mkeller234 Senior Member Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 2:49am Subject: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
I realize this is a pretty fundamental question, but I am really new to all of this.
I'd like to know if there is a source for fresh, quality beans at low - moderate prices. For example, I bought a small bag of Eight o'clock brand coffee for 6.99 at the grocery store. The coffee had very little bloom, which I assume it indicates the coffee is not very fresh. It does not seem like a good value for a small bag of coffee. I can buy a similar sized bag at a local coffee shop that roasts, and the beans are obviously fresher and the prices are similar.
But, is there a decent, everyday option. Maybe not the best bean, but perfectly serviceable and affordable? Should I be looking online, are there other sources?
mkeller234 Senior Member Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 4:17am Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
I am using a French Press, in case that info matters. I used the coffee grinder at the store and was not very impressed with it. I'm planning to buy an OE Lido grinder as soon as they are available.
kschendel Senior Member Joined: 7 Nov 2008 Posts: 267 Location: Pittsburgh Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Maestro Roaster: Freshroast
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 10:11am Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
I would expect to pay $12/pound and up for quality roasted beans. $16 and up is not unreasonable. You can likely find cheaper but quality and uniformity may suffer. That's my experience with good online roasters, anyway. The local roasting shop you mention should certainly have fresh beans; whether they are any good depends on where they get their green coffee from.
If you can make the initial investment, consider roasting your own; excellent greens can be had for $6-$8/pound and again you can find cheaper if you're willing to gamble just a bit. The roaster investment can be $hundreds or as low as a few bucks (air popper or heat gun roasting). There's more info online if you want to look into home roasting, for example sweetmarias.com.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,692 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 12:15pm Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
agree on those prices, with exception of Red Bird, which can be had at $51.70 for 5#s shipped. however, comparing any fresh decent coffee bean to 8:00 is worthless, as it's like asking someone to provide a good priced source for freshly squeezed orange juice, but using frozen minute maid as a reference.
You're going to love your Lido. It's great for press!
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,640 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 1:42pm Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
Every day coffee about $15 per pound, the good stuff, I have spent $70 for 12 oz. Anything at $6.99 for 12 oz I would not expect much from. Try our list of on line vendors. They all are good but, again, be prepared for $1 per oz and up. Click Here (www.home-barista.com)
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
mkeller234 Senior Member Joined: 27 Dec 2012 Posts: 19 Location: Ohio Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Jan 7, 2013, 5:24pm Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
Thank you everyone. I just figured there might be some hidden bargains out there, but either way, it's always good to know. I suppose good coffee isn't cheap, but even as a novice I can notice a pretty big difference.
Want to know what my wife and I run through are bunn on a daily basis? Aldi's Beaumont Classic roast; $5.90 for 2lbs and it tastes pretty awful. The coffee can, which is paper, reads: 100% coffee. That is really reassuring!
Home roasting is VERY interesting to me but I don't know if I am ready to get into that just yet, one step at a time. Maybe i'll venture into that next year. Those popcorn poppers at Sweet Marias drew my interest.
Posted Tue Jan 8, 2013, 6:51am Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
If you’re lucky there are some co-operatives that sell fresh roasted coffee for under $10 lb. Expect to pay at least $10 for the good stuff unless you buy bulk. Roasting is easy and green are pretty cheap. I have even bought green for $4 lb. (not wholesale) Indian Robusta Cherry & Uganda coffee. Very high in caffeine!!! :p
CMIN Senior Member Joined: 14 Jun 2012 Posts: 500 Location: South FL Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Crossland CC1 Grinder: Baratza Preciso
Posted Tue Jan 8, 2013, 8:08am Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
Best bet is just to pickup fresh roasted coffee once a week or every two weeks from a local roaster, won't be much more then stores but way better quality. And if you can swing by you don't have to pay for shipping. Place in Miami that charges around $12-14 for 2lbs roasted to order, but I have it shipped to the house so usually about 20 bucks. Their volume roasting for restaurants and other places let's them offer lower prices, coffee is as good as any I've had (i.e. Klatch etc).
I don't know where in Ohio you live but Googled Ohio Coffee Roasters and quite a few popped up, one in Cleveland called Rising Star that got great reviews.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,640 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Wed Jan 9, 2013, 10:54am Subject: Re: What beans are good quality and moderately priced?
When ordering for the first time, order small lots. We had to remove a roaster from our list that we send people to. I took a visit to them and I don't know if they had changed their roasting or the person who vouched for them had bad taste buds! I walked into the shop where they roast and my stomach was turned by the stench of burnt coffee, the roast "master" said that they roasted dark because that is what all the restaurants wanted and they were his prime customers. He served me a double shot from a over temp thermoblock espresso machine. I choked it down to be pleasent, thanked him for his time and left, then I sent a letter to Jason and the vendor was removed.
Short story again, order small lots from a roaster for the first order.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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