626595 Tue Jun 09 22:14:34 -0700 2009 98 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4758822 what is the coffee that you buy for home everyday drinking? brand? type? Tue Jun 09 22:14:34 -0700 2009 229937 cheeser 1 4758836 I usually get either Starbucks -from their stores, not the megamart- and/or Whole Foods. Our every day combo is 3/4 of the freshest dark roast (usually French) and 1/4 of the freshest medium roast (usually Sumatra), and we grind the blend at home. I can't drive, so I have to go where it's convienient. Tue Jun 09 22:24:51 -0700 2009 4758822 322300 Michelly 1 4758985 Barrington Coffee Roasters: Italian Roast...... hands down the BEST coffee I have ever had. freshly roasted in small quantities. They ship all over as well.http://www.barringtoncoffee.com/ Wed Jun 10 03:10:34 -0700 2009 4758822 176650 Lenox637 1 4759039 Costco Kirkland brand roasted by Starbucks. Wed Jun 10 04:12:22 -0700 2009 4758822 253154 Fritter 2 4760563 Good to know! I now purchase Peet's, and love it, but initially paid more for Starbuck's. Since I am a frequent Costco customer, will be sure to buy their brand since it is a lot cheaper. Do you recommend one type of Kirkland coffee? Wed Jun 10 12:48:19 -0700 2009 4759039 199931 ginael 3 4761436 I use the whole beans that come in a vacum sealed bag. 2# for less than $12. If you don't have a grinder most of the stores here have one at the front of the store by the check outs. Wed Jun 10 16:42:19 -0700 2009 4760563 253154 Fritter 4 4762161 I will have to try that out. Do you find there's a huge difference between whole beans and already grounded beans? Wed Jun 10 21:22:14 -0700 2009 4761436 199931 ginael 5 4762405 Yes I prefer whole beans. I do grind mine daily but even if I ground them at the store I would still buy whole bean. Just be sure to set the dial to the proper grind for how you are making your coffee. If you need help just ask as you check out. I picked up a Cuisinart bean grinder a few years back at Costco ($25) that has a hopper on top and you can set it to grind up to 18 cups of beans at a time but the grind setting takes a little fiddling with to get used to. Costco does sell Kirkland brand coffee in 3# cans for like $8 but I don't think that's a Starbucks product. Thu Jun 11 03:08:57 -0700 2009 4762161 253154 Fritter 6 4768235 The biggest single thing one can do to improve their coffee, no matter how it is brewed is to grind just before brewing. Coffee starts to go stale immediately after grinding. (think white bread sitting out of the wrapper) Fri Jun 12 17:16:59 -0700 2009 4762405 11003 chipman 7 4769023 Why then do so many (majority?) of coffees come ground? I agree roasting then grinding and making coffee as soon as you can gives the best results, but how bad is a freshly opened bag of coffee? I buy Starbucks both ground and whole beans. I'm not sure I can tell the difference. How does stale affect taste? Sat Jun 13 04:06:29 -0700 2009 4768235 137946 Scargod 8 4771761 Oxidation is you enemy. Coffee that tastes stale doesn't have the intensity of the coffee flavor and can develop off tastes because in fact, it is turning rancid. If you can't taste it, you can't taste it - who cares? But most people will taste the difference between the bottom of the can of Folgers and the freshly opened can. Vacuum packing takes care of the oxidation, so pre-ground and then vacuum packed is almost as good as fresh ground. In order to keep coffee fresh, whether whole bean or pre-ground, vacuum pack it - use the vacuum canisters or ball jar adapter with your Foodsaver. The absolute best coffee is "fresh roasted" as well as fresh ground. Except that fresh roasted coffee needs to de-gas - so it's actually best to let your fresh roasted coffee rest for 24-48 hours before grinding and making coffee out of it. But every second that the coffee is allowed to oxidize after roasting, you lose flavor and increase rancidity. Whole beans last a lot longer because only the surface of the bean is thusly affected. Sun Jun 14 10:28:04 -0700 2009 4769023 10312 applehome 7 4769670 Well, I've tried all sorts of freshly ground and freshly roasted. But I really like a newly-opened can of preground Italian coffee (Lavazza or Illy) preferentially to everything I've had (except this one place in Connecticut). Ideally, you could grind the Illy, but at least for the flavor profile I look for in coffee, the Lavazza preground is trumping pretty much everything else. We go through the cans pretty fast. I wouldn't want coffee that had sat around in a bag for any length of time... actually ground or not. I agree stale is a dealkiller. Sat Jun 13 10:52:04 -0700 2009 4768235 40486 Cinnamon 8 4770205 You like Lavazza you should mail order it by the case. Shipping is very reasonable. 12 cans $72+ shipping ($5.95 for local shipping in LA). http://www.sovranastore.com/lavqualoro.html Sat Jun 13 15:38:24 -0700 2009 4769670 11914 monku 9 4770293 Thanks - that's a nice price for the Oro! Sat Jun 13 16:20:09 -0700 2009 4770205 40486 Cinnamon 1 4759043 My local Publix in Florida now carries Dunkin Donuts original blend, medium roast. I avoid Starbucks; I abhor their culture and cult. Wed Jun 10 04:14:39 -0700 2009 4758822 57170 Veggo 2 4759061 Trader Joe's Smooth & Mellow Wed Jun 10 04:31:04 -0700 2009 4759043 46008 markabauman 3 4761805 TJ Volcano. Wed Jun 10 19:08:41 -0700 2009 4759061 88866 littlebites 4 4768722 TJ's Double Dark Sumatra, TJ's Low Acid French Roast, and Timothy's San Lorenzo Dark Fri Jun 12 21:08:52 -0700 2009 4761805 47694 litchick 2 4759120 Publix brand, Eight OClock and Dunkin. Starbucks ... Can't stand the place, can't stand the coffee. Beans and I do grind myself always. Wed Jun 10 05:17:46 -0700 2009 4759043 232829 kchurchill5 3 4761897 See if your Publix carries or will stock Community Coffee for you. It's in their warehouse. Most of the Publix's, Piggly Wiggly's, etc. in the panhandle stock it and a few others do to. It's a good product and is economical. They still sell a 16 ounce bag of their traditional roasts for six bucks. Wed Jun 10 19:37:23 -0700 2009 4759120 22801 bkhuna 4 4761910 Thx I will. I know the manager and have ordered a few items and he can usually get them for me. I know Piggly's from WI and other places. I love good coffee don't get me wrong, but a good cup of Joe is the am can be a good Eight O clock or Publix brand. I'm not that picky, Fresh ground and a descent brand is fine for me. Definitely calling tomorrow. Thx Wed Jun 10 19:41:33 -0700 2009 4761897 232829 kchurchill5 5 4761975 I hear ya'. I like the taste of good coffee but can't see >$10/lb on designer brands. I pay $5.98 a bag for Peet's. If I had to pay retail for it, I probably would only have it on hand for special occasions. Wed Jun 10 19:58:58 -0700 2009 4761910 22801 bkhuna 1 4759113 Laurentis espresso beans, dark roast. the world doesn't exist until i've had my 3 shots of triple espresso [which i make myself with my Gaggia Classic] :p Wed Jun 10 05:13:46 -0700 2009 4758822 292258 Pata_Negra 1 4759115 Major Dickason's Blend by Pete's is my usual go to. There are a few stores / coffee houses around here that sell counter culture so I get that from time to time. Wed Jun 10 05:14:49 -0700 2009 4758822 108111 gatorfoodie 1 4759136 Local roaster, Leelanau Coffee, has a medium blend called Wolverine (GO BLUE!) that is my current favorite. Wed Jun 10 05:27:01 -0700 2009 4758822 109573 coney with everything 1 4759300 Julius Meinl - President Blend. It's available online if you're not near their US locations. Wed Jun 10 06:35:01 -0700 2009 4758822 68363 JungMann 1 4759328 Trader Joe's French Roast. But lately, the taste seems a bit "off" to me. I think I need a fix of this stuff: http://www.hotsauceworld.com/wafuupco1l.html Wed Jun 10 06:43:12 -0700 2009 4758822 75332 Gio 1 4759499 I roast my own Wed Jun 10 07:36:35 -0700 2009 4758822 89493 scubadoo97 2 4759952 I hope your nearest neighbor is a distance away: as delicious as fresh roasted is, the roasting process is pretty stinky! Wed Jun 10 09:35:14 -0700 2009 4759499 57170 Veggo 3 4760107 Yeah I've never cared for the smell. There really isn't too much smoke that will carry too far. I'm not roasting 10 lbs or anything. Just under a pound per batch. I know commercial roasters need after burners to handle the smoke and to keep their neighbors and the EPA happy Wed Jun 10 10:24:41 -0700 2009 4759952 89493 scubadoo97 1 4759896 I've been spoiling myself with Terroir, Intelligentsia and 49th Parallel beans, whatever our favorite baristas tell us is good that week. I am intimidated by the stovetop contraption my hubbie uses, so I just put the ground beans into a number 2 Melita filter and pour in some hot water. It is really delicious! Life is too short to drink bad coffee! Wed Jun 10 09:22:28 -0700 2009 4758822 89969 moh 2 4761332 A lot of posters with too-short lives here. I have a rotation of 49th Parallel "Epic Espresso," JJ Bean "Espresso JJ," and Intelligentsia "Black Cat," all blends, but I also am happy to try an appropriately roasted single-origin for espresso, like the 49th Fazenda Apucarana (which it's marketing as single origin ESPRESSO), the Arecha from Phil and Sebastian roasted by Novo in Denver, or another great Brazilian I got a while back from Fratello Roasters (here in Calgary). I'll sometimes try Fratello's espresso blend for Good Earth Cafes here if I want something a little darker. Wed Jun 10 16:09:20 -0700 2009 4759896 12135 John Manzo 3 4761448 I wish I could afford to have Greenwell's Kona estate or peaberry as my daily brew. http://www.greenwellfarms.com/ Wed Jun 10 16:46:44 -0700 2009 4761332 253154 Fritter 4 4761599 I have 10 bucks or less for a bag of a good bean (many descent brands out there), fresh brew at 5am or earlier and usually take a thermos as I walk out the door. I would love some good beans and do treat myself when I entertain usually but for me. I equate it to 10 dollars for the coffee (a bit of savings) allows me to enjoy a cold makers mark and coke when I get home. Give and take. Wed Jun 10 17:34:42 -0700 2009 4761448 232829 kchurchill5 5 4771715 That $10, assuming it's for a pound of beans, will make about 30 cups of coffee. Sun Jun 14 10:09:44 -0700 2009 4761599 12135 John Manzo 1 4760094 Medaglia D'oro Expresso Raost Wed Jun 10 10:20:08 -0700 2009 4758822 178586 Jeff_the_Kid 2 4765360 For eight servings, I take two tablespoons of Medaglio d'Oro and add it to 5 tablespoons of a generic ground coffee (called Food Club) I get at a dollar store for about $2.50 a can. After years of experimenting with more expensive coffees, that works for a nice very inexpensive morning cup that I prefer. Yeah, I've taken some suggestions from Chowhound and ordered specialty whole coffee beans and ground them every morning. I prefer this. Thu Jun 11 20:10:01 -0700 2009 4760094 10156 Steve 3 4765766 When I first met SO, many years ago, she used Medaglio d'Oro and lots of it. It was so damn strong and bitter! I finally took over the coffee making and cooking and she has never complained. This morning I'm drinking Italian Roast (starbucks). That's as strong as we go. I don't skimp on the coffee when I make it, either. Fri Jun 12 04:20:07 -0700 2009 4765360 137946 Scargod 3 4767280 This is a great idea. Do you grind your coffee fine, like the espresso? I vary my coffee but often use Medaglio. Fri Jun 12 12:02:25 -0700 2009 4765360 39874 chowser 4 4767375 For what I posted, the coffee already comes ground. How convenient! Fri Jun 12 12:29:38 -0700 2009 4767280 10156 Steve 5 4768238 If you like stale coffee. Fri Jun 12 17:18:22 -0700 2009 4767375 11003 chipman 5 4771720 Never, ever buy pre-ground coffee. Sun Jun 14 10:10:34 -0700 2009 4767375 12135 John Manzo 1 4760120 Anything but Maxwell House or Folgers..... Wed Jun 10 10:27:09 -0700 2009 4758822 123497 fourunder 1 4760489 Community Coffee between blend. Wed Jun 10 12:30:45 -0700 2009 4758822 14445 swamp 1 4760873 The Rain Forest Blend at Fresh and Easy. And since SO likes flavored coffee, I also tried their hazelnut coffee. Definitely better, though I still like mine just straight. Wed Jun 10 14:00:20 -0700 2009 4758822 14917 mtngirlnv 1 4761050 Cafe Blend, Porto Rico, gold mesh cone drip (yes, they ask which grind). They have a host of FT, Bird Friendly (shade grown), Organic, and just about everything else, for $6-8/lb (yes, there are pricier versions), particularly during their weekly and seasonal sales. http://www.portorico.com/store/weeklysale.html I've never been a fan of Peet's, Starbuck's, Intelligensia, or Dunkin Donuts. We usually get ~10lbs at a time to keep in the freezer (I've been ordering their coffee since my first move away from NYC in 1992). When I've had them delivered to the office, the reception desk smells like a coffee roaster's paradise. Wed Jun 10 14:46:46 -0700 2009 4758822 224238 Caralien 1 4761270 Intelligentsia, Vivace Wed Jun 10 15:50:03 -0700 2009 4758822 74905 jaykayen 1 4761402 i'm lucky to be able to get green coffee beans from Fairway uptown Harlem location, instead of mail order. It might be that i'm the only person buying those beans (i hope not), but they've started to put a 2 lbs bag aside now, instead of having it in the bin. I'm told it's Ethiopean beans.Stove top cast iron roast. Manual stone ground daily that starts and finishes with the tea kettle whistle. Then Aeropress. Wed Jun 10 16:34:26 -0700 2009 4758822 10422 HLing 1 4761757 Lavazza ... it's an Italian brand, carried for $6-7 at World Market. Really nice and smooth. Comes preground in a sealed metal can... far better to me than all fresh-bean varieties I've had (except for this one place in Connecticut). It's in a maroon can. They also have really nice espresso (we like the Lavazza D 'Oro in the gold can best for that but the regular is fine). Wed Jun 10 18:46:19 -0700 2009 4758822 40486 Cinnamon 2 4762130 Lavazza D'Oro! I pined for that after tasting it in Como, Italy in the early 90's! Used to have to buy it vacuum packed - golden bricks of deliciousness -from their supermarket and bring it back to the US. It took a while before the US had it, and even then, the d'Oro never came in bricks here, only in cans. Only recently I've seen the Lavazza d'Oro in whole beans. Too late for me... Wed Jun 10 21:03:43 -0700 2009 4761757 10422 HLing 2 4767284 I like Lavazza D'Oro. I have only had the espresso and didn't know there was coffee, too. I'll have to look for it. Fri Jun 12 12:03:39 -0700 2009 4761757 39874 chowser 2 4768414 what place in CT? I live there and would be interested.... Fri Jun 12 18:32:41 -0700 2009 4761757 264146 kubasd 3 4769691 Coffee Tree 22 Railroad Ave Greenwich, CT 06830 (203) 861-7800 I wonder if it is owned by the same guy as the one up the street (Greenwich Ave.) described here: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/10/nyregion/dining-out-coffee-bars-find-their-place-in-the-state.html This was awhile back that I had it. There is/was also some local-roasting place inland a bit from Greenwich (New Canaan??), maybe more inland from Stamford, that has good just-roasted-on-premises but now I'm at a complete loss as to the name. Supposedly it was owned by a connoisseurial psychopharmacologist. But there are plenty of fresh-roast options in that general area. Sat Jun 13 11:04:56 -0700 2009 4768414 40486 Cinnamon 4 4770119 I haven't tried Coffee Tree, but would be interested the next time I'm in CT. I wholly agree that local roasters are the way to go unless one can get the beans and roast them at home effectively. The climate here isn't right for growing coffee, and the closest tea plantation I'm aware of is near Charleston, SC (owned now by Bigelow, I believe). There's a place closer to me in NJ (Grover's Mill), as well as Small World Coffee, but I haven't been able to ween myself (or husband) off of Porto Rico. Sat Jun 13 14:47:44 -0700 2009 4769691 224238 Caralien 1 4761779 I'm impressed by HLing and all you other self-roasters out there. I'm so lazy, I have the store grind my beans for me. Luckily (ok, "luckily"), I go through it fast, so I can pick up fresh ground stuff frequently! My favorite everyday coffee is the Blue Mountain style at Zabar's. I know it's heretical to some to drink BM style and not the real stuff, but the counterfeit is honestly about 75% as good as the real stuff and 20% as expensive. Great for every day. Wed Jun 10 18:55:34 -0700 2009 4758822 64215 cimui 2 4761790 I grind just enough for me every morning. I love the smell of the fresh grounds. I use a minimal price as I said but I love it. Fresh ground. I use a fresh infused cinnimon cream which I made. cream which I infused with a cinnimon stick and a clove and then chilled. I keep it for a week and it is great. Don't do it all the time, but it is sure good. Sometimes a little vanilla bean too. Just a little treat. Wed Jun 10 19:01:47 -0700 2009 4761779 232829 kchurchill5 3 4761814 y'know, in huge part, i hate to grind my own in the a.m. on a weekday because i'm usually tired and groggy and i have the kind of grinder where you need to stick your finger in there to scrape out the coffee grinds after they're ground. i keep cutting myself on that little blade! also, i'm really lazy. :) infusing cream or milk is a great idea that i bet my mom would love. i'm not such a fan of added flavor in coffee these days. i'm such an addict that i like mine with its wake-me-up bitterness in full force. no sugar, ever. just enough milk to temper the acid in my empty tummy. Wed Jun 10 19:11:47 -0700 2009 4761790 64215 cimui 4 4761832 No sugar here, just a little spice flavor. My friend taught me it. I do it in the micro for 2 minutes. 1 cup cream, 1 cinnimon stick, 1 clove, sometimes some ground nutmet. 2 minutes on medium and put in the fridge. Grinding, I love my grinder and love fresh grinds. The smell sometimes more than the coffee itself. But I often leave at 5 or 6 am so I grind the night before and then put in the pot. Wake up and turn on. Old fashioned maker no timer. I actually have to flip a switch. Just a simple gal. Wed Jun 10 19:18:12 -0700 2009 4761814 232829 kchurchill5 5 4761883 The coffee maker my husband uses daily is mine from college--a 4C Gevalia model circa 1989 (the gold mesh filter has been replaced twice). Wed Jun 10 19:33:37 -0700 2009 4761832 224238 Caralien 6 4761922 LOL, Gevalia as well, gold mesh filter it was silver originally, 1 replacement. I used to get the Peruvian beans and still do. I get 4 bags a year and keep them frozen. I love their Christmas blend so I get that then. I got a Braun, top of the line, timer, the whole works machine and it broke. Sent it back, they refused to replace so I never got another. I kept my little Gevalia and 3 one in 30 years. Still going strong. Besides ... makes a damn good cup of coffee!! Wed Jun 10 19:44:45 -0700 2009 4761883 232829 kchurchill5 7 4761983 It really does make good coffee! I only regret giving my spare one away (or can hope that someone else has inherited it and it too is still being used). Wed Jun 10 20:00:11 -0700 2009 4761922 224238 Caralien 4 4772420 Use a spoon or a table knife to scrape out the grounds. I'm lucky if I can find my mouth with the toothbrush, so sticking my fingers in any place that has a blade -even if it's not running- would not be good. Sun Jun 14 16:08:44 -0700 2009 4761814 322300 Michelly 1 4761878 Peet's Major Dickason's Blend and Community Coffee House Blend. I grind my beans daily. Wed Jun 10 19:33:13 -0700 2009 4758822 22801 bkhuna 1 4761996 I don't have just one, but typically I rotate between Starbuck's Verona, Sumatra and Gold Coast. I buy it as whole beans. I never drink coffee from Starbucks stores; I buy this at Stop 'n Shop. Wed Jun 10 20:04:20 -0700 2009 4758822 137946 Scargod 2 4766084 Have you tried Willoughby's? It's fresh roasted, which (I think) makes more of a difference than fresh ground. I think they roast it in Branford, but they have locations all over the New Haven area. Except for one or two of their premium single origin coffees, it costs less than the Starbucks stuff. They usually have someone working in the store that's knowledgeable enough to point you towards a roast or blend you'll enjoy. http://www.willoughbyscoffee.com/ Fri Jun 12 06:52:24 -0700 2009 4761996 36408 danieljdwyer 3 4766294 You may know how inexpensive a 10-kilo sack of shade grown arabica beans is in Costa Rica or Veracruz State (MX), which explains why so many want into the game. I'm always amused when I see a bag of New England coffee, New England being 1600 miles from the nearest coffee bush. Fri Jun 12 07:50:42 -0700 2009 4766084 57170 Veggo 4 4766359 Isn't Seattle even farther from the nearest coffee bush? I find that all less strange than the fact that chocolate connoisseurs usually insist on Central European chocolate, cacao being a New World, tropical plant. Fri Jun 12 08:09:07 -0700 2009 4766294 36408 danieljdwyer 5 4766403 or imported tomatoes, yet another New World berry. Fri Jun 12 08:20:11 -0700 2009 4766359 224238 Caralien 4 4767866 There is an interesting parallel thread on a Canadian board about sourcing cuban coffee. Much cuban coffee is almost as premium as Blue Mountain, and is exported mostly to France and Japan. (Which is surprising, because Spain is Cuba's largest non-petroleum trading partner). It is such an important source of export revenue that it is rationed to cubans, but there are tiny coffee casitas everywhere in greater Havana. Hurricane Ike destroyed most of last year's crop, but it is unclear to me whether coffee bushes are considered a "quick recovery crop", or not. The shading trees were all destroyed, so the exquisiteness of fine cuban coffee, drunk strong in tiny "tazas" all through the day, has had a game change for a while. Real stats are hard to come by in Cuba; anyone have an update? Fri Jun 12 14:57:36 -0700 2009 4766294 57170 Veggo 5 4769008 "Much cuban coffee is almost as premium as Blue Mountain, and is exported mostly to France and Japan" I just put that one in my "you learn something new every day" file. Sat Jun 13 03:31:36 -0700 2009 4767866 253154 Fritter 1 4762056 Stumptown (Portland/Seattle) whenever I can get it. It is so worth it. The rest of the time is a constant search for something that is nearly that good-- so sometimes I just go without. I figure I'm going to end up roasting my own sooner rather than later, since I don't want to pay shipping on my Stumptown habit. Wed Jun 10 20:30:49 -0700 2009 4758822 64882 Vetter 1 4762402 I've been buying Essse Masini Caffe Espresso Beans in the Bronx lately - $18 or so for 1 kilo. I use my French press and have been happy with this coffee. http://www.1st-line.com/coffee/espresso/bean/essse_index.htm - the red bag at the bottom. Thu Jun 11 03:04:01 -0700 2009 4758822 10985 MMRuth 1 4763358 I don't know the brand name. I get my coffee from a specialty shop in Brooklyn called Leaf & Bean. I used to get the Vintage Crop, now I get the Mocha Java Supreme. http://www.leafnbean.com/ Thu Jun 11 09:44:56 -0700 2009 4758822 11701 MrsT 1 4763438 WF 365 brand Breakfast blend. Thu Jun 11 10:01:34 -0700 2009 4758822 158016 cassoulady 1 4767934 Fair Trade coffee from Deans Beans (www.deansbeans.com). We like the Road House and Ring of Fire blends. They also have chocolate covered coffee beans (Java Drops) in both milk and dark...majorily addicting! Fri Jun 12 15:22:07 -0700 2009 4758822 226942 al b. darned 1 4768399 Peet's when I'm being extravagant (French Roast mostly). Otherwise, La Llave (the West Coast equivalent to El Pico) or Melitta European Roast, for which I constantly get $$-off coupons from Ralphs. Just make one pot a day (1-qt Chemex carafe), unless we have company. Fri Jun 12 18:25:46 -0700 2009 4758822 11478 Will Owen 2 4769713 Is there an actual connection between La Llave and El Pico, or do you just mena equivalent in the style/flavor sense? La Llave used to be our everyday house coffee in LA, and I've been sad that we can't find it in the northeast :( Pilon and Bustelo are our two easiest to find options, so we're using Bustelo now. Peets, Intelligentsia, and Illy are our special treat coffees, though occasionally when I make a trip home to upstate NY, I grab some beans from Gimme Coffee! (Sumatra Iskandar, mostly) Sat Jun 13 11:14:34 -0700 2009 4768399 49653 another_adam 3 4770842 La Llave and El Pico are the products of two different but similar family firms, one in LA and the other in NJ. They are both the cheapest brands in their respective lineup, selling these days in the $4-and-under range, though frequently the Latino supermarket chains will have the 12-oz. vacuum bricks of La Llave at 2/$5. Interesting note: you can tell La Llave is a western brand because "llave" is Mexican Spanish for "key". In the East, they'd probably use the Cuban or Puerto Rican spelling, the same as Spanish Spanish, which is "clave". Both La Llave and El Pico are in my estimation much better than Bustelo, which to me tastes rather tired and stale. Sat Jun 13 21:36:42 -0700 2009 4769713 11478 Will Owen 4 4771796 Good to know this about El Pico-- I don't see it around in supermarkets in Boston, but if it's from the Northeast, I'll keep my eyes open for it! (Could easily be hiding out in Latin markets) I agree, Bustelo is not nearly as good as La Llave, we've definitely missed it after moving east. (btw, isn't 'clave' just for piano keys, as a reborrowing from Latin? I thought 'llave' is the term for lock-keys everywhere, it just follows the regular rule of Latin cl > Spanish ll, e.g., Latin clamare = Spanish llamar...) Sun Jun 14 10:41:51 -0700 2009 4770842 49653 another_adam 5 4776001 My local Publix supermarket carries La Llave (I live in South Carolina), so it's available in some parts of the East Coast... Mon Jun 15 18:39:44 -0700 2009 4771796 10705 deibu 1 4768425 Cafe Britt Peaberry coffee that I either bring back from or have shipped from Costa Rica.... once I had it I couldn't go back..... It's the best, seriously. No need for any sugar or cream, it tastes delicious all by itself.... Fri Jun 12 18:36:11 -0700 2009 4758822 264146 kubasd 1 4769014 Cafe Bustelo, part out of habit, part for the taste, and part out of graphic design appreciation. Sat Jun 13 03:48:57 -0700 2009 4758822 43623 chilihead 1 4769148 As mentioned above, I often buy espresso powder to make coffee because it tastes richer. That is preground but regular coffee I buy in beans. For espresso, I vary it, depening on where I am shopping when I run out but have liked Medaglio, Lavazza and Trader Joe's D'Aquino which is fair trade and organic so usually my first choice. For coffee, WF now carries locally roasted coffee that I like, but if I'm feeling frugal, Costco has a fair trade coffee that I'll use. Sat Jun 13 06:11:28 -0700 2009 4758822 39874 chowser 1 4769854 I like small estate coffees. The folks at Sweet Maria's do a pretty good job of picking some of the best offerings around. Availability is never consistent, so each order becomes a learning experience. The current lineup includes: Hawai'i Kona Moki's Farm (City roast) Ethiopia Organic Dry-Processed Koratie (City+) Colombia "Perros Bravos de Huila" (City+ to Full City) Sumatra Lintong "Blue Batak" (Full City) All roasted in small (~5 oz. green, ~4 oz. net) batches, 3-7 days before consumption. Sat Jun 13 12:31:05 -0700 2009 4758822 58743 alanbarnes 1 4770178 Brown County Coffee Roasters Jesse's Blend. French Press. It is a local roaster and that blend is exclusive to our shop. We had a coffee blend contest a couple of years ago. That is what won. It is Guatemalan and a blend of light, medium and dark roasts. If makes fantastic iced coffee too. Sat Jun 13 15:24:55 -0700 2009 4758822 10285 Candy 1 4770245 I've pretty much switched from Trader Joe's whole beans to Black Mountain Gold, sometimes flavored, ground and vacuum-packed in one-pot pouches. I used to get it from Ralphs, but they'd hide the display away from the other coffee, run out of flavors, etc., so now I just mail-order a bunch at a time. All things considered, it's not really all that expensive. http://www.gourmet-coffee.com/home.php?cat=56 Sat Jun 13 16:03:33 -0700 2009 4758822 11300 Muskrat 1 4770598 everyday is Community New Orleans blend...double cream, please Sat Jun 13 19:11:27 -0700 2009 4758822 11524 chef4hire 1 4770656 I don't drink much coffee anymore, but when I do it's Equal Exchange, which is a fair-trade brand I can get at the supermarket as whole beans. I grind it coarsely and brew it in my French press. Sat Jun 13 19:46:42 -0700 2009 4758822 160926 Kinnexa 1 4771297 Hopelessly and happily addicted to Peet's Major Dickason's beans and my burr grinder. I recently tried a bag of Dunkin Donuts blend and was surprised how good it tasted. Sun Jun 14 06:54:48 -0700 2009 4758822 140436 fresnohotspot 1 4775725 Most any of the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters beans, freshly ground, will do the trick Mon Jun 15 17:24:11 -0700 2009 4758822 12296 steakman55 1 4939574 In my last post to this thread, I gushed about Major Dickason's blend. There are some Blue Mountain and Kona coffees I would like to have all the time, but the mortgage comes first. I still love Dickason's, but I stumbled on a close second for flavor and value. I know the New York crowd has had Chock Full O' Nuts - original blend - around for years. But I just tried my first cup and this is a great everyday blend. I get giddy when I come across good stuff that has been around for ages. Wed Aug 12 08:26:53 -0700 2009 4758822 140436 fresnohotspot 1 4939621 I just discovered a great micro-roast in my area...Columbia Monserate from Caffe Lusso. I don't usually like black coffee, but I couldn't get enough of this... www.caffelusso.com Wed Aug 12 08:37:19 -0700 2009 4758822 56183 soypower 1 4940043 I'm looking for a mild taste in coffee. I usually buy ground coffee in small quantities. I'm in Toronto, I find that the locally roasted coffee is too bitter for my taste. I was thinking about an Italian brand like Lavazza or Illy. Any recommendations? Thanks! Wed Aug 12 10:28:24 -0700 2009 4758822 244008 carissima 2 4940142 Sorry to be blunt, but if your coffee is bitter, you're brewing it wrong. If it's some other aspect of the flavor profile that you find objectionable, talking to a knowledgeable person at a local roaster about your likes and dislikes is the quickest way to find the ideal coffee for you. It may take some trial and error, but you'll get there. For mild flavors, I'd avoid most of the Italian roasters. You may want to try high-quality beans from Central or South America or Hawai'i. Or maybe a Kenya AA. Regardless, get something that isn't roasted too dark; you don't want to see oil on the surface of the beans. Wed Aug 12 10:54:07 -0700 2009 4940043 58743 alanbarnes 3 4941290 Thanks, alanbarnes. Unfortunately, the trial and error period does not seem to end.. Maybe you're right about the brewing. I have been using the turkish pot to brew the coffee. Wed Aug 12 16:20:03 -0700 2009 4940142 244008 carissima 4 4941377 It's easy to overextract the grounds using an ibrik. A vac pot, drip cone (including Chemex), or french press would provide better insurance against bitterness. Seriously, check out a light-roasted Central American coffee (or a single-estate Kona, if you're feeling flush). I think you'll like it. Wed Aug 12 16:41:22 -0700 2009 4941290 58743 alanbarnes 1 4941425 Starbucks Casi Cielo in the winter as a treat and Eight O'Clock Columbian as my daily. Wed Aug 12 16:55:17 -0700 2009 4758822 290845 KristieB 1 4944340 Okay, I changed my everyday brand. It used to be Starbucks (I can't drive and I can find a Starbucks on any of my bus routes), but I discovered that the Infuzion Cafe next to Sur Le Table in Santa Monica will sell half- and whole pounds of 3 blends by Groundworks. I'm still trying to get to one of the two actual Groundwork stores in my area so I can try diffferent roasts/blends, but this is extremely convienient forme. And the coffee is GREAT! I can make it strong and it isn't the sllightest bit bitter! Thu Aug 13 14:03:43 -0700 2009 4758822 322300 Michelly 1 4946976 8'oclock roast. Market Basket here in the Northeast sell it under their brand for 8.99 for a 2 pound bag. I think it's pretty decent. I splurge occasionally on George Howell's stuff. Fri Aug 14 12:43:01 -0700 2009 4758822 25921 uman