Posted Fri May 20, 2011, 1:24pm Subject: Re: Looking for a new espresso... your favorite?
The new favorite around here seems to be Red Bird Espresso, from Red Bird Coffee. It is very good. It tastes like a snickers bar. Try it you will like it.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Fri May 20, 2011, 4:40pm Subject: Re: Looking for a new espresso... your favorite?
Well, there isthat list . . . List of Our Favorite Roasters . . . but isn't it more important what your favorite roaster is? After all, you're the one who -- presumably -- will be brewing it up.
Several cafés I know (which do not roast the coffee beans themselves) do not "lock in" to one roaster with a contract. Rather, they buy wholesale from several small, super-premium micro-roasters (e.g.: Bica in Oakland buys from Ritual and Sight Glass in San Francisco, as well as Verve in Santa Cruz -- at this point, they are sticking with local Northern California roasters), and will offer several choices in their espresso machine and/or drip coffee. For example, they may offer Ritual's seasonal espresso blend, or for perhaps a little more, they will pull you a shot of a Single Origin from Verve, and so on and so on . . . The choices may change monthly, or perhaps with the seasons. So, too, will there be multiple choices for drip, and from multiple roasters . . .
Posted Sat May 21, 2011, 5:12pm Subject: Re: Looking for a new espresso... your favorite?
If you're over that way, Kickapoo's Crema blend is OK... easier to find around here (there's at least one shop local to me that carries it). I've had good pulls of it at good cafes, and lousy pulls of it at places that have no business selling coffee.
The fall back to that is walk into a coffee shop that serves espresso and get an espresso. If you like it, ask to buy a pound of their espresso blend. (What do you mean "We don't sell whole bean espresso"? You sure you went to a coffee shop?)
I've got coworkers that swear by Ancora's espresso blend (although I'm not a fan), I've grabbed the occasional pound of an unspecified Alterra espresso blend from time to time...
When buying coffee from a shop, I usually get a pound. When ordering coffee, my usual practice is to get a 5lb bag and split it. This keeps the freezer not-as-full, the costs down, and the freshness fresh. (Look into freezing coffee. I like the delivery drivers, but something inside me objects to paying a premium to have it shipped in weekly if there's an alternative.)
I'm not advertising for anybody in particular, but there are a lot of coffees out there worth trying.
Posted Thu May 26, 2011, 2:58pm Subject: Re: Looking for a new espresso... your favorite?
I've just started with People's Daily by Social Coffee & Tea Co. Really liked it, and I haven't even had the chance to find the optimum brew metrics. I'm sure it's going to be awesome.
JDHarding Senior Member Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 1,099 Location: WA, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Ascaso Steel Pro PID Grinder: Nuova Simonelli MDX,... Vac Pot: None Drip: Hario v60 Roaster: Behmor, Fresh Roast
Posted Fri May 27, 2011, 4:27pm Subject: Re: Looking for a new espresso... your favorite?
I'd say my favorite jumps between Redbird Espresso and Velton's Bonsai blend. Redbird is a dark, rich blend while Bonsai is a fruitier blend, although there's chocolate flavor in both. Both are identical roasts, taken to just the first snips of 2nd crack.
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