I love coffee. It’s the drink of the gods. There’s so many flavors, blends, variations…ahhh.
So what’s your favorite? Is it from the grocery store, or an independent coffee shop; from a large chain business, a restaurant, or whatever?
My hands-down favorite is Tim Hortons. I don’t know what they put in it to make it so good, and I don’t care, just so long as they keep making it the same way.
I like Italian Roast from Kitchen Affairs in Evansville, IN. My mom works there, so she gets it for me for cheap. She’ll set me up for a few months every time I see her.
I’m looking forward to trying Trader Joe’s. We just got a TJ here in St. Louis - can’t wait to go, but I’ve been waiting until the crowds die down.
Sumatran Manheling. From an independent retailer here in Brooklyn. Two for the Pot, on Atlantic and Clinton, if anyone is interested. They’ve got lots of blends, including a very nice house blend and some good decaffeinated coffees, if that’s what you’re looking for. Also lots of teas.
Favorite specialty retail coffee dealer: Peet’s. The way they roast their beans is great. It makes them strong and flavorful. I like Costa Rica beans in general, and they way they roast them at Peet’s makes it a winning combination in my book.
I once had some Costa Rican coffee that was brought back by a co-worker from a trip. It was wonderful.
illy. A couple of places in my neighborhood use it to make mochas and whatnot, and one of my favorite restaurants serves it. I’ve got some of their dark roast at home. Mighty tasty!
I just barely started drinking coffee, so I haven’t gotten around to buying a coffee maker yet, but I get the Mocha Valencia (extra hot) from Starbucks (hey, this is Seattle) and it is divine, like drinking one of those chocolate oranges. Yummy yum yum!!
I used to work in a coffee shop, so I got a chance to try lots and lots of stuff. I discovered that I do not like dark roasts, and I do like fuller-flavored coffees. Dark roasts (Starbucks standard roast is a dark roast) are usually regarded as “stronger” but I find them more bitter and acidic, which reduces my enjoyment of the flavor of the coffee. I usually get my coffee from Caribou, since it’s convenient and they offer light roasts of full-flavored beans.
My all-time favorite is Celebes Kalossi, which is like an even heavier version of Sumatra Mandheling. I also like Tanzanian Peaberry, known sometimes as La Minita Peaberry.
Dorman’s AA Blue Mountain (Kenyan) - a medium-roast that makes me actually go “Ahhhh” after each sip. Full-bodied and mellow, it’s everything I’ve been looking for as the definitive cup. Gotta have my big brother send me more!
I have some Kaua’i peaberry coffee that I got from Cost Plus… I’m slowly working my way through the bag.
It’s a perfect coffee in many ways: strong enough so that you know you’re drinking good coffee, mellow enough to happily accept extra flavorings like chocolate, Irish Cream, etc., and it didn’t cost an arm and a leg.
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Seattle’s Best Post Alley Blend. And when I remember to stop, there is a small specialty coffee roaster near where I work. I get there Floor Sweepin’s blend, it’s a mixture of the left overs from the past day or 2 and it’s only $3.00 a pound. There is a difference when the beans are fresh roasted.