Coffee

[ksmith]

I'm not a connoisseur when it comes to coffee. A good, everyday brew is all I ever really looked for. I have been drinking Eight O'Clock for years. My folks drank it. It's decent, and the stronger roasts aren't scorched to the point of skunkiness.

I cite Balloon Juice more than the other lefty blogs I read because in addition to politics, they also talk about pets and food and coffee, which pretty much define my life, so. A few months ago, John Cole was seaching for a decent everyday coffee, and some of us rec'd Eight O'Clock, and others rec'd Peet's. Still others rec'd Community Coffee, a brand I'd never heard of. So I checked out the site, poked around. Saw that prices were relatively reasonable, and ordered a couple bags of medium-dark roast.

I really liked it. So much so that when I tried to go back to Eight O'Clock...

So. I ordered some more bags of CC last week. Received them yesterday. Their regular medium-dark roast, along with their special Kenya and Kona varieties. Had a cup of Kenya this morning. Wine-y, yes. A bit of an acquired taste, I think, but I do like it.

And I joined their coffee club. I had received the Kona as a freebie for joining. And they gave me a travel mug as an extra thank you gift.

Last weekend, as part of the "Kris gets her life back" celebration, I baked a whole batch o' Jay Lake's web-famous Ginger Chocolate Chip cookies. Just had one with a fresh cup of Kenya. There are worse ways to start the morning.

Comments

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

We go back and forth between Trader Joe's Colombian Supremo and Dunkin' Donuts. Both are solid morning coffees.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I wish there was a Trader Joe's located nearer my house. They carry so much stuff.

[michaeldthomas.livejournal.com]

We have one 40 minutes away in Batavia. We try to make the pilgrimage about once per month.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

The one nearest me is in Northbrook, which isn't all that bad a drive once I get on 41.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. You're doomed. I never liked coffee until my dad corrupted me with fresh-ground dark roast brewed in a good coffeemaker. Now I go for the hard stuff: Old Bisbee Roasters' monthly recs. I'm brewing Mexican Tres Oros now. About to order Costa Rican co-op. Finished off the Ugandan.

That's a terrible fate. But a pleasant one.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Dammit.

I see a 2-lb sample pack in my future.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

They'll lure you in and swallow you whole. Many of the coffees will go for $30/lb from other roasters--like the wild Ethiopian Harrar or the single-estate, he bought up the whole crop Costa Rican that you had to be on his email list to get.

Costa Rican is my favorite of them all so far. I really liked the Ugandian Bugisu, too. I like that he goes for small farms, deals direct with the farms and co-ops, and has lots of organic varieties.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Which coffeemaker do you use. I've been using a Ham-Beach 6-cup Brewmaster for the past few months and having reasonable luck. It's an idiosyncratic little device, but OK so far.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

If you like it, I'd stick with it. I have the old-fashioned 10-cup Cuisinart with gold filter. Broke the carafe on the old one so ordered a new one, then ended up getting a new carafe and filter so I could run two pots for Camp.

Btw with Old Bisbee, check out the hotel blends. The Copper Queen blend is my favorite.

[deakat]

Those cookies sound delicious. Thanks for the pointer! I may bake some up and bring them to WorldCon with me, if the weather here allows for it.

[jaylake.livejournal.com]

If you bring those cookies to WorldCon, I want one!

[deakat]

Then have one you shall, sir. I'm going to try omitting the nuts and perhaps adding raisins, though, because that's just the way I roll.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

As long as you add the ginger and spices. Those are what make this recipe so different.

[deakat]

The fresh ginger root is the special draw of this recipe for me. I'm just anti-nut where baked goods are concerned.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

I think I'll try those cookies this weekend. Sounds marvelous. Thanks!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

You'll like 'em.

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Aahhh, coffee. Now I find myself wanting to head back to the cafe.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I want a fresh cup, but I will hold off until later.