As some know I only recently started drinking coffee within the last 2-3 years. At first it tasted like hot, bitter tea to me as I drink it black. However, I eventually began to get used to it.

At first I was drinking some common brands like Folgers. etc. Then I switched to Black Rifle. Started with their light roast then moved up to medium. I've had their dark roast as well and while it's good I like their medium better.

My preference was a Keurig using single-serve pods. Convenient to use but in retrospect not the best for flavor.

Thanks to my browsing here around Thanksgiving, I purchased a MoccaMaster coffee maker. I also purchased an inexpensive coffee grinder on Amazon. Seemed the feedback was that some ground coffees were too fine for the new machine, so I thought I'd experiment with grinding my own.

What a game changer! What used to be "hot, bitter tea" is now a pleasant, warm start to the day. I have to say that I am thoroughly enjoying coffee now.

As to what beans to use, our local stores seem to have a limited selection. We have tried the Peet's Major Dickenson dark roast. It's good but not great IMHO. Since we seem to have a limited selection of beans in the stores, I elected to join a "coffee club" online (no subscription. cancel anytime).

While I've only been a "member" for about a month, the Atlas Coffee Club's first coffee was great! It is a Medioum Roast from Peru. It is very smooth with a light chocolate taste but not sweet. Mild aroma. Not acidic. We liked it enough to order a second bag. Just this week we received a bag of darker roast from Rwanda. Haven't opened it yet but will later this week or next.

It's fun experimenting with different sourced beans and discovering how really flavorful and rich a coffee can be. Something I never would have though I would enjoy a few years ago.

just placed an order for beans from Lake City Coffee in Idaho, should have them by next weekend. company appears friendly toward the mindset of typical members here..check them out

forgive if already mentioned

I've mentioned this in other coffee threads, but nearly a year ago, I bit the bullet and bought a Nespresso original machine, based on coffees I'd had visiting family.

Despite it's cost, it consistently and conveniently delivers a truly delicious cup of strong rich coffee when paired with the right pods of your choice. It has the ability to brew espressos and cappuccinos for those who may want that. To me it's worth every penny.

quote:

Originally posted by chbibc:
Anyone ever had civet coffee?

Yeah it's much less acidic than regular coffee, very smooth drinking but nothing that special to warrant the cost.

I think I even gave away a bag as a karma years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by mojojojo:

Thanks to my browsing here around Thanksgiving, I purchased a MoccaMaster coffee maker. I also purchased an inexpensive coffee grinder on Amazon. Seemed the feedback was that some ground coffees were too fine for the new machine, so I thought I'd experiment with grinding my own.

Yes, there is a direct relationship between how the coffee beans are ground and how good it tastes from your cup.

The hot water temp & the time the hot water flows through the ground coffee is vital, but the grind size is a huge issue too that is not talked about much.

Coffee beans ground too fine will slow the flow of the hot water through the grounds and "extract" too much flavor/bitterness. Coffee ground too coarsely will allow the hot water to flow through too quickly and thus not extract enough flavor. Think of Two 5-gallon buckets with holes in the bottom, one contains sand, the other coarse gravel. Flow rate is different.

You'll have to experiment a bit with your grinder to learn how it works and the results it gives.

For years I had a Baratza Encore grinder (their basic model $125-ish when I bought itP). I was never happy with it. This most recent Black Friday I bought the better Baratza Virtuoso+ and am totally pleased with it, it delivers a consistent size grind every time. The Encore is going to Goodwill.

It's all a formula, really. Water temp, water flow rate, grind size, good quality coffee, decent water, etc.

But all it "boils down" (no pun intended) to enjoying a really good coffee. You'll never know the difference until you've had a really good cup.
.

Another vote for roast your own. I have green beans from many different places and can roast to what suites my needs.
Coffee is basically a science experiment that one does to determine what meets their needs and taste. Variables are country(s) of origin, depth of roast, how long after roasting before using, grind size, amount of coffee to water, water quality, method of brewing.
Home roasting lets one control some of the variables that store purchasing does not allow.

I just bought a bag of Peet’s Big Bang. A medium roast. Pretty good stuff.

It's official: I'm a coffee snob. I stopped by my parents' house and had a freshly brewed cup of coffee with my Father. I couldn't finish it. Also got confirmation as to why I didn't drink coffee for the longest time. It just wasn't good.


I know some people are set in their ways but my Father is that guy who brews coffee with the cheapest $20 coffee maker from Walmart and thought going from Folger's instant coffee back in the 1980s to Maxwell House in the 1990s was the end all be all. I've brought him back coffee from Puerto Rico, introduced him to Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee and of course he could tell the difference (and loved it) but apparently not enough to get any on his own.


Last year I got a Moccamaster and was so impressed with it that I got one for my Father. After all he drinks about 10 cups a day, sometimes more. He also doesn't indulge in many things, coffee being one of them. He got upset and refused to unbox it. I suppose it's like leading a horse to water and not being able to make it drink. I had to give it to a friend because it went past the return period and he refused to use it.

Decent coffee begins with grinding your own, and the quality of the grinder does make a difference. I lived with a cheap grinder for many years. When it gave out, I treated myself to a Baratza Virtuoso+. The difference was immediately noticeable, both in the consistency of the grind and the flavor of the coffee. That was four years ago, and the Baratza is still going strong with heavy daily use.

For coffee, I've been buying the Pablo's Pride Guatemala whole bean coffee from Sam's Club. They used to sell it in the stores, but I've had a hard time finding it since Covid. It's still available online, though. Free shipping to my door, and it only costs $13.78 for a 2 lb bag. That's hard to beat for value and balance in an everyday coffee.

follow up; after a few mornings of grinding the Lake City Dark Roast beans, a resounding thumbs up!

took a couple tries to dial it in now I'm good to the last drop, delicious coffee highly recommended.
great supporters of common sense a bonus.

Highly recommend Gold Star Coffee...we only drink their 100% Kona coffee and have for years (over a decade). We buy the whole bean "city roast" 100% Kona in 10lb orders. Fantastic coffee.

https://goldstarcoffee.com/