Preferred coffee brand

[JLMannin]

I did not want to hijack the french press thread to talk about what kinds of coffee people drink. My favorites right now are:


Jacobs Kronung
Costco coffee, Sumatran Roast
Seattle's Best


I have long since left Folgers and Maxwell House in the dust. Right now, I am combing through the Goodwill stores looking for a hot air popcorn popper (the king that popps the corn and blows it out a chute into the bowl) for roasting coffee at home. I have a couople of co-workers who roast their own coffee, anf theylike the darker roasts like I do, and it is very good coffee.

[racer2c]

I did not want to hijack the french press thread to talk about what kinds of coffee people drink. My favorites right now are:


Jacobs Kronung
Costco coffee, Sumatran Roast
Seattle's Best


I have long since left Folgers and Maxwell House in the dust. Right now, I am combing through the Goodwill stores looking for a hot air popcorn popper (the king that popps the corn and blows it out a chute into the bowl) for roasting coffee at home. I have a couople of co-workers who roast their own coffee, anf theylike the darker roasts like I do, and it is very good coffee.

Thread hi-jacks are all the rage now. Here I'll demonstrate; I was washing my car the other day...never mind. :)

I'd just like to say, as an amateur wine connoisseur (i.e seasoned alcoholic), and someone who has consumed gazillion gallons of various coffee (to sober my drunk ass up) I feel I have a fairly discernable pallet, that said...Starbucks sucks. Thank you.

[extramundane]

There's so much different coffee coming through this house, but for an affordable daily drinker, we swear by Trader Joe's Bay Blend (http://www.traderjoes.com/products/brochures/coffee.asp#bay_blend)...which is unfortunate, because the nearest TJ's is an hour away. But that's another rant.

[extramundane]

I'd just like to say, as an amateur wine connoisseur (i.e seasoned alcoholic), and someone who has consumed gazillion gallons of various coffee (to sober my drunk ass up) I feel I have a fairly discernable pallet, that said...Starbucks sucks. Thank you.

I don't agree that it sucks. It's not my first or even sixth choice, but there's something slightly comforting in knowning that, when I go back to the half-horse town in which I grew up, I can hit up the Green Monster for a decent cup of coffee, rather than deal with the sludgy tar-pit at the gas station or the silty dishwater my mother calls coffee.

[racer2c]

I don't agree that it sucks. It's not my first or even sixth choice, but there's something slightly comforting in knowning that, when I go back to the half-horse town in which I grew up, I can hit up the Green Monster for a decent cup of coffee, rather than deal with the sludgy tar-pit at the gas station or the silty dishwater my mother calls coffee.

If forced to choose between a cup of McDonalds coffee and Starbucks I grudgingly would take the Starbucks, but it's like comparing one of my favorite Rodney Strong Pinot Noir reserves with my mom's ‘box o' blush’ in her fridge..."I'll just have a beer mom, thanks". :)

[rabbit]

<---- Likes, scratch that, loves Starbucks coffee. Espresso roast.

[dando]

My personal favorite is a local joint here called Stauf's, which also supplies a local chain called Cup O' Joe. As for national or regional chains, Caribou Coffee is far superior to *bucks (aka: Harbucks in South Park).

-Kevin

[Dr. Corkski]

We had Seattle's Best back when I was in the dorms. That stuff was even worse than the Seattle Mariners.

[G.]

Right now, I am combing through the Goodwill stores looking for a hot air popcorn popper (the king that popps the corn and blows it out a chute into the bowl) for roasting coffee at home. I have a couople of co-workers who roast their own coffee, anf theylike the darker roasts like I do, and it is very good coffee.I just bought one of those poppers, brand new at Farm&Fleet. Microwave popcorn is teh suck. Chemical crap. They shouldn't alow THAT on your carry-on bag. Oops! Hijax!

Questions:
1). Where does one find unroasted beans?
2). How does one go about roasting their own in a popcorn popper?

(yeah, I know, put beans in, turn on da heat. How long? How do you know it's done?)

[cameraman]

http://secure.cartsvr.net/product_images/catalog28702/prodSoranoGoldCSO.jpg

Pasquini Espresso Co.

Sorano Gold

[Indy]

Around Indy, the best is a place on the square in Noblesville called Noble Coffee and Tea. It is a coffee shop, and they sell bags to carry home as well. The best thing about it is that they roast all of their beans on the premises. Awesome.

There is such a thing in the coffee business as a sample roaster. The best sort is a small, heavy duty unit which operates just like a big commercial drum roaster, but you can use it to roast enough for just one pot at a time. It takes about five minutes, and you have to watch the beans to get it just right. It must be vented to the outdoors, as roasting coffee throws off a lot of smoke and chaff. This is the way to go for a true coffee fanatic. I am not sure where to buy one, but I am sure you could find one somewhere on the internet. It will be expensive.

The popcorn popper method is pretty ineffective, IMO. It is cheap, however, so it is probably worth a try.

[chop456]

Eight O' Clock because I'm a cheapskate. Millstone Foglifter if it's on sale.

[cameraman]

You can get "home" roasters.

http://www.diedrichroasters.com/graphics/sample.jpg

http://www.diedrichroasters.com/graphics/sample-specs.gif

It is really nice but not inexpensive.

[cameraman]

For a place where over half the population is supposed to think coffee is a sin, Utah has several very good roasting companies. I suppose if you are going to burn in eternal hell for drinking coffee you may as well make sure it is really good stuff...

Salt Lake Roasting Company (http://www.roasting.com/index.php?uid=14&page=2466)
Mill Creek Roasters (http://www.millcreekcoffee.com/)
Caffe Ibis Coffee Roasting Company (http://www.caffeibis.com/index/index.htm)

[JLMannin]

There's so much different coffee coming through this house, but for an affordable daily drinker, we swear by Trader Joe's Bay Blend (http://www.traderjoes.com/products/brochures/coffee.asp#bay_blend)...which is unfortunate, because the nearest TJ's is an hour away. But that's another rant.

I have had one of the Trader Joe's blends, and it is pretty good.

[JLMannin]

I just bought one of those poppers, brand new at Farm&Fleet. Microwave popcorn is teh suck. Chemical crap. They shouldn't alow THAT on your carry-on bag. Oops! Hijax!

Questions:
1). Where does one find unroasted beans?
2). How does one go about roasting their own in a popcorn popper?

(yeah, I know, put beans in, turn on da heat. How long? How do you know it's done?)

The air-popper roasting method: http://www.sweetmarias.com/airpopmethod.html

There is a critical design element that the air-popper must have - the air vents need to indroduce the air from side vents:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/airpopchamber.jpg
This type of design will have the coffee swirling around the bottom of the popper.

These types of poppers work well for roasting coffee, as the temperatures required to make corn explode are high enough to roast coffee - french roast is as fas as these poppers will take it. You can also use a whirly-pop (Those from Indiana will know what this is) or a cast-iron skillet.

Oh, and you can get unroasted coffee from a bunch of places - Sweet Marias is but one of many.

[TKGAngel]

I swear I learn more from being on these boards. Who knew you could roast coffee beans in a popcorn popper?

Best local coffee is at a place called Spot (I'm not a fan of their chai, but no one place can have it all). Not only is the coffee good, but its in the heart of one of the best neighborhoods for people watching and is connected to one of the few remaining independent record stores in the area.

[KLang]

I normally just buy what's available in the grocery stores. Usually one of these:

Organic Coffee Co. - Stellar Brew
Peet's - Major Dickason's Blend
Seattle's Best - Henry's Blend

If I can't find any of those, Starbucks Gold Coast Blend isn't too bad.

[EDwardo]

Great coffee.
http://www.mountanosbros.com/user/index.php

For roasting coffee beans, I've used a Melitta roaster for many years. I'm not sure if they are still available though.

Just google coffee bean roasters for info.

[Ankf00]

I'm not a big coffee drinker, prefer Indian Chai or tea instead. That said, I've had a mocha latte from Starbucks a couple of times, and both times it tasted like ****ing cardboard. Seriously. Cardboard.

[Indy]

You can get "home" roasters.

<image omitted>

It is really nice but not inexpensive.

Those are gorgeous but really overblown. What is the point of roasting more than a pot's worth at once? The beauty of having the roaster is having beans roasted, ground, and brewed within minutes.

When I mentioned sample roasters, I meant the really small ones, not "home roasters" but the type used by those in the industry to cup green coffee samples sent by brokers and estates.

I gotta get one of those. :D

[extramundane]

That said, I've had a mocha latte from Starbucks a couple of times, and both times it tasted like ****ing cardboard. Seriously. Cardboard.

My personal strategy in Starcracks is to stay away from all espresso drinks, with the sole exception of the Redeye.

[Fitti Fan]

My FIL just brought back some coffee from Costa Rica, can't wait to try it.

[TKGAngel]

I'm not a big coffee drinker, prefer Indian Chai or tea instead. That said, I've had a mocha latte from Starbucks a couple of times, and both times it tasted like ****ing cardboard. Seriously. Cardboard.

I suppose the next question is how do you know what cardboard tastes like? ;)

I'm shocked at the fact that an americano, which is nothing more than espresso and water has less caffeine in it than the same size cup of regular coffee.

[cameraman]

That is because they use so little espresso and soooo much water.....

[Ankf00]

I suppose the next question is how do you know what cardboard tastes like? ;)
oh please, like I'm the only one who's chewed up cardboard in the past :p

Seriously. ****ing cardboard. :thumdown:

[racer2c]

I like my coffee like I like my women...on second thought, never mind. :)

[G.]

I'm not a big coffee drinker, prefer Indian Chai or tea instead. That said, I've had a mocha latte from Starbucks a couple of times, and both times it tasted like ****ing cardboard. Seriously. Cardboard.
I've always thought that it tasted like carpet.

But who am I to bicker?

Eating boxes, munching carpet. Six of one, half dozen of the other.

[Ankf00]

Eating boxes, munching carpet.
Now those are 2 very worthy pastimes :thumbup: Much better than Starbucks anyways

[datachicane]

Unless your Costco is doing something different than ours... Jeebus, they might as well be making Kingsford Briquets.

For easy-to-get brands, Lavazza's decent stuff, as is Illy. WholeLatte's Malabar Gold is good as well.

Best? Torrefazione Tazza d'oro (http://www.tazzadorocoffeeshop.com/) is the absolute best in the world, IMHO. The weak Lira put it on the pricey end of the deargodhowwillIexplainthistomywife spectrum, but since the switch to the Euro, and the ninety days of bureaucratic hell that Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, ATF and FedEx put me through last time I had some imported (after importing without incident 20+ times previously- I won't hijack the thread with my horror story, but suffice it to say it dovetails with my previous experiences when returning to the U.S. from Italy- apparently the U.S. government has determined that I am Carlos the Jackal, at least when I'm in Europe), it's much tougher to justify. Still, if you're in Rome, buy the biggest stinking backpack you can find and load it up. Regina de Cafe ages suprisingly well, too- thirty-plus days old, the spectacular fresh punch is gone, but it's still a wonderfully rich and smooth cup.

A close second is Stumptown (http://stumptowncoffee.com/)- if you're ever in Portland, don't pass up their free cupping sessions.

George Howell's Terroir (http://www.terroircoffee.com/) roasts some absolutely excellent single origins, particularly their Daterra Reserve. Some of it's a bit exotic, but all excellent.

Raven's Brew (http://www.ravensbrew.com/) is also excellent. I made the mistake some time ago of assuming that their very cool Ray Troll designed packaging meant it was tourist gift-shop fodder- not at all, they're a first class roaster. Try their Deadman's Reach.

Keep in mind that even the best beans will suck if they're not fresh, or have been mistreated. Never, ever, leave them exposed to air or light, or piled in the hopper of your grinder, keep them dry and cool, and for god's sake don't put them in your freezer (they'll be fine until you take them out- then the condensation caused by the temperature differential will turn them to rancid muck). Use a decent burr (not a blade) grinder, make sure it operates at low enough speeds that it doesn't heat up the beans and destroy them, keep it clean, and grind only as much as you'll need in the next three minutes or so. The grinder's just as important as your brewing method. If you're using a fairly coarse grind (french press, drip, etc.), and you're cheap, you'd be better off with a decent hand-crank grinder than most of the sub<$100 grinders out there.

[oddlycalm]

I've used a Melitta roaster for many years. I'm not sure if they are still available though. Here's info on the late-great Melitta roaster and down at the bottom are articles on air popper and pan techniques.
Melitta Aromaroast (http://www.sweetmarias.com/melitta.aromaroast.tips.shtml)

oc

[JLMannin]

I suppose the next question is how do you know what cardboard tastes like? ;)

I'm shocked at the fact that an americano, which is nothing more than espresso and water has less caffeine in it than the same size cup of regular coffee.

Actually, there is a reason: The darker the coffee is roasted, the more caffeine is destroyed via oxidation. The roasting brings out the bitter notes and the aroma at the expense of thermally degrading the organics that are in the green (unroasted) beans. Lighter roasted coffee has MUCH more caffeine in it than does the darker roasts.

[vancouver]

Nescafe in the morning. Hmm!

[dando]

Nescafe in the morning. Hmm!
d00d, that's just wrong. :saywhat: Then again, you Brits have never been accused of having any taste. :gomer: :p

-Kevin

[vancouver]

d00d, that's just wrong. :saywhat: Then again, you Brits have never been accused of having any taste. :gomer: :p

-Kevin

I hear what your saying but when your faced with the choice of Nescafe and even crappier supermarket brands there isnt much you can do!

Its not like I have a Starbucks on my doorstep! :p

By the way, I dont know how they the brew the Starbucks coffee where you are but here it tastes like bleuch!

[dando]

By the way, I dont know how they the brew the Starbucks coffee where you are but here it tastes like bleuch!
Friends don't let friends drink Harbucks. :)

-Kevin

[vancouver]

2nd choice after Nescafe: Costa Coffee.

[Robstar]

http://www.goodmans.net/item_images/il-br_FULL.jpg