Mocha Java - O.K., so I've been living under a rock

[sandrina]

Do you ever get stuck in a rut with certain food/beverage items because you refuse to believe that there is anything better out there? This seems to have happened to me with coffee. I'm so used to having my daily cafe con leche using Bustelo. I know. I know. Many have frowned on Bustelo, but you have to understand that I come from a long generation of Bustelo drinkers. This has been the norm in my family, and anything deviating from that norm would be viewed as a risky undertaking. This brings me to my discovery of mocha java beans. Being a chocolate fanatic, in my wildest dreams I can't even imagine why I've ignored these beans before.

I came across a barrel of the stuff at Fairway this past weekend, and thought, why not? Purchased 1/2 lb. and ground them for espresso. Heaven on earth with that beautiful hint of chocolate flavor and intoxicating aroma! BUT....somehow, I feel like I still may be missing out. I need to know what else is out there quality wise. I have a need to try the best, because after savoring this, I can't imagine how much better it can get. Chow Hounders, please direct me to your best mocha java brands out there.

FYI: The barrel of beans, I presume, are Fairway brand? There was no other information on the barrel's sign other than "mocha java".

Thanks!

[Sinicle]

Not to get off thread...but you can't get a cortadito or cafe con leche in Miami unless it is Bustelo or Pilon. And there is nothing wrong with that...

[MrsT]

If you're in NYC, in Brooklyn--Park Slope, Leaf & Bean has a wonderful Mocha Java blend.

[qajaq]

If you can find some dark-roasted Yemeni Mokka beans, grind them as you bring a pint or so of water to a boil and put the ground coffee into a French press. When the water reaches a boil, let it cool briefly -- maybe 10 seconds or so -- to let it get a few degrees below 212F -- then pour it over the ground coffee, steep 7 minutes, press and pour. Heaven in a mug!

[MikeG]

I've always assumed Fairway had someone else roasting to spec, but their turnover is so (truly massively) high that freshness is never a problem with the more popular coffees. I wouldn't buy Kona or Yauco there (these days anyway), but they fly through the "everyday" stuff.

[FlyerFan]

I recently tried Peet's Mocha Java and it has become my new favorite. Full flavored yet totally smooth.

[ben61820]

i too love mocha blends in general but have largely forgotten about them recently. i never buy them. i get my coffee most of the time either at PSlope Coop or Damico's. at damicos they must have a good mocha roast.
does Fairway (all of them too, but particularly the redhook one) roast their own beans???

[torty]

You amy also want to explore Vietnamese coffees- they are known for having that almost chocolate thing going on. There are inexpensive on-line sources that also sell the filters.

[MikeG]

Fairway's has been particularly good lately, just to forewarn you that something packaged probably won't reach that particular standard. (I'm not saying that about all their coffee, which is generally fine - it's just that their MJ is particularly good these days.) Definitely agree about the roasting, but then IMHO, there's no point in using anything but a basic, good quality arabica bean (doesn't matter from where) for dark roasts - it really kills almost all nuance entirely.

[DanaB]

Mocha Java is my favorite coffee blend. It's made up of coffee beans from the island of Java and typically Moka beans from Ethopia, Yemen or other parts of Africa.

Most good coffee roasters will offer a Mocha Java blend. It's is by FAR best when not dark roasted -- when dark roasted, you lose the winey, mocha-y essense that makes it so good.

Trader Joe's Mocha Java is pretty good, and a medium roast to boot.

I find that Starbucks dark roasts their Mocha coffee beans, which ruins it for me, but your taste may vary.

[amkirkland]

I don't have a suggestion for a mocha java. Many hate starbucks... but I haven't met many people that don't like their Arabian Mocha Sanani. IMO, It's a high quality version of the Mocha (or Mokka, Mocka, or moka...) half of mocha java. cocoa-y and fuity. You'd probably like a good Ethiopian Harrar as well. In fact, anything from Ethiopia or Yemen. Most producers going to the trouble of making a varietal coffee will do a decent job, so just explore. Mocha Java is such a well known blend because it's the earliest known. Coffee originated in Ethiopia and eventually got to yemen and spread out from there via the port of Mokka. Coffee took root well in indonesia and javanese coffees were shipped back to yemen and blended with local coffees. Have fun exploring!