How do you like your morning brew? When it comes to coffee, we enjoy it filtered, instant, dripped and pressed but have you ever had it from a bag? Neither had we, until we tried Lyons coffee bags.
55 million cups of coffee are drunk every single day in the UK*. That’s a lot of coffee. Most of us can’t function without our coffee, turning to the kettle for our daily brew as soon as we wake up, or else grabbing one on the go. But how do you prepare yours? And why? For my husband, making his morning coffee is a ritual which involves freshly ground coffee using a brand of beans he’s carefully selected. I, on the other hand, only drink coffee in summer (iced, with almond milk), or over ice cream, ideally in Italy. I am not allowed anywhere NEAR my husband’s coffee-making instruments and I dread it when guests come over and ask for coffee; as I don’t drink it that often, I have only a vague idea how to make it. My first thought when the Lyons Coffee Bags arrived on our doorstep was ‘At last! I can make people actual coffee!’ But was it that easy and more importantly, did it actually taste good?
Each of the coffee bags come in their own foil package, sealed for freshness. They’re made from 100% freshly ground beans and smell amazing – just like freshly ground coffee. The bags are slightly larger than tea bags and according to instructions, they’re best left in a cup of hot water for between 3-4 minutes. The first cup I made, I didn’t let it brew for long enough as I was a little impatient so it was a little watery but I got it right on the second attempt. It turns out that leaving it for exactly the length of time it takes for me to answer the door and go to the toilet is just right. I thought the coffee I made tasted exactly like the one that my husband makes in the morning but what did he think? In his opinion, the coffee bags were better than he expected and a marked improvement on instant coffee although it wasn’t enough to replace his coffee machine (a shame as his coffee machine does make a bit of a mess and takes up more space than it should). Having said that, the coffee bags are diminishing at a remarkable rate so ‘someone’ is using them regularly…
They’re versatile
Whilst I’m not a hardcore coffee fan, I do like having these in the house. They’re so simple to make, they’ve been a brilliant back-up when my husband’s run out of his favourite coffee, and I can really see these becoming a travel staple; we’re often abroad and depending on where we go, the quality of the coffee can be dubious so these will keep everyone happy. I also imagine for those who love festivals and picnics, these will be a GODSEND. Furthermore, if you’ve got a thermos flask then you’re totally sorted for your morning cuppa – just pop one in and head off to work and you can enjoy your caffeine hit as you go.
As well as drinking coffee in the mornings, apparently coffee before a workout can also help you get the most from your training session. If you keep a box of these at work (hidden from other coffee fans of course, they’ll be gone in no time otherwise), then it may be interesting to see if a cheeky cuppa can help improve your fitness.
Each one is individually foil-packaged for freshness and transportability
They taste like good coffee
I’m not a coffee aficionado but if my husband says it’s good coffee, it’s decent coffee. We don’t have instant coffee in the house (do people actually drink that anymore?!) so this is a quality upgrade.
They’re value for money
At £2.60 for a box of 18, that’s a saving of £1.36 with every cup if a regular coffee costs you £1.50. Why wouldn’t you spend the time making your coffee at home?!!
Final Verdict
My favourite way to drink the Lyons Coffee bags is iced. I can leave the bag to brew for several minutes longer than recommended to get a really strong taste and keep it in the fridge for when I need a hit. We tried the No. 3 which is described as ‘Rich & Full Bodied’, but there is also Light & Smooth, Dark & Intense and Decaf version which would probably be my preferred choice as too much caffeine can make me jittery! For many, there’s nothing quite like the indulgence of buying your coffee from a cool little coffee shop (often whilst eyeing up the delicious cakes they no doubt serve), but if you rely on good coffee, then the Lyons Coffee bags are a versatile and handy cupboard staple.
Nothing quite like an afternoon pick-me-up with an easy to make coffee and bite of chocolate
More Information
Who are they for: Ideal for those who want a decent brew when they’re out and about, especially at picnics, festivals, holidays and on the go.
Where from: Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Nisa
How much: £2.60 for a box of 18
Website: www.lyonscoffeeuk.com
*Nielsen Scantrack, August 2016
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