I enjoy a good Sumatra—but my wife can't abide it. So for the sake of domestic tranquility every morning, I make do without it. Since I haven't roasted any beans in a while, I've had the opportunity to try some varieties. Peete's Garuda Blend has been the most recent. I find this dark roasted blend to distinctly 'chocolately' and a bit floral. A nice change-up.
Wow, I'm not sure how I missed this thread but, I love it! I'll drink about most anything but my preference is to roast my own. Unlike a lot of people that like the Kenyan, Ethiopian coffees, I tend to lean more towards the South American origins. I even like a Mexican organic pretty well, Terruño Nayarita. The South American origin coffees tend to have more of the initial grassy notes that I love. For coffee that is already roasted and local, I like Eight O'Clock whole been. But, I found out about a guy roasting top notch stuff and getting it to you so quickly that it taste like I roasted it the night before. Not sure how he does it but, he does! http://www.ajcoffeeco.com/ The founder's name is Jason Haeger. Most of the time I use a French Press but at times I'll have an Espresso or Cappuccino. When I'm really in hurry...which is rare, I'll use my drip. I actually thought about roasting up a batch today before the weather moves in but with all of the above said, I'm drinking Maxwell House made from a small drip this morning. So...I'm not a coffee snob after all!
I can see we have a lot of serious coffee drinkers here. Currently, my daily value coffees are from Alde: Specially Selected Regular Roast (comes in a brick), and Donut (rivals or even bests DD IMHO-Consumer Reports rated it #1 a couple yrs ago). Lately I have been enjoying coffee from Puerto Rico following a recent visit. I never had tried PR coffee, but now consider it one of my favs. PR coffee is not commonly found on coffee sights, but it is high altitude grown and very rich and tasty to my palate. Quite "high-end" tasting for the price. Found this site which offers many choices at fair prices: http://www.puertoricocoffeeshop.com/CremaCoffee.html So far I really like the Crema Supreme. Many others still to try. I am giving these as stocking stuffers to my coffee heads who likely have not tried these.
For you folks from the Chicago area, Stewarts Red Eye. And from a local roaster in Indianapolis, whole bean estate grown Colombian. Expensive, but you think you have died and gone to Heaven.
Wanted to bring this thread back to life. I'm very interested in what others are drinking. I myself have just gotten started making better coffee and want to hear about your favorite. Btw, I'm using a Bunn drip, haven't gotten into French press or pour over (yet). Peet's Big Bang whole bean is the best I've tried so far so for me that's where the bar is set. That being said I've tried: Starbucks Pike Place: Used to think it was great but now I know it's horrible. Not sure I'll drink Starbucks again unless that's all there is. Shadrachs Light Ethiopian: Local roaster and I want to support them but it's just not that good. Will try their other roasts, maybe they have one I'll like. Three Tail Coffee Co. Ethiopia Agaro Biftu: Pretty darn good, close in quality to Big Bang but by the time it's shipped, it's too expensive. Ravens Brew Three Peckered Billy Goat: This is a dark roast I tried because of reviews. This is very good and would buy again but not quite as good as Big Bang. Looking forward to trying their other roasts. Kicking Horse Smart Ass: Picked this up today but haven't tried it. Makes me close my eyes and smile when I smell this, it smells so good!
Peet's and Starbux are nice, but I think I need to be a little more "conservative" with my coffee these days. Therefore I'll go with Maxwell House "100%" Columbian(Medium). In addition, I suppose I could do well with Dunkin Donuts(medium). Oh my goodness me, that's right, I just mentioned DD in the above post.
My favorites these days are both from Aldi’s, both 100% Arabica whole bean medium roast. One comes from Peru, and has a very smooth creamy flavor. The other is from Honduras, and has a somewhat sweet citrus flavor. Very good coffee blends, and as a bonus are very economical. No doubt in my mind that grinding beans just prior to brewing makes a significant difference in taste.
The best coffee I ever had was Jamaican Blue Mountain when we were in Jamaica many years ago. My second choice would be Douee Egberts coffee that we had in a casino in Biloxi.
My step mom told me last summer about a coffe she liked while staying at a casino in Biloxi but couldn't remember the name. Wonder if it was the same coffee? I'll have to ask her to check it out next time s they go back. I like trying different kinds coffee just like I do shave soap. Keeps things interesting.
Myorga cuban roast it is great coffee i get it at Costco for 14$ for 2 lbs. We used to have a great locally roasted coffee but it was bought out by someone in La. And i think they started buying cheep crap beans.
Costco/Kirkland Columbian in the brown can, 3lbs for $10. I know it sounds cheap and it is, but it's good coffee. I try a lot of brands and usually end back up with this. Before you "coffee shame" me just try it.
Found a couple bags of Harris Teeter French roast beans in the freezer that got lost after the move last summer. About 2 years old but I notice nothing wrong when they're ground up. Making DD decaf (very tasty for decaf) pretty much every afternoon.
Going on the past two years we've been picking up the 3lb Wegman's Espresso roast whole bean coffee and getting it VERY coarse ground. Makes a wonderfully rich strong cup of coffee. A bag just about last us two weeks.
You have to wonder if someday a freaky teen will wander into a Starbux and say "ahh, gimme a frappucino", and someone will tap his shoulder and tell him "Uh, no one uses that term anymore, buddy".
