This post is part of our Battle of the Brands feature. Let us know which brand you prefer, and check out other Battle of the Brands posts.
Drinkers of fine coffee may turn their noses up at Folgers or Maxwell House, but these two brands have been household names for decades. And they're not the just offering plain, old coffee for the commoners anymore. They've both added a variety of coffees to their product mixes in an effort to lure more upscale (picky? elitist?) coffee drinkers to their brands.
Folgers, one of the Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) family of products, has added roasts such as Black Silk, French Roast, Gourmet Supreme, and House Blend. They've also got a line of flavored coffees that include Crème Brulee, Vanilla Biscotti, and Caramel Drizzle. You will also find instant cappuccino in French Vanilla and Mocha Chocolate flavors, and the trusty old plain instant coffee is still available. I've had it, and it's not all that bad when you're in a pinch!
Maxwell House, a part of Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT), has also added a variety of roasts and flavors to its lineup of coffees. The roasts include Master Blend, Columbian Supreme, Breakfast Blend, and House Lite. The flavors are limited to Vanilla or Hazelnut. Just like Folgers, Maxwell House still offers its old-fashioned instant coffee.
Vote in our poll for Folgers or Maxwell House as your preferred brand, and let us know in the comments why you love it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-29-2008 @ 7:53AM
Buck said...
On several occassions, I've "tried" Folgers. YUCK! It's like drinking burnt peanut water! I've been a Maxwell House fan ever since the A&P stores closed here and I couldn't get the "Red Circle" brand of theirs. I prefer the "Master Blend", two heaping scoops (closer to 4 regular) for 8 cups. Just the smell of it dripping, the old-fashion way awakens the senses. ;-) If the wife buys any other version or brand, I take it back and exhange it for MY "coffee", LOL!
4-29-2008 @ 1:35PM
jan said...
I love Folgers Coffee Singles, I have a coffee maker and don't even use it! I just use the coffee singles (they are like tea bags), the taste is great. Although, it is not up to dunkin donuts, it is still pretty good.
5-04-2008 @ 2:08PM
John said...
Folgers has a wonderful flavor which I have not detected in maxwell house
5-06-2008 @ 9:31AM
Kevin said...
I love Maxwell House. Ever since they changed to 100% Arabica beans last year, it beats out Folgers everytime. Maxwell House - Good to the last drop, litterally :)
5-22-2008 @ 7:37PM
Carolyn said...
I hate the Arabica beans!!! They're horrible. and cheap tasting. I didn't even realize they had made the change until I tasted it, and thought something was wrong with the water or coffee maker. YUK!
Ever since they came out with them I've switched, after 18 years of Maxwell House, to FOLGERS! Folgers 100% Columbian is perfect!
5-22-2008 @ 7:41PM
Carolyn said...
PS-The Master Blend was my favorite, but we can't get it here anymore, it's very hard to find. It's been replaced with those horrible cheap Arabica beans!
10-07-2008 @ 1:10PM
Robert said...
Maxwell House all the way, Folgers tastes like stale burnt coffee. Since switching to 100% arabica beans it's even better.
Arabica Beans are more expensive btw.
12-11-2008 @ 11:06AM
JT FABULOUS said...
Folgers is the way! Maxwell house is nasty. It tastes way too bland, Folgers has ALL THE FLAVOR! Especially the dark roasts like french and black silk. Smooth!!!! You can smell it brewing through the whole house! Can't say that for maxwell gross. My fiance Dave likes Maxwell house but I think it tastes like somethings wrong with the water!! STALE. NO SMELL. NOT MUCH FLAVOR.
10-12-2009 @ 3:40PM
Chris B said...
All this "Maxwell House" is nasty "Folgers" is nasty nonsense is garbage. No wonder the world's in such bad shape. It's like asking who do you vote for when everyone's a stinking Republican or Democrat. There's no difference, the lobbyists run the show. On to the coffee and end rant, Same thing here. It's processed cheap consumer coffee and there is a little but noticable difference between the two. I prefer Maxwell House. Play on "Fan Boys".
1-30-2010 @ 7:26AM
Nova Terata said...
Arabica is simply the name of the species of coffee that has been desired and traded since antiquity. Another species: Robusta grows on the ground anywhere, has more caffeine, and almost universally tastes worse than Arabica beans, hence its presence in mass produced pre-ground tins of cheap coffee. 100% Colombian simply beans the beans are from Colombia, they are either Arabica or Robusta. If you went into any coffee shop and bought Colombian it would be 100% Arabica along with all the other coffee there, only cheap coffee uses Robusta. If you preferred the flavor it probably had to do with other factors unless you simply like your coffee as bitter as possible, in that case I recommend Chickory.
7-10-2010 @ 6:44PM
Moebius said...
Both of these brands... disgusting! Both of them are way high in the acid levels vs the flavor levels. Its all in how long the beans were roasted for and how rip they were when they were picked. Starbucks all the way. It has the perfect timing for the perfect flavor!
12-05-2011 @ 2:21AM
Adopted American said...
To clarify for all, there are only two types of coffee beans--arabica and robusta. Nearly all brand name coffees contain 100% arabica beans. Robusta beans are cheaper quality and price beans, mostly from Vietnam and Africa and are used in cheaper blend coffees.
Columbian, Supremo, Javan, Guatemalan, Ethiopian, etc. are typically 100% arabica variety. 100% Colombian means the arabica beans come from Colombia, exclusively. That's all--just good marketing.
There are good quality arabica and lesser quality arabica. Coffee testers select the beans, by lot, based on sensory evaluation. Starbucks, for example, will select and pay for the highest quality. Folgers and Maxwell House are just good, run-of-the-mill store brand coffees. They have a broadbased appeal as they aren't too strong, too weak and most importantly are consistent.