Supermarket ground coffee taste test picks value winners

Source: independent.ie

TL;DR

The story at a glance

Katy McGuinness tests ground coffees from Irish supermarkets like Tesco and Lidl to see if they can replace pricey takeaway habits. The review highlights some best and worst options, with Tesco's Finest Sumatra Mandheling praised for its rich taste and Lidl's blend noted as decent value. It's reported now amid rising coffee costs and a push for home brewing.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-reviews/the-supermarket-ground-coffee-taste-test-a-surprisingly-good-coffee-for-the-price-but-it-wont-excite-a-coffee-snob/a75460563.html)

Key points

Details and context

The piece starts by noting how takeaway coffee habits have grown expensive, suggesting supermarket ground coffee as a fix – though the test shows mixed results.[[2]](https://muckrack.com/katy-mcguinness/articles)

Tesco's entry stands out for specific origin (Sumatra Mandheling) and positive descriptors like "rich and intense," making it a strong budget pick at that price point.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-reviews/the-supermarket-ground-coffee-taste-test-a-surprisingly-good-coffee-for-the-price-but-it-wont-excite-a-coffee-snob/a75460563.html)

Lidl's lacks origin details, which may explain the "not exciting" verdict, but it's still called surprisingly good value – typical for her series on everyday supermarket items.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-reviews/the-supermarket-ground-coffee-taste-test-a-surprisingly-good-coffee-for-the-price-but-it-wont-excite-a-coffee-snob/a75460563.html)

Key quotes

"A surprisingly good coffee for the price – but it won’t excite a coffee snob." – Katy McGuinness on Lidl's blend.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-reviews/the-supermarket-ground-coffee-taste-test-a-surprisingly-good-coffee-for-the-price-but-it-wont-excite-a-coffee-snob/a75460563.html)

"Our testers liked this Indonesian coffee, offering rich and intense flavour, with notes..." – on Tesco Finest Sumatra Mandheling.[[1]](https://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-reviews/the-supermarket-ground-coffee-taste-test-a-surprisingly-good-coffee-for-the-price-but-it-wont-excite-a-coffee-snob/a75460563.html)

Why it matters

Supermarket coffees can cut costs on daily brews amid high takeaway prices, showing quality varies by origin and branding. Readers get practical picks like Tesco's for better home coffee without specialty spend. Watch McGuinness's future tests for updates on prices or new blends, though results stay subjective.