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GeekWire’s 2016 Happy Belly Coffee Taste Test: What the Record Shows

GeekWire described a 2016 blind test of Amazon Happy Belly coffee against Starbucks, Folgers and Stumptown. The available video description does not disclose who won.
From TheFinanceBase Team2 min to read
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GeekWire’s July 29, 2016 video describes a blind taste test of Amazon’s Happy Belly coffee against Stumptown, Folgers and Starbucks. But the accessible video description does not name a winner or give the results, so it cannot support a claim about which coffee tasters preferred.

What GeekWire’s taste test compared

The historical comparison put Amazon’s private-label Happy Belly coffee alongside three familiar brands: Stumptown, Folgers and Starbucks. GeekWire’s video listing calls the tasting blind and is dated July 29, 2016. Its description does not identify the coffees’ specific roasts or disclose the test procedure, participant count, or outcome. GeekWire’s video listing

Who won?

The available record does not establish a winner. The video page could not be accessed, and its surfaced description contains no results. Naming a winning brand, describing tasters’ reactions, or assigning a preference would go beyond what the source supports.

Why another coffee taste test does not settle it

Folgers published a separate comparison of Folgers Black Silk and Starbucks French Roast. The company says its double-blind test took place at facilities in eight metropolitan areas, with interviews conducted October 14–31, 2022; it also says tasting order was rotated. That is Folgers’ account of a different test, involving different coffees and conducted six years after GeekWire’s comparison. It does not reveal the result of the 2016 Happy Belly test. Folgers’ test description

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The brands and products have changed since 2016

A 2016 result, even if recovered, would describe the particular coffees served then—not every product those brands sell today. For example, Starbucks announced Sunsera Blend on February 27, 2025, describing it as a Brazil-and-Colombia blonde roast with bright citrus and toasted almond notes. It was not part of GeekWire’s 2016 comparison. Starbucks’ Sunsera Blend announcement

Amazon search results have surfaced Happy Belly French Vanilla Flavored Ground Coffee, but a current listing’s availability and product details are not established here. Do not assume it is the same coffee used in GeekWire’s blind test. Amazon’s ground-coffee category

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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How to make a useful comparison now

If you want to compare coffees for your own budget and taste, choose products with similar roast styles and brew them the same way. Record the price per ounce, roast date if shown, and your impressions of aroma, acidity, bitterness and body. A blind tasting can reduce brand-label bias, but your result will apply to the coffees and brewing conditions you tested—not establish a universal winner.

Quick Recap

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Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish; One 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
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Bestseller No. 2
Amazon Fresh, Just Bright Whole Bean Coffee Light Roast, 32 Oz
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Light roast with a crisp and clean flavor; One 32-ounce bag of whole bean coffee; 100% Arabica coffee grown in Central and South America
$17.24
SaleBestseller No. 3
Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast, 12 Ounce
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Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish; One 12-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
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Amazon Fresh, Colombia Ground Coffee, Medium Roast, 32 Oz
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Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish; One 32-ounce bag of ground coffee
$16.32
Bestseller No. 5
Amazon Fresh, Organic Fair Trade Peru Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast, 12 Oz
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Best Value
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Rank #4
Amazon Fresh, Colombia Ground Coffee, Medium Roast, 32 Oz
  • Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish
  • One 32-ounce bag of ground coffee
  • 100% Arabica coffee grown in Colombia
  • Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
  • Shown as a serving suggestion
Rank #3
Sale
Amazon Fresh Colombia Whole Bean Coffee, Medium Roast, 12 Ounce
  • Balanced, full-bodied medium roast with a smooth finish
  • One 12-ounce bag of whole bean coffee
  • 100% Arabica coffee grown in Colombia
  • Roasted and packed in the U.S.A.
  • Shown as a serving suggestion
  • Compare like with like: a flavored coffee and an unflavored dark roast are not a fair style match.
  • Use the same grinder, coffee-to-water ratio, water and brewing method for each sample.
  • Have someone conceal the labels and vary the serving order if possible.
  • Check current package size, price and availability rather than relying on old listings.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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