Coffee snobs

[Chris Miller]

Any coffee snobs out there? 

I used to run a café back in "the day," and as a result I cannot drink the swill offered by many of the world's cheaper diners.  I've conditioned myself to accept only the best.

or, the best I can afford. For I am not a rich man.

What are your favorites? Where do you get your coffee? Do you have a favorite roast or roastery?

[Kris Johnson]

<coffeesnob>I prefer the "whatever's near the coffeemaker" roast, with lots of half-and-half and sugar.</coffeesnob>

[Chris Miller]

Which is why you are not allowed to make the coffee at The Secret Lair (West). Hmmph.

[Cmaaarrr]

I've had far too much coffee in my career, which has foisted upon me the mantle of coffee snob, I think.

My current favorites are from the Coffee Shop of Horrors, who had a booth at Dragon*Con last year, of all places: http://www.coffeeshopofhorrors.com/

I've had most of their year-round offerings, and some of their specials, and I've found them all to be quite good.  Of course, it helps that they appeal to the geek/horror market.

[Chris Miller]

Oh, I so need to try that place.

[Nycteris]

I am not a "real" coffee snob; my burr grinder just bit the dust, and I am perfectly ok with a cheap-o blade grinder to replace it.

So since I cannot tell by taste whether something was shade grown on a little plantation, or passed through a civet, etc. my favorite roast is Obsidian by Caribou Coffee.

[Kris Johnson]

I am not a "real" coffee snob; my burr grinder just bit the dust, and I am perfectly ok with a cheap-o blade grinder to replace it.

In other news: a burr grinder is a real thing.

Hmm.

[cmdln]

I am gradually becoming a coffee snob.  If I have to have chain coffee, I prefer Caribou.

Fortunately, the meat space locus of my weekly gathering with old dot-bomb war buddies is a fantastic local coffee shop, Quartermaines, that roasts locally here in Rockville.  I picked up a burr grinder, recently, so brew my own coffee daily from their beans with a (it is better than it sounds) Aero Press.

I am strongly resisting the urge to even look into the possibility of acquiring a vacu-pot.  That, like a burr grinder, is also a real thing.

[Nycteris]

How is a vacu-pot different than those stove-top espresso pots?
(I mean, since the shape is similar I thought maybe they were related in function.)

[blob]

Former coffee snob here.  I've had to cut back to almost nothing due to heart wonkiness.

I love Hawaiian coffees.  Kona is an obvious favorite because of its sweet, light, delicate flavor.  However, while vacationing on Kauai I discovered the plantation there.  It's darker, heartier, but still fruity.  Almost like a blend of Kona and Kenya if you can imagine such a thing.  Must be the older soil on the older island.

I have had the opportunity to try Blue Mountain a few times and found it to be good, but not great.  Not great enough to justify the expense, anyway.  For my money, I'll take five pounds of Kauai instead of one of Blue Mountain.

[cmdln]

How is a vacu-pot different than those stove-top espresso pots?
(I mean, since the shape is similar I thought maybe they were related in function.)

No idea since I've never used a stove-top espresso pot.  A vacu-pot may merely be an older, more refined version of such a pot.  I've been told it is the oldest former of making coffee and am led to believe it yields the most tasty coffee.

[Kris Johnson]

I had a cup of Tanzanian Peaberry coffee with my lunch today. As with any cup of coffee, the first thing I did was completely obliterate it with about two tablespoons of half-and-half and roughly the same amount of sugar. Knowing this was akin to slathering ketchup on a fine steak, I waited for a beat or two to see if the proprietor or any of the more discerning patrons was about to tar and feather me. Relieved to find that my infraction had gone unnoticed, I returned to my seat, cup in hand.

Not a bad cup of coffee, as such things go. It had a flavor I'm not quite sure how to describe, but I suppose "bright" does as good a job as any word. Can coffee be bright? In any case, I liked it.

[P.G. Holyfield]

No snob here. I have Starbucks Dark Roast and Dunkin' Donuts Medium Roast in the freezer. I have a couple of local shops I stop at from time to time, and almost always get a dark roast, no room.

Don't ruin my coffee with your 'stuff.'

[cmdln]

I am an especial fan of peaberries.  Caribou has an exclusive supplier, La Minita, that is my favorite coffee altogether.  I have yet to meet a peaberry that I do not like.  Sadly, Quartermaine's, which I otherwise love dearly, does not have a peaberry that they roast.

[Chris Miller]

My personal favorite is a 50/50 blend of dark-roasted Sumatra and Mocha Java. The taste is rich and full bodied, and the Mocha Java's sweetness helps to balance the dark bitterness of the Sumatra. Perfect for a cup in the morning, or for having after dinner.