Copper Cow Coffee, Original Vietnamese Pour Over Coffee Kit 5 Count, 7.4 Ounce

Overpriced for poor low quality coffee and packaging not eco friendly.

I do NOT recommend this brand.

1) too much packaging waste…I stopped using KCups years ago for eco reasons and this brand is a ecological faux pas.

2) im a nurse and we love our coffee…as a coffee dependent, I’ve tasted all brands from around the world..this brand is so sub par in taste and quality. Even the Nescafé instant coffee or Folgers and even hospital coffee has more flavor and better quality.

3) low quality filter…there were still some coffee grinds after supposedly finishing the very slow drip.

4) the separate condense milk/sugar creamer packet again…so much package waste.

5) $14.99 for 5 coffee packets + condense milk packets…so overpriced for mediocre quality coffee.

6) there’s a funny aftertaste and this brand is definitely nowhere the taste and quality of the Vietnamese coffee that I love.

7) only bought it out of curiosity from a pop up ad on Facebook and available to purchase from Amazon…tried to get a refund through Amazon and it says this product is not eligible for refund?

I heard about this product on the podcast The Pitch and two of the folks on there are coffee snobs (that’s not a negative BTW) and they raved about this, so I figured I’d dive in. The coffee was easy to make and the instructions are very simple. This seems more like an espresso product than a drip brew, as it recommends 8 oz for “American” style. I put 8 oz in and it was strong. I like strong coffee and the sweetened condensed milk made it extra yummy. Typical coffee drinker, it was gone pretty quick. The flavor was smooth and rich and it smelled really great. I had some friends try it, sipped mine (small sips only – geez), and they loved it and are still talking about it 2 days ;later. I will say it is pricey. The version with the condensed milk in 3.00 a cup; compared to a Venti from Starbucks (~$2.87) it’s more for less but it tastes better than Starbucks. Don’t get me wrong, I like SB too. The big question is, would I buy this again? I would but as a treat for me and not for daily use due to cost. Also, my next cup I’m going to go rogue and probably add 12oz of water. Hey, I’m a guy who likes to maximize my value and break rules 🙂

Revised Review: I loved the classic flavor so much I repurchased the variety pack. The Lavender Lattee and Classic were amazing but the Churro flavor would not drain. No matter my pour method or how much I agitated the grounds it wouldn’t drain. I was left with a bag of water and coffee grounds and have wasted three packets, which is quite a lot of money in the trash.

I reached out to Copper Cow hoping they could just maybe resend me the Churro flavor as it has a delightful smell and I was hoping it was just a defective batch but was informed Amazon must handle the grievance and they don’t supply customer support for Amazon purchases.

Amazon came through clutch and took great care of me but I doubt I’ll be repurchasing.

Just to reiterate the other two varieties I tried poured and tasted amazing so I am giving a solid 3 stars.

I learned about Copper Cow Coffee on Shark Tank. Admittedly, I was completely won over by the presentation, especially with the compliments of the Sharks, especially Daymond’s critique having recently stood in line in Vietnam for a real authentic Vietnamese coffee.

Taste is subjective. That being said, I purchase beans that are freshly roasted to order, using a burr grinder immediately before brewing in a French press. I like my coffee deeply flavored and rich. I prefer dark roast but also enjoy a good city or even an Italian roast. I am not a fan of French roast, however.

I mention my coffee and roast preferences as this coffee if very weak, even brewed at 4 ounce levels, and not fresh at all. I considered that if the coffee was freshly roasted, ground and immediately individually packaged that the individual packaging would retain some freshness even if not as much as freshly ground. I feel that either the quality and roast of the coffee is poor or the method of roasting, grinding and packaging is lacking or both. While the coffee doesn’t taste stale, it also doesn’t have flavor. It tastes similar too what the middle of an open package of pre-ground grocery store coffee would taste. That flavor is not worth $5+ a cup. I pay far less than that for roasted to order fresh beans.

Instructions. Those horribly invisible instructions!

On the outside of the package it says: Tear, Gently Hang, Pour, Squeeze – complete with pictures of tearing off the top off the coffee pouch, spreading open the hanging parts, pouring with a gooseneck kettle and squeezing the package of sweetened condensed milk into a large mug off dark, delicious looking coffee (looks like a good 10 ounces too, so 2 – 3 packets of Copper Cow Coffee!).

Inside of the flap it says: Brew it your way directions, along with a picture of a coffee cup, with illustrations showing American Style (fill 6-8 times) 8oz, Vietnamese Style (fill 2-3 times) 4oz.

On the back of the individual packets it has 4 illustrated steps 1) Tear open filter 2) Gently hang 3) Pour hot water 4) Add creamer to taste.

Cumulatively the instructions make it seem that you can pop open a packet, boil some water, fill up the little open hanging packet 2-8 times, add the creamer and drink.

Even if this coffee would taste good to you, this will not work.

Pour over coffee is a method. (I highly recommend consulting a youtube video or barista as this method is technique driven) A gooseneck kettle is advised/preferred for an easier controlled pour. Drizzle just enough water, just off the boil, over your open hanging packet to moisten the grinds. Allow it to sit for 30-45 seconds. Slowly drizzle just off the boil water over the open hanging packet, starting and stopping to create a very slow and consistent drip. This is cumbersome as the packet is small, square and narrow instead of a nicely spread out cone, but it can be done. It should take 3 – 5 minutes+ to correctly brew your 4-8 ounces of coffee.

I know, I know.. no where does it explain that this is not a quick and easy, almost instant coffee. It does say that this is a classic pour over coffee and shows the gooseneck kettle, both instruct, without instructions, that this coffee is to be brewed using the classic pour over method. The issue being that many, if not most, American coffee drinkers don’t know what the classic pour over method is even if they have heard of it, AND the instructions of filling up the packet 2-8 times is the best way of extracting the least possible amount of flavor out of pre-ground coffee that needs help pulling out any flavor to begin with.

My personal recommendation is to pass on this. If you are interested in pour over coffee, the tools do not need to be pricey. It really is all in the method. The most costly tools are a good burr grinder (which doesn’t have to be a high end burr grinder), good coffee beans (you can buy an entire pound of really good, roasted to order beans for $16 not on sale). Filter your water. Use a faucet or counter filter that results in water that you enjoy drinking. If you want to use the pour over method, do invest in a gooseneck kettle, anything else is going to be frustrating.

If the pour over method sounds too time consuming, too much, too whatever for you consider other methods. I enjoy the ease and boldness of the French Press, however a lot of people like the Clever Dripper, an Aeropress, a Moko Pot (use Google or try r/coffee on reddit to chat with people about what you are looking for in ease of use, taste and cost).

If you are a traveler, going on vacation or otherwise want to be able to have decent coffee away from home there are more delicious alternatives that are more cost effective than Copper Cow.

If you are trying Copper Cow because it sounds interesting, sure, give it a go… maybe also consider looking into alternative brew methods and types/brands of coffee to have some fun exploring your taste and brew preferences. If you are into coffee or just curious, it could be a lot of fun to treat yourself (a variety all at once, something different every week, every month, every few months… whatever fits your life, style, finances, you deserve it!).

If you like it, you like it. You do you.
Happy Brewing!

Not a fan of these to be completely honest. I’m Vietnamese and wanted to support a fellow Vietnamese person with their Viet owned business, but felt like this was made for a diff audience? It’s just coffee grounds in a filter and a packet of condensed milk. Could be good for camping/outdoor setting where you want to make coffee on the go, but the filter/stand thing that it comes in doesn’t adhere to the rim of the cup well and kept falling in itself when I’d pour the hot water over the grounds, and the condensed milk packet would solidify at the bottom of the packet and I’d be unable to get all of it out.