Best coffee beans ?
- Thread starter Big Rig
- Start date
Presidents Choice coffee.
I had to get away from Maxwell House coffee a year ago, it is crap at any price. I switched to Van Houtte coffee at $20 a kg. , but I found that Presidents Choice is a very good coffee that is as good as Van Houtte for about $12 a kg. On special it can be had for $9 or $10 a KG. can.
I had to get away from Maxwell House coffee a year ago, it is crap at any price. I switched to Van Houtte coffee at $20 a kg. , but I found that Presidents Choice is a very good coffee that is as good as Van Houtte for about $12 a kg. On special it can be had for $9 or $10 a KG. can.
Well there was a thread not too long ago on this exact topic and a lot of people had their thoughts. At lot will depend how much you think is too much for good coffee. do you think $5, $10 is too much, $20 too much? What part of the city do you live in or do you want it available at the grocery store.? How about home delivery? How much do you drink?
Eight 'O Clock 100% Columbian
A quick comment to see how my taste aligns with others - I hate Starbucks - besides being over priced I find their coffee bitter. Eight O'Clock is sold in Basic Food & Metro stores. Might be other 100% Columbian are good but I've had success with this one so I stick to it.
I also find there is no comparison to coffee made with fresh ground beans to pre-ground coffee but I'm too lazy to grind them in a home grinder. Instead I have a Grind & Brew machine with a timer. I use whole beans and set the timer for great coffee. A tip if you want to add a slight flavour boost that people will notice - add a small amount French Vanilla whole beans to the blend (I use 8 spoons 100% and 1 spoon French Vanilla). The subtle hint of flavour is really great.
A quick comment to see how my taste aligns with others - I hate Starbucks - besides being over priced I find their coffee bitter. Eight O'Clock is sold in Basic Food & Metro stores. Might be other 100% Columbian are good but I've had success with this one so I stick to it.
I also find there is no comparison to coffee made with fresh ground beans to pre-ground coffee but I'm too lazy to grind them in a home grinder. Instead I have a Grind & Brew machine with a timer. I use whole beans and set the timer for great coffee. A tip if you want to add a slight flavour boost that people will notice - add a small amount French Vanilla whole beans to the blend (I use 8 spoons 100% and 1 spoon French Vanilla). The subtle hint of flavour is really great.
Roast your own beans! Buy green beans at the Merchants of Green Coffee (Matilda Street near DVP, north off Queen East before Broadview) and roast them in an old hot-air popcorn popper. Just google how to do that properly. Very easy.
If you're not into roasting your own, I've found Van Houtte Colombian Beans pretty good for everyday use. Yeah I know, they're not fair trade, but they're good. The key is not to percolate or drip. Use a French Press. Seriously. That little bit of "sediment", for want of a nicer word, adds body and richness to the cup. Oh, and of course, grind just before using. Use a mill type grinder, not a blade type.
I can't buy a coffee outside the house anymore--my home brew is just so good it puts Starbucks, Second Cup, Timothy's and even the independents like Alternative Grounds, etc.. to shame. I use the smallest French Press, about $12 at Kitchen Stuff Plus and have one perfect cup every day.
If you're not into roasting your own, I've found Van Houtte Colombian Beans pretty good for everyday use. Yeah I know, they're not fair trade, but they're good. The key is not to percolate or drip. Use a French Press. Seriously. That little bit of "sediment", for want of a nicer word, adds body and richness to the cup. Oh, and of course, grind just before using. Use a mill type grinder, not a blade type.
I can't buy a coffee outside the house anymore--my home brew is just so good it puts Starbucks, Second Cup, Timothy's and even the independents like Alternative Grounds, etc.. to shame. I use the smallest French Press, about $12 at Kitchen Stuff Plus and have one perfect cup every day.
I typed coffee into search and found a thread about cheap coffe
I am willing to pay for the best and will travel for it
Two places recommended in the earlier thread for that special coffee were;
http://www.greenbeanery.ca/bean/home.php
http://www.darkcitycoffee.com/catalog_fairtrade.html
French press is the way to go for the smoothest coffee, but it is more work and don`t forget to grind the coffee a lot less to keep the grinds where they belong. Out of the cup and in the pot.
As for the thread try;
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?259305-This-coffee-taste-like-crap!&highlight=coffee
https://terb.cc/vbulletin/showthread.php?231169-Any-coffee-bean-buyers&highlight=coffee
SHILL !!!!!!!!!!!!Same basic principle as French Press but a better process and result for those true afficionado's like blackrock and 'preciate it is the AEROPRESS
Have a read of the webpage and you'll appreciate the reasons. I have one and have given a few as gifts to those who appreciate a fine cup of coffee.
No, really thanks
I'll look into this ,but the word micro filter hits me. I really don't like stuff you have to clean a lot. Paper filter are great but've gone to 'gold' or whatever permanet filters for my every day java and the press when I feel energetic. Where do you buy the special filters? 350 would last me maybe 3 months.
I'm reposting my same response to the 'Maxwell - Undrinkable crap'
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Try Costco's offering of Zavida Coffee unground coffee beans (Organic Rainforest Alliance) grown in Central and South America.
It comes in a green freshlock zipperbag pouch.
I think it's priced at $14.99 for a 2-lb bag. A bit pricey but OMG, the aroma and rich taste of the coffee is worth it!
I have long departed from the PC coffee (it's okay) but am now willing to pay a higher premium for a higher grade of coffee.
The money I save from not buying daily tekeout coffee covers the $15 dollar initial cost overlay.
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Try Costco's offering of Zavida Coffee unground coffee beans (Organic Rainforest Alliance) grown in Central and South America.
It comes in a green freshlock zipperbag pouch.
I think it's priced at $14.99 for a 2-lb bag. A bit pricey but OMG, the aroma and rich taste of the coffee is worth it!
I have long departed from the PC coffee (it's okay) but am now willing to pay a higher premium for a higher grade of coffee.
The money I save from not buying daily tekeout coffee covers the $15 dollar initial cost overlay.
best is always subjective but if you prefer less acidic/bitter coffee Indonesian/Asia-Pacific coffees are they way to go like a Sumatran or New Guinea. There's a few Latin American coffees that aren't that bitter, some Colombians and some Guatemalens, but thats a pretty dominant characteristic of the region.
When I'm in the Bloor West Village area, I try to stop by the Coffee Tree. They roasts their beans and it smells great from the street.
http://coffeetree.ca/
http://coffeetree.ca/
I like Kenya AA beans. It's a bean I like after years of tasting different beans. I also have a roaster that does a nice job. It's not a blend or flavored ??? bean. It's 100% from Kenya. It may run $12-15 a lb. And I agree, it's best to grind just before brewing. Jamaican Blue Mountain and Kona AA are nice, but may be in the $40-50/lb range.
Like someone mentioned above, 8'O'Clock 100% Columbian (bean) is a good choice for everyday drinking. I was crucified before (I think called an idiot or a moron) for mentioning Consumer Report, but will also mention CR rated 8 O'clock 100% Columbian as best of the store bought brands. I pay about $4.50/lb for it.
Like someone mentioned above, 8'O'Clock 100% Columbian (bean) is a good choice for everyday drinking. I was crucified before (I think called an idiot or a moron) for mentioning Consumer Report, but will also mention CR rated 8 O'clock 100% Columbian as best of the store bought brands. I pay about $4.50/lb for it.
Moon Bean in Kensington Market has great beans, and you can grind them yourself there. They have a fantastic selection there. I also agree that you can't beat a good French Pressed cup of coffee.
Even Mountain Equipment Coop offers a grinder and press for those moments on the rock face that can only be satisfied by a cup-a-java.
Percolating is absolutely the worst way to make coffee, as the coffee is heated to too high a temperature (making it bitter) and then recirculated through the coffee again. Seriously, get a French Press.
I'm skeptical of that aero-press just because it says micro-filter. I have a vacuum type machine with a microfilter and it takes all the goodness out. The screen of the French press doesn't filter everything out and the sediment adds richeness and smoothness to the cup, IMHO.
I'm skeptical of that aero-press just because it says micro-filter. I have a vacuum type machine with a microfilter and it takes all the goodness out. The screen of the French press doesn't filter everything out and the sediment adds richeness and smoothness to the cup, IMHO.
Most of the comments about the machine on the link compare it with their previous espresso machine which is a different drink than the morning brew I want and love.
I firmly believe in the law of diminishing returns and the are a few here that obviously that put in much effort into a taste that I would have to pretend to differentiate. I was over at a friend's place and when it came time to request coffee the guy was gone for quite a while. I wandered into the kitchen where he was lovingly spending an inordinate amount of time as he was making the coffee with his french press. The coffee was good but there was no way I dared ask for a second cup !
Flash over to my place - I push a button and return to visit with my friends. Fresh beens are ground - slightly more than called for - the coffee is brewed - and the filter removes some flavour/ oil but certainly not the % that affects the brewed coffee taste I want. I can leave my friends and return with coffee that they rave about. Not only do they like it, one of them insisted I take them to the different stores to get the exact coffee beans (columbian & french vanilla) that I used in the blend. Second cup ?, the coffee is still fresh and hot because there are no any coffee grounds in the coffee to turn it bitter and the hot plate has a temperature sensor that keeps the coffee hot without scorching it. [Cuisinart]
Another benefit - every morning I have a fresh pot of coffee waiting for me when I get up (timer). I have a thermos and much better coffee at work than I can get from the truck or coffee machine. Let's hope I don't get the taste buds to distinguish a french press brew or my days of enjoyable coffee drinking are over ! Just IMHO.
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, wonderfully fantastic!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Blue_Mountain_Coffee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_Blue_Mountain_Coffee
Had a few bags of it given to me as gifts over the years and it's nice, but not worth $60/lb.
