Coffee!

[Lascaux]

Right I'm tired of my cheap beans. I want to rediscover my love for single origin coffee.

I used to get all my beans from red roaster in brighton, a favourite haunt. I don't get the chance to go there much any more and am looking for the best online alternative.

So, where do you get your coffee!
and what single origins/blends do you like the most
what coffee are you drinking right now?
and isn't coffee the best thing? the bestest of best things
i could do with a cup right now... but i know ill get the jitters and end up not sleeping tonight

COFFEE!!!!

[saggel]

what coffee are you drinking right now?

I am drinking frappe

[TomUfer]

I buy green coffee beans and roast them myself at home. My main source is www.sweetmarias.com. They are in the states but I'm pretty sure they ship anywhere. Perhaps there is a similar outfit in the UK?

[Lascaux]

wow
how complicated is the roasting process? do you just oven roast or over the hob?

[Boss Hog]

I normally go for this Medaglia D'oro. I love the stuff. Unfortunatly I have to rely on family sending it over as it's an Italian Coffee you can only buy in the US. Figure that out? I have yet to see anywhere in the UK that sells it,



I'd like to try some of this cuban coffee as well, if I can find where to get it.

[mb55317]

I work near Harrods and so pop in there every few weeks to pick up some coffee. I get them to grind the beans as i dont have a grinder at home. Seems to stay fresh for a couple of weeks but is drinkable for longer.

At the moment i've got something called Bourbon Brazil and some from the Galapagos Islands. I've heard good things about Monmouth Coffee in London but never been there..

[stephan]

I don't drink coffee anymore but Monmouth Street Coffee is the equivalent to JJFox - Robert Lewis as far as I'm concerned. A mecca.

Markus Coffee on Connaught Street has been there since I was a nipper. I remember being sent there repeating "a quarter pound of fidelio fine ground please" all the way so that I wouldn't forget! Over the last 40 years the neighbourhood has changed a lot (Tony Blair now lives around the corner) but this shop has remained. That must mean something.

[navzor]

http://www.realcoffee.co.uk/ is quite good. Can't start my day without a big pot of espresso

[G-man]

This was my all time favorite !

Jamaican Blue Mountain

Flavour: 4
Strength: 2
Hide


Selected from the Wallenford Estate, this is the quintessential classic coffee. Rich flavour, aroma, full body and balanced, mild acidity. Of all coffees this must most closely match the description given by Sheikh Abd-al-Kadir in 1587 that "coffee is like common man's gold, and like gold it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility". Considered the 'Rolls Royce' of coffees - they certainly make us pay for it!

[Lascaux]

ive been to monmouth a few times. lovely place to sit and have a cup if their seat is free.

ill have to check markus coffee out,
was handed a family heirloom the other day, a 1920's brass hand coffee grinder. my gran used it all her life. funnily enough it grinds as well as my electric burr grinder. and does espresso size better.

[Lee Nub]

Haven't bought anything decent for a while, last time was some jamaican blue mountain from Whittards

[Pantomimehorse]

I pick my beans up in Drury Covent Garden http://www.drury.uk.com/

but keep meaning to walk a few streets down and check out monmouth

[Bogner]

hasbean.co.uk has loads of great coffee .. single origins, blends you name it - and Steve is a kind fellow too

your own barista world champion James Hoffmann also has a site that sells coffee, and I believe it would be worth a shot, shop.squaremilecoffee.com

I drink a blend I concocted myself, consisting of 40% Guatemala Huehuetenango, 40% Brazil Yellow Bourbon and 20% Indonesia Mandheling .. roasted on a Gene Cafe and used for my morning espresso and cappuccino

[Lee Nub]

Sounds good mate

[monkey66]

What he said ....hasbean and squaremile are probably the best coffee you can buy in the UK.

The most important things to know about coffee:
1. Only grind per usage (shot/pot). The difference between freshly ground and ground an hour ago is night and day.
2. Buying coffee from the above suppliers means it has been freshly roasted. Coffee has an envelope which is 4-12 days after roast when it is good (varies depending on storage/beans/roast level). I never drink coffee more then 12 days post-roast. There is an exception to this which is the first hour after older roasted beans are open. Can be quite acceptable in the first hour but by the next day will be gone. Do not use beans less than 4 days after roast as will be very poor.
3. The grinder is as important as the coffee machine (if not more so). You can achieve excellent coffee with Fresh beans, a good burr grinder and a simple drip machine.
4. Temp is critical to all coffee brewing. Specifically not too hot. If you are using a pour-over type method never use boiling water, always let the kettle rest for a few mins (90-95 degC is ideal).


Overall achieving a really good cup of coffee is even more involved than a good cigar. You need: Good beans, properly roasted, 4-10 days old, freshly ground, decent grinder, decent brew method.

Check out:

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/index.php

http://www.home-barista.com/

http://www.coffeegeek.com/

For a great brewing solution take a look at the Chemex range (a Chemex jug, fresh roasted beans and a fairly basic ?100 burr grinder can make great coffee)

https://www.hasbean.co.uk/brands/Chemex.html

NB - cheap espresso machines are a false economy, you are better off with a Netspresso. Entry level to make decent espresso/cappa's is ?600 machine and ?250 grinder.

hasbean.co.uk has loads of great coffee .. single origins, blends you name it - and Steve is a kind fellow too

your own barista world champion James Hoffmann also has a site that sells coffee, and I believe it would be worth a shot, shop.squaremilecoffee.com

I drink a blend I concocted myself, consisting of 40% Guatemala Huehuetenango, 40% Brazil Yellow Bourbon and 20% Indonesia Mandheling .. roasted on a Gene Cafe and used for my morning espresso and cappuccino