’m drinking it. Taste like coffee smells I’m stuck forever. Would like to know what the frog difference between regular 8 o’clock snd the Columbia coffee
Dec 31, 2017
 Found something a bit different but satisfy just the same
by: Isaac

Unfortunately my local grocery was out of my regular eight o’clock so I tried Peet’s coffee COLOMBIA dark roast and I’m very happy with it! I’m sure some of you will agree. It’s not a bad substitute at all.
Jun 11, 2017
 No Flavor, No odor, No Kick 2017
by: Anonymous

What happened to eight o'clock bean coffee ? It does not have the flavor or kick of even a year ago. No odor, no taste. CHEAP!!! 35 years of favorite----Brand Loyalty, I'm looking for new coffee bean.

Clarence
Jun 02, 2017
 Try this!
by: Anonymous

Hi.. I mix 8 oclock with Dunkin Donuts. It's delicious. I've gotten compliments on it...
I call it Dunkin 8. Enjoy!
Jun 01, 2017
 Undrinkable!
by: Robert J

Last 11 years Eight O Clock has been my coffee..... No longer. It has become unbearable to consume. I have bought several bags from bean to ground and its all horrible!

Time to move on,
RJ
Mar 14, 2017
 Somethings Different
by: Scott

I to have drank Eight O'clock coffee for 40+ years and for over a year now I've noticed it has a different flavor and not in a good way. Having a real hard time staying loyal to the brand. I'm afraid I'm going to have to start searching for a new brand. It's not getting any better !!!
Nov 25, 2016
 Not the same
by: Anonymous

I don't know what happened to 8'oclock coffee but there is a big difference in the flavor I have been drinking this brand for 20 yrs. and it has been just terrible trying to find something similar any suggestions?
Oct 18, 2016
 Disregard my previous criticism of 8oclock.
by: Nicholas A

It may have been a bad batch or I may have screwed up the grind on a bad supermarket grinder. In any case a recent purchase was fine.
Oct 01, 2016
 something very wrong with my 8oclock columbian
by: Nicholas A.

I have been a very happy and loyal Eight O'clock Columbian customer for well over 15 years now. I consume a steady 2.5 lbs per week of 8oclock Columbian only.

Today is October 1, 2016 and for the first time ever, I have come to notice a definite unpleasant taste and mental effect similar to cheaper store brands and their "fake,columbian types" This effect and taste is similar to non-columbian robusto types which I learned to avoid like the plague 20 years ago- too acidic, low cafenol oil content etc etc

Boy we had a good thing going there. Too bad 8oclock couldn't afford to give it away any longer.

Could be a result of crop failures due to mold; a reocurring problem in high mountain coffee agriculture.

Anyone out there know more about it?
Apr 19, 2016
 Tastes different
by: Anonymous

I am so sadden that my Original Eight O'clock doesn’t taste as rich and flavorful as it used to. I am looking for a different brand that tastes like Eight O’clock used to. I don't know what happen with their coffee or their process but I had to dump it I can’t drink it anymore. Lacks flavor and leaves a burnt like plastic aftertaste. Not pleasant at all. Any suggestions?
Feb 25, 2016
 Change to my earlier comment
by: Maureen

We've discontinued supporting the women in recovery program - the woman who owns it is more intent on empire building than actually caring about the women who work for her. We have switched to another local coffee roaster here in Rochester, NY - Canaltown Coffee Roasters. We'll never go back to eight o'clock!!
Feb 17, 2016
 Something has changed
by: Anonymous

I have been drinking eight o'clock for many years, recently (18mos) from K cups. This month it went weak and bitter...
Jan 31, 2016
 Not the same coffee it used to be
by: Anonymous

My husband and I have been drinking Eight O'Clock coffee for well over two decades now. Lately we noticed it doesn't have flavor. We buy bulk at a wholesale club, buy the 100% Colombian whole bean coffee. The past few months we've noticed no flavor, even add more coffee, and still like drinking hot water. Sorry to say, we're looking for a new coffee.
Jan 05, 2016
 8 o clock
by: Anonymous

There's no coffee like it. Regular or Columbian. Whole bean is the best. Never bitter like undrinkable Starbucks!
May 10, 2015
 I agree with Maureen
by: Nick (Coffee Detective)

Maureen, hi

I can't think of a better or simpler way to choose your coffee. Good for you!

Nick
May 10, 2015
 Suggestion
by: Maureen

After trying a good number of the commercial brands, we decided to support a local charity which roasts their own Peruvian beans fresh daily. Yes it is more expensive, BUT we know what we're getting each time - freshly roasted, fair trade coffee supporting women in recovery.
May 08, 2015
 Why Change?
by: Anonymous

Eight O'Clock 100% Columbian was my coffee for ten years or more. They changed the package and YES - they changed the coffee. I don't care what the company says - they changed the coffee. It used to have a very delightful and different taste. Now it is flat - no flavor and I wish someone would find an alternate that is close. I miss that great cup of coffee every morning; I've tried many others but none come close to the old Eight O'Clock 100% Columbian. Change a good thing - stupid - WHY?
Mar 04, 2011
 Columbian whole bean
by: Anonymous

What happened? It is terrible these days.
Nov 30, 2010
 8 o'clock Colombian = terrible
by: Maureen

I've been drinking the 8 o'clock Colombian well over 10 years. Suddenly they've made some changes, not sure whether it's different grade/quality beans or roasting or what... It has NO flavor and/or body. It has a VERY watered down taste and no matter how many scoops used it makes no difference.

Do NOT buy - it's abominable!!!
Sep 03, 2010
 The Best!
by: Anonymous

Eight O'Clock 100% Colombian coffee is the best coffee you'll ever drink. It's unreal something this good is sold in the grocery store.
Apr 23, 2010
 Eight O'Clock
by: Terri

According to the Consumer Reports Magazine. (My Husband swears by this Mag.) Eight O'Clock Coffee
Regular Coffee whole Bean was rate the BEST over Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts Coffee's. I was suprized by the comments made by the consumers during this Coffee Taste Test. I wont ever by another brand again. Plus, the cost of the coffee was great. I call it poor mans coffee.
Kudoes to you Eight O'Clock!!
Terri B.
Haysville, Ks
Feb 08, 2009
 Difficult to buy on the West Coasst
by: leenie

Its difficult to find a place in the N. California that carries this coffee. The coffee available on the website are backordered. I guess the easiest thing would be to fly back to Chicago or whereever to get some!!!
May 21, 2008
 blaahhh
by: Anonymous

i know someone who works for 8 o clock coffee, and actually, they do buy some of their coffee from places that use fair trade. just because theyre not certified, doesn't mean they treat their pickers badly. you should definitely continue to buy 8 o' clock coffee
Dec 27, 2007
 About Fair Trade Coffee
by: Coffee Detective

Hi, 'Anonymous',

I agree with you regarding Fair Trade. There are now dozens of great coffee choices out there which are Fair Trade Certified. And the few extra pennies you are asked to pay are insignificant compared to the good that the Fair Trade process brings to coffee growing families and communities.

You can learn more about organic and fair trade coffee here.
Dec 27, 2007
 Fair Trade Coffee
by: Anonymous

Yeah, but EOC is not fair trade coffee. It would be nice to have a coffee with the great taste of EOC (my all time favorite!) without the guilt. "If you want peace, work for justice."

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