What coffee are you drinking?

Best coffee I've ever had is organic Echo Mountain coffee from Mexico. I discovered it on a vacation there. They don't ship to the US, but occasionally a friend picks up a 5 pound bag for me.

We've been to Jamaica and loved the Blue Mountain coffee, but, imo, this one is better.

Starbucks.... Always Starbucks!

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:
Starbucks.... Always Starbucks!

Well the question wasn't, "What good coffee are your drinking?"

Peets since I came to this country in 1983 and lived a few blocks away from the original Peets.

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Canuck:
My go to is Kicking Horse - Kick Ass made in a french press. Today it's grocery store brand west coast dark roast in a french press.

If the store brand is president's choice, I would agree it is an excellent coffee for something from the grocery store.

Thanks to Basecadet's reco, I am drinking espresso roasted by Ritual in California a week prior to it being flown in to Montreal. It is 22$ per 500grams but well worth it.

I tried some Sumatra Black Satin Coffee my roomate had and it was quite good.

Starbucks Pike Place is my standard at home. I buy whole beans and grind fresh each time I make a pot.

Very fresh Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from a local coffee roaster.

OK. You're paying $22 / pound? Oh my goodness.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimik:
... I am drinking espresso ... It is 22$ per 500grams but well worth it.

I get the espresso roast whole bean from Sprouts. Not sure the exact timing for roasting to store shelf but I believe it is fairly quick compared to most grocery stores.

I've heard the best beans come from monkey poop!

Starbucks more than anything else. Especially as the cold weather comes on.

Anyone had this ? Or any other la colombe products?

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
Starbucks Pike Place is my standard at home. I buy whole beans and grind fresh each time I make a pot.

That is the only coffee at Starbucks I do not like, and I really just can not drink it.

I stop at Starbucks Monday - Friday heading to the office and order their bold. On the weekends, we often enjoy coffee we have read about and ordered. We also enjoy espresso and cappuccino more on the weekends.

We have three different coffeemakers in our kitchen, and we get a few odd looks from time to time.

A burr grinder is a must in my opinion for excellent coffee.

quote:

Originally posted by Maverick:
OK. You're paying $22 / pound? Oh my goodness.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimik:
... I am drinking espresso ... It is 22$ per 500grams but well worth it.

I get the same reaction when I tell people I spent more than 20$ on a bottle of wine.

quote:

That is the only coffee at Starbucks I do not like, and I really just can not drink it.

Interesting, as Pikes Place was assumed by many to be response by Starbucks to frequent criticism that they over-roast many of their coffees. I don't mind a dark roast, but do find some burnt flavors in some Starbucks coffees.

quote:

A good burr grinder is a must in my opinion for excellent coffee.

Fixed. And TOTALLY agree.

This morning, Peets Major Dickason's Blend, fresh ground and French Pressed. Delish.

PH

we get French Roast beans from a place in NY called Porto Rico Importing Co.
http://www.portorico.com/store/

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze: I don't mind a dark roast, but do find some burnt flavors in some

ditto. That is why I avoid Starbucks when I can.

Right now we have Peets for the french press and illy for the expresso machine.

Jamaican Blue Mountain

Hair Bender

We just bought a Bialetti Moka Express a couple weeks back and we couldn't be happier.

I really like Tully's for store bought coffee. Great flavor on the roast.

I have been served coffee from local roasters Cafe Moto in town and like it and want to try Ryan Bros and Zumbar as well.

At the office, Nespresso Arpeggio and Ristretto.
Quick, easy, affordable and tasty. Good QPR.

The trends in specialty coffee the last 10 years have been a gradual move towards

- single origin coffees rather than blends
- traceability (to encourage higher quality and a better price for those willing to increase the effort
- a lighter roast
- freshly roasted by local roasters
- a focus on drip coffee more than espresso


Freshly roasted, quality coffee is a great treat. A number of micro roasteries are selling their coffee online. You can order excellent coffee and receive it just a couple of days out of the roaster at minimal cost and effort. Check out this list to find one near you:

http://www.home-barista.com/co...roasters-t12125.html

What's a good, affordable burr grinder?

Ummm, Guatemalan

Frankly, the options here boggle my mind. I've seen coffee from perhaps 10 different places, never mind the blends. I'm tempted to buy a little bit of each and taste them one by one to see if I like one better than another - just in time for me to go home and be unable to get any of them!

Kingofcool,

I literally just bought a Capresso Conical Burr Grinder online from CutleryandMore for $75 no tax, no shipping. It seems to be working very well. I did not want to try any of the $45 versions that are out there. I think the Capresso model might be 560? Anyway, it is the Black version, not stainless steel.

I have moved away from Starbucks the last year or so. I buy east african coffee's (yirgacheffe/kenya, other Ethiopian) single origins from Johnson Brothers, Counterculture, and Terroir.

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
What's a good, affordable burr grinder?

Here and here

KSCO2,

Same Capresso model that you are referencing.

The past few mornings: Mayorga African Blend. Nice.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by guy david newhouse:
KSCO2,

Same Capresso model that you are referencing.

gdn - I used that model for a couple of years without issue. Then, upon moving back to Montreal, it ceased to work (something clearly went awry in the move, but found nothing broken. Odd).

Don't you just hate when that happens??

We shut our Asphalt plants down on a Tuesday night @ 5:00, ran perfectly all day. Wednesday Morning?? Nothing starts. What on earth happens overnight?!?!?!?

Costco Sumatra whole bean - actually pretty good.

I've never had Costco's Sumatra (I've never even been in a Costco.) but my favorite Starbuck's is their Sumatra.

Ritual Roasters out of San Fran. First had their seasonal espresso at Oxbow market in Napa, it was an epiphany. while expensive, IMO well worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
but my favorite Starbuck's is their Sumatra.

We buy the Sumatra beans as well, and one of our favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
but my favorite Starbuck's is their Sumatra.

We buy the Sumatra beans as well, and one of our favorites.

I'll have to give this a try next time it's offered as their bold. Don't believe I've had it before. The French Roast is too much for me.

Picked up a coffee maker with a built-in burr grinder and love the new brew! Been buying coffee from some local shops that roast their own beans and trying some Central American beans (other than Colombia).

quote:

Originally posted by khmark7:
Picked up a coffee maker with a built-in burr grinder and love the new brew! Been buying coffee from some local shops that roast their own beans and trying some Central American beans (other than Colombia).

Not to nitpick, but I am in Central America, while Colombia is not

You're nitpicking!

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:
but my favorite Starbuck's is their Sumatra.

We buy the Sumatra beans as well, and one of our favorites.

Try Peet's Sumatra if you can find it in your market. We're working on a bag now and it's very good.

PH

Blue Moon Kona Coffee, 100% Kona coffee

Grown and roasted by good friends of mine.

www.bluemoonkonacoffee.com

quote:

Originally posted by Pippin:
Blue Moon Kona Coffee, 100% Kona coffee

Grown and roasted by good friends of mine.

www.bluemoonkonacoffee.com

They have a "friends and family" deal for us??

PH

quote:

Originally posted by Gigond Ass:
Very fresh Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from a local coffee roaster.

GA, I am partial to the coffees of eastern Africa and I find the typical citrus notes play well against baked goods as a pairing.

quote:

Originally posted by Mimik:

quote:

Originally posted by Wine Canuck:
Today it's grocery store brand west coast dark roast in a french press.

If the store brand is president's choice, I would agree it is an excellent coffee for something from the grocery store.

Yes it is, and it's not bad value at all especially when the 2lb bag is on sale for $12.99. Tastes great when freshly burr ground and french pressed.

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
What's a good, affordable burr grinder?

I use a Cuisinart and it does a good job for about $50.

quote:

Originally posted by bman:
Ummm, Guatemalan

I have a friend who has said the same and is working on importing some to Ontario. What is the nature of your business in Guatemala?

Today is Starbucks Christmas blend. I really like it this year, reminiscent of my favourite; French Roast.

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

Try Peet's Sumatra if you can find it in your market. We're working on a bag now and it's very good.

PH

I've enjoyed their Major Dickason's Blend.

quote:

Originally posted by Board-O:

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:

Try Peet's Sumatra if you can find it in your market. We're working on a bag now and it's very good.

PH

I've enjoyed their Major Dickason's Blend.

Same here. It's a regular in our coffee rotation.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by khmark7:
Picked up a coffee maker with a built-in burr grinder and love the new brew! Been buying coffee from some local shops that roast their own beans and trying some Central American beans (other than Colombia).

Curious as to which shops and what your favorites are, if you don't mind sharing. Medium-bold is what I'd be interested in. Four Beans or Arcedium?

I'm a big fan of east African and Yemeni coffee and roast my own (in a mini-roaster). Unroasted beans, properly stored, can keep a long time, so I can have a selection and switch types each batch. I roast about once a week.

Favorites include Bugisu Sipi, Harrar, Yirgacheffe, Mokka.

I'm happy with my Capresso burr grinder.

Here's an excellent site for roasted beans and many other culinary goodies: http://www.smallspecialtiesgourmet.com/shop/

A great site for green beans and roasting info: http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php (And they have a few roasted beans available at any time, plus a roasted beans of the week subscription option. Haven't tried either.)

quote:

Originally posted by yhn:
I'm happy with my Capresso burr grinder.

I had one for about 4 years and loved it. Then one day it just died. No rhyme or reason.
Replaced it with a Rancio Silvia Rocky Burr Grinder.

Starbucks Christmas blend.

Double espresso

Maravonda french roast coffee.

Today was a first:

Sea salt iced coffee.

Cappuccino from some of the beans TPEwindrinker sent to me for Christmas.

Paradiso from Second Cup

In my Keurig, Roger's San Francisco Bay Fog Chaser and Rain Forest Blend One-cups, simply becuase I support their attempt to break the K-Cup monopoly that Keurig/Green Mountain has on coffee products for the Keurig brewer.

For my Senseo and Krups Home Cafe machines I make my own coffee pods. Currently I have Tully's French roast pods made up and a few Ambience Italian roast pods in the bottom of the jar from last week.

Peets Mocha Java is my favorite for the last 20 or so years.

I love a good Mocha Java blend, but have never seen Peet's version. Must find.

PH

Peets has a great sampler offer now with a pound each of Sumatra Blue Batak, New Guinea Highlands, and Sulawesi-Kalosi. I really like the Blue batak and new guinea. Check peets.com

Starbucks Sumatra, ground and brewed at home. Very nice and smooth for an extra dark.

It's one of my favorites, after the coffee I get shipped to me from Mexico.

Double espresso using Starbuck's Komodo Dragon.

You could smell cinnamon as I was grinding the beans, and there are also hints of cinnamon on the palate. A spicy and nice shot this morning.

Still have yet to find anything that is better than locally fresh roasted espresso beans for my Rancilio Silvia. Close second was a fresh roast from the Green Beanery but, in a side by side, I still like the local bean better. My reco for a burr grinder is the Baratza Virtuoso. Not exactly cheap, but less than the Rancilio Rocky, and it seems to be holding up great after three years of use.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Double espresso using Starbuck's Komodo Dragon.

You could smell cinnamon as I was grinding the beans, and there are also hints of cinnamon on the palate. A spicy and nice shot this morning.

One of my favorites.

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:
Double espresso using Starbuck's Komodo Dragon.

You could smell cinnamon as I was grinding the beans, and there are also hints of cinnamon on the palate. A spicy and nice shot this morning.

One of my favorites.

Well, since you were kind enough to share this coffee with me...

Recently tried the Train Wreck espresso blend from Detour and i have to say it's excellent. Not a big fan of thier Punch Buggy and Dark Horse blends as they're too acidic and don't work that well in my Giotto Premium.

Picked up some fresh roast Cuban Serrano Superior yesterday specifically for americano's and it is excellent.

Picked up some arabica coffee beans (Kilimanjaro brand) from Tanzania while travelling on business in Dar es Salaam.

I hope this fits into the elitist coffee thread well, but does anyone else use a Keurig and have a favorite K-cup?

Having the Starbucks Sumatra Dark now, went through a box super fast.

I considered it but think I can make better coffee on my own. I realize the K-cups are easy, but I grind my own beans the way I want and make the coffee the strength I want, plus the beans I like best may not be available in K-cups.

quote:

Originally posted by NolanE:
I hope this fits into the elitist coffee thread well, but does anyone else use a Keurig and have a favorite K-cup?

Having the Starbucks Sumatra Dark now, went through a box super fast.

I'm far from a coffee elitist, but I've never had anything from a K-cup that was much better than mediocre.

PH

Some of the dark roast k-cups are okay. Wife loves it, me not so much. Mainly because I have to have three per day and at the price, I might as well just go to a coffee shop. Not to mention the amount of unnecessary waste my three kcup per day habit produces. I've got my eye out for a burr grinder and will just use my french press.

quote:

Originally posted by kingofcool:
a burr grinder and will just use my french press.

Makes a GREAT cup, and sooooo easy.

PH

+2

I generally use my burr grinder and a drip coffee pot daily since I have up to 3 people drinking from it. However, every so often I'll use the French Press, usually when it is just me drinking. Man, what a difference and the drip I have does a good job!

You could always get a bigger french press, wiml!

I actually have the big Bodum french press on my short list of things to add to the kitchen for situations just like yours.

PH

Are French Presses very labor/time intensive?

quote:

Originally posted by NolanE:
Are French Presses very labor/time intensive?

Not at all. Well......maybe compared to a K-cup but pretty quick and easy. And given the quality of the cup, well worth it. If you're OK with coffee solely as a caffiene delivery system, it's probably not for you. I can't imagine a wine lover with a decent palate not "getting" the difference.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by NolanE:
Are French Presses very labor/time intensive?

I love a cup of coffee freshly pressed off a Bodum, but cleaning it is a bit of a hassle. Also at breakfast for the family, mine just yields about two cups.

I can have my french press cleaned and ready to reload in a minute. Here's the drill. Do it right after you brew. This way the grounds are wet and loose and everything cleans easier. The coffee is hot as hell anyway, so by the time you're done cleaning your coffee is perfect.

Sink. Hot water. Spin the 3 parts off the stem of the plunger and hand wash quick. Rinse top of plunger and blast hot water into the carafe. Dump grounds and re-rinse to clean. Wipe everything down with paper towel. Donesky.....

PH

How can you super-tasters drink Starbucks? I'm let down

Blue Bottle!!!

Thank God you can ship coffee to Utah!

My neighbor showed me how to roast my own beans about a year ago, and ever since then nothing else compares. I love Intelligentsia (also roasted locally), and Major Dickason's Blend from Peet's, but anything I roasted yesterday is the best thing I could taste today. Drip in the mornings, French press on the weekends (and some afternoons).

quote:

Originally posted by winosaur:
How can you super-tasters drink Starbucks? I'm let down

Blue Bottle!!!

Thank God you can ship coffee to Utah!

Blue Bottle is the most overrated coffee out there. If you are gonna knock Starbucks, at least choose a quality coffee like Intelligentsia or Verve.

i drink fodgers crystals

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:


coffee like Intelligentsia

An absolutely must when in Chicago.

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:


coffee like Intelligentsia

An absolutely must when in Chicago.

A whole bunch of cafes even way out in the far suburbs are now brewing Intelligentsia. It's nice to see people leaning towards fuller flavors.

I almost exclusive drink home roasted Kona that I buy the green beans from two of my favorite plantations in Hawaii (Lions Gate and Makapueo Farms).

Espresso Corretto alla Sambuca

Wonderful after diner as a digestif.

quote:

Originally posted by Ron Natalie:
I almost exclusive drink home roasted Kona that I buy the green beans from two of my favorite plantations in Hawaii (Lions Gate and Makapueo Farms).

Try Kona Mountain next time and let me know what you think.

I've never been a big fan of Lions Gate. Always came across to me as the Folgers of the Islands.

My favorite is Bong Brothers but I can't get them to answer the phone any longer.

quote:

Originally posted by billhike:
A whole bunch of cafes even way out in the far suburbs are now brewing Intelligentsia. It's nice to see people leaning towards fuller flavors.

There are quite a few in the LA area as well.

My standard brew, when I have the time and the beans, is Intelligentsia El Diablo Dark Roast done in an espresso grind and brewed in my Saeco. Sometimes I'll do the Americano thing by adding the boiling water and on other occasions I'll just drink straight up. Another favorite coffee is (was) Leelanau Espresso Blend from Leelanau Coffee Roasting Company. I say "was" because I bought some this past summer while in Glen Arbor and the quality wasn't there as it had been. The Italian Roast was much richer. No sightings of Mario Batali in Glen Arbor though I've seen him there before.

quote:

Originally posted by wineismylife:
My favorite is Bong Brothers but I can't get them to answer the phone any longer.

They're too busy doing bongs.

au bon pain kawfee

took a while when i first moved to NY to find good coffee but i now have 3 places where i buy from for home and/or get a latte in the morning
La Colombe http://lacolombe.com/
Ninth Street Espresso http://www.ninthstreetespresso...spresso/Welcome.html
Joe the Art of Coffee http://www.joetheartofcoffee.com/

Eoin, I've heard that Stumptown is the place to go in NYC.

This afternoon I have fallen completely in love with a new coffee. Roasted locally in SW Ontario by the aforementioned Detour coffee roasters (PatrickinKW) it's the Buf Cafe Red Bourbon. Beautiful orangey citrus notes, with sharp acidity make it a great match for food. As mentioned previously, freshness from roasting and grinding is key.

My beautiful daughter bought me a Coffee of the Month subscription for Christmas this year. I was a little nervous, since although she's an accomplished cook and a wine lover with a good little palate, she does not drink coffee. So I was prepared for some Vanilla Strawberry Pizza flavored decaf or something. Nope. Great coffee!!

This past week I've been drinking (and LOVING) the Huehuetenango in the first shipment I received. Next week, from the same box: Yirgacheffe. Should be a good month.

PH

quote:

Originally posted by PurpleHaze:
Great coffee!!

This past week I've been drinking (and LOVING) the Huehuetenango in the first shipment I received. PH

The Huehuetenango; grown in the Cuchumatanes mountains Guatemala no? I am sure bman has had quite a few cups of this one.

BTW, just this weekend I had my first cup of Intelligentsia off a french press. I was really looking forward to it, but when I got it was a watered down catastrophe thanks to the good fellows at Founding Farmers in Potomac. What a waste!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by RightBankFan:
The Huehuetenango....mountains of Guatemala no?

That's the stuff. Really wonderful coffee. Medium bodied with some floral and fruity notes. I have enjoyed getting into more nuanced and medium roasted coffees over the past few years. Althought I still enjoy the occasionial very dark roasted coffee, I'm finding that many of these overroasted coffees are the Aussie Shiraz of the coffee world.

PH

The original Cafe du Monde from New Orleans is a good one that we drink on occasion.

We also have friends that send us this coffee from the Houston Area: http://www.fotw.org/main/minis...ssions/provision.asp

Good coffee with a great mission behind it.

quote:

Originally posted by TPEwinedrinker:

quote:

Originally posted by winosaur:
How can you super-tasters drink Starbucks? I'm let down

Blue Bottle!!!

Thank God you can ship coffee to Utah!

Blue Bottle is the most overrated coffee out there. If you are gonna knock Starbucks, at least choose a quality coffee like Intelligentsia or Verve.

Not knocking it, just looking for more interesting tasting notes, considering this is a board where some people can identify forest and bedroom floors.
Will try Intelligentsia, was actually looking for good recommendations, ordered some today. But won't indulge the comment that BB isn't "quality", my opinion.

Gevalia French Roast.

quote:

Originally posted by winosaur:


Not knocking it,

NO, you were knocking it, then suggested a white Zin was better.

Just received my 2nd installment of my coffees of the month from my brilliant eldest child. Tomorrow, either:

Mantilla (Costa Rica)
Campesina (Columbia)

PH

I want to find the thread where someone said they can taste bedroom floor.