The coffee thread

[redxblack]

I really like Tim Horton's coffee. I buy the big cans and run them through a Bunn home brewer. I also buy roasted beans from a really good grocery store and grind them at home as well.

[JEFF_H]

really digging the Keurig
nice to have a variety on hand.

[il d00d]

I rock a French press - I usually use Starbucks beans, typically French or Espresso roast.  Sumatra used to be my de facto bean, but it seems like the taste or my taste for it changed.  Vienna is also nice, but I am not a big fan of the others.  Peet's French roast will sometimes get in the rotation when it is on sale.  I have tried a few forgettable organic brands - none of them seem to roast to my liking.

We recently broke our Bodum press, and have fallen back to using an Ikea press I've had for years - the grommet holding the screen to the plunger shaft was made out of plastic.   The Ikea's is metal - I think the Bodum was about $30, the Ikea was probably $12.  I recommend the Ikea

I got this grinder last Christmas, and I have been pretty happy with it.  It cuts down on, but does not eliminate entirely the dust which turns into sludge I would get when I used a blade grinder on the beans and then French pressed it.  It is a bit messy (static and the chute design keeps about a teaspoon of grounds ready to leap out on your counter and floor when you're not looking), but I would still recommend it, especially for the money.

[mitt]

K-cups   



mitt

[SacDuc]

I would just like to yell make the beast with two backs YOU at the coffee peddlers who decided that 12oz is the new standard unit in which coffee will be sold. And even bigger make the beast with two backs YOU to the idiot consumers who don't know that 12oz is NOT one pound. You are not paying $12/lb for that Charbucks bag of shit. You are paying $16/lb for it. Now go be retarded somewhere else.

I drink this at home:
http://alterracoffee.com/Athome/productdetail.aspx?idProduit=34

Light roast, high acid. That is what I like in coffee.

That is all.

sac

[DRKWNG]

Best coffee I've had was when I was down in Uganda.  There was one plantation located on in island out in the middle of Lake Victoria that had STOOPID GOOD bean!!  Second best was from a plantation not far across the border into Kenya.  I was able to smuggle about a hundred pounds of bean back with me into Germany from that deployment.   

[kopfjäger]

^^ Africa does have some great beans. It's all about the soil

[zooom]

Dunkin Donuts coffee is good enough for me....


but I am curious to try this -> http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/drinks/e732/?pfm=rightcolumn_NewStuffFTW_9

[Grappa]

I like the Nespesso machines.  My neighbor/friend had one and he would always offer an espresso whenever we hung out.

A devoted coffee connoisseur that I met once told me he always adds a pinch of salt to the coffee.  Said it removed some of the bitterness.

[il d00d]

I would just like to yell make the beast with two backs YOU at the coffee peddlers who decided that 12oz is the new standard unit in which coffee will be sold. And even bigger make the beast with two backs YOU to the idiot consumers who don't know that 12oz is NOT one pound. You are not paying $12/lb for that Charbucks bag of shit. You are paying $16/lb for it. Now go be retarded somewhere else.

12 ounces does seem like an arbitrary unit, but my last 12oz bag of Charbucks from Krogers was $7.99/12oz, so... $12/lb 
I used to hate having to pick up a bag every week or so, but now I like that fresh beans only sit in my hopper for a week or less.  Also, you get a free tall coffee with each bag if you buy in the grocery store, so it comes out cheaper than buying from Starbucks.  Also, also, it tastes like the beans from the store are fresher than those from a starbucks.  YMMV.

Mmmm... inexpensive charred poopy water...

[Howie]

I like the Nespesso machines.  My neighbor/friend had one and he would always offer an espresso whenever we hung out.

A devoted coffee connoisseur that I met once told me he always adds a pinch of salt to the coffee.  Said it removed some of the bitterness.

I hate to admit it, but if you want fool proof great coffee every time the Nespresso is great.

[Bun-bun]

Also good, Guatemalan SHB and Kenya AA

Our local BJ's Wholesale sells 2 1/2 lbs of Kenya AA for $14.99. When I'm too lazy to get to my local roaster, it's a good alternative.

got this grinder last Christmas, and I have been pretty happy with it.  It cuts down on, but does not eliminate entirely the dust which turns into sludge I would get when I used a blade grinder on the beans and then French pressed it.  It is a bit messy (static and the chute design keeps about a teaspoon of grounds ready to leap out on your counter and floor when you're not looking), but I would still recommend it, especially for the money.

The cone type grinders are reputed to do a much better job than the blade grinders. Less dust, and the blade grinders have a reputation for burning the grinds due to friction.

[NoisyDante]

Interesting fact about coffee is the darker the roast the less caffeine left in the bean.  Hence a standard city roast, which is lighter than a french roast, will have more caffeine than espresso per volume, espresso being an italian roast.

Another thing is if you like coffee but suffer from heartburn like me, try espresso in place of your usual coffee.  Gives me no heartburn whatsoever.

[triangleforge]

I've always wanted to try Kopi Luwak as well, though even on closeout it ain't cheap -- $30 and shipping for just shy of 60 grams:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/clearance/on-sale/d60c/

We're lucky to have a good roaster within walking distance http://www.prescottcoffeeroasters.com/ and a french press.

[il d00d]

Interesting fact about coffee is the darker the roast the less caffeine left in the bean.  Hence a standard city roast, which is lighter than a french roast, will have more caffeine than espresso per volume, espresso being an italian roast.

I remember reading that dark roasts have less caffeine by volume, but more by weight - longer roast = less moisture in the bean = less weight.  Beans get bigger the longer they are roasted. 
I tend to think there are comparable amounts of The Good Stuff by prepared volume ("strengths" being equal).