Getting into coffee

Joined Feb 2008
261 Posts | 0+
Grand Rapids, MI
Hey guys, i guess it was only time until i started getting into coffee but i am going to start out getting into coffee now and I was wondering what some of your guys' favorite blends/roasts are and also, if i don't have a local gourmet coffee bean dealer, where would i buy from?
 
Mmm - coffee!

Favorite coffees:
Kenya AA
Tanzanian Peaberry
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Mexican Chiapas


If you can't find any good local roasters, there are several good online ones - hopefully some people will chime in with recommendations. My local roaster, Nicholas Coffee (website) has some great selections and will ship directly to you. I highly recommend them.

The best way to get good coffee is to order coffee as whole bean and then use a grinder to grind it right before you're ready to brew it. A burr grinder is the best, but I have decent results with a basic blade grinder.

Once you've really gotten into coffee, you'll want to start looking at some of the brewing methods that are better than the normal auto drip coffee machines. I use a French Press and it works great for me.

PM me your address and who knows, maybe the coffee fairy will stop by!
 
cybrus said:
Mmm - coffee!

Favorite coffees:
Kenya AA
Tanzanian Peaberry
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Mexican Chiapas

My favorites as well. Sometimes I think we share a palate! The only other one I would add would be Kauai Peaberry.
 
cusccrstud21 said:
Hey guys, i guess it was only time until i started getting into coffee but i am going to start out getting into coffee now and I was wondering what some of your guys' favorite blends/roasts are and also, if i don't have a local gourmet coffee bean dealer, where would i buy from?

Coffee is like guns, knives, ceegars and wimmin. The best is the one you got and like.

It is a trip that never ends and always a surprise.

I would begin by sticking to varietals. Get to know the characteristics of the different areas before worrying about blends.

One fun way is to begin at the beginning. Start with the coffees of Yemen and Ethiopia. Then move on to those of Africa; Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania. From there try the Island Coffees; from Indonesia and Sumatra, then up to Hawaii. Finally try the Coffees of the Americas; Mexico and Costa Rica, Guatemala and Brazil, then the Caribbean.

Next, try the different roasts. Try a light, a medium and a dark roast from the same source. Try different grinds, finer and coarser to see what difference the grind makes.

Experiment with temperature and with brew times.

Once you get a handle on what the basics are, then you can explore the belnds (if you even want to).
 
Capt said:
My favorites as well. Sometimes I think we share a palate! The only other one I would add would be Kauai Peaberry.
Can't say that I've had that one, but I imagine I would like it as well!
 
cybrus said:
Mmm - coffee!

Favorite coffees:
Kenya AA
Tanzanian Peaberry
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe
Mexican Chiapas


If you can't find any good local roasters, there are several good online ones - hopefully some people will chime in with recommendations. My local roaster, Nicholas Coffee (website) has some great selections and will ship directly to you. I highly recommend them.

The best way to get good coffee is to order coffee as whole bean and then use a grinder to grind it right before you're ready to brew it. A burr grinder is the best, but I have decent results with a basic blade grinder.

Once you've really gotten into coffee, you'll want to start looking at some of the brewing methods that are better than the normal auto drip coffee machines. I use a French Press and it works great for me.

PM me your address and who knows, maybe the coffee fairy will stop by!

Well cybrus I took your word for it. I been grinding my own for about a year. Just graduated from the store bought stuff a few months ago. I ordered from Nicholas Coffee tonight. Nice site with a great selection. I got a pound of the Tanz Peaberry. I have had a few cups at a coffe shop by my work and really enjoyed it. I got a half pound of Kona, I do enjoy Kona but wanted to see how theres was. I tried a half pound of the Kenya AA on your recomendation and I got a half pound of Jamacian Blue Mountain because I always wanted to try it. So I am excited to see how I like the different coffee's. Have you ever tried any of their house blends. I like to keep trying new coffee's/cigars because you never know what you'll find.
 
NJsmokey said:
Well cybrus I took your word for it. I been grinding my own for about a year. Just graduated from the store bought stuff a few months ago. I ordered from Nicholas Coffee tonight. Nice site with a great selection. I got a pound of the Tanz Peaberry. I have had a few cups at a coffe shop by my work and really enjoyed it. I got a half pound of Kona, I do enjoy Kona but wanted to see how theres was. I tried a half pound of the Kenya AA on your recomendation and I got a half pound of Jamacian Blue Mountain because I always wanted to try it. So I am excited to see how I like the different coffee's. Have you ever tried any of their house blends. I like to keep trying new coffee's/cigars because you never know what you'll find.
Glad to hear it! I've had the Kona and the Jamaican Blue Mountain - I think they're both excellent coffees, but for me, the price is just too high for my daily coffee. I'm heading over there this afternoon to pick up a pound of Kenya AA.

As for Nicholas Coffee Blends, I've tried their Special House Blend (Strongest of the blends, heavy body and a flavorful aftertaste. A combination of Java,Sumatra,Olde Vienna and Espresso.) and found it a bit lacking. I think it was the Espresso addition that just seemed out of place. The Mocha Java blend (Medium-bodied and flavorful blend. This is an excellent combination of Indonesian and Arabian Coffees.) was actually pretty good. Overall though, I prefer having just one bean in the coffee over the blends.
 
guess who picked up a coffee grinder.....THIS GuY (two thumbs pointing my way) :mrgreen:
 
cusccrstud21 said:
guess who picked up a coffee grinder.....THIS GuY (two thumbs pointing my way) :mrgreen:
Awesome! What kind did you get?
 
I picked up a very similar grinder at my local grocery store. So far, it seems to work quite well.
 
cusccrstud21 said:
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-DBM-8-Supreme-Grind-Automatic/dp/B00018RRRK/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&sr=8-6

That's mine, i didn't buy it off of amazon, i got it at Kohl's...it was on sale in the back of the store, great find though!!
Not to knock you bro; but if you have not used it yet; return it. A burr grinder is supposed to give you a uniform grind, but this grinder will produce a lot of powder; not what you want in a grinder. I know; because I have one. I am not all that happy with the results (but the wife bought it as a christmas gift a couple years ago so I cannot replace it quite yet). If you can; try something different. I will try and find some that are in that same price range.
 
yea, i haven't done anything yet with it...i'll return it, and i'd appreciate suggestions, thanks for the heads up!!
 
Well cybrus got my order the other day and finally got to grinding last night. I went with the Tanz Peaberry and it is as good as I hoped. :thumbsup:

I can't wait to try the rest. Thanks for the recomendation! :mrgreen: