Foo - Attn: coffee snobs!

Just looking to pick some brains:D

I just ordered some Guatemalan Palo Alto from coffeeemergency.com on a recommendation from another message board. I've been browsing at peets.com as well as a couple other places. I'm basically looking for a place that sells whole beans (I have a burr mill grinder) in smaller portions so they don't go stale before I use them, as well as someone who roasts right before shipping. Finding a place that has automatic delivery would be a plus, especially if their coffee is good enough to get me hopelessly hooked. I want a vendor that doesn't dark roast all their coffee in order to mask the flavor of cheap beans. I want to be able to taste the flavors that distinguish each varietal.

I am also considering this particular vacuum brewer to replace my cheap auto-drip machine from Wal*Fart. Anybody have it? Any thoughts?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006F2LX/qid=1098111412/br=1-3/ref=br_lf_k_3//102-3985055-8584913?v=glance&s=kitchen&n=3737021

I also use a burr grinder, that is the only way to go. I got rid of my drip machine. I only use a french press (or occasionally the espresso machine). I think the French Press brings out the most flavor. It is also very easy to use.

Peets has excellent coffee, probably one of the best for what you are looking for. Maybe I'll get flamed, but I like Starbucks also. Yah, so it is a huge chain, but their origin coffees are usually pretty good. I am particularly fond of Ethiopian, Kenya and other Indonesian coffees. I used to use Starbucks auto delivery, but I could never get the fresh seasonal coffees. Now, I go in and get whatever has just been delivered.

[QUOTE=live311]Just looking to pick some brains:D
. . . as well as someone who roasts right before shipping. . . .QUOTE]

Hey, buy yourself a popcorn popper called a "Whirly Pop", order yourself some green beans(yeah, they are out there) and roast your own. Grind as desired, brew with your favorite device and you will have reeeeely fresh coffee.

Go do this now and you won't be worrying 'bout stale coffee in the future.

Consider Jittery Joes and promote this cycling team: www.jitteryjoes.com It's good stuff!! And for possibly too much informationon coffee and cycling, check this out: http://nordicgroup.us/bikecoff/ The links from this site for MacIntosh users and for Republicans is hilarious.

Ah, a subject dear to my heart....coffee. The Peets beans are great. Roasted the week of or a few days before shipping. Get the pound bags and seperate out into smaller containers and put in freezer. Take them out when you need them and after they warm up, they have the same amount of oil as when they went in. Of the Peets, I love the Fair Trader and Major Dickenson's blend.

That's right I forgot about Jittery Joes. They are on my list of "next to try" on the next go-around. Thanks for the reminder.

http://www.ravensbrew.com/index.html
Roasted to order straight from an island in Alaska, good stuff, several light and medium roasts as well as full city and a few dark roasts.

My favorite is Dean's Beans.

They are in Massachusetts if you can stand the travel time. They have some great blends, you can design your own blend w/ various roasts (mild, med., dark), and they are fair trade and organic (at least mostly). Prices aren't bad either!

Take a look:

http://deansbeans.com/

. . . I only use a french press (or occasionally the espresso machine). I think the French Press brings out the most flavor. It is also very easy to use . . .



I will second the french press method for brewing. We have 2 french presses a "6" cup and an "8" cup. I use parentheses because the "cups " are 6 oz., not an 8 oz. measuring container cup.

I use the small one for a couple mugs of coffee and the big one on Sundays when there are 3 of us drinking coffee. I got our big french press at a local Italian deli/market; the press is glass and metal and everything that comes in contact with the coffee is either stainless steel or glass--I HATE plastic in my drink/ food. The big press was cheaper than the same style press I got from Starbucks two Christmases ago--plus the Starbucks press used plastic parts on the stem that holds the press! I like the presses because I can brew exactly to my taste and I like the texture of the coffee from it. The presses are extremely easy to use and to clean. The only thing I have against them is the fact that most regular french presses are not insulated--it's drink it fast to have it hot. You can buy insulated stainless steel presses but it is just as easy to wrap the press in a couple of clean dish towels to keep the coffee hot(which is what I do, with the help of a clothespin).

One more note: I don't really care for Starbucks coffee, but when I busted the plastic part on my Starbucks smaller french press, I recently took it back to see if I could get a replacement part. I could not get the part, but they gave me full original purchase value towards a new insulated, stainless-steel presspot of the same size. PLUS the gal at the counter let me keep the stainless filter assembly from the old pot to use with the new pot, which had a plastic filter assembly. So now I have a new, 100% stainless steel, insulated, 6-cup french press. Nice service!

I only drink Kopi Luwak, the world's most expensive coffee. Revered for its rich, chocolatey texture and made from the excrement of a small indonesian cat- like creature known as a luwak:

http://www.ravensbrew.com/media/peridoxurus.jpg

The luwak eats only the ripest coffee beans, which pass through its digestive system intact. However, during the process enzymes break down a number of amino acids which cause bitterness.

:love:

I only drink Kopi Luwak, the world's most expensive coffee. Revered for its rich, chocolatey texture and made from the excrement of a small indonesian cat- like creature known as a luwak:

The luwak eats only the ripest coffee beans, which pass through its digestive system intact. However, during the process enzymes break down a number of amino acids which cause bitterness.

:love:
I didn't see Kopi on ravensbrew's site, I assumed they stopped selling it am I wrong?

Heh, if I want to drink crap I'll buy a can of Folgers for about 1/100th the price:p

I wasn't really considering a French Press. I want something between brown water from an auto drip and sludge from a press, which is why I was looking at that particular vacuum model. I might consider one in the future, though.

The Hartford area is not well known for local coffee roasters, although I do have a lead on a local roaster with a decent reputation. Unless each individual Starbucks franchise roasts their own, then I would have the same amount of luck buying their coffee from the local supermarket. I don't know the first thing about roasting my own beans. I've already spent enough on a grinder and some good roasted beans. Maybe I'll try it someday, though.

Thanks for all your input. Ravensbrew looks like they have some good stuff!

There is a LBS about 40 minutes away that sells Jittery Joe's. If I can get a jersey at the same time, I'm sold!

I'm not as much as a coffee snob as the rest of everyone, but I do try to stay away from Starbucks...

One slight problem with that - their double shots of espresso and cream in the grocery store... Those are SO good with a shot or two of Jameson in the morning.

There is a company out here that is doing all free trade, organic coffee, delivered to local co-ops by bike messenger. It was really good the one time I picked it up - but that involves me not being lazy and having to ride to a co-op to get it.

I only drink Kopi Luwak, the world's most expensive coffee. Revered for its rich, chocolatey texture and made from the excrement of a small indonesian cat- like creature known as a luwak:

http://www.ravensbrew.com/media/peridoxurus.jpg

The luwak eats only the ripest coffee beans, which pass through its digestive system intact. However, during the process enzymes break down a number of amino acids which cause bitterness.

:love:

And you thought an office job sucked? :p He, how 'bout being a Luwak turd tecnician. Isn't it the most expensive coffee around?

...as well as someone who roasts right before shipping.

Like one of the other posts, I also roast my own beans at home, using a Zach & Dani's Home Coffee Roaster -- http://www.coffeeroasting.com. Machine is $149 and roasts a good amount of beans per batch for a consumer model. Zach & Dani's also sells unroasted coffee beans, but I usually buy mine from Coffee Bean Corral -- http://www.coffeebeancorral.com -- because they have unmatched variety. Only vendor in the world you can get pure Kona AND Jamaican Blue Mountain in the same place.

Unroasted coffee beans don't go bad or get stale. I battled that too with pre-roasted coffee, so roasting my own has actually saved me money.

Anyone ever try Kona Coffee from Hawaii? There are several internet companies that have different types of beans roasted the way you like. When I was in Hawaii I got hooked on the stuff. Anyway, whenever it's time for more, I go to their website and order a couple more 1 lb. bags of peaberry. It's not the cheapest, but it's good. I also like the fact that it's made in USA.
Here's an example:
http://www.cornwellcoffee.com/farm.html

My local beer and wine brewing store has started carrying roast it yourself stuff and some beans too.
But I stopped drinking coffee a long while ago, it's high end tea for me- green, black, oolong, pu-erh -it's all good, all 4 come from 'Camellia sinensis'. Lipton and stash are the tasters choice/folgers of the tea world, flavorless bitter crap that is really any bagged tea sucks(like canned ground coffee). Here in espresso land I have to go 40 miles to find a shop with a decent selection of quality tea.

I have heard, from friends that frequent the right coast, that east coast starbucks (and E.C. coffee in general) sucks, either watered down or full of chickery or something else, yet they really like Starbucks around here. Must be competition, closest two starbucks in Seattle are only 200 feet apart. For 60miles around Seattle every supermarket, cinema, hardware store, and some banks and libraries, have espresso stands, most gas stations do too and it's hard to go more than a mile without a drive through espresso kiosk. My medium town of 13K people has 7 stands, 2 shops(one a full size starbucks both with drive through), and 6 kiosks(3 are 24/7), thats less than a thousand people each outlet and 4 supermarkets carry a wide range of decent whole bean coffee. It's been like this for almost 15 years.

Make friends who travel to Europe, then give them money to bring you back some coffee.

I'm serious.

Koffee

I'm not as much as a coffee snob as the rest of everyone, but I do try to stay away from Starbucks...

One slight problem with that - their double shots of espresso and cream in the grocery store... Those are SO good with a shot or two of Jameson in the morning.

There is a company out here that is doing all free trade, organic coffee, delivered to local co-ops by bike messenger. It was really good the one time I picked it up - but that involves me not being lazy and having to ride to a co-op to get it.

HereNT is talking about Peace Coffee (http://www.peacecoffee.com/). Good stuff. Available via mail order.


edit: HereNT, its also available at many coffee shops & some of the larger grocery stores, like Lunds/Byerlys.

Anyone ever try Kona Coffee from Hawaii? There are several internet companies that have different types of beans roasted the way you like. When I was in Hawaii I got hooked on the stuff. Anyway, whenever it's time for more, I go to their website and order a couple more 1 lb. bags of peaberry. It's not the cheapest, but it's good. I also like the fact that it's made in USA.


I have to not only agree, but push a little business to my aunt & uncle. (http://www.downesgrounds.com/)

I like http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com
their coffee
their service (auto delivery, choice of qty and frequency)
the causes they support (Fair Trade Program, Local and International Community support through charities etc.). Read on their web site for more details.

at approx $8 or $9 per pound, their coffee is not the cheapest on the market but definitly not the most expensive quality/price + they usually send free samples and free filters, very reliable service.

I've always been a big fan of Green Mountain Coffee, but I want to see if freshness really makes that much of a difference to me. I doubt that Green Mountain scoops their beans right out of the roaster into the bag and then hands it to the UPS guy and pushes him out the door and into his truck on every order like coffeeemergency claims to do. That being said, I still like Green Mountain Coffee. It's pretty popular in the northeast,but pretty hard to find in whole bean around here. I really want to try their Lake & Lodge and Autumn Harvest blends.

HalfBiked, does downesgrounds sell roasted coffee or only green beans? It doesn't say. If they do roast, how dark is it?

Unfortunately, I'm starting to wonder if my coffee will arrive before I leave for vacation Thursday :mad:

Like most places, most of the coffee Gren Mountain sells is mediocre.
They do sell some stuff that is pretty good, but they have a tendency to overroast it a bit. Small outfits that buy from small estates seems to be the way to go if you really want good coffee these days. 30 years ago I used to get great coffee, it wasn't hard to find. Now it's a pain. Been thinking about getting a coffee roaster to make the best of the situation.

Has anyone heard of the Genvalia coffee? http://www.joingevalia.com/Promo/Gev0408/promo_010_12cpc_2m_sc.htm?keycode=106926

Koffee

Oh my yes!
They have been around forever. My best friends mother swore by the stuff; that was back in the 60's. It's good, just not cost effective. The thing to do is to find a good, local roaster. Buy small amounts of the best coffee they have. A week's worth at most.

Been thinking about getting a coffee roaster to make the best of the situation.

We got a small roaster for xmas last year and used it a few times (mostly when we ran out of beans :eek: ) and must say I was impressed by the result, of course it takes a little longer and the house smells real nice, I partucularly liked the thin layer of smoke floating around, real cool. Anyones tried ? And has a good source of raw beans ?

Hi,
I am a newbie to roasting. I was advised to try Sweet Marias http://www.sweetmarias.com/ There are a number of small purveyors of quality estate coffees. Also take a look at www.coffeegeek.com I mean to try a roaster, but my bikes have been eating all my money lately!

Guys, I really recommend www.coffeeemergency.com. It's a small operation, so small that I've been trading e-mails with the owner, Jason. He's a little concerned that I haven't received my order since he shipped it priority 3 days ago and is anxious to compensate me if I get it late. Although I haven't even tried his coffee yet, he's been a pleasure to do business with. Give 'em a try!

Just an idea here from a fellow "coffee head" but why not try a LOCAL BUSINESS? Surely you ve got someone in town or close that you can buy the beans from. I live in IOWA (iowa for god sakes!) and we have a nice little place downtown that you can buy hole bean or they can grind it for you on the spot. Just seems much easier then ordering it of the net or per phone call. Plus i would think getting it from a shop in your town would be much fresher then getting it mailed to you, but what do i know i ve been called stupid before. Good luck in your quest for the best coffee.

I don't know of anyplace downtown that has beans whole. You could go to the grocers, but I don't think they're any good. Starbucks and the other little coffee shops have whole beans, but I've tried them, and I don't like their brands either. It would be great if I could find a nice place no one's heard of that has fantastic coffee beans. As it stands now, I've been everywhere I can think and haven't found anything. But then again, I brought back about 20 pounds of coffee from Switzerland and Italy, so I'm pretty set until my next trip sometime next year.... I think...

Koffee

Anyone ever try Kona Coffee from Hawaii? There are several internet companies that have different types of beans roasted the way you like. When I was in Hawaii I got hooked on the stuff. Anyway, whenever it's time for more, I go to their website and order a couple more 1 lb. bags of peaberry. It's not the cheapest, but it's good. I also like the fact that it's made in USA.


Just make sure it's 100% Kona, and not "Kona blend" which is 90% sawdust or something. (Hint: expect about $20 per pound or more for real 100% Kona, and then the shipping charges)

Molokai has some good coffee too. Probably Kauai as well. Half the price.

The most dramatic difference in the smell and taste of coffee is the time between when the beans are roasted and when you drink the coffee. We had a place in my neighborhood where you could select raw beans, watch them get roasted, and drink the coffee within thirty minutes. A whole world of difference.

A couple of other places roast on a daily basis, so you can drink the coffee within 24 hours of roasting, and "day old" beans are also excellent. A few specialty type grocery stores also roast coffee on the premises. After you find a "fresh roaster", buy just enough beans to last a couple days. Grind them just before making the coffee.

Unfortunately, those kind of places are getting put out of business by the "Big Bucks" coffee shops on every corner (whose coffee may be roasted MONTHS before it is served).

It is worth the effort to hunt around and find a shop with a coffee roaster. The kind of people willing to roast their coffee every day know their coffee. They go out looking for the best raw beans available.

As it stands now, I've been everywhere I can think and haven't found anything.


It says you're in "chicago", sooooo...have you been to Intelligentsia? (intelligentsiacoffee.com)
All I know is I've seen some coffee shops here and there that buy from them....

There's nothing like a great cupa joe... rich dark & fresh. But I'd go broke drinking $20 pound coffee on a daily basis. We go through a 36 cup urn DAILY!

Coffee & cigarettes, the two major food groups :D

I don't know of anyplace downtown that has beans whole. You could go to the grocers, but I don't think they're any good.

Koffee,

I feel ya
Whole foods (at least here) roasts their own beans and has a large
supply of green beans (no not green beans but green beans, get it?)
Their roasted coffee is pretty good, better than $tarbucks for the most part.
The folks here are pretty good and will sell unroasted beans.
I know you don't like WF but give it a try.

Marty

I prefer unroasted beans. I'll head back to Whole Foods and give it a second chance...

I'll look into Intelligentsia too. Thanks! :)

Koffee