What kind of Coffee do you drink?

[frege64]

Winsor- Artigiano uses 49th Parallel, albeit a proprietary house espresso (for espresso, of course). If you're referring to the blue-bag 49th Parallel Epic Espresso, you can get it at Kawa Espresso Bar, Java Jamboree, and Bumpy's. JJ Bean is available at Bumpy's and Ladybug Cafe. Calgary has two Caffe Artigiano locations, Shell Centre and Centrium, both downtown three blocks apart.

Quality beans (all cheaper than Starbucks and MUCH better) available in Calgary:

49th Parallel and JJ Bean as noted above
Intelligentsia at DeVille Luxury Coffee (three locations)
Terroir at Caffe Rosso (two locations)
Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters at Phil and Sebastian cafes (two locations, third in Chinook Centre expansion opening this summer)
Fratello "Competition Blend" at Insomnia, Caffe Crema, Bean Scene (Lakeview)
Fratello's Good Earth beans are now roast-dated and available at Good Earth Cafes (13 locations).

Grind your beans not fewer than 3 days post-roast (if the roast date isn't on the bag, don't buy the coffee. This means NO Starbucks, NO Kicking Horse, NO Italian beans that have been on the shelf for God knows how many months, etc) and not more than a month post-roast, provided they've been in an airtight container.

Much of the rest is crap. The beans they use at Higher Ground are especially vile.

[henriksedin33]

starbucks pike place roast usually....just the standard

[keratosis]

Hot, strong and black.
Before noon.

[enthused]

Originally Posted by frege64

Winsor- Artigiano uses 49th Parallel, albeit a proprietary house espresso (for espresso, of course). If you're referring to the blue-bag 49th Parallel Epic Espresso, you can get it at Kawa Espresso Bar, Java Jamboree, and Bumpy's. JJ Bean is available at Bumpy's and Ladybug Cafe. Calgary has two Caffe Artigiano locations, Shell Centre and Centrium, both downtown three blocks apart.

Quality beans (all cheaper than Starbucks and MUCH better) available in Calgary:

49th Parallel and JJ Bean as noted above
Intelligentsia at DeVille Luxury Coffee (three locations)
Terroir at Caffe Rosso (two locations)
Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters at Phil and Sebastian cafes (two locations, third in Chinook Centre expansion opening this summer)
Fratello "Competition Blend" at Insomnia, Caffe Crema, Bean Scene (Lakeview)
Fratello's Good Earth beans are now roast-dated and available at Good Earth Cafes (13 locations).

Grind your beans not fewer than 3 days post-roast (if the roast date isn't on the bag, don't buy the coffee. This means NO Starbucks, NO Kicking Horse, NO Italian beans that have been on the shelf for God knows how many months, etc) and not more than a month post-roast, provided they've been in an airtight container.

Much of the rest is crap. The beans they use at Higher Ground are especially vile.

Holy, I seem to be falling way behind on all of the new coffee shops opening up! I didn't realize Deville was up to 3 locations now, I thought they were still at two. And I didn't know that Phil's was opening a third location too. That's exciting.

Went to the new Caffe Rosso on Stephen Ave today, wasn't too bad at all. Is Bean Scene any good?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by frege64

Winsor- Artigiano uses 49th Parallel, albeit a proprietary house espresso (for espresso, of course). If you're referring to the blue-bag 49th Parallel Epic Espresso, you can get it at Kawa Espresso Bar, Java Jamboree, and Bumpy's.

Didn't know that, thanks. There's an actual 49th Parallel coffee shop on my street, and I always assumed it was separate from Artigiano. Their Americano in the morning makes my entire day great. It's amazing!

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I usually go to the coffeehouse across the street from work and get an XL latte. They've got a great espresso machine but their beans could be better. And at home I've been making myself lattes from some beans I got from Counter Culture Coffee out of the US.

[frege64]

Originally Posted by fotze

Great post, going to have to print it out.

I don't know why but I misunderstand the 3 days wording. Grind up to three days after roast, or wait three days after roast?

WAIT at least three days. Beans need to de-gas.

[frege64]

Originally Posted by enthused

Holy, I seem to be falling way behind on all of the new coffee shops opening up! I didn't realize Deville was up to 3 locations now, I thought they were still at two. And I didn't know that Phil's was opening a third location too. That's exciting.

Went to the new Caffe Rosso on Stephen Ave today, wasn't too bad at all. Is Bean Scene any good?

Yep, exciting times, and Calgary has the greatest choice BY FAR of first-rate roasters in Canada.

Bean Scene is changing its name to Caffe Perfetto and they've upgraded everything in the store (eg new La Marzocco espresso machine); I haven't been there recently but they're certainly trying.

There's another new cafe opening in the next few months that looks promising- it's where King Tut Donair used to be at 12/12 sw. Another is opening two locations and I don't know much more about them but it's called Chiasso, www.chiasso.ca.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by frege64

Yep, exciting times, and Calgary has the greatest choice BY FAR of first-rate roasters in Canada.

Bean Scene is changing its name to Caffe Perfetto and they've upgraded everything in the store (eg new La Marzocco espresso machine); I haven't been there recently but they're certainly trying.

There's another new cafe opening in the next few months that looks promising- it's where King Tut Donair used to be at 12/12 sw. Another is opening two locations and I don't know much more about them but it's called Chiasso, www.chiasso.ca.

Hey frege64, throw me a bone here and tell me the best way for a normal guy like me to make a good cup of coffee on a Saturday morning. I normally just toss the Kirkland signature stuff into the coffeemaker, but I also love a good cup of coffee and after spending a couple weeks in San Francisco last year, I realize that I am mainly drinking swill.

So, how can I up my coffee quality? Oh yeah, I just bought a little coffee grinder. So maybe that's step 1.

[Raoul Duke]

Starbucks is the only way to go. Venti Pike every day.

[Hoj]

Originally Posted by peter12

Hey frege64, throw me a bone here and tell me the best way for a normal guy like me to make a good cup of coffee on a Saturday morning. I normally just toss the Kirkland signature stuff into the coffeemaker, but I also love a good cup of coffee and after spending a couple weeks in San Francisco last year, I realize that I am mainly drinking swill.

So, how can I up my coffee quality? Oh yeah, I just bought a little coffee grinder. So maybe that's step 1.

I'm not frege64 but I'll try to give you a few tips.

Generally, one of the most home-friendly methods that is easy to do and relatively cheap is the french press method. However, this method can go extremely wrong - it's not foolproof. Here's a few things to consider when doing a FP.

BEANS! Bad coffee is bad coffee. Additionally, good coffee can be badly roasted. Getting the freshest coffee you can buy, only grinding what you need right before brewing, and keeping beans in an airtight container in a dry place is the best method. Great coffee comes from great beans so this is key.

Grinder. I saw you bought a grinder, which is great. Hopefully this was a burr grinder. A burr grinder provides a much more even grind (the particle distribution is smaller), and you can adjust the grind setting to tweak your brewing. Also what comes with getting your own grinder is that you can grind beans fresh. No matter what kind of beans, pre grinding coffee (or using ground coffee) is pretty disastrous for taste. Blade grinders produce such a variation in grind size, from big chunks to small powder, that you end up over and under extracting coffee at the same time.

Grind size. Because FP involves steeping ground coffee particles in hot water, coffee is being extracted over a larger time. Therefore, your grind must be quite coarse as to not over extract the coffee.

Dose - I use approximately 24 grams of whole bean coffee per ~16oz? Something like that, but obviously each peron's taste and setup is relative.

Water temperature. Because making coffee is a chemical reaction, the temperature in which you perform this reaction is integral. Try brewing coffee with lukewarm water and you'll see the difference. In espresso brewing, a change of 0.1 degrees could have a large impact in cup quality. For FP, I'd recommend bringing water up to a full boil and then waiting ~15 seconds before pouring into your preheated french press. You don't want too hot and you don't want too cold.

I like to brew for around 4 minutes. After you've poured your coffee, let it cool for about 5 minutes and the flavors will really come through. Obviously all these points are to taste, so if you feel like the temp could go up, or the dose go down then do so. You should get a cup with really big body, beautiful flavor and no bitterness. ENJOY.

[Ducay]

Due to proximity I usually go with Artigiano on weekdays or Bumpy's on the weekend (go with 49th or JJ beans).

At home (when I have time), I use 49th Epic Espresso for lattes, or any variaty of blends when Im french pressing.

I've yet to find my favorite french press coffee, Im buying something different each time.


And I usually drink Tims regular to start most of my days since its a social thing, and Tims is my vice.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

I tried 49th Epic Espresso and didn't like it very much. Maybe I just got a bad batch but I didn't even go through it all.

[C-Four]

Here's a real handy website that gets all technical with coffee:

http://www.thecoffeefaq.com/

At home, it's the french press with whatever beans are available...right now it's Kicking Horse....outside I really like the McDonalds Blend with the muffin

[DrPepper]

I actually don't have a favorite on coffee drinks. I drink w/e as long as it taste good and wakes me up.

[The Goon]

I rarely have coffee, so it's whatever is in my freezer...ah, Maxwell House.

[mrdeeds]

Timmy's Cafe Mocha, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte or even McD's on the go. At work, it's Van Houtte Hazelnut blend, strong with some hot chocolate mixed. At home, Timmy's in the coffee maker or Nabobs instant, either with southern butter pecan creamer.

[troutman]

Coffee is poison - makes you hyper, stains your teeth, and gives you bad breath!

But I like Haagen Dazs Coffee Ice Cream.

[jjbouma]

Intelligentsia - Black Cat Classic Espresso

[J pold]

Wow reading this thread has really educated me about coffee, which is fantastic, because I love it. Right now I just drink Nabob Gourmet medium roast , I would buy better coffee and use a grinder but for a student like me it's just a luxury I can't afford. Once I have more disposable income I might have to reread this thread.

I find Bumpy's to be the best coffee/espresso in Calgary.