Just returned from a weekkend in San Francisco and stumble across Torrefazione Italia (their website is at www.titalia.com ) The latte was the best I've ever had and I promptly bought a 12 oz bag of their Perugia blend to take home. They sell the vacuum packed bags by mail and I can guarantee you that I'll be ordering some. I acquired a new espresso machine two months ago and a new grinder - both much more high end than my starter outfit. I've been struggling to make the perfect espresso shot and latte - first try with the Perugia and it was fantastic - the best espresso I've yet drawn from this machine. It does call for a coarser grind than the other coffees I've been trying but this is not a problem. It's so smooth that no sugar is needed - not even a little bit. As a reference point, my favorite until now has been Illy (very pricey at $10-11 for an 8 oz can). The Torrefazione beans are about $8 for a 12 oz bag. I haven't tried their other blends but assume they must be good. They also have locations in some other major cities (Boston, Chicago, Seattle etc.)

Owen: Took your advice & ordered from Torrefazione Italia - received it on Thursday - just in time for the long weekend. I LOVE IT!!!! Thanks for the suggestion. I chose the Roma blend - medium roast. Mmmm Mmmm good. Thanks again!

Pat, as I sit here, I am happily sipping a cup of Peet's Viennese Blend. Peet's is a small family-owned firm that originated in the San Francisco Bay Area (I think the first store was in Berkeley). Their commitment to quality coffees and teas is total. Give them a call at 800/999-2132, I believe they do mail-order.

Pat - Glad you like the beans. I'll have to try the Roma blend when I order. I chose the Perugia because the barista in the cafe where I bought it said it was their standard for espresso shots and drinks. I have yet to try it as regular coffee but am sure it's excellent for that as well.

Lizbeth - I brought home a pound of Sierra Dorado blend from Peet's - acquired it on the same trip as when I bought the Torrefazione Italia. The Sierra Dorado is a darker blend - not quite as good (to my taste although it is still very good) for espresso as the Torrefazione but I'm guessing it will make a fantastic cup of drip coffee. Hopefully I'll find out this weekend.

For those traveling to NYC - I just spotted a post in www.chowhound.com that raves about the espresso (and the atmosphere) at Cafe Gitane in lower Manhattan. Have not yet tried it (had never heard of it before today!) but will do so soon and report back.

Owen; was just checking in to see what you are up to in the world of good coffee. I see you've been busy. I checked out the Torrefazione website-and have already placed an order.

I have thought of you a time or two while scrubbing out the coffee maker and adding the sniff test. It has made all the difference in my coffee. I have recently purchased a little Italian stainless steel stove top espresso maker. It's a big improvement over the aluminium one that is so popular, but the new one is pricey. But worth it! Can't wait to try the new coffee. Thanks. rebecca

Hey, Owen, I have another question: I have been using the French plunger pot for making coffee. Any thoughts? Are they good, bad, so-so?
Lizbeth, Peets is on line, so I will give them an order soon. Thanks.

First I'll clarify that I'm an expert on almost nothing but know a little bit about many things... {;-) ... what I know about french press in general is this: many coffee hounds seem to feel that it offers the best brewed coffee possible short of vaccum brewing systems (which are messier, more time consuming and more complicated). The advantage is said to be due to the fact that essential oils in coffee beans (which contain many of the complex flavor components)are leached out by paper filters in drip makers. Some folks use gold filters in their auto drip makers or Melitta's for this reason. Shortcoming is that french press coffee cools off significantly while brewing and there is typically a bit of sldge in bottom of cup. Adjusting the grind can help with sludge problem and Bodum now has an insulated french press pot that helps with the temp issue. There's a review of it at www.coffeegeek.com but I haven't checked it out yet. I keep meaning to get a french press pot but seem to be drinking espresso based drinks exclusively these days - i really do need to have a good cup of regualr old coffee - reading this has got me lusting for one already!

Note to Rebeccaj and any others interested - Torrefazione Italia just sent me an email with a great limited time promo - you can get ten 1/2 lb bags of Perugia blend for $25 (50% off their regular price) and by entering the name of any one of their blends in the comments field at the end of the online order form they will send you one additional 12 oz package of the blend of your choice. There are those who say the qaulity has gone downhill since Seattle's best bought them out but the Perufgia I've been buying has been very good. With UPS charges included I'm paying $31 for 5 3/4 lbs of excellent whole bean espresso. I can't beat this price anywhere online or in a retail store. The promo that gets you the extra package for free ends on Monday.

try lioncoffee.com for some great island coffee as well as exotic belnds.

Í'm living in the Netherlands, the best sold coffee overhere is DE (Douwe Egberts), they sell coffee in the US as well, but I don't know if it is the same taste as we are used here.
Have a look at www.coffeefast.com

Hi Owen;

Just checked in to see what you are up to. Thanks for the tip on Torrefazione Italia. I will check it out.

Lately, I've been enjoying Red Rock Roasters Best Dark. They are out of Albuqerque. A really well done dark roast without any bitterness, produced in very small batches in vacuum sealed bags.

Forever searching for the perfect cuppa.
Best Regards, Rebecca Jane

We started drinking Torrefazione Italia more than 10 years ago. It's good but not a WOW experience. The Perugia coffee is just a nice medium bodied coffee. After moving to the Puget Sound area (from Portland, where there's a Toreffazione Italia cafe on NW 23rd), we started drinking the coffees from Austin Chase and like those better.

If Pat (original poster) is still looking for a cup of coffee after 10 months, s/he must have one hell of a caffeine headache by now.

If you want agreat cup of coffee do a search on Kona coffee right from Hawaii. We order from the Cornwell Estates. It can be pricey but well worth it.