Porto Rico Coffee
The other day I bought a pound of Costa Rican Organic French Roast beans from the Porto Rico on St. Marks. It is just about the worst tasting coffee I have ever brewed! Kind of bitter but weak and stale. I can't tell if it is just old or what.
I bought some of the best coffee I have ever had on a visit to Costa Rica, and I am just about out of those beans so I was hoping that Porto Rico would be able to approximate. No such luck.
Could the beans be that stale? Can anyone recommend a better coffee bean from Porto Rico, or another place that might have organic or fair trade costa rican (downtown)?
thanks,
Sarahoc
By sarahoc
on Sep 23, 2003 07:04 PM
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I moved to New York immediately after a long trip to Costa Rica, so I know exactly what you're going through. My remedy was to mail-order coffee from Cafe Britt in Costa Rica. I just checked their website (www.cafebritt.com) and noted that they now offer organic coffee. Another mail-order option is Cafe Milagro (www.cafemilagro.com), who also offers organic Costa Rican coffee. The beans from both places are very fresh and are exactly what you'll find in Costa Rica.
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Cafe Milagro in Quepos is where I bought the delicious beans! But their site still says under construction.
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Try sending them an e-mail (info@cafemilagro.com). I'm sure they can accomodate your request.
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If you don't mind, please let us know what happens: there was a Cafe Milagro in Barcelona, where I had the best coffee I think I've ever consumed. I would gladly patronize them if you have success in contacting them. Thanks!
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Ditto to that...my favorite coffee ever I drank in Spain. One kind uses coffee beans that have been roasted with sugar and the final product is exquisite.
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I wrote to Cafe Milagro in Costa Rica and they are not delivering to the US yet - but they promise that they are working on it.
But I don't think this is the same Cafe Milagro that you found in Spain - this one was founded in Costa Rica in the 1990s by two American expats and has only two branches in Costa Rica so far (but the coffee is wonderful).
sarahoc
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I've been disappointed with Porto Rico as well. While they have an overwhleming selection of coffees, their beans never seem to be freshly roasted. Perhaps this is because of their quantity.
Try Oren's Daily Roast. I think they have a location downtown.
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I am not crazy about Porto Rico either. The best coffee I've ever bought in NYC is at Chelsea Coffee Co on 9th ave (not sure what the exact cross st is but it's around 18-19th st, on the east side). I don't know if they have organic though (myself, I prefer to buy organic but in come cases it is worth it to stick to the regular... like with cheese and wine and this coffee...)
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Citarella has really GREAT coffee, full & rich flavor. they roast it themselves. a steal at $5.99 a pound. many locations around the city.
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In my experience, good coffee can be found at Porto Rico as long as you stick to their most popular beans--e.g., Peter's Blend, Cafe Blend, Aggie's Blend, etc. Also, the sale coffee of the week is usually pretty reliable.
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I've been drinking their French Roast Guatemalan for years but lately can only find the organic which is not nearly as good. About a year ago, I started drinking their Costa Rican and liked it a lot but again, I've only seen the organic lately (and do not like it, either). I emailed them and they assured me the blends I love aren't "over with." Yet the salespeople tell me they are "finished."
In the meantime, try the French Mocha. It tastes great and gives less of a jittery buzz than the Mocha Java.
Hazel
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I like there French Mocha Java, that and the Jamaican Blue Mountain are staples for me.
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try the french sumatra at porto rico. as good as peet's, who is, in my opinion, the best coffee co. in the u.s...
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For several years, I had been trying different beans for my espresso maker. Porto Rico's Italian Espresso beans turned out to be the best, despite their low price. Oren's are equally good, but at twice the price.
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I stocked up on the Italian Esp when it was on sale a couple weeks ago. If you put it in airtight plastic and don't refrigerate it lasts a long time. I've never had beans that seemed less than fresh, but I always get some form of espresso, be it French Italian or their Cent' Anni which is insanely good, but never on sale.
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