CR not impressed by coffee blends

Earlier in the month, Consumer Report released its ranking of coffee blends.  The CR crew evaluated 37 blends of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees, assigning each on its scale of good, very good, and excellent.  This year's results?  Not good.In fact, no blend was assigned a grade of very good or excellent.  CR notes that supply of Colombian coffee tightened in the past year, and premiums on coffee from other parts forced roasters to skimp on quality at the consumer's expense.  Evaluators felt this reduced supply and increased price resulted in poorer coffee blends than in past years - so that no coffee blend today could be called excellent or very good.Coffee blends are the most popular kind of coffee.  Rather than confine the coffee to a specific estate or even region, the blend combines flavor accents from different sources to recipe for a more balanced and full coffee taste experience.  Popular blends usually go by the roaster or cafe's House Blend or Signature Blend, or else the infamous Mocha Java blend.Top on CR's list...Starbucks House Blend, receiving a score of good.  Evaluators warned consumers not to count on popular brand names to be selling the best coffees available.  There is some merit to the smaller roaster that can demonstrate where quality is not being compromised, even if it results in a slightly more expensive whole bean.  Personally, if I have to face higher prices on coffee to maintain the same level of quality, I will pay them.