# Good mail-order coffee place? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 12, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949 "2005-10-12T20:06:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/1 "2005-10-12T20:06:21Z")
(Search seems to be broken, this has probably been asked before.) In search of a better cup of coffee, I recently bought a coffee grinder. The local supermarket seems to only carry a couple of brands of beans, Eight O’Clock and Starbucks. I don’t like the former’s taste and I don’t like the latter’s dark roast. When you’re out of options, mail order seems like the only choice. As a bonus, I’ve also heard that you get much fresher coffee since they have no reason to keep roasted stock around. Anyone have suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/2 "2005-10-12T20:11:23Z")
I’ve had Gevalia before, and liked it very much. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/3 "2005-10-12T20:13:56Z")
[Peet’s](http://www.peets.com/) does mail order. I used them when I was relegated to Coffee Nowhere for a year. They have a nice selection of teas, too, if you’re into that. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/4 "2005-10-12T20:18:28Z")
Yes–Gevalia’s is very nice, and you can get a free coffeemaker, too. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/5 "2005-10-12T21:50:15Z")
My coffee pot broke recently and rather than make a 90 mile trek to town and back, I decided to try Gevalia. It arrived fairly quickly along with the coffee samples. I tried 'em both and didn’t care for either one, but what really got me was the price of continuing the program. The cheapest stuff was 12 bucks a pound. I drink too much to be able to fork out that kind of dough. I’ve ordered from these folks for years. They have a wide variety of coffee, whole beans or ground to your specs. If you go through a lot of coffee like I do, tell them you want a wholesale account. I order 10 lbs. at a time and it’s around six dollars a pound. [http://www.coffeetraders.com/](http://www.coffeetraders.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/6 "2005-10-12T22:01:46Z")
My absolute favorite is Batdorf & Bronson. They’re coffee roasters in Olympia, WA, which is already a good sign: them Washingtonians don’t stand for bad coffee. The folks in the tiny little cafe (at least, it was tiny when I went to college there in the nineties) are extremely knowledgeable about their different roasts, and you can tour their roastery. It’s a wonderful place, with coffees that will make your head swim with their rich flavors. And their catalog is a hoot, too. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/7 "2005-10-12T22:13:27Z")
You need a local roaster or a close mail order shop to keep shipping costs down. Are you making espresso, press pot, drip, or what? I doubt you can get fresh Gevalia, Starbucks, or anything at your supermarket. I’ll scope out your geographic area and post back later with some recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/8 "2005-10-12T22:27:56Z")
My brother is a coffee maven; he roasts his own in a wok. He swears by [www.sweetmaria.com](http://www.sweetmaria.com) ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/9 "2005-10-12T22:32:08Z")
I love Peet’s. Try some Peet’s. ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/10 "2005-10-12T22:42:30Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > He swears by [www.sweetmaria.com](http://www.sweetmaria.com) Pretty much the pentacle for green coffee, you can’t go wrong with this recommndation if you roast or want to learn how. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/11 "2005-10-12T23:21:49Z")
> [@John F](#): > > Pretty much the pentacle for green coffee I’m sure it’s not just neopagans who worship caffeine. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/12 "2005-10-12T23:40:04Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > I’m sure it’s not just neopagans who worship caffeine. Yeah, it could also be considered the pyramid or even the Ramtha if you are so inclined. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2005, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/13 "2005-10-12T23:45:27Z")
I like to buy organic, Fair Trade (“free range,” as my husband calls it) coffees, and have been getting mine from [Cafe Campesino](http://www.cafecampesino.com/) for a while now. It’s not high-end gourmet coffee, but it’s quite good, and their service is speedy. ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/14 "2005-10-13T00:07:58Z")
Here is my recommendation. If you do not find a local roaster where you can get fresh roasted coffee I think you should try [this link](http://www.orensdailyroast.com/cat/home.html). They have the good stuff. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/15 "2005-10-13T00:57:14Z")
Drip pot for now. No roasting, grinding it is already almost too much effort. It’s just that it’s enough effort that I might as well grind good coffee. ---
**Author:** ![John\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@John\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_F)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/16 "2005-10-13T16:13:21Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > Drip pot for now. No roasting, grinding it is already almost too much effort. It’s just that it’s enough effort that I might as well grind good coffee. Oren’s will have great coffee just one state over. Peet’s should be good as well but might be an extra day shipping. I don’t’ really know anything about [these people](http://http://www.farmcoffee.com/) but they are SCCA members and close by so there is potential. It’s a bit farther away but if you ever get the espresso bug [Black Cat](http://http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/store/coffee/blends/blackcat) is awesome. Good luck with finding a good cup! ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/17 "2005-10-14T01:03:26Z")
[Bong Brothers](http://http://www.bongbrothers.com/) We’ve been getting coffee from these guys for at least 10 years. Pure Kona, can’t be beat. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/18 "2005-10-14T03:35:35Z")
[Baltimore Coffee & Tea Co.](http://www.baltcoffee.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/1) They also have green coffee and fair trade. And it on takes a couple of days to get your order. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/19 "2005-10-14T03:43:45Z")
> [@cher3](#): > > [Peet’s](http://www.peets.com/) does mail order. I used them when I was relegated to Coffee Nowhere for a year. They have a nice selection of teas, too, if you’re into that. I don’t drink coffee, but my wife does and she swears by Peet’s. Being a Bay Area native, she’s probably prejudiced. Anyway, she finds their shipping costs to be eminently reasonable, and even though we live on the east coast it generally arrives in a pretty timely fashion. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-mail-order-coffee-place/325949/20 "2005-10-14T14:39:09Z")
[We’re trying Green Mountain Coffee](http://greenmountaincoffee.com/) right now. We tried Gevalia, but after a bad customer service experience we dropped them.