Chicago Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I saw an interesting program on the history of coffee the other night. The show pretty much covered South America, which produces the bulk of the world's crop. It confirmed what I have tasted as far as the poor quality of mass coffee sold in cans here in the States. I also learned that instant coffee was developed for soldiers in WW2 - coffee was found to be the overall safest stimulant. It also revealed the plight of the laborers, which I knew a little about. Basically, there was a cartel of sorts started in 1962 which kept prices artificially high so as to discourage the spread of communism in South America (due to the horrendous wages and working conditions). In 1989, the Berlin wall fell and the cartel bascially broke apart and coffee prices dropped like a stone. I certainly have a new appreciation for the workers at the plantations and their plight. I will try to be more aware of my coffee sources and purchase accordingly. The question I have for FOH is, do you prefer beans from a specific area- Brazilian Santos or Costa Rica or Hawai etc? Does anyone roast their own beans? I certainly do not want to be insensitive to the laborers plight but do not want to turn this into a rant on political ideologies so I am purposely steering away from questions of fairness, equality, hence did not ask that question.
cadillacdoc Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 Does anyone roast their own beans? My wife and I roast our own beans. Once you begin that you'll seldom get a good cup of espresso outside of your home. Check out www.sweetmarias.com
KB24 Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I happen to be a huge fan of McDonald's coffee which is a combo of Brazilian, Costa Rican, and Columbian beans. I know most of you are probably going to laugh but don't knock it till you try it. -Patrick
cigarros Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 The question I have for FOH is, do you prefer beans from a specific area- Brazilian Santos or Costa Rica or Hawai etc? Coffee in this sense similar like a cigar)) Tastes differ. Someone loves Cuba other non-cuban cigars. Someone loves McDonald's coffee and other prefer something else. It takes all sorts to make a world
cigarros Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I happen to be a huge fan of McDonald's coffee In the mid-80s McDonald's opened first restaurant in Moscow. Berlin's Wall felt and first transnational companie that have appeared in russian market was McDonald's.
Mojo Risin Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 You have one of the best coffee suppliers, B&M's in the city. Check out Intelligentsia coffee. It is used in some of the best restaurants in Chicago. We got turned on to it via Food and wine magazine. We serve it at our B&B. They purchase direct trade (I believe this is the correct term) thru coffee growers in Central, South America and Africa.
DocRKS Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 My wife and I have home roasted our coffees for years and would have it no other way. We love the experience ! Home roasting is a super Win/Win proposition... You get a fantastic cup of coffee each and every time the way YOU like it --- and the costs are a fraction of what the same coffee would cost when someone else prepares it to THEIR specs... I also agree with the statements that coffee tastes from various locations are analogous to the different tastes of cigars from the various cigar producing nations... A Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a totally different taste and smell experience from a Kenya AA which is nothing like a Sumatra Triple Pix which can't hold a candle to a Guatemalan Cup of Excellence coffee which is a very different experience for the senses than that presented by an estate grown Kona, etc...
SamuraiJack Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 Intelligensia roasts the best coffee ON EARTH! The only region I have a particular fondness for, because the flavor is so distinct for me, is Kenya. Top notch Kenyan coffee is amazing.
Freefallguy Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 Like a momentous cigar I vividly recall two cups of coffee... my best ever was cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain enjoyed in the Czar walk in humidor when it was in Dean Merlo's coffee warehouse. Second to that was in the tasting room of the beneficio at Esperanza Coffee, Matagalpa, Nicaragua. On a social note, whereas most competitors there use mechanical culling of the beans this beneficio employs 200 single mothers. It's estimated that corporately they feed 1,000 family members through their jobs. http://www.esperanzacoffee.com/prep.html
Ken Gargett Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I happen to be a huge fan of McDonald's coffee which is a combo of Brazilian, Costa Rican, and Columbian beans. I know most of you are probably going to laugh but don't knock it till you try it. -Patrick patrick, i can't comment as have never tried it but i saw a cofee doc (different to the one mentioned but i think i have seen it as well or someting very similar) where they set up a stand in seattle with different coffees and asked people to pick their faves - this was done blind. quite a considerable number, and they seemed to consider themselves cofee savvy, picked the mcdonalds as their favourite. we have dean merlo on the forum, not sure how often he checks it out, who does brizzy's top coffee and could probably answer all specific questions - i know he has helped me out with info on different countries. i would add that i really enjoy th cban coffee and always make certain i bring a bag or two back with me.
josie67 Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I tried sweetmaris.com, and I got a broken link.
DocRKS Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 I tried sweetmaris.com, and I got a broken link. wrong spelling....try sweetmarias.com
craigos Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 My wife and I roast our own beans. Once you begin that you'll seldom get a good cup of espresso outside of your home. Check out www.sweetmaris.com www.sweetmarias.com ... a typo above it seems.
El Presidente Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Our first Walk in Humidor was in Dean Merlo's Coffee Warehouse. Merlo Coffee is some of the best coffee I have tasted in the world and I was indeed fortunate to have spent 5 years in a warehouse experimenting with Coffee beans from around the world. Lachlan Hosking (Deans general manager and the best Coffee man in this country) would spend days blending coffee. I loved spending that time with him. Taking Great Kenyan bean, Papua New Guinea highlands bean, Columbian, Brazillian, Nicaraguan, Cuban etc and trying to find great new blends. One of the things I learn't was that there are few great beans in the world which can stand alone in delivering a true rich and complex coffee. Jamaican Blue Mountain is one. My favourite Coffee is a blend of Nicaraguan, Columbian, Papua New Guinea, Kenyan and Brazillian. I start every morning with three. Long Black...followed by a Single shot with dash of milk..and finally a three quarter (full shot + milk to 3/4 of the cup). Love coffee If there is any interest I will approach Dean or Locky to start and run a coffee segment on the forum.
cadillacdoc Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I tried sweetmaris.com, and I got a broken link. Sorry about that, sweetmarias.com
Habanos2000 Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I'm not that advanced yet, but I have a Cuisinart grind a brew machine at home and Starbucks Colombian beans make a damn good cup of coffee in my opinion. I'd also like to second or third the votes mentioned for Intelligentsia coffee. I had my first cup at Frontera Grill in Chicago and it was quite memorable. Rob, as far as a coffee thread is concerned, I'm interested! I've heard so many stories of Cuban coffee and would sure be interested in learning more, and trying some. Ken
Ken Gargett Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I'm not that advanced yet, but I have a Cuisinart grind a brew machine at home and Starbucks Colombian beans make a damn good cup of coffee in my opinion. I'd also like to second or third the votes mentioned for Intelligentsia coffee. I had my first cup at Frontera Grill in Chicago and it was quite memorable. Rob, as far as a coffee thread is concerned, I'm interested! I've heard so many stories of Cuban coffee and would sure be interested in learning more, and trying some. Ken i talked to mrls about getting him to import some cuban coffee here but the cost was prohibitive. i was going to say and of course, it could not be then sent to the states but what was i thinking!!
JMH Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I love a good coffee. I mostly drink espresso, occasionally a long black in winter when I want a larger coffee to warm me up in the morning. I buy my coffee from Campos Coffee in Newtown, but I'd be interested to see where else any Sydney members shop.
Spartan Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I average 3 cups of coffee per day, If i'm home it's Green Mountain (Kenyan) or Paradise Roasters. If i'm out and about Micky D's or Starbucks (Sumatra) will do. There's a shitload of coffee bars throughout the city so i'm always trying something new
Mel Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I'm a bit of a coffee nut and have as many as fifteen different types of green beans on hand at a time. I do roast three to five times a week in small bathches never having roasted beans over five days old. Fresh is best and controling roast depths and resting times increases my pleasure playing with the beverage. If you get into this you will demand of you coffee like you now do your cigars and going back wil not be an option. Do it.
cadillacdoc Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I'm a bit of a coffee nut and have as many as fifteen different types of green beans on hand at a time. I do roast three to five times a week in small bathches never having roasted beans over five days old. Fresh is best and controling roast depths and resting times increases my pleasure playing with the beverage. If you get into this you will demand of you coffee like you now do your cigars and going back wil not be an option. Do it. Mel, What roaster do you use. I use a HotTop and do 220-240 grams a batch, mostly espresso blends.
Mel Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Very low tech here Cadyman I use a West Bend Poppery II that a friend gave me and it is all I have known. I dread the day when I have to make a change. It's only fault is that it roasts a small amount at a time but because of that I can have even more control. I sometimes will roast the same green bean to two different levels of roast to add complexity to the beverage. I do not make it drastic but may go half at City and half at Full City.
cadillacdoc Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Very low tech here Cadyman I use a West Bend Poppery II that a friend gave me and it is all I have known. I dread the day when I have to make a change. It's only fault is that it roasts a small amount at a time but because of that I can have even more control. I sometimes will roast the same green bean to two different levels of roast to add complexity to the beverage. I do not make it drastic but may go half at City and half at Full City. Mel, I usually do a Full city+ entering into a Vienna roast, I like to see some oil on the surface. I only do espresso.
Havanaaddict Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I love Cuban coffee!!! Cubita Turquino Serrano Santiago
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