I watched a commentary on Starburnts oh Charbucks, sorry again no offence, Starbucks and noticed their efforts go mostly customer service and not the coffee itself. I myself do find all the coffees taste pretty much the same.
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For a chain operation, I find them pretty consistent and not too bad.
Not much to choose from around here that's as good.
We've been buying their Dark Roast whole beans at a big warehouse store for quite some time now and grind our own at home.
Pete <:-}
Reading through a bunch of recent comments...
I use my Keurig to heat up water for either the French press (Espro) or my Flair (usually Americano's as opposed to straight espresso, just cause I like to enjoy for longer). HandGround grinder for the French press, Lido E for the Flair.
I also recently discovered Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC and ordered a bunch of different stuff. Of the few that I had, they seem to roast on the darker side of the descriptions, but it's definitely fresh if you order straight from them. The dark Colombian and Kenya AA are quite nice for Americanos; Dark Nebula is great for French press; not super impressed with the dark Sumatra (I honestly just think it's too dark and one dimensional).
Hey guys. This will be my first and only post to this thread. I saw the thread title and thought I’d post about a Dominican coffee that my wife and I have enjoyed the last few years since our D.R. trip.
I read a few pages and realized that you guys are really serious connoisseurs of all things coffee related. I don’t judge anyone for their passions. I’ve gone way down the rabbit hole on shaving. Before that it was pipes and tobacco. Before that cigars.
However, it was the post above that made me realize that this is a dangerous place for me. That tamper reveals the depths that you will go for the optimal brew. How much does it cost - I’d guess $200+. What does it do - it pushed coffee down. I’m sure it pushes coffee down better than any other tool, and it’s beautiful! But if I keep reading, this is going to start making sense to me.
It’s kind of like my needing a Wolfman WR1 that will be as good as, but a little different than my Wolfman WR2.
Got to leave. It’s not you, it’s me. :D:bow
I'm not a big coffee guy, but I don't move well without my morning cup O joe.
Out of all the different types of coffee I've tried over the years, this is by far my favorite.
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I haven't had any of it for several years, but my cousin travels the world for the government, and just happened to bring me back a bag, along with his suitcase that was packed full., for himself. Customs always stops him, thinking he's got drugs hidden in his luggage.:rofl2:
The thing about this coffee, its sooo smooth, no matter how dark/strong the brew. A decanter so dark that light won't pass thru, is still extremely smooth
In the scheme of things it's really not that bad. Once you get your setup and IF you've done your homework you have equipment that will last a very long time to forever.
That 200 bucks may seem like big bucks but try something like watch collecting and that will seem like chump change.
Received my first big(ish) coffee purchase in a long while today: Baratza Sette 270 grinder. I've had a little Breville conical burr grinder since about 2008 or so. It has served me well but after just one espresso I can tell this is going to make one hell of a difference. It gives a finer grind that is much MUCH more consistent. Very, very tasty shot.
Aloha!
I've said this before, but you'd think I'd be a big Kona fan. I mean, I can walk into a Long's Drug here in Oahu and see 30 linear feet of aisle stocked full of Hawaiian Kona. And I'm not saying it's not good coffee. I just prefer Jamaican Blue Mountain. I think it's smoother and has a tad more robust flavor than Kona.
Still, my all time favorite is not Jamaican nor Hawaiian nor Cost Rican nor Columbian. It's Italian. My favorite;
Lavazza Crema e Aroma (Whole Bean)
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Thanks. I shall try a bag. I was in The Dominican Republic for vacation about 12 years ago and the resort I stayed at had "Cafe Lindo" coffee. I believe it was grown locally. I've not been able to find it and unfortunately I lost the bag that I saved with their phone number on it. It was one of the best coffee brands I ever tasted. As you posted, SMOOOTH was the buzzword for this coffee. Looking forward to trying your favorite. IF I can find it. The online search will commence once I hit the post button.
EDIT:
Wow, that was easy. Amazon has it. Done deal. A bag on the way.
Managed to pick up this Vibiemme Domobar Junior HX for a good price second hand. Goes well with the recent grinder upgrade. Now to learn this machine to get the most out of it
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I upgraded my espresso machine recently!
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I finally broke down and bought a Keurig Smart pod brewer. It produces very good coffee. Not the best I ever had, but it's easy and quick. My Moka pots and Braun Espresso Machine have sat idle since last fall when I acuired the Keurig.
I have so much coffee in unopened bags in the freezer, it's ridiculous. At this rate, even with using the Keurig make-your-own-pods system, it will be a decade or more before I use all of my coffee. I may end up donating some to whomever will take it. I have factory sealed bags of whole bean and ground, so they should go fast. I have a friend that keeps giving me large quantities of Melaluca mountain cabin coffee for Christmas. I think I have six or eight 1 lb bags sitting in the freezer now.
Anyway I may put on the Moka pot tomorrow.
Anyone here adept at brewing "Flat White" espresso/coffee? I really am a fan. I have never tried brewing that at home, only via Lavazza and Starbucks stores nationally. Just wondering what your methodology is for a flat white, if you ever brew them. Thanks.
Speaking of Starbucks, I was in London and Paris in 2010 and I clearly remember lines out the door at Starbucks in London. Yet Cafe Nero, that I much prefer over Starbucks, were relatively emply by comparison. It must be the old addage that "You Can't Be A Profit In Your Own Land" ruling this preference. If Cafe Nero were in the US, I believe they would be very successful. Moreso than Starbucks that is in their "own land" here.
When I go to Chicago. Or went to Chicago. I'm not sure I'd be comfortable going to Chicago today. Anyway, I am a fan of Lavazza coffee shops there. They are usually not that busy. While Starbucks is still packed. So maybe the "Profit In Your Own Land" theory of mine does not hold water after all. You'd think Lavazza would be very popular because it's very good coffee, and a Lavazza Cafe is unique to many Americans, although perhaps not to many Chicagoans.
A Moka Pot was my last acquisition for home brew Espresso, JB. I do have a Braun Espresso Maker that I bought many moons ago, but it's not a pumper. It's just steam generated for brew and milk frothing. But it works great. I just started to Moka Pot my Espresso about 10 years ago and stuck with it. I'd microwave the milk and use one of those hand frothers to froth the milk up.
If I went down the high end Espresso Pumper machine rabbit hole, I too would be terrified. I see how the Keurig Smart Brewer has preoccupied me lately. A work of art Espresso machine would probably put me into a 10 month spiral into the lan of pre-occupation with Espresso machines.
It's human nature, JB. After 20 years in corporate America (before I stared my own company), I suffered through so many consultants that were hired in to "Change everything" and "Fix things" because those of us in the company obvioulsy didn't know anything because we were known entities, and someone that knew nothing about the company BUT was someone that nobody knew from some far away land was the profit. Simply because he was new and unknown.
When you are the first or almost the first and expand rapidly you have a national or international juggernaut and with the right publicity and the right clientele base when folks think of the product they think of you first.
Think McDonalds and Starbucks and Walmart and at one time Schwinn Bikes. We all know charbucks has crummy coffee and Micky D ain't the best burgers but folks think otherwise.
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We keep it simple …..
This every day, or almost every day. Beans ground daily. Black bag goes into moka pot, red bag goes into AeroPress.
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Just upgraded coffee machines. Seems since my last post have also upgraded my grinder. So now have Eureka Mignon Oro XL grinder which I have had for a while. Just picked up a second hand Profitec Pro 700 only a couple years old for about half price if a new one. Should be a end game machine. Dual stainless boilers independently PID controlled with rotary pump.
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My brand-new Bialetti 6-cup moka pot (tricolore) arrived two hours ago. I washed it, ran two water-only loads through it, then one with ground coffee (30g of leftover, months-old, Eight O'Clock 100% Colombian Peaks). I know... you're supposed to toss the first batch; but how could I? So, with cream and sweetener, it was just delicious... and it'll get better. All together, it fills my Bob's Red Mill mug to 1/4" from the top. As Humphrey Bogart said, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
PS: The regular price is $59.95, but I bought it from Amazon Warehouse for $32.75 (marked "Acceptable", but it's *perfect*).
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I wish Geezer were still with us and living 15 miles from me.
Maybe I could have learned something from him about making coffee.