What is Big Bang?
The lighter half of Peet's, and the one to reach for if the dark roast is too much.
Peet's publishes a medium roast, 100% arabica, ground, in 18oz bags, describes it as smooth with a balanced richness and its most loved medium roast, and states the ground coffee suits drip or a Chemex with whole bean recommended for espresso, cold brew or French press. The name refers to Alfred Peet having been described as the big bang of craft coffee, the one who started it all.
A medium roast from a roaster known for dark ones
It exists because Peet's flagship is heavier than a lot of people want.
Major Dickason's is a genuinely dark roast: intense, heavy, roast-forward. It is what the brand is for and it is also more than some people want at eight in the morning.
A medium roast keeps more of the coffee's own sweetness and acidity and less of the roast character. It is gentler, and in a drip machine it gives a cup that tastes of coffee rather than of roasting.
It is still a Peet's medium, which sits darker than a speciality roaster's medium. Next to Stumptown's Homestead, published on cherry and orange, this will read as considerably more roast-driven.
Ground only, and aimed at drip
Peet's again tells you what not to use it for.
As with the ground Major Dickason's, Peet's states this suits drip or a Chemex and points at whole bean for espresso, cold brew and press. That is the correct advice for a single grind size and it is worth crediting.
It does mean a medium roast, which is the one that most rewards fresh grinding, is being sold pre-ground. Lighter roasts hold their aromatics less securely than dark ones once ground, so the gap between this and a freshly ground medium is larger than it would be for the dark blend.
If you own a grinder, buying the whole bean Major Dickason's and a bag of something lighter from another roaster will serve you better than this will.
What the name is doing
It is a claim about the roaster's place in history rather than about the coffee.
Alfred Peet taught the founders of Starbucks and set the direction American coffee took for decades. Calling him the big bang of craft coffee is not an unreasonable description, and Peet's attributes it to others rather than claiming it outright.
It tells you nothing about what is in the bag, which is worth noticing on a product where the tasting information amounts to "smooth with a balanced richness".
Is it worth it?
Worth it as an everyday drip coffee, with the usual pre-ground caveat.
It is smoother and easier than the flagship, widely available and consistent, and 5,903 reviews suggest people keep buying it.
Peet's publishes no origin, farm, altitude, varietal, processing method, roast date, certification or tasting notes. Two 18oz bags is a lot of pre-ground coffee to work through.
Who should buy it (and who should not)
Buy it if Peet's dark roast is too heavy for you.
It suits a drip machine, a household that takes coffee with milk, and anybody who wants the brand without the intensity.
Do not buy it for espresso or press, which the maker advises against. Do not buy it if you grind fresh, where a whole bean medium from a roaster that publishes its origins is better value. And open one bag at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Bang lighter than Major Dickason's?
Yes. Big Bang is a medium roast and Major Dickason's is dark.
Why is it called Big Bang?
Peet's says some have described Alfred Peet as the big bang of craft coffee, the one who started it all.
Can I use it for espresso?
Peet's says no and recommends whole bean for espresso. The grind is set for drip.
What does it taste like?
Peet's publishes smooth with a balanced richness. That describes body rather than flavour, and no tasting notes are given.
How much do you get?
Two 18oz bags.
