Maxwell House is a big name when it comes to inexpensive coffee brands. In recent times, you can see people raising doubts about the taste of Maxwell House coffee. Has it gone bad suddenly or has it always been like this?
Why is Maxwell House coffee so bad? Maxwell House coffee is not good as freshly ground and brewed coffee. Maxwell House coffee is a combination of both Arabica and Robusta beans (unless mentioned otherwise) which gives it more caffeine and less smoothness. The fact that it isn’t organic doesn’t help either. When you compare this 100% pure Arabica beans ground coffee, it simply doesn’t measure up.
How Bad is Maxwell House Coffee?
To expand on our simple answer, Maxwell House is only bad when you compare it with freshly brewed regular coffee.
But among instant and inexpensive coffee you can get in your grocery store, Maxwell House still is one of the top brands out there.
One of the main reasons why Maxwell House coffee isn’t as fine as regular brewed coffee is because of the beans and the roasting process.
Maxwell House sticks to light roasting which means your coffee beans will have more caffeine content. Properly made fresh coffee, in most cases, will be medium roast or dark roast which gives it a nice taste profile.
One more reason is the mix of Arabica and Robusta bean. Arabica coffee beans are the most sought-after beans by coffee lovers. It is expensive and also has a smoother taste. Robusta beans, on the other hand, are cheaper and come with a crude taste profile.
Maxwell House instant coffee mixes both these beans unless it is explicitly mentioned on the package that the coffee you’re getting is 100% Arabica or Robusta coffee bean.
When you compare a coffee made with 100% Arabica beans to a cheap Maxwell House coffee, then you will find the latter to be inferior in every possible aspect.
Does this mean Maxwell House is 100% bad coffee?
Not at all.
Maxwell House offers coffee that is 100% Arabica. You can find single-source coffee as well.
Coffee made from these options will be a lot tastier than the expensive ones. You will find them to be smoother and won’t have the harsh tone that Robusta beans are known for.
So yes, when you go for the better options at Maxwell House, your taste buds will thank you.
Which Coffee is Better Folgers or Maxwell House?
Folgers is a household name just like Maxwell House. If you have to compare Maxwell House with another big boy brand, then it has to be Folgers. Enough beating around the bush, let’s get to the question at hand.
Is Folgers better than Maxwell House? For an average instant coffee drinker, Folgers will give a better overall flavor profile when compared to Maxwell House. This is not to say Folgers is a much better option, but it edges out Maxwell House coffee. If you’re looking for a fresh cup of coffee with the best flavor, the Folgers is your friend.
Do keep in mind that you’re not going to see a big difference between the two brands when it comes to taste.
The similarity in taste is mainly due to the mix of Arabica beans and Robusta beans in both brands. Unless specified, you should assume that the instant coffee is a mix of both Arabica and Robusta beans.
The difference in taste occurs when your coffee is from a single source or a single bean type. If you’re comparing coffee from Ethiopia and Sumatra, then you can have a winner.
In this case, both Folgers and Maxwell House make their coffee by combining coffee from multiple sources and multiple origins. So you’re going to end up with more or less a similar tasting coffee. But like we said, Folgers wins by a small margin.
When it comes to decaf coffee, Maxwell Coffee beats Folgers fair and square. The taste is better and if you’re looking for a cheap decaf, Maxwell House wins.
Are There Chemicals in Maxwell House Coffee?
Maxwell House does not have organic certification for its best-selling coffees. This means there is a good chance that they have procured their coffee beans from farms that use fertilizers and pesticides. Though chemicals could be present, their amounts will be very little to consider them a problem.
Maxwell House does not have any sustainability certification or even fairtrade certification which means they don’t care about the source from which they get their coffee.
Related Read: Is Starbucks Coffee Organic?
If you’re super concerned about the chemicals in your coffee, don’t be.
Most of the chemicals on your coffee beans will be removed during the washing and the drying process. When the roasting is done, there will be very few leftovers of chemicals which are hardly going to be a problem for anyone.
Is Maxwell House Coffee A Good Coffee? – Closing Thoughts
Maxwell House instant coffee is fine for most average coffee drinkers who don’t care too much about their coffee.
If you just want a load of caffeine in the morning before you run off to work, then Maxwell House will be a good fit in your daily routine. Even Folgers can’t beat its aroma.
But if you’re a coffee connoisseur, then you’re not going to be impressed. Maxwell House makes average coffee that is a combination of Arabica and Robusta beans from various locations. Instant coffee makes it even worse.
If you’re looking for a better option between Maxwell coffee and Folgers, then we would recommend going the Folgers route as it can give you a better taste for the price.
