Al Ameed Coffee (Medium Roast with Cardamom, Pack - 1)

Great flavor, quality, and texture. Has just the right of cardamom too.

Stopped to pick up some take-out at a little falafel place next to the market I frequent. While I waited for my order, decided to try a Turkish coffee. I LOVED it. The next time I shopped at the market, I made a point of stopping by the falafel place just so I could have one of their great coffees. The owner showed me how to make it, gave me one of their single-serving cooking pots, and sold me a box of Alameed coffee.While my husband continued drinking his normal couple of cups of regular coffee every morning, I enjoyed my little private cup of Alameed. After purchasing a much larger pot (can't remember how to spell the name), I could finally fix enough to insist he share some. He was hooked. Every morning, it's become a looked-forward-to ritual to have our cup of Turkish coffee out on our back deck.After about 1 1/2 yrs of purchasing Alameed from the falafel shop, the owner suddenly switched to another brand. I had never used anything but Alameed. The girl behind the counter assured me I'd like it just as well. My experience was limited, so I assumed they must all taste pretty much the same.The new brand was TERRIBLE! It tasted like over-roasted (burnt) espresso. None of the intriguing, subtle flavor we'd been enjoying for so many months. I let them know it was awful--and apparently others did, too. I asked them to please go back to Alameed. The next time I came in to check, they had replaced the terrible brand with something else. This one was from a little producer in San Francisco. It was in a coated paper bag and said "The Real Stuff" on the outside. I was told this was really good. By this time my confidence had waned, but we gave it a try. Same result. It was just as disappointing as the other substitutes. I kept requesting they go back to stocking Alameed. I finely learned the owner was now operating full time out of his other location in the next city, and would probably not be changing the brand he was currently ordering.I finally found Alameed on Amazon and ordered a few boxes. Ahh! It was wonderful to return to this fantastic little bit of pleasure each morning. While I was searching for Alameed on the internet, I noticed that Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi was touted as the most popular brand in Turkey, and was highly rated. (Alameed actually had a higher rating, but far fewer had tried it.) Out of curiosity, I ordered a container of Efendi just to see how it compared with Alameed. Well, it was very good. My husband and I agree that both Alameed and Efendi are by far the best, but we'd rate Alameed at the top.What makes Alameed and Efendi better? To begin with, the others were all over-roasted, harsh, and bitter. Any hint of cardamom was lost. Even before you brew it, you can tell by the color and the smell. When you open the container, there's a warm, rich, and pleasant smell to both Alameed and Efendi. Their color is similar to a milk-chocolat rather than a dark chocolate. I believe what may make Alameed the best is the perfect amount of cardamom. I found I had to add a pinch of cardamom to Efendi.Our son comes up from Oakland fairly frequently to visit for the weekend. He enjoyed the Turkish coffee enough that he bought some Alameed and began fixing it at home. The shop he purchased it from was out one time, but they also carried Efendi, so he picked up a container. His reaction was similar to ours. Efendi was close, but not as good as Alameed. (Just a note. I fix ours with sugar. Our son drinks his with no sugar.)If you've never purchased Turkish coffee, I suggest you go right to the best and get Alameed. If you've been purchasing a brand you're not really satisfied with, order a box of Alameed and you'll love it. If you've been ordering Efendi and are happy with it, try a box of Alameed and I bet you'll find it's even better.

Dark roast came but was delicious ( with cardamom)

Great quality and taste

Must love cardamom. I can give it 5 stars for quality, but in the taste category (and overall rating) I am giving it 4 stars. I know this is a preference thing, rather than a quality thing. So if you really like cardamom then go for it. I like cardamom, but this is rather strong. I taste that more than the coffee itself. If I could at least still taste the dark coffee, then I would like this a lot more. If you like strong cardamom then you will be pleased with this. If you want to try this anyway, know that the quality is quite good. I plan to add in some supplemental dark roast without cardamom to see if I can get a more balanced flavor. I never add cream or sugar to my coffee, and I find I need both to mellow out the cardamom.I love a good cup of Turkish coffee. I have learned to look for dark roast, as many of the offerings available tend to default to a light, very green tasting roast. Anytime I have had it in an restaurant, it has always been dark roast, which is my preference for coffee anyway. The darker the better. Black. No sugar. No cream.This small bag (in a box) of coffee is powdery as expected. Dark and rich smelling. I have the "with cardamom" option. Like I said.. the flavor is robust. I think I may cut in some fine ground dark coffee, or see if they offer a dark roast without it. I like it enough to finish it, but likely wont buy it again. Yet, I like the quality of the brand enough to want a non cardamom option.I prepare it as it should. I use an Ibrik over a gas burner. I am not good at making it. My foaming skill is not as good as I want, but the coffee at least tastes pretty good. I love strong, bold flavor of Turkish coffee. I never water it down.I really like that this company has so many offerings-- dark, medium, light roasts, some with cardamom, some without. I think I will try the French Roast so long as it doesnt have cardamom (or at least less of it). Otherwise will try another brand.

I must say, I absolutely love Turkish coffee, and this particular brand delivers an incredibly rich and delightful taste that is hard to beat. The flavor is top-notch, and it has become a favorite in my household.However, I couldn't help but feel a bit taken aback by the hefty $20 price tag for this product. While the quality is undoubtedly excellent, I was determined to find a more budget-friendly option. Luckily, my search led me to a local Middle Eastern market where I discovered the same brand, offering a wider range of flavors, all at a much more reasonable price of around $6.It does make me wonder if the seller is simply buying these products from their local market and then reselling them on Amazon at a significant markup. Considering the price difference, I can't help but contemplate exploring alternative sources myself.Despite my reservations about the cost, I can't deny the deliciousness of this coffee. The flavor alone makes it worth trying, but for regular consumption, I'll definitely be on the lookout for more affordable options. If budget is not a concern for you, this coffee is a definite winner, but for those looking to save a few bucks, a little research might lead to a more cost-effective purchase.