Despite my few years of working as a barista in the past, I definitely don’t consider myself a coffee expert of any sort. In fact, I am someone who loves the flavor of a generic-tasting dark roast. What is important to me, however, is the quality of the coffee I’m drinking. I am willing to spend a few extra bucks on coffee from a local roaster, organic coffee beans, or just a quality cup of coffee made with care.
So when I caught wind of a company called Cometeer that not only works with some of the best roasters in the country, but also delivers the brewed end product using flash-frozen pucks, I was more than a little intrigued.
The company’s frozen coffee pucks contain 26 grams of coffee, and are brewed with Cometeer’s proprietary extraction process. To preserve the flavor and aroma, the coffee extract is flash-frozen at negative 321 degrees. The pucks, which are individually packed in aluminum capsules, can be stored in a freezer for up to 18 months.
Cometeer is strict with its verbiage when it comes to describing its product, and for good reason. Its coffee pucks are neither instant coffee nor coffee concentrate, but just flash-frozen, coffee extract. Instant coffees can have that old, and even burnt, flavor. Coffee concentrates, in my opinion, can be too acidic and make me feel jittery.
The company shipped me five boxes, with each 8-puck box offering a different roast:
- Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Timor (decaf)
- Counter Culture Coffee, Indido (light)
- Equator, Mocha Java (dark)
- George Howell Coffee, Alchemy (dark)
- GGET, Chelbesa (light)
In total, I received 40 coffee pucks, which were kept frozen in the shipping process with dry ice. The instructions had me run hot water over the capsules for 10 seconds, peel the lid back, and plop the frozen coffee puck into a glass mug. I then poured 8 oz of boiling water over the puck and, just like that, I had a fresh cup of hot coffee.
As a dark coffee lover, my favorite roasts were the Mocha Java (dark roast) and Alchemy (medium roast). I loved how convenient and consistent the coffee was. I’ve never figured out the perfect ratio for making french press or pour-over coffee, and I enjoyed not having to measure anything except for the water when making Cometeer’s coffee.
I’ve avoided using a Keurig due to its plastic pods, but appreciated that Comeeter’s 100 percent aluminum capsules are fully recyclable. Keurig pods must be separated apart to be recycled, but the aluminum pods have no plastic and can just be dropped in the recycling bin.
When it comes to price, each puck costs $2, which ends up being cheaper than a coffee from a coffeeshop. However, using the pucks ends up being more expensive than making coffee from grounds. In my opinion, the taste and convenience make it worth the price, and see this product as something handy to keep in the freezer.
Although we have officially entered hot coffee season, the pucks would also be a great way to make a quick iced coffee or iced latte. Once the pucks are melted, they can simply be poured over ice and water, or ice and milk.
My boyfriend, the coffee snob between us, thoroughly enjoyed the light roasts and was soon making two cups of the Cometeer a day. A friend who I offered the Alchemy dark roast thought the flash-frozen coffee was freshly brewed in my kitchen.
This week, Cometeer raised $35 million in a Series B round of funding, and plans to use the new capital will be used to increase manufacturing capabilities and expand its relationship with roasters. They’ve also dropped the waitlist from its website so now anyone can order a box of coffee pucks, so if you want to try Cometeer, the first box purchased costs $48 ($64 after your first order) for four boxes containing eight capsules and free shipping.
What’s the point of calling your product sustainable if it has to be kept frozen? Freezing takes energy.
If you want good instant coffee try Starbucks Via. No refrigeration needed.