So I got too much time on my hands and was in search of the perfect cup of coffee.   I had been grinding my own beans for awhile with a cheap blade grinder and using a Mr Coffee (yea, I know not the perfect scenario)   So I bought a Cuisinart on demand coffee maker and a burr grinder.  We are making some improvements here, the pot does make a difference as well as the grinder

I had been using 8 O'clock beans which make a decent cup of coffee but was looking for something different.  Enter a couple of web sites like Sweetmarias.com and coffeebeansdirect.com and I have way too many choices.  Its like choosing cigars when I first started. Coffee must have a completely different flavor chart with the different beans that are offered

So anyone have suggestions, based on their experience, would be good choices to start with?  As with cigars, I like my coffee on the stronger side and black

I bought a Bunn coffeemaker several months ago and a Walmart grinder. We've been buying the Columbian beans from Sam's Club and that's worked out pretty good. Not premium coffee by any means but certainly tasty enough for every day use. It makes a tasty cup in the French press too whenever I get the urge.

If you like a rich strong stout cup of black coffee, the Sumatra Mandheling beans offer a nice choice.  Personally I like Ethiopian beans best of all, and the Kenya AA the least (high acidity)  Colombian and Nicaraguan beans seem to offer the most balance to my taste...

Top Shelf?  Price-wise maybe ...

"Kopi Luwak the most expensive coffee in the world does exist, and those who drink the expensive coffee insist that it is made from coffee beans eaten, partly digested and then excreted by the Common Palm Civet, a weasel-like animal.

" "Kopi" the Indonesian word for coffee along with "luwak" is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee beans. The civet digests the soft outer part of the coffee cherry, but does not digest the inner beans and excretes them.

"Apparently the internal digestion ends up adds a unique flavor to the beans, removing the bitter flavor, and then beans are then picked up by locals and sold. The most expensive coffee beans can cost up to $600 a pound, and up to $50 per cup, if you can get over the fact that you are drinking such a strange brew."

I'm with 87North re: Sumatran and Ethiopian coffee.  Those two varietals are my absolute favorites.

Quotehardeveningsuburb - 10/13/2011  12:26 PM

I'm with 87North re: Sumatran and Ethiopian coffee.  Those two varietals are my absolute favorites.

See, I told you so...  

Have you explored vacuum coffee makers?  Much more of a pain to use, but many claim that the results are worth it.

One of the best cups I've ever had was Tanzanian Peaberry home roasted by Kennyg.  You might send him a PM...

Quotenwb - 10/13/2011  6:16 PM

One of the best cups I've ever had was Tanzanian Peaberry home roasted by Kennyg.  You might send him a PM...

Any of KennyG's coffee that I have had has been truly outstanding, and is still unmatched by anything I have found in specialty shops or health food fresh roasted places. I really enjoyed the Peru Dark Roast. Yummy.

What's wrong with Foldgers?

Quotemetalhead y cigarguy - 10/14/2011  2:04 AM

What's wrong with Foldgers?

That's a good question.  Until you have tried freshly ground coffee using a burr grinder and brewed with a high quality form of brewing, Foldgers is fine.  Once you have experienced a great cup of coffee, Foldger's is just an average cup of auto drip.  No disrespect intended.    Jeck out this web site if interested.

Thanks for all of the suggestions, I will be sampling some new stuff soon

I hear 7-11 makes a mean cup of coffee...

I get my coffee from McNulty's in New York City.  They have a website and you can order over the phone.  I have not had a bad batch of coffee from them but I favor the Kenya AA or Kona.

Ruta Maya dark roast, whole bean. You can order online, they are located in Austin, Texas. Not cheap, but won't break the bank either. One of my favs fer sure!  

i get this by the truck load. http://www.sanmarcocoffee.com/brazil-santos-coffee-5-lb.html

we use a burr grinder and a Bunn. we have the coffee roasted dark. awesome. these folks roast to order. my UPS guy says its his favorite day when it comes in.

 

On my commute every day, I pass by this place:

http://www.martinezfinecoffees.com/

The smell is awesome.  Their coffee ranges from very good to fantastic.

I rock the Ruta Maya Medium Roast with a Cusinart Burr Grinder and a Cuisinart Brew Central. Seems to be a pretty perfect marriage... I have tried many a cup elsewhere, but I would rather make it at home every day of the week.

On a side note, I see Chris (Samhain2000) on this thread but haven't seen him in a while.  Hasn't logged in in 4 months.  Hope all is OK out in the oil fields.

QuoteBrlesq - 6/14/2012  9:01 PM

On a side note, I see Chris (Samhain2000) on this thread but haven't seen him in a while.  Hasn't logged in in 4 months.  Hope all is OK out in the oil fields.

Hopefully so.  I miss his longest running newbie thread.

QuoteTexasYankee - 6/14/2012  7:29 PM

... I have tried many a cup elsewhere, but I would rather make it at home every day of the week.

I couldn't agree more! I need to install an espresso machine at my desk... The coffee in the office building is TERRIBLE!

As for beans, surprisingly, I buy a lot of mine at Winner's, which is the Canadian equivalent to TJ MAXX. Believe it or not, if you know what to look for, some gems turn up once in a while. I really like a good Kona in the French press, or Sumatra and Kenya AA (or AAA if I can find it) for espresso. I have had that weasel-poop coffee, and if you like a mellow brew, that one is hard to beat. Personally, I prefer something with good acidity and character.

Kona Peaberry or Sharky's Dark Roast (from the other side of the Big Island - Puna District) you can't go wromg with either one

Kirkland from Costco - the Starbucks roast. cheap and good.

Drinking a fresh cup of some Wescat (Kevin) special brew, good stuff!

Try anything from Kicking Horse Coffee in British Columbia. It's available whole bean from most grocery stores in Canada.  I personally drink their Kick Ass blend (seriously.... That's it's name) but I haven't found a bad blend yet from them.  It's organic and fair trade coffee which makes me feel less guilty enjoying a great cup.