coffee

P.S. If you have another favorite, what do you like about it??

I order my beans from Indigo Coffee Co. The prices are generally one-third less than Starbucks including shipping. They only roast their beans as you order them from Mon-Thu, and they will immediately bag and vaccum seal it for you in 1-lb bags (.50 extra). I believe they carry the beans that you like. The only catch is that you have to order a minimum of 5 lbs of each coffee. I order 2 items and split it with a friend. Currently, I am enjoying a Costa Rica La Minita and Tanzania Peaberry. I think both have lower acids and more nutty flavors. In all honesty, I really don't know why I like them other than I enjoy a cup or two from a french press.

DD,

Love you answer, re: You don't know why you like it. Just like wine, sometimes you just do!!For 28 years, I've bought cabs or blends, I just like them.

Interesting though, Had a Costa Rican La Minita in hershey pa. recently, and just had a Tanzanian peaberry about two weeks ago locally. Both were very good, and more interesting than the usual starbucks.

Thanks.

we order our beans from the Porto Rico company in New York. Just so happens they are having their semi-annual sale at this time.
http://www.portorico.com/store/
Reliable good coffee.

My favorite is Echo Mountain coffee from Mexico. I found it when we were down there years ago. Whenever one of the people from the company come into the US, I order a couple of kilos, but I'm out now and don't when I'll be able to get it again.

my fav was my home roasted stuff, I haven't roasted in a while do to time constraints but I can tell you there is no better cup of joe then a freshly roasted and ground one.
If i am not roasting it than my fav is good earths medium roast, it has a great chocolate and nut character to it.

Coffee has been my hobby for many years now and like Calgarydetail I also roast my own. Its not better than what a good roaster will make but its cheaper and more fun :-)

Best advice: Try to find a local roaster and buy coffee from there. Althernatively some coffee bars sell coffee from local roasters. If the roastery is half decent they will source beans of superior quality and sell it to you within a day or two after roasting. Always look for a "roasted on" date instead of a "best before" date. If properly stored (no sunlight, temperate, tight container etc) coffee will keep for 3-6 weeks assuming you buy whole beans.

Just like wine the quality of the beans will vary a lot from producer to producer. There are some taste profiles that you will often find in one area though

Brazil: Great body, sweet. Hints of chocolate, dried fruit, hazel nuts and almonds. If its washed or "pulped natural" it will likely be more elegant with marcipan and more pronounced dried fruit. Usually Brazillian coffee shows low acidity and a long aftertaste. Its a great morning coffee that also goes well with espresso based drinks.

Colombia: Usually wet processed coffee which is also why its known for being elegant and clean. The bgodd coffees are usually balanced, with a juicy, buttery mouthfeel with some subtle fruit flavours (think stonefruit, like cherry). If you are looking for a coffee to go with avec Colombian is often preferred due to its balanced flavours which doesn't deter from the drink.

Kenya: Very unique coffe and one of my favourites. The best show great acid which remind you of blackcurrant, sitrus and cherry. The aroma is often also very fruity. Since it has pronounced acid it goes well with chocolate desserts.

Ethiopia: Very different depending on region and producer. In the Jimma area you will find chocolaty coffee with great body. The OP also mentioned Yirgacheffe coffee, which along with the area of Sidamo is more fruity and with floral notes. In a good wet processed Yirgacheffe you will find strong citrus and jasmin flavours, not to mention bergamott (think Earl Grey). Washed Yirgacheffe has a more elegant acid structure which sometimes reminds you more of tee than coffee! If you can find a dry-processed Yirgacheffe you can expect a real fruit bomb with blueberry, strawberry etc.

Indonesia: Very un-even quality. Rustique flavours of earth, leather, tobacco and overripe fruit. Great body, low acidity and very sweet. Java coffee is usually more elegant, with woody and nutty flavours. Unfortunately the area has suffered from overproduction and poor processing methods so a good Java is almost impossible to find these days.

India: Produces large quantities of robusta coffee which is barely drinkable. Due to its climate (it is wet and therefore the plants need to be more resistant to fungus and some insects) the arabica species used here is very different from the rest of the world. Indian coffee is very distinct due to this. A good wet processed Indian coffee shows low acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. It can be rustique and powerful, yet still quite clean. Nutty, cocoa, spicy flavours dominate, sometimes with hints of raisin. A few interesting ones also show vanilla and oak.

Panama: The arabica species known as Geisha from a farm called Hacienda La Esmeralda has been awarded the title of being the worlds best coffee several years in a row. I tasted it 5-6 years back before it was too expensive and it is just wicked! Other Panama coffee show the same traits although not always to the same extent. It has such a pure mouthfeel, great structure and elegant acidity. Jasmin, bergamot, citrus and a sweetnes that reminds you of honny.

El Salvadore: Sweet with great body
Nicaragua: Elegant with nice structure
Honduras: Pompus and juicy (peach, mango passion fruit)
Guatemala: Soft, chocolaty
Costa Rica: Sweet and fruity
Mexico: Nutty

I obtain my coffee from a variety of places. Last purchase was from Sahadi's a Middle Eastern grocery on Atlantic Avenue, which has strong blends. Prior to that was Oren's which has an outpost in Grand Central Terminal.

Maxwell House. Good to the last drop.

What's that coffee that monkeys shit out? I really like that one.!!!

The shit coffee would be Kopi luwak.

quote:

Originally posted by Dieter01:
The shit coffee would be Kopi luwak.

Thanks

For those of you in the Ottawa area or those who may be visiting, there's an excellent coffee roaster on one of the streets immediately surrounding the Byward Market. Whenever we're there, I bring home a selection of beans.

Folgers
(Ducks for cover)

Several different brands of Colombian coffee. After a lot of experimentation, Colombian is the taste profile we prefer.

Dieter,

It's definitely the citrusy/fruity thing that gets me. I also have a Kenya single origin in the basement "on-deck". It had that type of description.

Also, hard to believe anyone on this forum would actually prefer Folgers or Maxwell House (HA!). Seriously, I used to buy White Zinfandel when I knew my mother-in-law was coming for dinner cause that's what she liked and who was I to argue. ....for the record, she had progressed all the way to mass produced Pinot Grigio.

So... if you like Maxwell House..O.K.with me

quote:

Originally posted by guy david newhouse:
Dieter,

It's definitely the citrusy/fruity thing that gets me. I also have a Kenya single origin in the basement "on-deck". It had that type of description.

Also, hard to believe anyone on this forum would actually prefer Folgers or Maxwell House (HA!). Seriously, I used to buy White Zinfandel when I knew my mother-in-law was coming for dinner cause that's what she liked and who was I to argue. ....for the record, she had progressed all the way to mass produced Pinot Grigio.

So... if you like Maxwell House..O.K.with me

Tongue firmly planted in cheek, Guy.