The Kirkland Brand Coffee That Costco Shoppers Can't Agree On

The story behind Costco's Kirkland Signature brand name is the tale of a company striving to build value with private-label goods. For the most part, we think that Costco is successful on that front. And yet, from time to time, the brand perhaps falls short. We previously discussed Costco's Mt. Comfort coffee, a brand that has customers seriously divided, and today, we're looking at a Kirkland Signature coffee that is inspiring similar ambivalence in the review section. Kirkland Signature Organic Sumatra Whole Bean Coffee seems like a worthy product on paper. At $12.50 per pound, we were intrigued, especially with what we know about Kirkland Signature reliability.

Unfortunately, shoppers can't quite agree on whether this coffee is a hit or a miss. Out of over 750 reviews, a full 102 are one-star rants. Over 400 folks give the coffee five stars, but there are also hits at every star level in between. What gives? One representative poor review took issues with the very labeling of the product: "It is a medium roast, not dark, and tastes completely different–sort of like I could imagine luke-warm curdly [sic] dishwater might taste. Such a bummer!! I returned the coffee for a refund." 

Interestingly, one glowing review offered a counterpoint to complaints about quality, but agreed about the roast itself: "I love specialty coffees roasted and brewed by my local coffee shops here in Portland. This is the only Costco coffee that approximates my local coffee. It is the lightest roast of all the Costco coffees I have tried, despite [its] labeling as medium dark. This is a wonderful choice [if] you're used to fancy pants coffee."

The essence of coffee, to some extent, is in the experience of the beholder. How you grind your beans and what brewing method you use can dramatically change the flavor of your cuppa, to say nothing of the countless creamer options and whether you use brown or white sugar in your coffee. Sumatran coffee, from Asia, is known for having an earthy essence, low acidity, a thick, rich body, and a sweet finish. Costco's Sumatra coffee comes from an organic co-op in Central Aceh, Takengon, and promises notes of chocolate, wine, and sweet tobacco. 

Many reviewers of the coffee, however, took issue with the fact that the coffee was not as dark a roast as advertised. This was a commonality shared between objectively good and objectively negative reviews. It doesn't help matters that, anecdotally, this coffee replaced a different Kirkland Signature Sumatra coffee that was allegedly a better price and better quality, to boot.

Depending on how much of a coffee snob you know yourself to be, you might want to consider giving these beans a try so that you can make your own judgment. As some reviewers pointed out, they definitely aren't the cheapest, so be prepared to take that cost on the chin if you end up disliking the product. That said, this Kirkland Signature coffee definitely has its appreciators, and you might end up being among them. Just don't be completely surprised if you end up in the smaller, but very vocal camp of detractors.