You mean that you don't like the classic preparation of brown water served in styrofoam cups?
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You mean that you don't like the classic preparation of brown water served in styrofoam cups?
You mean that you don't like the classic preparation of brown water served in styrofoam cups?
Strange to relate, I don't. Oddly enough, for some inexplicable reason, I rather intensely dislike that notorious old brown water beverage sludge that used to emerge from the spout of an urn.
Not only that, but I refuse to drink coffee from a styrofoam cup, and ask, instead, for a proper china/porcelain/stoneware cup or mug from which to drink it instead.
I know, I know, hard to please, high maintenance…….impossible standards…….
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Agreed. I miss @Shrink, too, around these parts, and especially, in this thread.
Re high maintenance, I regret to have to report that my impossible high maintenance standards are replicated across a wide variety of fields…..wine, beer, relationships, clothing, professional and ethical stuff…...
Well, it is Sunday, a day - Mother-minding duties notwithstanding - that tends to be a little more relaxed than the usual week day rush, with deadlines and time tables and appointments.
Thus, I have made a pot of coffee, in my Le Creuset French Press (cerise, or raspberry in colour). The coffee is a new blend, (an emergency stand by to be honest, but perfectly drinkable). Actually, the blend is an award winning one of Brazilian, Sumatran and Ethiopian beans. I had fun grinding the beans in my OE Lido grinder, and the coffee is delicious served in a Le Creuset mug (burnt, or volcanic orange…)
Thus, I have made a pot of coffee, in my Le Creuset French Press (cerise, or raspberry in colour). The coffee is a new blend, (an emergency stand by to be honest, but perfectly drinkable). Actually, the blend is an award winning one of Brazilian, Sumatran and Ethiopian beans. I had fun grinding the beans in my OE Lido grinder, and the coffee is delicious served in a Le Creuset mug (burnt, or volcanic orange…)
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I finished my morning coffee a short while ago, also made in my recently acquired Le Creuset French Press and mug, always pre-heated of course.
Yesterday I was visiting a friend who had sourced from Ethiopian beans from a local grocer. It was prepared in a French Press, but nothing like what we use, but still tasted good.
Despite a terrible blade grinder, plastic FP and beans from the supermarket that give little details about its origins, roast date and type of beans, the Ethiopian beans still shone through with a decent taste.
Yesterday I was visiting a friend who had sourced from Ethiopian beans from a local grocer. It was prepared in a French Press, but nothing like what we use, but still tasted good.
Despite a terrible blade grinder, plastic FP and beans from the supermarket that give little details about its origins, roast date and type of beans, the Ethiopian beans still shone through with a decent taste.
I'll wait hours, sometimes days over barbecue/grill/smoke but I'm not particular about coffee other than consistency. I toss in a k-cup and push a button and watch the Keurig fill whatever color Le Creuset mug I pulled out. I like the mugs for no other reason than their stability and color (I must have six colors).
Stability, colour, yes, but there are other factors, too, such as appearance (very attractive) and excellent build quality, which will serve to enhance the taste of whatever you are drinking, whether it is tea or coffee.
Yes, good Ethiopian beans and coffee will shine through with a decent taste irrespective of whatever abusive treatment they have received as part of the process of coffee preparation.
FYi, for the smooth cup fans out there, I'll bet this is outstanding.
https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/costa-rica-santa-rosa
https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/products/costa-rica-santa-rosa
That does sound very interesting and I have long been partial to some of the coffees from Costa Rica. Let us know how you find it.
Earlier today, I ordered two different coffees: "Ethiopian Kebel Aricha", (well, as several on here already know, I am very taken with a lot of the stuff coming out from Ethiopia), and some from El Salvador, called "El Salvador Finca Argentina Los Mangos" (yes, I had wondered, too, about the complicated name which includes the name of another south American country)…….
Anyway, I have had excellent experiences with coffees both from Ethiopia, and from El Salvador (Intelligentsia had a superb coffee from El Salvador last summer, Los Immortales).
Perusing the various coffee sites, I note that there is a pretty wide choice of Ethiopian coffees becoming available at the moment; obviously it is in season.
For what it is worth, Intelligentsia have at least three Ethiopian coffees on offer (which is pretty rare for them), and other companies I occasionally take a look at, also seem to be offering some Ethiopian coffees which read as though they may well reward further exploration.
For what it is worth, Intelligentsia have at least three Ethiopian coffees on offer (which is pretty rare for them), and other companies I occasionally take a look at, also seem to be offering some Ethiopian coffees which read as though they may well reward further exploration.
Thanks. I placed an order for it!
Interesting.
I'll be fascinated to read about your thoughts; until I was seduced by Ethiopian coffees (among a few others), Costa Rica coffee had been my standard go-to coffee for years.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
Since we are on central americas now. Blue Bottle is doing a private slae of a Honudran that looks very intersting. New to me. Not sure if this link will work. I think this coffee will be gone w/in a few hours.
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/limite...ign=honduras santa elena doris alicia benitez
https://bluebottlecoffee.com/limite...ign=honduras santa elena doris alicia benitez
Thanks for posting this and recommending it.
Actually, my issue with ordering coffees from the US are rarely the coffees themselves (some of the stuff I received from Intelligentsia over the past two years has been excellent, and the one time I ordered coffee from Sweet Maria's I thought it pretty good), but the horrendous cost of postage, transportation, and shipping to the British Isles.
This means that it makes sense for me to buy in bulk - to buy, say, six, to eight coffees at a time. However, the upshot is that - having also had okay (but not outstanding) coffees, I am reluctant to buy coffees from the US unless I know from previous experience (El Salvador Los Immortales) that it will be outstanding, or word of mouth on this forum assures me likewise.
Anyway, I would be most interested to hear feed back on this coffee.
Oh, yes I recieved an email about this. Tempting, but I'm working through a home roast batch of one of SM's espresso workshop blends at the moment.
And it appears that Blue Bottle - as I discovered having just spent a few minutes browsing their excellent website - do not ship coffee to that many countries. We can only hope that this deficiency will be remedied in due course…...
Oh, yes I recieved an email about this. Tempting, but I'm working through a home roast batch of one of SM's espresso workshop blends at the moment.
How do you rate Blue Bottle's coffee over that of SM's?
Okay that's tricky for me for two reasons. One, SM is almost exclusively green, which I roast myself. BB roasts for you. The other has to do with a desire to support (what I've choaen to believe is) a less obviously massive operation. BB, like good capitalists, have been expanding all over the place with new locations in NYC. I think their beans are great but expensive. I've mentioned before that I hope their employees are paid fairly, but it's probably too much to hope that the company is mostly owned by them in some equitable way.
Of course, I should probably be just as suspicious of SM, but they represent themselves in a way that isn't entirely off putting. And for some reason I feel this suggests a more desireable corporate organization. I'm probably wrong.
So, I'm biased by these ideas. To be honest, I suspect they're both doing a superb job sourcing their beans, but I'm going to give the edge to SM. All the roasted beans I've bought from them have been exquisite.
Hm.
Yes, reading their site, I must say that I got the distinct impression that Bluebottle are busily harbouring dreams, if not of global domination, at least of further global expansion. Their website is slick and nicely put together - I'll admit that I was rather taken by their 'Brewer's Guide' which gave pretty idiot proof instructions on how to make coffee when employing different methods. (And that is harder to do than it may seem).
Sweet Maria's site, on the other hand, does strike me as somewhat more straightforward, and more passionately engaged with the business of producing excellent coffee, (rather than sales) and - when I contacted them, they expressed concern about freshness and engaged with me when we discussed transport and costs of same.
I received an email about this too. But I am going to pass since I ordered the other stuff from Stumptown yesterday.
agree BB has gone a bit corp. But I have never had bad coffee from them, and they have fewer defects than almost anyone (I think they inspect post-roast). Don't like they have cut back what they sell a lot, used to sell many dozens of types, now justa fwe seems like. Agree SM is by far bvetter, best ever I think unless you roast your own. I like Stumptown better than BB, and also buy from klatch and any other small guys I find from time to time. Curent favorite new guy is heart Roasters, Portland, check it out
Many thanks for this post.
Last night, I took a quick look at the website of Heart Roasters, in Portland Oregon, and must admit that they look gorgeous, and very inviting.
(And again, this compels me to ask a question I know I have asked before: What is it about Portland, Oregon that makes that urban space so impressive, cultured, cultivated and civilised? Why and how have to come to be in a situation to get so much right?)
The Stumptown coffee arrived yesterday afternoon. I didn't open it up and brew it until this morning. However, several times yesterday when I entered the kitchen, I picked up the bag and smelled it for its wonderful aroma.
As predicted by Kurwenal, it is smooth and tastes very good, as well as having a great aroma.
I hope you really enjoy it, and it is always lovely to receive a much anticipated and impatiently awaited parcel of good coffee.
On that very topic, a small parcel of coffee arrived yesterday, roasted on Tuesday, and comprising coffee from both Ethiopian and El Salvador. I'm looking forward to sampling them, but am finishing the coffee blend I have first.
Meanwhile, I must say that I found the website of Heart Roasters - also mentioned by our friend @Kurwenal - to be a most interesting and attractive one. As they appear to have some interesting Ethiopians, I must note their details in my diary and place an order at some stage with them.