152977 Tue Aug 02 11:33:37 -0700 2005 5 12 Boston Area 0 821546 Continuing the topic of the best cup of coffee, where do you get the best beans in the Boston area? I usually get my beans at Marty's Liquors when I'm in the area, but I live on the North Shore and always looking for good beans. Tue Aug 02 11:33:37 -0700 2005 0 kate@50 1 821563 Used to get coffee at Marty's in Newton but they upped their prices and coffee seemed a little stale. Now, sigh, I'm splurging, and buying whatever has been roasted that day at WholeFoods next door. It helps when it's on sale, but it's much more expensive. However, it's really really fresh and our coffee at home has been wonderful. Tue Aug 02 14:29:18 -0700 2005 821546 0 ScruffyTheCat 2 821574 I've had problems finding good beans in the boston area. I've solved the problem by purchasing a home roasting kit (google IRoast), and purchasing green coffee beans (unroasted) on line in 5 lb batches. Green beans are about 1/2 the price of roasted beans, and you can roast them the way you like them. If you're a coffee foodie, it's worth the investment. If you couldn't do that, I'd suggest the river street whole foods store as a good roasting location. Or, if you could get out to George Howell's place (or by on-line), that would be a great option. http://www.terroircoffee.com/store/ Tue Aug 02 16:13:05 -0700 2005 821563 0 Jim N 3 821588 Roast your own - have to admit, never crossed my mind. May have to give it a shot. Thanks. Tue Aug 02 19:32:47 -0700 2005 821574 0 kate@50 1 821565 equal exchange beans. fairly traded. roasted locally. delicious. i get mine at harvest co-op but i know they also retail at other locations. Tue Aug 02 14:57:32 -0700 2005 821546 0 local-coffe-drinker 1 821589 When Coffee Connection (best coffee ever) was bought by Starbucks to be shut down, I despaired to think of drinking Starbucks, which I consider to be the worst coffee ever (dark roast tastes burnt to me; I think Starbucks sells cheap coffee for big bucks; I like the complex flavors of light to medium roast). I rejoiced to discover Armeno Coffee Roasters. Located in Northborough MA, it isn't real close, but go out some weekend to see the store and buy a selection, then sign up to get beans sent to you. The shipping charges are very reasonable, the bean quality very high, the convenience can't be beat. And they have a full range of roast from light to dark. We set up a standing order, two pounds a month, but changed the varieties from time to time, as they have many. I can't give recent experience, because about three years ago we both switched to Chinese tea, which we get on the Internet (tentea.com, oolong-tea.com). By the way, they're on vacation until August 8. 1-800-Armeno-1 Link: http://www.armeno.com Tue Aug 02 19:50:18 -0700 2005 821546 0 Mark Colan