The World of Coffee

[bedir than average]

The old thread on the subject

Some of my thoughts can also be found here

As a coffee master, district coffee ambassador I have been recognized as an expert within Starbucks, but as an enthusiast who has lived with an Italian and worked nearly four years for three independent companies I have experiences that go beyond the small world of Starbucks.

Today I'm enjoying a cup of Terraza Blend (TM). Next week I'm going to enjoy a few cups of the Rwandan coffee that is only available in Europe and the Middle Eastern markets for Starbucks in my new French Press.

Compiled posting on Coffee from other sites

08-24-2006
I am an Arabian Mocha Sanani fan. It has a tart berry nature to it. The dry, mocha texture is a pleasure and can truly be drunk by anyone and they will understand that coffee can taste different.

09-08-2006
Tonight I broke out my mokka pot, or stove top espresso machine. Beautiful this time. I got the heat just right. Enough to force the steam up, but not enough to cook the beans. I even managed some crema.

09-21-2006
Thing ONe- my grinder broke. It is a wonderul machine, but it looks like a little pebble or unroasted coffee somehow made its way into the burrs. I tried all of my usual tricks but it doesn't run anymore. So I prepared for Warranty Service Phone Call Hell. That didn't happen. Less than 20 seconds into my phone call they offered to just send me a new machine. Talked directly to one of the owners. Baratza is highly recommended in my book, and not just because they are from Bellevue WA.

09-27-2006
I like Pike Place Blend, to me it is what House Blend should be. It carries the flavors very well. Sweeter than most Latin Blends, with a good berry notes and bright acidity.

Tasted Christmas Blend '06 yesterday. Spicier than the past but with notable acidity and a deep chocolate nature.

[reject]

I'm not a coffee drinker, dont want to be actually. But I would def try some of the more "exotic" coffees like you mentioned.

[Top Cat]

Bedir, I have to ask, why can't Starbucks teach the baristas how to really make a latte. (Using Vivace as an example) Are we talking too much time?

The real artisans get it. As much as i love what Starbucks has done to make good coffee available to the masses and in places I never used to be able to get anything remotely decent, it makes me bonkers that they refuse to properly steam milk or present as it should be.

[Bucky]

Okay Bedir. I began roasting my own coffee beans about 3 years ago. For anyone that hasn't bought unroasted (green) beans, roasted them and then freedom-pressed them - they're missing out on the best heights coffee can get to. With respect, there's no starbucks or seattle's best or whatever that can compare.

But I do have a question about the best place to get unroasted coffee beans. We do have a local coffee hut in the town next to us (named Armenos in Northboro, MA) that sells unroasted coffee beans, but their main schtick is that they roast them in these two huge bean roasters they have in their mill-store. The place smells great.

When I don't get the unroasted beans from Armenos, I order them on-line from Sweet Marias. Great selections.

So two questions - will Starbucks EVER sell unroasted beans, is this a market the company is considering?, and do you have any additional expertise on how best for guys like me to buy even greater quality unroasted beans?

[LaxD]

The only Coffee that I'll drink is a decaf carmel marvel from our local coffee shop. Yet again, I have that about twice a year... Bedir than Average, you sound like you could own/manage a nice coffee shop!

[bedir than average]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Bedir, I have to ask, why can't Starbucks teach the baristas how to really make a latte. (Using Vivace as an example) Are we talking too much time?

The real artisans get it. As much as i love what Starbucks has done to make good coffee available to the masses and in places I never used to be able to get anything remotely decent, it makes me bonkers that they refuse to properly steam milk or present as it should be.

Speaking from my own heart and nothing else. I think it just has to do with the growth curve. The expansion that Wall Street now demands takes away from training and demands push button machines. The art has been replaced with science.

A lot of that is why I'm getting an Ascaso Dream in the near future. I need to maintain the art.

Also, the focus on "to go" takes a lot away from the Coffee House experience. Now I promise you that I can make you a latte on our machines that will compete with ones from Vivace, Uptown, D'Arte, and the rest. I also think that about half of my store could do it for you outside of a "rush." That isn't a ringing endorsement, I know, but its better than the norm.

[bedir than average]

Once again, I speak not for the company but from my own experience and opinion.

Part of what we are about is the "Third Place." Starbucks is trying to continue the historical legacy of the CoffeeHouse from Europe and the Middle East to be that place where the community gathers. A real world FanHome if you will.

Home roasting runs counter to that. Now, we do sell home brewing machines, so there is a possibility about someday entering this niche market. I kind of expect it at some point it would be similar to our Black Apron Exclusives. Limited run, small quantities.

As for where to get green beans of high quality? Hard to answer, as most of these are local. Green Mountain I believe does do shipping. You and Varardi both use Sweet Maria's, and I think Dillano's out of Sumner, WA also does. But I would have to check.

side note on Dillano's, I turned down an offer as an apprentice roaster when I went to CoffeeFest 2002 in order to join Starbucks. Call it choosing stability. I eventually have fallen in love with the company though.

Originally Posted by Bucky

Okay Bedir. I began roasting my own coffee beans about 3 years ago. For anyone that hasn't bought unroasted (green) beans, roasted them and then freedom-pressed them - they're missing out on the best heights coffee can get to. With respect, there's no starbucks or seattle's best or whatever that can compare.

But I do have a question about the best place to get unroasted coffee beans. We do have a local coffee hut in the town next to us (named Armenos in Northboro, MA) that sells unroasted coffee beans, but their main schtick is that they roast them in these two huge bean roasters they have in their mill-store. The place smells great.

When I don't get the unroasted beans from Armenos, I order them on-line from Sweet Marias. Great selections.

So two questions - will Starbucks EVER sell unroasted beans, is this a market the company is considering?, and do you have any additional expertise on how best for guys like me to buy even greater quality unroasted beans?

[Top Cat]

Ascaso Dream

For that kind of money, why not a machine that allows you to brew and steam simultaneously? Like the Asaco Steel?

[bedir than average]

Because the steel costs hundreds more AND I don't get a discount. So in practice it costs twice as much for me.

[KRS-One]

Plain old coffee is terrible.

I always enjoy a nice French Vanilla or Ameretto latte.

[MNSOTA]

Being the Minnesota girl that I am, I have to say that I prefer Caribou Coffee over Starbucks anyday. Right now, Caribou is selling this great dark roast called "Obsidian." Mmmmm....if it wasn't so late, I think I would brew some right now.

[RTT]

Originally Posted by KRS-One

Plain old coffee is terrible.

I always enjoy a nice French Vanilla or Ameretto latte.

...What? Plain old coffee is great!

[MuffinMcFluffin]

Never had coffee in my life.

[RTT]

Originally Posted by MuffinMcFluffin

Never had coffee in my life.

Muff... You have got to have coffee. It doesn't matter what kind. It's fantastic stuff.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

I'm afraid to get addicted, actually. It's like all things... I'd just rather not, because I know that I'll just crave it the rest of my life, and feel that I can't live without it. It's the same reason why I've never seen porn.



(if anybody believes that last statement, just... get out of here)