If you order 5 to 15 lbs of coffee from Indigo, it will easily keep fresh. Here is (are) the secret(s). (1) only grind what you need for a few days (2) freeze what you do not need for a week. It keeps for a long time since the real flavors are volatile fatty acids (3) thaw in refrigerator overnight. (4) allow to come to room temp and grind. Actually, any way you handle it will be better than that the 11.5 ounce "pounds" of crap on the store's shelves. I find Indigo's coffee is the best on the East Coast. I have tried many.

I've been enjoying my 10-lbs of Indigo coffee (Indian Mysore Nuggets and Cost Rican Tarrazu) since it arrived several days ago. I like the roast which I think is much better than Starbucks and the price at $8/lb plus a little shipping. I don't think I'll ever go back to regular store bought coffee beans anymore. Thanks for the tips!

no wonder pnsplr likes it. how are your burns recovering?

quote:

Originally posted by sprnplr:
Java Girls

Enjoying my morning coffee I decided to search, and finding this, I dug it up. For me my preference is seasonal.

So, for Spring I love Kaldi's (in St. Louis) roast of Ethiopian Harrar. When it starts to get a bit warmer I will switch to their other African coffees for their brighter acidities, such as their Yirga Chaffe, or Ethiopian.

Also, I used to get a coffee that I loved called Ugandan White Nile, then troubles in that region made it impossible to find. I often wonder if I would still be as impressed now that my palate is more experienced. Anyone have any insight as to Ugandan coffee?

http://www.portorico.com/store/springsale2009.html

We get our coffee beans from the above. I don't own stock, don't get a kickback, etc. I don't actually know who these people are. I just like the product.
(It's my wife who does the ordering, so they won't know my name)

I don't usually love Starbucks, but I'm a big fan of their Casi Cielo, it has a really nice subtle cocoa taste on the finish.

There's a lot of great fair-trade organically-grown coffees available these days in most good food markets. I usually buy whatever beans are on sale and stock up. I drink 1 or 2 espresso most mornings at home, so I buy darker roasts and haven't had a disappointing cup at home in a long time. I seldom buy coffee at Starbuck's or the other chains any more.

On an almost related note, THIS is the most idiotic coffee thread that I remember reading here. (I thought it had been purged long ago )

Cafe du Monde - cheap, easy to find, tastes great.

My sister in-law brought me some coffee she purchased while on vacation in the Outerbanks called "Wake the F*@# Up". It seemed to do the job!

bluebottle from san francisco
stumptown from portland

really nice coffees

quote:

Originally posted by irwin:
http://www.portorico.com/store/springsale2009.html

We get our coffee beans from the above. I don't own stock, don't get a kickback, etc. I don't actually know who these people are. I just like the product.
(It's my wife who does the ordering, so they won't know my name)

MLV and I used to live accross the street from Porto Rico (from 94-96) - I can vouch for their beans - we used to go every week and just buy a pound of whatever the special of the week was which I think was $4 a pound at the time (don't recall exactly) - great stuff. It was a cool store - have not been there in years. They also make a mean cup of coffee (or at least did) at the little coffee bar in the back. Was a popular spot for the NYU grad students.

quote:

Originally posted by Dunder:

I'm a big fan of their Casi Cielo,

One of my favorites as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Een:


Intelligentsia

Paging Futronic!

Paul (Romero) recommended Uncle Beanz a few months back (which I believe are roasted by a fellow board member). After trying a few of their roasts, I am hooked:

http://www.unclebeanz.com/merchant2/

Defnitely worth checking out...especially the Mano Negra espresso!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by Een:


Intelligentsia

Paging Futronic!

You rang?

Speaking of which, I need to go pick up some more Black Cat today. Or maybe I'll get some Origins espresso blend from a roaster in BC. We'll see what happens when I get to the cafe in a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by futronic:

...maybe I'll get some Origins espresso blend from a roaster in BC. We'll see what happens when I get to the cafe in a bit.

Would that be from 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters? If so, they're about a block from my home and IMHO the best coffee source in our coffee-worshipping town. I love just walking past and breathing deeply.

Nope, not 49th Parallel, Origins. I prefer their coffee (espresso at least) significantly to 49th Parallel. 49th Parallel does some nice micro-lots and single origins as well for brewed/French press/etc. But then again, so does Origins.

Website

They're on Granville Island. A cafe I frequent here is friends with the people that run it. Give it a try!

Thanks, fut. I have to go to Granville Island this week anyway, so I will stop in at Origins while I'm there and pick up a pound 454 grams of espresso.

49th Parallel roasts a bunch of single origin beans, which is why I thought you were referring to them. I'm always glad to give another place a try, so thanks for the info.

Just put in an order this morning with Intelligentsia. Has anyone tried the S. American coffees from them lately?

We get our coffee from a small local roaster named Southern Skies Coffee Roasters. The owner drops off two 1-lb bags at our house every month, always something different.

quote:

Originally posted by PURPLE:
Just put in an order this morning with Intelligentsia. Has anyone tried the S. American coffees from them lately?

The Peruvian they had a couple weeks ago was delicious. I think there was also a Brazilian as well but I forget the particular name. It was good also.

i wish everyone would stop the silliness and go ahead and order from both gorilla and stumptown.

east coast vs west coast, yo.

Ok, Tbird, you threw down the gauntlet. Exactly which coffees do you recommend I try and let's keep the budget below $85 lb.