Need Good Coffee!!!!!!
 

I haven't had a decent cup of coffee in years. I can't stand Starbucks, Caribou, Duncan Donuts or Brothers's coffee. Are there ANY good chains in the USA? And can I buy the grounds in the store? (I live in Chicago.) There used to be a store in Evanston, IL that sold raw coffee beans - you'd pick the country of origin & the owner would roast them on the spot according to your specifications to take home. The smell from that store on a crisp fall day was amazing. Unfortunately, that store is long gone, along with the last good cup of java I've had.

Pat: Sorry, I have to take advantage of your post. <BR> <BR>Does anyone out there know of any stores left that sell Maxwell House french vanilla coffee for all coffee makers? <BR> I may not have the correct vanilla name, but it is vanilla of some sort. <BR>This type of coffee also came in some sort of chocolate flavor (with green on the can) and one other type <BR>(don't remember these as I didn't drink them). <BR>If anyone knows where I can still buy it, please let me know. <BR>Send me an email or post it here. <BR>I will be so thankful.

Pat, <BR> <BR>My DH and I always get a bad reaction when we claim to despise Starbucks. Can't imagine what's the fuss. We grind our at the grocery store. It's Pecan sold by Nestle? Has a great nutty flavor to it. Hate perked coffe or made from canned grounds. Guess we all have our coffee limitations. Good luck finding something you enjoy! It's nice to know we're not alone in hating Starbucks though!

Suzie: <BR>I know what you mean - if I mention to anyone that I dislike Starbucks they think I'm crazy. (It tastes burned to me.) Can I ask where you live that you're able to buy Pecan? I've never seen it in the grocery store.

Does your grocery store sell "Harmony Bay" brand? I've just discovered it & it's a little more $ than others but very good! Their site if you're interested is harmonybaycoffee.com. I'm in Houston but it comes from Mass. so I'm sure you can find it in Chicago. Good luck in your search!

My favorite coffee place is Torreo in Philadelphia. It's a tiny little place in Center City, but they take their beans seriously. They all have great flavor without resorting to the deep dark savage roast used by Starbucks. Here's a link: <BR> <BR>http://www.torreo.com/ <BR> <BR>Their site is under construction, but the phone number is there. I'm pretty sure they take mail orders. When I worked in the city I would pick up a fresh bag of beans from Torreo every Friday . . . ahhh, savoring awesome coffee on a weekend morning. Nice.

Pat, it does taste burned or something. My DH describes it a bit differently though, when it's brewing he claims it smells like dog droppings. Quite appitizing wouldn't you say? <BR> <BR>Live in Northern CA east of Sacto. Large chain of Raleys and Bel Air carries it.

La Colombe is a small Philadelphia based chain that serves some of the best coffee we've ever had. You can get more info from their web site (www.bovanova.com) including how to order it online. <BR>Illy is one of the top European brands and I do see it in stores from time to time (here in Brussels, we always look for cafes serving Illy coffee). But it's not very well known and I'm afraid it might be stale. You could try it though if you happen to see it somewhere. <BR>BTilke (Brussels)

I can suggest several, at least two of which sell mail order (and most likely all three). Mr. Espresso in Okland CA has an excellent whole bean which is oak roasted. Smooth but with a rich nutty flavor. Peet's of san Francisco is also very good (they have at least a few locations on the east coast - I was at one in Boston today). For espresso roast the best I've ever had comes from Cafe Vivace in Seattle and Freedom of Espresso in Syracuse NY (who may buy from Vivace if I recall correctly). I'm with you on Starbucks - the espresso drinks are tolerable but the coffee is atrocious by my standards - the roast is too dark and thet use too much coffee for the amount of water. If you're looking for a bargain coffee of good quality, try BJ Wholesale Club if there's one in your area - they sell "San Francisco Bay Roasters" brand French Roast at about $10 for a 2 lb bag - it's the best I've found in or near that price range. Friends swear by A&P's Eight O'Clock French Roast but I'm not a big fan (although it is far better than the other major brands).

I visited New Orleans several years ago and fell in love with coffee and chicory. You can order this "New Orleans blend" at communitycoffee.com. Enjoy.

Pat, I feel your pain. <BR>I like New World Coffee. It's not a big big chain so I don't know if there are any stores in Chicago. If so, you can buy the grounds in the store. New World has excellent coffee! <BR>Agree with all others about Starbucks...tastes bitter and burnt to me. <BR>My friend loves Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, although I've never been impressed with their coffee. You can order from them online at (greenmountaincoffee.com).

My husband and I love Kona coffee--from the big island. we order from www.bwanabobskonacoffee.com--the coffee is estate grown and roasted to order. delish ps--they also have a couple of cottages for rent to vacationers--very nice.

Thanks to all who responded - I'm logging onto the sites you've given me & anxiously await a decent morning cup. And to Cuppa Joe; you hit the nail on the head about savoring good coffee on a weekend morning. (Especially when it's cold outside.)

With all due respect to Kona coffee, 114 more days until I'm drinking this fine brew: <BR>http://www.kauaicoffee.com/kauai.html <BR> <BR>Kal <BR>ps to Suzie...Where "east of Sac"? I-80 or Hwy 50 corridor? Mrs Kal and I seem to LIVE at Bel Air!

Kal, <BR> <BR>Kauai Coffed is fabulous. No need to wait the 114 days, they ship to the mainland. <BR> <BR>

Dick, Sorry. It's just not the same. <BR>On Kauai, sitting out on the balcony watching a sunrise sipping a nice cup and eating a big ol' muffin from the Muffin Man. <BR> <BR>I'm typing this as I'm looking at a pic I took of that sunrise coming up thru our hotel room window that I have taped on my computer monitor. Only thing that makes me turn the darn thing on! <BR> <BR>Baby needs new shoes and the Kal's gotta go to Kauai! <BR> <BR>Ahhhh....a hot cuppa coffee while sitting on the porch eating b'fast at Eggbert's looking out over The Sleeping Giant Mountain and King Kong. <BR>Mucho mahalos, <BR>Kal

Kal, <BR> <BR>You are right about the ambience of Kauai...makes any coffee taste better. <BR> <BR>I hope that Kilauea Bakery and Pau Hana Pizza( the same place ...is bakery in am and pizza at night)is still around to provide you with fabulous muffins and pastries, We took some back on a flight home and had other passengers drooling. <BR> <BR>Ps I have a 16x20 pic of the Napali coast framed in my office..helps me to maintain my sanity.

Dick, <BR>I know what ya mean. Kinda like buying Cafe du Monde coffee and beignet mix and then trying it at home! (Right Trish?) <BR>Always wanted to hit K'Bakery but never seem to do it. <BR> <BR>Owen, I forgot about Peet's. Good strong brew, too. <BR> <BR>"I wahi kope nau" (will you have some coffee?) <BR>Kal

Try www.portorico.com. It is the website for my favorite coffee store here in New York. Great selection of coffee by roast and country of origin.

I agree with Tommy...it's the same suggestion I was going to give you!

Wow! I am not a coffee drinker(please forgive me!) but your descriptions of Kuai make me so anxious to go! We are going in Feb and it seems like a lifetime to me! The picture on monitor is a good idea. I allready have one as screen saver both at home and at work!

Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica wins hands down! you can purchase the beans at specialty stores or online. The don't have a chain though where you can buy just a up of coffee. I think these are overrated anyway!

I love Baby's (www.babys.com) in the Keys and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (www.gmcr.com)which can be found in the Northeast. You can purchase whole or ground beans from their websites. Green Mountain coffee beans can be found in some Northeast grocery stores (Hannaford, Walmart Super Center)and their coffee is also sold freshly brewed in lots of different places throughout the Northeast. Also try Zabar's in NYC - that's where we buy our favorite blend - Zabar's Special Blend. They have a website as well where you can purchase beans. Hope this helps....

Kal, <BR> <BR>Like you, I 80, but not the same "R" town as you - the other one. All the checkers and courtesy clerks know me by name!!!

I live in Seattle and I am sick of Starbucks. Plus they charge too much. <BR> <BR>I switched to Millstone. Many varieties. Very reasonable for a gourmet coffee. Can find at many grocers. Don't have their website, but I'm sure you can find it doing a search. <BR> <BR>Also, when I lived in Wisconsin there was a coffee outlet called Gloria Jeans. Used to have a store at the Gurnee Mills outlet. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps.

Ahhhh..The "other" R town. My home town and my alma mater, the grammar school on Meyers. <BR> <BR>Speaking of good coffee shops, the one one Granite Drive used to be good but you never know who owns it and if it will be open. Beans were pretty cheap, too. <BR> <BR>We usually hang out at River Rock in R'ville for Sat morn' coffee. It's owned by the guy who was one of the original owners of Java City. <BR>Had some Tanzanian Peaberry the other day. Nice. <BR> <BR>Drop by with "DH" one morning. I'm the one with a Hawaiian shirt and a hang- over. <BR> <BR>Regarding ambience, the only way to drink a cup of coffee, in addition to the ways I've already suggested are in Cafe du Monde in NOLA or at a sidewalk cafe either in Rome, Paris or Venice when there's a slight chill in the air. <BR>Kal

So Kal, guess we don't live in different towns after all. Hanging in the neighborhood I see. Preferred for years La Bou on Douglas (old one). Had kids, now we never get out for coffee. Will be spending saturday morns on the soccer field. (not hung over, unfortunately). BTW how do you get a parking spot at River Rock? What's with the parking in R?

I did see that intriguing program on Blue Jamaican on the travel channel....Their entire production looked like a labor of love, and the altitude and moisture seemed ideal. <BR> <BR>I lived in Kona, and there are some wonderful coffees there. I also highly recommend MOLOKAI Muleskinner brand. Now I may just have to taste-test Blue Jamaican vs. all the Hawaii options. This will take time.

I also think Starbucks is very overrated, AND, I really am not impressed with Kona Coffee either (there's really NOTHING to it)!!!

<BR>For a really great cup of Joe,you must try Second Cup.http://www.secondcup.com <BR>It will mean a trip to Canada, but well worth the effort.

Regarding Dirk's comment on Kona coffee - I'm not sure whether he's had true unadulterated Kona or possibly been served what I've ended up wiht here in the States - Kona "blend". Anywhere I've ever seen Kona being served (or sold) it has turned out to be a blend. If the true and purely Kona coffee is anything like Jamaican Blue Mountain it may be so smooth that it's deceptive. I have tried real Blue Mountain and was amazed by how subtle it was. Some of my other favorites such as Guatemala Antigua are more robust and make a bigger statement but Blue Mountain is smoother than any others I've tried.

Kalena, <BR>I forgot all about Molokai Muleskinner. <BR>Another good brew. I think they sold it at the coffee shop in the Coconut Mtkplace so it was worth the morning trip over and back to the hotel with 2 hot cups and a munch or 2. <BR> <BR>Cafe Expresso? I think they own this one and the one up in Princeville, Hale o' Java. <BR>I loved the t-shirts they sold there. "Death Before De-caf!" <BR> <BR>Suzie, <BR>La Bou on Doug Bvd used to be our Thursday morning, pre-work hangout but it has been switched to RRock due to "dietary accomodations" ie a croissant vs 2 "egg beaters" for b'fast. <BR> <BR>That parking lot is terrible during lunch and dinner times! Especially when the theaters are open. <BR>Still a nice "little" town, eh? Maybe we shop at the same Bel Air then? <BR>Small world but I wouldn't want to paint it. <BR>(DH?=Dear Hubby, Dead Head, Darn Hot....?) <BR> <BR>Another good site for Pat: <BR>http://www.smellthecoffee.com/ <BR> <BR>Ooops...Coffee time! <BR>Mahalo ya'll. <BR> <BR>

Kal, <BR> <BR>I can't see the screen from the smoke! <BR> <BR>Bel Air, ahhh my fav. DH (dear hubby, though it does feels chokingly darn hot today) is there right now! Not many Bel Airs on the east side. Probably shop at the same. Gettin pretty small in here. <BR> <BR>Pat, <BR>Java City coffees are pretty good. Certainly superior to Starbucks. Don't know if you can get them outside of N CA though. Thought I read in the papers that they got bought out by a big fish so maybe they are available elsewhere. I have found that some non chain establishments serve up a pretty good cuppa joe. <BR> <BR>Good luck in your search. <BR> <BR>

I agree.I can't find a good cup of coffee in this country so I order mine online.Lavazza.Italian expresso - I drink Rossa - it is already ground,vacuum packed and I buy it by the case and take it everywhere with me.I can use it anywhere,drip,cafeterie whatever.I am totally addicted.They also do beans and several different grades.It is wonderful. They also do good de-caf(not my thing) but good for dinner parties.Good luck.

Owen O'Neil: All I can tell you is that I've had freshly brewed Kona coffee at many 5-star resorts in ALL the Hawaiian islands and I have NOT been impressed with any of it! Oh, it's "smooth" alright -- so smooth as to be somewhat "watery" in taste!!

Dirk, <BR> <BR>Unless things have changed...I don't believe that there is any legal requirement for a minimum amount of kona beans for a coffee to be labelled Kona. It could be 100% Kona or 5% kona and still be called Kona.( at least that's the way it used to be). <BR> <BR>You can be sure that if anyone is selling "kona" for $10. a pound it doesn have many kona beens in it. <BR> <BR>Only way to get real kona is to bu coffeee labelled 100% coffe....but it's not cheap

Dirk, I'm with you on the Kona Coffee. <BR>I find it to be thin and "blah". And Dick...I did indeed have a bag of Kona labeled 100% Kona.

The best coffee that I have had in the past 10 years was at the Ruta Maya Coffee House in Austin, TX. They have beans for sale at their website: www.rutamaya.net. Enjoy!

Im surprised no one has mentioned Gevalia.....we love it, the best coffee Ive ever tasted. Go to www.gevalia.com.....give it a try

In the many months since I originally posted replies on this thread I have been bitten byt the espresso "bug" and am now on my second espresso machine and grinder. The process of educating myself on related matters has been very enlightening, particularly on the issues related to how beans are roasted, stored, ground, graded etc. Check out www.coffeegeek.com for lots of cool info, consumer written product reviews and links to vendors. I now realize that those who are unimpressed by Kona most likely prefer a more robust coffee or even likelier, have not had a cup reallly prepared in the proper manner. I'm now creating far better cappucino and espresso at home than I'm able to buy in a cafe but there has been a learning curve (and capital investment). If you have a "cappucino a day" habit like mine it adds up to $1,000 per year at prevailing cafe prices! I have had great success in buying whole beans from a local roaster who roasts small batches on a daily basis. It's worth checking on your area to see if anyone offers this service. I now cringe when I walk into a store and see large, open bins of pre-roasted coffee, getting more stale by the hour as it's exposed to the air. There are many mail order operations selling excellent coffee beans in vacuum sealed valve type pouches - worth checking out. I have also now tried Illy coffee and agree with those ho rave about it. It's fantastic but you'll pay for the quality - it currently sells for about $10 for 8 oz can.