|
|
Post by CentreHice on Sept 13, 2010 18:26:43 GMT -5
Seventeen's personal text (so much coffee, so little time) got me wondering what you folks recommend for an excellent cup of coffee. For many people, coffee is purely a medicinal thing. "Gotta have my coffee in the morning...." etc.
But what about true enjoyment? Are we missing out? Any coffee connoisseurs out there?
I'd appreciate some tips.
--Best varieties of beans to buy.
--Recommended coffee makers, cappuccino/espresso machines.
--Other secrets to a great cup at home.
--Best coffee chain? i.e. Tim's, Second Cup, Starbucks, Timothy's, etc.
--Should a quality cup of coffee be able to stand on its own, without the cream, milk, sugar, etc.?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by franko on Sept 13, 2010 20:28:51 GMT -5
ah, a topic close to my heart . . .
never freeze your coffee beans.
yes, beans -- grind 'em yourself.
iffy on the "stand on it's own" thing. I'd say probably . . . but then I doctor it anyway.
Best money-making coffee chain in Canada? TH. Best taste/flavour? Not TH .. . but it's cheap and available and I occasionally drive through . . . the thing that stops me from doing so: the line-up, so I wind up going to Starbucks for an Americano.
Fell in love with the flavour of Costa Rican coffee when I was down there a few years ago [mind you, had some mighty fine Jamaican coffee this spring, just can't afford it]. As to Costa Rican, we brought back [and in fact have ordered on-line] Café Milagro's dark coffee, and now stop at Bridgehead and buy Costa Rican by the pound. . . . done with a French Press [Bodum], of course.
|
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Sept 13, 2010 21:18:18 GMT -5
French press, Costa Rican beans....thanks franko. I'll look into that. Already have a grinder.
What about the flavoured beans? I have a feeling they're lower-grade beans that have been chemically infused with "natural" flavours.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 14, 2010 7:07:42 GMT -5
CH, I don't grind my own coffee beans, but what works for me is "Mother Parkers". I try to keep some in the house but it doesn't always work that way.
Best coffee for me anyway.
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by CrocRob on Sept 14, 2010 10:31:24 GMT -5
Quite surprisingly, an impressive cup of coffee (if you don't want to wait in line at Starbucks) is McDonalds. Very smooth and a much better flavour than the stuff you get at Tim Horton's, which is a very mild and bland cup of coffee. Starbucks is good too, if you like the varieties they brew every day. I'm an espresso man myself while there.
For brewed coffee I'm currently enjoying a bag of Starbucks Italian Roast. I love dark, bitter coffees so it's right up my alley. For espresso at home I tend to stick with Illy dark roast, which you can increasingly find at a grocery store but more likely a european/italian grocery.
French presses are great, but I just can't be bothered. If you have a slow-brew coffee maker I can't really tell the difference.
Coffee doesn't have to stand on its own, but it definitely can when it's really freshly roasted. Usually once the coffee beans are packed and sent up here for us to buy the coffee is pretty bitter and/or acidic for most.
For the life of me I can't remember my espresso machine brand. I still haven't unpacked it since moving last week.
|
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 14, 2010 11:37:44 GMT -5
I think MacDonald's actually listened to customer feedback, Red. They had the worst coffee for years and then practically overnight they came out with a different blend that made a big difference. It isn't uncommon to see a MacDonald's coffee cup here at work. That's quite the change from the past actually.
Cheers.
|
|
|
|
Post by franko on Sept 14, 2010 12:24:30 GMT -5
I think MacDonald's actually listened to customer feedback, Red. They had the worst coffee for years and then practically overnight they came out with a different blend that made a big difference. It isn't uncommon to see a MacDonald's coffee cup here at work. That's quite the change from the past actually. Cheers. or their stockholders . . . the brass saw that money was to be made in coffee and that they weren't making it -- TH was -- so a change was in order. TH: cheap coffee that needs the taste hidden [the reason why double double is so popular -- of course, CO has something else in mind when he sees DD on the lid] -- heard one comedian suggest that heroin must be the secret ingredient -- that was his only explanation why it was such a popular coffee. MacD: inexpensive coffee trying to take a bite out of the TH franchise When you go to Cuba next spring I want you to bring me back a pound or two of the good stuff, Dis. |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 14, 2010 13:06:11 GMT -5
I think MacDonald's actually listened to customer feedback, Red. They had the worst coffee for years and then practically overnight they came out with a different blend that made a big difference. It isn't uncommon to see a MacDonald's coffee cup here at work. That's quite the change from the past actually. Cheers. or their stockholders . . . the brass saw that money was to be made in coffee and that they weren't making it -- TH was -- so a change was in order. This is probably it, but why take so long to make the decision especially in Canada? I mean, they've been successful for quite a while now. One of the more successful menu items was their pizza. They marketed it and became one of the top distributors of pizza in North America. However, it waned gradually. I don't see that happening with their coffee though. Actually, I find TH coffee pretty good as well. I believe, not sure though, that they use a Mother Parker's blend of some sort. Again, I'd have to look it up. They've provided some competition for TH, I think anyway. Very good coffee offered in various sizes. Done good sir! |
|
|
|
Post by franko on Sept 14, 2010 13:34:50 GMT -5
just realized what that might have sounded like  coffee -- dark roast! [whew!] |
|
|
|
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 14, 2010 13:51:13 GMT -5
just realized what that might have sounded like coffee -- dark roast! [whew!] That would have been my default choice, but we'd be talking beforehand anyway. Cheers. |
|
|
|
Post by CentreHice on Sept 14, 2010 15:25:17 GMT -5
Bought a Bodum French Press today at the Bay.....got some Costa Rican beans.....
Coarse grind at home.
Heat up the water on the stove.....pour it over the ground coffee....wait 1 minute....stir.....put on the lid.....wait 4 minutes....push down the press. Best cup of coffee I've had in a long, long time.
The whole process takes around 10 minutes. Really, the only difference over a drip maker is heating the water beforehand.
Thanks for the tips, franko.....and everyone else, too.
McDonald's coffee...hmm....that's likely why they were offering smalls for free a while back. Good way to get the word going.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cranky on Sept 15, 2010 12:13:37 GMT -5
I buy my coffee from a specialty house.
Athans Coffee
1080 Stacey Court
Mississauga, ON L4W 2X8, Canada
(905) 624-4350
They can sell you a variety pack until you figure what you want. They make a custom blend for me and I buy about 5 to 7 kg at a time. It is also fairly consistent from blend to blend. They supply restaurants so I doubt they will be happy or care to supply anything less then 5 kg. They vacuum seal the packs so it remains fresh for a couple of months. Several months but I don't recommend that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Skilly on Sept 15, 2010 13:28:06 GMT -5
Jumping Bean Coffee is pretty good too
I pretty much like all coffees as long as they arent flavoured ...
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2010 22:03:44 GMT -5
Tim's coffee is okay, but I'm tired with how much horrid advertising goes behind it. You look at all the other coffee places mentioned: Second Cup, Timothy's, Starbucks - all of them have far better coffee and yet you don't see any of them advertise on TV.
Decent to really good coffee obviously costs more, and some folk are just interested in the caffeine boost.
Do yourselves a favour: if you are a frequent Tim's customer, don't get coffee from any of those other places. It costs more and you won't want to go back. It's like trying on a pair of shoes that you can't afford - you'll hate any other pair you try that's lower in price range.
|
|
