What's your Favorite Bean? (Coffee)

[LowThudd]

My Capresso just had a catastrophic seal failure. Nearly cooked me. In the nearly intelligible words of Spicoli "Hey man, Just be glad I had fast reflexes". But, called up Capresso and they are sending me a new seal. Easy peasy. I thought I was going to have to go through the Black and Decker procedure of cutting off the cord and sending it to them before they sent me a new one. In the meantime, I guess I'm going back to cowboy coffee.

[Dirty Duc]

  indeed!  First Carrabasset's bag is a hit. 

[LowThudd]

  indeed!  First Carrabasset's bag is a hit. 

Good to know. I'll have to give them a try.

[LowThudd]

[Ddan]

  indeed!  First Carrabasset's bag is a hit. 

Glad to hear it, whadja get?

[Dirty Duc]

Glad to hear it, whadja get?

Ordered 3 different ones since the quality has tanked on our previous favorite.

The first bag is Mountain Espresso.

Also bought the Sulawesi and the Mandheling Sumatra...

[LowThudd]

Finally got around to getting a popcorn popper, some green beans, burlap bags and a grinder.

OMG!! I just roasted a few ounces of Nicaragua Paraiso Organic from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330940020409

My god, what a great smell!! I am letting them sit, but I just had try eat one of the fresh roasted beans when it cooled. Easily the best tasting bean I've ever had. This is a great project, and I highly recommend spending a few bucks on the popper and beans and trying it. Total cost for the popper and beans was @ $52 for 5 pounds of gourmet fresh roasted daily beans. I'll make a couple double shots tomorrow and report back.

[LowThudd]

WOW!!

So that is what COFFEE actually tastes like.
That was the most amazing tasting espresso I have ever had! Rather than bitterness on the back of the tongue, there is this 'bite' of flavor on the front of the tongue. Fruity, bold and very COFFEE tasting. I'll never buy preroasted coffee again!

Next step is to get a rotisserie drum like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181139975304?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649. So I can roast more than three OZ at a time.

The power of CAFFEINE compells you!

[LowThudd]

So I roasted up the Tanzania Ruvuma Peaberry, a little darker this time. Makes a very proper espresso! Nice crema, excellent boldness, not bitter and not sweet. Just really nice.

[LowThudd]

I picked up a decent deal on a Rossi RR45: http://www.ebay.com/itm/161048413372?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

I think I am just going to try and cut down the hopper to below the break and use as is. Another option is to use a canning funnel for a hopper. After some clean up and maintanence should be a fine machine!

[LowThudd]

I picked up a Bialetti Mukka Express 2 cup for @$12 on eBay. I was a bit skeptical that it would produce an acceptable cappuccino, but in fact it works great! Produces decent foam, and excellent flavour. I am really impressed.

Now I have a back up so I can get to modding my Capresso machine(metal pump, PID control maybe). lol

[spolic]

^ The last 5 post belong in the ""Little things is life that make you smile thread." 

[LowThudd]

^ The last 5 post belong in the ""Little things is life that make you smile thread." 

Well...the caffeine and smell of fresh roast certainly does make me smile. lol

[duc_fan]

Haven't tried roasting my own yet, but maybe someday.

I've been hooked on Hineleban coffee for the past several months.  It's from the Philippines, the island of Mindanao.  Not easy to get online.... but my wife's parents live in the Philippines and know the folks who run the Hineleban foundation, so they bring me a few bags each trip.

Next trick will be to get them to send me some unroasted beans. 

I dunno where else it might be available, but you can get it through my sister-in-law's tea shop:
http://www.chariteaspot.com/shop/index.php?c=16&p=145

You may have to call them to place an order, I don't see an online purchase option.

I also highly recommend her shop as a source of tea.  She goes abroad regularly to shop for and purchase tea... wherever possible, she buys directly from growers.

[LowThudd]

This guy has a sale going on eBay for his 8oz rosting drum for $38. It can work on an indoor or outdoor rotisserie and is made of SS: http://www.ebay.com/itm/181139975304?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Not bad if you have a grill rotisserie, or a Forman rotie or something.

I am still enjoying the heck out of my $15 popcorn popper.