As most of you know, the clock is winding down on our move. And moving has got me thinking and realizing I’ll have to find a new place to get the occasional latte and will probably have to find a new coffee blend as I am not sure where I’ll be able to find my current fav locally at the new place, even though it’s just 30 miles away.
First, let me define what I consider good coffee for you according to me, OS.
Good Coffee- smooth, rich and medium bodied. A truly good coffee comes from a bean you can eat whole that doesn’t taste bitter, burnt or green. Should be pleasant tasting.
In order to have a good coffee, you have to know what you’re looking at and how to properly store it. Good, fresh coffee should look oily. I usually buy whole bean and grind my own. Really, really fresh coffee you grind yourself will likely clump in your grinder as the oils will bind it together some.
See that beautiful oily sheen? That's what you should look for in whole bean coffee.
It’s not often you can find good, fresh coffee from the bulk dispensers at the grocery store. For the most part, these are constantly exposed to light and air, which is detrimental to the oils of coffee, which is where most of the flavor resides.
So, the proper way to store coffee is in a dark or opaque container that has a good seal to it to keep air out and then in a dark, cool place such as a cupboard. You don’t want to keep it in the fridge or freezer as these are damp places and the cold can cause those beautiful oils to congeal and alter the flavor.
Ok, now that we’ve established that, let’s talk about my favorite blends! (All photos linked to each roaster’s website if possible)
My favorite! Smooth, rich, deep, yet medium bodied. I discovered my love of this coffee in Alaska and mourned it’s loss when I moved to the Lower 48, until I discovered that Raven’s Brew had opened a roasting plant in Tumwater, WA just 5 short miles from where I was living! It was heaven. I was in love. Then I fell in love and moved away.
Two years later I found my second favorite coffee:
Now I prefer to drink Sisters Coffee Company’s Sisters Blend if I can’t get my Wicked Wolf. Which, of course is often. This coffee compares to Wicked Wolf, yet seems to be missing something. Is it lacking that bit of home for me?
I currently pick up Sisters Blend at a local grocery store chain here in the Salem area. However, I will not have access to this local chain soon.
In between Wicked Wolf and Sisters Blend I found a passable coffee I was satisfied with. I even blogged about it here. I drink this when I can’t get the Sisters Blend. Well, whenever I get myself to my local Fred Meyers to purchase it.
I prefer the Columbian coffee myself, personally. And this is what I’ll probably be drinking at first when I move as we will have a local Fred Meyers in the new town. Newman’s Own Organics partnered with Green Mountain Roasters to bring this tasty little treat to us. And Green Mountain Roasters has some acceptable coffees too! However, the coffees you get in the bulk dispensers are not always that fresh, so I rarely buy any of the Green Mountain coffees.
Lastly, I drink Millstone when I’m too lazy to go get the good coffee or too tired to head to a different grocery store. Columbian Supremo is what we usually get. Honestly, it’s like feeding your pet Iams or some other decent but not wonderful brand of pet food when you’ve forgotten to stop at the specialty place to get the really great, really healthy stuff. Millstone is ok in a pinch as a method of caffeine consumption, but it lacks when you’re looking for something wonderful to slowly sip and savor.
Now that you’ve had a crash course in my favorite coffees, what are yours?
Thanks for the coffee tips! Am definitely going to try the Sisters stuff when I next get south … we drink a lot of Stumptown coffee, have you tried that? It’s local to Portland.
I’m trying to remember the blend of choice in our household — I think it’s called Hair Bender.
Ooh! I’ve heard of stumptown, but haven’t tried it yet. Still without internet here at the new house guys. I’ll be back as soon as I can!
Next time I head down to Cabelas, I will have to try and find some of that Wolf stuff. One of my favorite local coffees is made by a local Italian family named Dilano’s. I also enjoy Tully’s.
One of the nurses I used to work for recently started marketing her families blend of coffee, and it is called Bueno-I have not tried iot yet though.
I have also heard from people that Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is tasty, and it is now sold in the local super markets. I may have to try that too….
And who can leave out Starbucks?? I do like some of their blends, but most of them taste burnt. It will do in a pinch though.
PS-Hope your moving is going well…
Interesting post. A nearby supply of good coffee is definitely one of the things to think about in planning a move. Here, I’ve begun buying the Intelligentsia Black Cat Espresso they use at my favorite coffee shop (The Wicked Cafe). Are the move preparations going along as well as can be expected?
Follow-up question: the Wicked Wolf coffee website says it can be ordered. What are your thoughts on ordering? Do you think it affects the freshness? I am really curious about trying some highly recommended new blends, as I am borderline obsessed with coffee
so would considering ordering unless it affected quality …
PS, if you ever hit up the Stumptown on 2nd Ave downtown, it is very close to Voodoo Donuts — which, if you haven’t been there and like donuts at all, is definitely worth a trip. Has been featured on the Food Network, etc.
Milestone is my “in a pinch” coffee too. I have some local favs up here that I am rather fond of.
From the sounds of things on Facebook you are still in the moving process. Glad we have that to stay in touch.
Other than the pain of moving – I hope your summer is going well blogger buddy!
bright paper packages tied up with string…
that shiny black look..mmmmmmmmm yummy. i just finished up a bag someone left here, and i noticed immediately the brown, dull beans. hm….
when i am home in seattle, my favorite home made coffee is costco’s mountain blend, french roast.
when i am at home in germany, the coffee is great everywhere, with that orange crema on top of every cup. they enjoy coffee here in tiny porcelan cups, and no one complains about the size but me.
and no such thing as free refills, a trip to a cafe or restaurant involves lots of money for coffee if you want more than the two sips that fit in the tiny cup.
travel mugs….almost unheard of. this is a PNW thing i guess. my american travel mugs will not even fit in the cup holder of our car here. coffee “to go” is a new phenomenon, and only near a starbucks do you see people walking down the street with a disposable coffee cup + lid. cultural differences. the enjoyment of coffee is meant to be in small amounts, and never on the go.
°lytha
Tiny cups because Europeans tend to be healthier than Americans? Tiny cups because they know caffeine isn’t that good for you? It was really nice to hear about how coffee is done in Germany. I find it interesting! Thanks lytha!
HIya agian…so late to this coffee cup…but I had to put in my two beans…
I too am a French Roast Lover…DARK AND GREASY BEANS are for me!
My local grocer..Gwen at the “Green Grocer ” in OC gets fresh roasted coffee from “Cafe MAM” I think it is…I buy 5 lbs at a time..they roast it the day before..goood Organic stuff!
KK