Next up 'The Beans'
Appearence can tell allot about the coffee as far as freshness and bean quality. The freshest beans will have an oily coating from the roasting proccess. This coating will evaporate and dry up over time. Just because you buy from a 'coffee house' doesn't always mean the beans haven't been sitting in storage for a long time. And contrary to popular belief, freezing coffee is a no no! Unless of coarse it's a tin can of Foldgers that sucks anyway then freezing it can't make it any worse. (sorry that's the coffee snob coming out in me)
As a reference, I will use Starbucks beans since they are everywhere and anyone can scarf some up locally. Now I'm talking the whole bean brewed at home. Not what you would get in a cup already brewed from them. Something about thier brewers makes everything 'darker' or 'stronger' then you would find making it at home. (I believe this to be a ploy to get non-coffee drinkers to add more crap to thier drinks to kill the taste! mocha frothy latty blahhhhh)
My favorite is the 'Itailian Roast' and 'Gold Coast' a close second. These are labled as 'extra bold'. Other beans in this classification aren't to my liking though. Like the 'French Roast' just doesn't do it for me and I'm sure Fowler can elaborate on all things French sucking. hehe. Also good is the 'Columbian' blend. It is labled mild but to me has the right flavor just not as consentrated like the above blends. A good after diner, lounging around blend.
PICS FORTH COMING (if neccessary)
My personal favorite is from a coffee house here in PA, St. Thomas Roasters. The 'Linglestown Blend' is the absolute best! Named after the town where the coffe house is located. It is a secret 'blend' that the store owner is not willing to divulge its contents. He acts almost insulted when I've asked. To me, it is the ultimate in a full bodied coffee without going into the bitterness realm or the sweet, floral side. Just good robust flavor.
I also get his 'Sumatra' beans for an occasional change. Stonger and higher octane.
Next up is a contribution from Oregon curtousy of BFowler. Stumptown Coffee Roasters. First I have to say I love the info cards included with the bags. Giving full description of the beans' origins including altitude of the growing fields! As well as a good description of the flavor you can expect. I saw on thier web site they have tours to the different countries thier beans are grown. And a 'cupping room'! Awesume!
'Holler Mountain Blend'. An organic. What I would consider a Medium body with good flavor. The desciption card is pretty spot-on. I personally liked it better when adding more than the typical amount of beans just to give it a little more umph. Very Good!
'Rwanda Musasa'. An African organic bean that reminds me alot of the 'Ethiopian' blend from Starbucks. A bit sweet for my liking but still a good medium body coffee. I would suspect that the Holler Mountain Blend uses some of these beans in that blend. Had some similarities.
Next my most anticipated offering curtousy of andy600rr. Aussy beans! Never had coffee from Australia so I was excited to hear someone was willing to send me some. Coffee Basics is the company name. Grown and roasted in Castlemaine, Central Victoria, Australia. I was surprised. The beans looked small but packed good flavor. Very nice.
Dark Roast Blend. It wasn't apparent wether these were grown in Aus. Just labled "roasted in Castlemaine". These reminded me of a typical dark roast maybe not as dark but an ok flavor. I will elaborate once I've downed a few more cups.
Here's a side by side comparison. The freshness is evident from left to right, the Linglestown Blend was roasted just 3 days before this pic. The Stumptown came across the US so they are naturally gonna be alittle less fresh and then the Aussy beans came from futher yet.
I would like to thank Brian for turning me on to Stumptown and tell Erin that I'll be sending some of my fav's your way! And thanks to Andy from Australia for hooking me up with my first ever Aussy beans! You have some of my fav's coming too. Anyone else? hehe
phew! you asked for a review......
If you don't have a thermal carafe then a good pump style thermos works great too. It can keep your coffee tasting fresh all day.
