Thermos Sportsman Mug

Review - Sportsman 20 Ounce Travel Mug by Thermos

This mug is nicely made - it has a plastic inner lining with a tapered plastic bottom. The center portion on the outside of the mug is made of textured stainless steel. This mug is definitely made to last.

In between the walls of the mug is foam insulation, not the usual dead air space you find in most low-cost mugs. This mug can be purchased for around $6.00, so it is a great choice for the economy-minded shopper. The fact that it is durable is definitely an asset when you are outdoors.

I found that the tapered bottom worked nicely in my cup holder in both my cars. The only time I found that it gave me any trouble was when I tried to put it into my cup holder in my folding chair I use when I go fishing. The mug was too top heavy when filled to capacity and it just kept trying to fall out. I guess you can't have everything!

I tested the mug on how well it kept my dark roast coffee warm and was pleasantly surprised. The mug kept my coffee at a drinkable temperature for 2 hours. After that, the temperature seems to fall off rather quickly. See the chart below for details.



I noticed that due to the foam insulation it holds temperature better than some of the dead air space insulated mugs I have tested. It does lose temperature more quickly in a cold breeze outside, though.

The mug lid seals with a half-turn of the lid. You can place the opening can be placed wherever you want it by placing the opening directly across from where you want it to be, then rotating it on to the cup. This allows you to have the handle in a left or right handed position.

Seattle's Best 6th Avenue Bistro

Review of 6th Avenue Bistro by Seattle's Best

When you smell the ground beans of 6th Avenue Bistro, you immediately notice a rich, smoky aroma. This is a dark roast coffee with a lot of depth to the flavor.


When you first taste this brew, you notice that it hits the entire tongue with a very smooth, rich flavor. Despite its depth, it is not overpowering. It pairs very well with good milk chocolate as well as breakfast foods such as quiche. So it doesn't matter whether you are serving it with a desert or a meal, this coffee will not disappoint.

I don't normally enjoy coffee when it is cold, but I have taken it in my mug on fishing trips and 6th Avenue is still tasty when it is being drank by a cold Colorado lake.

I am especially impressed by the fact that the rich flavor lingers on the tongue for a while, allowing you to savor the smoky flavor of its dark roast. Most coffees that linger this long on the tongue seem bitter to me - but not this brew!

I have tasted this coffee several times as an Americano. If you like smooth, rich, dark roast coffee, this is an ideal choice. I personally recommend this coffee for those who want an exceptional cup to start their morning.

Thanks for reading, and may your next cup be the best!

Gevalia Mocca Java

Mocca Java by Gevalia

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This coffee is a special blend consisting of “Moka” Harar beans from Ethiopia and aged Sumatra beans. The blending of the two makes for a very unique coffee. Like a lot of people out there, I assumed that the title Mocca Java meant that it was a flavored coffee, containing a chocolate flavoring. I was wrong.

I brewed this up as an Americano. The aroma of the brewed beans produced a nice aroma that didn’t make my house smell like the local coffee shop. Because of this, I wondered whether the coffee would be lacking in flavor. I just had to taste it and see what the folks at Gevalia had provided in this roast.

The first taste of this coffee has a hint of a chocolate flavor to it, perhaps this is due to the Moka beans. All I know is that this is what I tasted. It is a very pleasant surprise, indeed.

The coffee hits the back of the tongue with a pleasant bitterness. When tasted without any sweetener, it is very bright and gets your attention. I added a small amount of sweetener and was pleased with the light chocolate flavor I found.

The mouth feel of this coffee is pleasant, and it lingers on the tongue just briefly – just long enough for you to appreciate its flavor. This seems to be very typical of Gevalia’s coffees. I found myself looking forward to the next sip of this blend – it is that good.

I think this coffee is really great for people like myself, who find that the moca that they pick up at their local Starbucks or Seattle’s Best shop is just a little too rich with chocolate flavor. This blend gives you a natural chocolate flavor that comes from the beans themselves.

This has to be one of the best offerings I have ever tasted from Gevalia. The flavor was so good that I have got to order some more.

Thanks for reading, and as always, may your next cup be the best!