Coffee reviews

I am getting ready to order some coffee. Lets see your thoughts or reviews of your favorite cofee

Local roaster. Collectivo. Used to be Alterra

Interesting....We have a single cup brewer made by the Mars Company called Flavia, and the coffee is Alterra. All of their brew varieties are terrific.

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Originally Posted by JTmke

Local roaster. Collectivo. Used to be Alterra

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I come from Naples (city of coffe maker in Italy) among many brand i prefer Passalacqua, very good. 2nd place for Illy that alternate with Passalacqua

I know reviewing a Starbucks product in a "coffee" thread would be darn near sacrilegious, so I will not. But I will point out something I found out in my local KS Starbucks that floored me... and if true, might be worth mentioning here.

I was in Seattle - went to the "original" Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - loved it.

Came back to KS - went to the billionth Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - hated it.


I expressed my feelings to the barista claiming that maybe it was nothing more than the ambiance of the original Starbucks that make the roast taste good. She claimed that they modified roasts as per regional tastes.

As a marketer - that floored me.

Just throwing it out there. Not sure if other roasters do that as well or not.

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Originally Posted by earcutter

I know reviewing a Starbucks product in a "coffee" thread would be darn near sacrilegious, so I will not. But I will point out something I found out in my local KS Starbucks that floored me... and if true, might be worth mentioning here.

I was in Seattle - went to the "original" Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - loved it.

Came back to KS - went to the billionth Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - hated it.


I expressed my feelings to the barista claiming that maybe it was nothing more than the ambiance of the original Starbucks that make the roast taste good. She claimed that they modified roasts as per regional tastes.

As a marketer - that floored me.

Just throwing it out there. Not sure if other roasters do that as well or not.

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Well, apparently you need to move to Seattle since you have Pacific Northwest tastebuds. As for me, I shun Starbucks with a religious fervor. I know they may have modified their over roasted flavor some but I just find them, while fueling the desire for good coffee, determined to want to be the old USSR of coffee/tea and anything else they can put their brand on. And yes, products are adjusted for regional tastes. Years ago I was driving cross country and had a breakdown and stayed at a motel for several days. Had a long discussion with a prepared meats salesman. He told me of all the different varieties of a single brand hot dog adjusted for the different areas of the country. A New York dog served at a ball park in some parts of the South would most likely have more "heat" to it than one in a Northern state.

I buy my coffee beans from a small coffee place. I use an antique Spong No 1 grinder. I grind enough for my K cup coffee maker. I will never go back to ground coffee. I tried the Beans at a local Large grocery store. They smelled great but NO FLAVOR! I also have a Lavaza small coffee pot. Need a bigger one. I think its for expresso.

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Originally Posted by earcutter

I know reviewing a Starbucks product in a "coffee" thread would be darn near sacrilegious, so I will not. But I will point out something I found out in my local KS Starbucks that floored me... and if true, might be worth mentioning here.

I was in Seattle - went to the "original" Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - loved it.

Came back to KS - went to the billionth Starbucks - had their Pike Place Roast - hated it.


I expressed my feelings to the barista claiming that maybe it was nothing more than the ambiance of the original Starbucks that make the roast taste good. She claimed that they modified roasts as per regional tastes.

As a marketer - that floored me.

Just throwing it out there. Not sure if other roasters do that as well or not.

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If the coffee actually tasted "bad" it was probably stale. They do not put roast dates on their product.

One big negative moving from the Twin Cities to Racine was not having a Dunn Bros. shop nearby. All Dunn Bros. coffees sold were less than four days old. A coffee needs about three days to "outgas" and be drinkable.

I have found a local roaster here (Wilson's) and their products have been good to very good so I am a happier camper to date.

I sometimes get a Alterra/Collectivo product called "Black and Tan" which does mean light and dark roasts. It makes a good espresso and also drip coffee.

Dave

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Well, apparently you need to move to Seattle since you have Pacific Northwest tastebuds. As for me, I shun Starbucks with a religious fervor. I know they may have modified their over roasted flavor some but I just find them, while fueling the desire for good coffee, determined to want to be the old USSR of coffee/tea and anything else they can put their brand on. And yes, products are adjusted for regional tastes. Years ago I was driving cross country and had a breakdown and stayed at a motel for several days. Had a long discussion with a prepared meats salesman. He told me of all the different varieties of a single brand hot dog adjusted for the different areas of the country. A New York dog served at a ball park in some parts of the South would most likely have more "heat" to it than one in a Northern state.

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Nothing would make me more happy :). I love Seattle.

I order mine green and roast them myself. I started this a little over 10 years ago and still look forward to my roasting day. Roasting my coffee is one of my relaxation things. Just focus on getting a good roast and all the other things go away.
John