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And Now For More Coffee, The Money Giveaway

This is a sponsored review from BlogHer and Seattle’s Best.

Recently Bossy was given the opportunity to taste-test the new Level System invented by Bossy’s close and personal friends at Seattle’s Best Coffee, which isn’t just a company name but a business plan!

The idea behind the Level System is to minimize the confusion that surrounds the many coffees and their many corresponding names and descriptions.

level-system-seattles-best

So for instance, in Seattle’s Best world, Level One is described as mild and crisp, while Level Two is bright and lively. Other words used to describe the individual Levels, which grow stronger as the numbers advance: easy, intense, balanced, elegant, complex, dark, smooth, rich, and bold.

While it’s true Bossy typically prefers her coffee without an accompanying thesaurus, she readily admits the Level System delivers the ascending flavors and intensity as advertised.

Shall we begin?

seattles-best-levels-system

First Bossy would like to say that each of these levels passed Bossy’s standard for a good, strong cup of coffee. Bossy is very, very, with extra very picky when it comes to this, especially when brewing coffee at home.

The only difference as she moved through Seattle’s Best Levels was a certain depth and richness of flavor, which built toward Level Five. As a matter of fact, Level Five is the level that best suits Bossy’s overall coffee need, which Bossy can describe as emphatic. If coffee were an amplifier knob, Bossy would turn it to eleven. But Bossy is getting ahead of herself.

Level One was an absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee, and made Bossy feel as though she were breakfasting in a hotel lobby in the Swiss Alps while the sun drapes itself across the top of the crusty Eiger.

Level Two was an absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee, and made Bossy feel as though she were passing the late morning in a Parisian café overlooking a city park as the nursery school children scuff their shoes on the side of the roundabout.

Level Three was an absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee, and made Bossy feel as though she were enjoying an afternoon cup of coffee in the overgrown jardin of her rented casa in San Miguel Mexico as the smell of smoked corn tortillas floats above the cobblestone streets.

Level Four was an absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee, and made Bossy feel as though she had just enjoyed a light evening antipasto along the cliff in Lake Maggiore while the paddleboats gently break the surface of the water on their way back to the closing rental dock.

Level Five was an absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee, and made Bossy feel as though she and Frank Sinatra were just finishing their trio of baked fish in Frank’s favorite Manhattan restaurant at midnight as the two of them prepare to catch the latest Big Band along the avenue in Harlem.

mug-coffee-strong

Based on Bossy’s descriptions, which Level do you think best describes you?

In fact, answer this question and Bossy’s friends at her BlogHer advertising network would love to offer one of Bossy’s readers a $100 Amazon gift card!

Simply check out the official descriptions of each number in the Level System by clicking this link, and then leave a comment below telling Bossy which Level most suits your taste, and Bossy will employ her friend the Random Number Generator to select a winner on April 30th!

It’s one comment per person, please, although there are sneaky ways to enter more than once as follows:

a) Leave a comment on this post

b) Tweet about Seattle’s Best Level system and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about Seattle’s Best Level system and leave the URL to that post in a comment below

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry

Speaking of the official entry rules which of course everyone should read, here’s a starter set of entry rules:

• This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
• You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

And then go to this round-up page for a list of other participating blogs which means? Anyone? More chances to win!

Thanks for participating, and good luck. Go get ‘em, Bossy’s council!

Contest closed! Thanks for playing along!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I’m a Level 1 or as my husband likes to say, “you’re a fake coffee drinker”. I don’t like my coffee too strong and husband likes his to have sediment in the bottom of the cup. Yuck!

  3. mmmm, I love coffee so I’m sure any of the stronger ones would be wonderful. I love stronge but NOT bitter, and that’s a hard combo for some coffee companies to pull off.

  4. I would have thought I was a Level 4 but based on your descriptions – I’d have to go with Level 2 because a Parisian cafe sounds just right!

  9. I’ll join you for the light antipasto along the cliff in Lake Maggiore and the absolutely delicious and perfect cup of coffee at level 4

  14. I read the descriptions and especially enjoy the “exclusively for everyone” murdering of the English language.

    I would take Level 5, of course. Must be bold. I hate prudent coffee.

    I stopped at Panera’s this morning and got their “dark roast” and sleepwalked through the morning, as it had absolutely no kick to it. It was an insult.

    It sounds like Bossy has been looking at that famous picture of Jackie Kennedy and Frank Sinatra (http://www.blue-eyes.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/sinatra-jilly-jackie-uris.jpg) — the look on her face…..

  15. I’m most certainly a Level 1 morning coffee drinker, but with your descriptions … Level UP … Give Me Frank!

  16. Level 3 sounds just perfect to me! You described them all beautifully though. Love the mug too!

  17. Level five. I love me some Old Blue Eyes and MY old blue eyes need strong delish coffee to open.

  25. I am a level three ’cause I am balanced, smooth and full-figured err I mean flavored…

  30. Level 5. Like Bossy, I am an emphatic drinker of coffee. I like it dark, bold, and black.

  35. I have been enjoying level 2, without the envisioning Paris part, but I like that idea.

  38. Based on those descriptions? Number 5. Because Frank is MY husband. I’d ask just what you thought you were doing out with him, but we all know Frank’s just that way. : )

  39. it sounds like i would be a level four or a level five. which of those is the “freebasing mountain dew” level, again?

  40. Level 4. I’m having a hard time seperating my Italian images from Jersey shore stereotypes though. Isnt’ that terrible.

  45. I think I would enjoy a level 3 and a level 4. I enjoy my coffee dark, but not biting my face off!

  48. I take mine black, and tend to like a nice medium roast, so I’m thinking I’d be a Level 2 or possibly Level 3 girl.

  59. I love that they have made picking coffe much less confusing!! I think I would be a 3. I want some substance bu I don’t want it to be too strong.

  63. I’d be a number two. I was going to write, “I’ll take a number two”. But, that would have been rude.

  64. I’m a level 5. If my coffee can’t stand up and take hold of the day, I’m toast.

  66. Well – Olivia is probably a level three but she wants it in Paris with a fresh croissant (even though Olivia is celiac and can’t eat fresh croissants – or even stale ones, for that matter)……..followed by a Gitane cigarette (even though Olivia doesn’t smoke) and with a dashing French lover by her side (even though Olivia is married but this is a fantasy, right?) and wearing a cute beret (Olivia could probably do that.)

    But Olivia is Canadian (and therefore speaks French so she could do all that French stuff) so her opinion won’t win her this contest.

    Still – Olivia enjoyed the fantasy…………………….

  68. Level 4. I’m not rich, and I can only aspire to elegant. But complex? Yeah. I got the corner on THAT market! MAHALO, dear Bossy!

  69. Definitely a Level 5-I need the strongest (legal) stimulant possible to get my day started!

  70. I would guess level 4 & based on Bossy’s description that is right where I need to be. Yep, I’m a 4

  73. I’m a level 3. I would try the other levels, but I like Level 3 so much that I don’t want to waste any of my 3 cups a day on a level that I might not like! 🙂

  74. I would have to say level 3. I could probably take 4 and 5 with sugar, but I have been avoiding it lately.

  77. level 3: I think hanging out in San Miguel Mexico suits me just fine for now, thank you!

  78. Oh, level three sounds lovely…actually, all the levels sound lovely. My husband would probably like level five best, as he also likes his coffee cranked up to eleven. 🙂

  82. Level 4, and agree with Regina; it absolutely cannot be bitter! I bought some rather expensive beans one time, and was so disappointed at how bitter the coffee was. I forget where I read it, but adding a pinch of salt to the cup took care of it!

  84. Number 5 for sure. But never with Frank. Not a fan. (I heard he was mean to his women) Bold coffee needs someone with a beautiful accent, Antonio Banderas, Javier Bardem or Fabio from Top Chef.

  89. Level 5! I’m visiting my father and he drinks..um, I won’t mention the name but it rhymes with polgers (gasp). So I went to the store and found Level 5!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU , THANK YOU!!!!!!

  91. level 3 I think. and nothing in it please. I like my coffee to taste like coffee. coincidently I don’t like anything else to taste like coffee. no coffee flavored chocolate, or licquer (sp), or ice cream….

  92. I am a level 4. I live by the rules of Holly Go Lightly, dah-ling. Coffee is what I do.

  94. I would go with the four in the morning, and my second pot (I know, right?!) would be a three.

  99. I’m a Level 3 or 4… mellow but strong enough to handle the milk I put in. I’m sitting on my back porch, watching the sun rise, my pups lounging at my feet, or romping in the grass. Ahh… but in reality, I’m trying to get everyone fed and pottied (dogs) as I run through the house trying to get myself ready for work. Then I wonder where I left my coffee, and find one of the sweet, romping dogs finishing off my cup. They prefer Level 4 I’m told.

  100. 4 or 5. Most mornings 5. I usually have only one large mug, so I want it to TASTE like coffee.

  101. how weird is this!? i just, for the very first time, yesterday bought a 1lb bag of this…Starbucks went up to $10 something a freakin’ bag at our local grocery store. I could swear it was like 7 something just last week. It was time for a switch. i went with the purple bag…level 5. first cup this a.m. it’s good.

  107. Pretty sure I’m a 4 most of the time, but bump that up to 5 for the entire month of February

  110. I would say level 4 during the week and level 2 on the weekends. You know, just to mix it up a bit. 🙂

  111. I think Level 4 would be for me….nice and rich, but not over the top (as I suspect Level 5 would be).

  126. I have their level 2 coffee in my cupboard and it is my current favorite brew for my personal k-cup. Though I prefer the hotel lobby in the swiss alps, could I be drinking the wrong level?!

  127. i’m a level 1, i want to feel as though i’m breakfasting in a hotel lobby in the Swiss Alps while the sun drapes itself across the top of the crusty Eiger 😀
    songyueyu at gmail

  132. Please for humanity’s sake please do it once
    I have made a blog at blogger.com Since i have added a google adsense in the blog but haven’t made a penny with this. I need your help and support to help me make some money to PAY MY Tuition Fees.

    What you have to do is follow these simple steps

    1.go to http://kwotz2011.blogspot.com/
    2.Remain on the page i.e Kwotz for one minute or so and do some random surfing
    3. click ONE of the ads that APPEALS to you from Ads by Google boxes and visit there.
    4.remain on that page for one minute or so and do some random surfing.
    and that’s it.

    Note: Only ONE click is needed. If I ever ask you again for the click please never ever click again.
    I will be grateful to you.
    I really need the money.
    I really need your help

  136. I’m a level 4. I like the commitment that a coffee drinker has but I don’t like it so bold that I need to chew it.

  137. I’ll be any level you want me to bossy baby, and I like it sweet like you…..ok enough sucking up

  138. If there was a #6 I would be all over it! But I would happily settle for #5’s description of bold, dark and intense. Just like I prefer my men! Ha.

  139. I don’t drink coffee (I KNOW!), but based solely on the descriptions, level 2 or 3. Primarily because sitting at a cafe in San Miguel or Paris sounds REALLY great right now!

  142. Level 5, love that strong, bold and be here now coffee. Got to have in the mornings, every morning!

    gmissycat at yahoo dot com

  151. Oh I’m all about the Level 5! Nothing I like more than strong, rich flavor. I like my coffee much like I like my chocolate- and when it comes to chocolate it’s 99% dark. Great coffee, like chocolate, is not for the weak.

  152. I think I’d be a level 2 or 3. I’m not a huge coffee drinker but seem to be picking up the habit. Some mornings, after I’ve worked a double (which equals 16hrs) and have to be at work at 7am the next morning, I might switch it up to a 5.

  156. I am at level zero because I don’t like coffee at all. But I really like Amazon and my wish list is long.
    Thanks for the contest.

  160. The level that most suits my taste would be Level Five, bold, dark, and intense. I like a strong coffee.

  167. I would have thought I was Level 1 – but based on your descriptions – I’d be Level 2 🙂

  169. I always think I want a bold coffee, but sometimes they are too bitter, so I think four would be just about perfect!

  175. Ahhhhh, level One. I do fear with a level 5, I may have an overpowering urge to climb the north side of Eiger.

  178. Level 11… Five levels aren’t enough to satisfy my required level of awesomeness.

  183. Level 1. Actually, if there were a level 1/2, I’d take that. I don’t like my coffee to taste like coffee at all.

  185. Mmm – level four sounds delicious! Note the time ^ 6:40am and I’m trying to decide if I have time to go to the grocery store before I start my day…

  186. I have had coffee in the Swiss Alps – I was just passing through and stopped just for a cup of coffee – long but true story, however, the point is – oh my gosh! That was one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had! So I’d pick one just to experience that again. Thanks for the post nice to know how Seattle’s Best is labeling their coffees. I like the system.

  189. I think I’d probably be a level 4.. I really enjoy my morning coffee.
    Thanks for the contest!

  190. I think I’d love the Level 4. I like my coffee bold with complex flavors, and these all sound delicious!

  191. Dearest Bossy, how I love your whimsicle descriptions. I am truly a Level 2 and Paris would be my ideal place to enjoy the absolutely delicious cup of coffee… and if I was seattle’s best, you can absolutely have 7 more cups. hehe

  197. I am a Level 5 — hope that won’t influence random.org in a negative way! Thanks for the giveaway.

  204. I am definately Level 3 – Balance Smooth & Full Flavored!
    wbailey113 at hotmail dot com

  210. I thought I would be a level Four and I took the quiz on FB and it says that I am a level Four Organic! I would love to try it too!

  214. hmmm took their Facebook quiz and they say I am a level 4. I am guessing that is because I prefer to buy organic anything. LOL I would think I would fall in the level 1 though.