We can’t talk about this coffee without at least mentioning the famous name behind it.
Of course, this brand is named after Bob Marley, the ever-famous Jamaican artist who is considered one of the pioneers of reggae music.
In 2007, Rohan Marley, one of Bob’s eleven children, bought land in Jamaica and wanted to honor his father’s legacy and passion for music and the earth. Thus, the Marley Coffee company was born.
We love the story, but the question remains: the coffee any good? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore in this extensive Marley Coffee Review.
As a quick overview, The Marley Coffee Company offers five different blends. In this article, we’re going to focus our review to just the top three – One Love, Buffalo Solider, and Lively Up.
If the names look familiar it’s because they’re all based on his most famous songs. How cool is that? Now, on with the review!
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s a quick snapshot of the review.
Blend | One Love | Buffalo Soldier | Lively Up |
|---|---|---|---|
Roast | Medium | Medium-Dark | Dark |
Origin | 100% Ethiopian | Unknown | Unknown |
Available In | Ground, Whole Bean, K cup | Ground, K cup | Whole Bean, K cup |
Our Joe Score | 8.8 | 9.4 | 9.1 |
Price |
Marley Coffee Reviews: Top 3 Blends
Now, let’s take a deeper look at their coffee blends, how they taste, and assign them our Joe score.
We don’t know about you, but we can’t help but sing along to the lyrics: “One Love, One Life, Let’s get together and feel alright”. Or is it: “Let's get together and drink one cup,”? Yes, our rendition is horribly out of tune as one would guess, but the feeling of love is the same.
The beans used in this blend originate from Ethiopia which is commonly referred to as “the birthplace of coffee”. To be exact though, they use 100% Ethiopia Yirgacheffe which are known for their sweet flavor and aroma. They have a premium reputation, often being rated as some of the highest quality arabica beans.
This One Love blend is promising to feature a balanced and smooth taste, with hints of berry.
Pros
Cons
Our Joe Rating: 8.8/10
“Buffalo Soldier, in the heart of America”. Aptly named, if you ask us, since ‘in the heart of America’ is exactly where you can enjoy this coffee.
This, their second, best-selling coffee is a medium-dark roast that features dark chocolate notes. Their marketing suggests you should expect an earthy blend that is both sultry and smoky.
Pros
Cons
Our Joe Rating: 9.4/10
We weren’t as familiar with this song as we were with the other two so we’ll spare you the quotations this time.
By this point you’ve probably noticed a pattern. Marley coffee likes their coffee strong. Unlike the previous two, this one is listed as purely a dark roast. This means strap yourself in for an even bolder taste with subtle hints of cocoa, candied fruit and sweet caramel.
Pros
Cons
Our Joe Rating: 9.1/10
Still can’t decide?
If you’ve read through all the reviews above and still can’t decide which one to try, consider the Marley variety pack. We get it, reading about expected flavors doesn’t always help us anticipate what we’re buying either. Thankfully, this pack has you covered, giving you the option to try smaller packs of each before committing to the flavor you want to invest in for every day. The pack contains all three of the above blends, plus their only light roast – “Get Up, Stand Up”. This also would be helpful if you’re buying a mixed pack for the office or expecting company with picky palates.
FAQ
Now that we’ve thoroughly covered the top Marley coffee blends, here are answers to some common questions.
Is Marley Coffee Any Good?
We feel that Marley coffees slide nicely into the higher-than-average ranking in terms of quality, taste, and flavor. They may not as good as some gourmet options out there but the price is very forgiving.
Their coffee fits more into the dark roast categories. So, if you’re used to lighter roasts, their blends may taste too strong and bitter for you. All is not lost. They do offer a light roast that is even more yummy with the addition of a creamer. In general, creamers tend to stifle the bitter tang and bring out the smoky tastes so this is a good way to work through any coffee that might otherwise find itself getting dumped down the drain.
If you are looking for a lighter roast, be sure to check out of recent post on the top light roast coffee blends here.
Is Marley Coffee Organic?
There seems to be some confusion around this because there is conflicting information online. We emailed and Facebook messaged the company directly to try and get the final answer. Unfortunately, after several attempts and several weeks later, we are still waiting for an official reply. We’ll let you know once the answer comes back.
Where is Marley Coffee Grown?
Marley coffee beans are grown in Jamaica (under the Jamaica Blue Mountain label), Ethiopia, and South America. All of their blends are Fairtrade certified, ethically farmed, and sustainably grown through partnership with the One Tree Planted foundation.
Who Owns Marley Coffee?
Rohan Marley, son of the late great Bob Marley, started the company back in 2007 after he bought a farm in Jamaica using royalties from his father’s music. He resigned from the company in June 2016 and it is now owned by the publicly-traded, US-based firm Jammin Java Corp. (1)
Where to Buy Marley Coffee
You can buy Marley coffee in some brick-and-mortar retailers such as Walmart but many choose the convenience and cost savings of going through Amazon.
We hope you enjoyed our Marley coffee review and that you’ve been inspired you to try it out yourself!
Do you have any experience with this coffee? What did you think? Did we get it right or do you disagree? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
References:
(1) https://jamaicans.com/bob-marleys-family-wants-end-to-agreement-with-denver-based-marley-coffee/
