Appreciators of good coffee...need Brand suggestions.

[LazySusanNot]

Last edited Fri Jan 29, 2021, 10:12 PM - Edit history (5)

Tired of the old Mr. Coffee drip maker - we finally bought an electric 12-cup Hamilton Beach percolator (with glass viewing lid to watch it perk). We've tried a few of the Medium Roast beans on sale at our local Fry’s grocery store using their grinder on the course setting. We also use paper disc filters to help cut down on the grinds. Simple Truth Organic, 8-o-clock, Donut Shop and a couple of the Starbucks varieties were all good. When I went back for more - not on sale. Our coffee palates are not sophisticated but we both like a good cup of strong flavorful coffee.

Looking for any suggestions on other pocketbook friendly medium roast beans you’ve tried and liked from whatever source. We typically look for the under $5 for 12 oz. bag sales. Considering buying a grinder to take advantage of Amazon sales on whole beans.

Thanks in advance.

>>>- - - - - - - - - - - - Life’s too short to drink bad coffee! - - - - - - ->
[link:|

[LakeArenal]

1. One called 1848

[LazySusanNot]

5. I've added it to the list

Thank you very much. Coffee from Wisconsin no less!

[Luciferous]

46. I'll second that one. I don't drink coffee but that's one of my daughter's favorites.

[luvs2sing]

2. When I could still drink coffee..

my favorite was Silver Bridge. It’s a regional brand out of Portsmouth, Ohio, but you can order online. Not having Silver Bridge is the only thing I hate about the caffeine-free life.

[LazySusanNot]

6. We will check it out

I'm a recently renewed Amazon Prime Member and currently dangerous with a Credit Card.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[dhol82]

3. I buy my coffee at a place in NY that ships.

My preferred one is Viennese-Sumatra. I get the decaf since I am really sensitive to caffeine.
I have it ground at the store for my preferred brewing method. (Melita)

https://www.portorico.com/store/

[Laelth]

10. Nifty link.

I see that, for Portorico, the Vienna roast is light-medium (yummy with enough cream to buffer the acid). Their French roast is medium-dark (perfect if you drink it black).

They want $13/lb. for their Sumatran. That’s OK, but I generally wait ‘til it drops to $10/lb. and stock up.



-Laelth

[dhol82]

22. I pay $11 at the store.

[LazySusanNot]

11. Thank you Thank you

Link shows they've been in the biz since 1907 and well reviewed. They apparently know what they're doing.
I will hunt for "caf" version of this one and give it a try.

[Laelth]

14. I looked it up too.

Here: https://portorico.com/store/viennaasia.html



-Laelth

[LazySusanNot]

19. Sounds intriguing

From the link:

"The Vienna roast brings out the best of this Indonesian Coffee - It's smooth but heavy in flavor, chocolaty with the hallmark spiciness of a fine Sumatra."

How could I NOT try this! Should be yummy.

Thank you......

[Laelth]

17. I find this funny.

They don’t even offer their Sumatran in dark roast.

“Who the hell wants to burn up top-quality beans like that, anyway?”



-Laelth

[Laelth]

4. I like the beans from Papua New Guinea and Sumatra.

I am not partial to any particular brand. I doubt that my preferred beans fall within your price range, however. I will buy them when they drop to $9.99/lb.

I still use an old drip machine. My cheap grinder works great too. With coffee, it’s all about the beans and the roast.

-Laelth

[LazySusanNot]

21. We will splurge on occasion

I've had Sumatra pre-ground coffee before and really enjoyed it. Don't remember what we paid. From the glowing reviews online (and the more trusted ones here at DU), sounds like this one could be worth the extra.

Thank you very much.

[Callalily]

61. I too enjoy coffee from Papua new Guinea

I buy it from a local (independent) coffee shop that roasts the beans. The coffee beans are fair trade, which is another reason I buy them.

[Laelth]

71. Nice. I am not so lucky.

I would need to drive about 60 miles to find a shop that carries Papua New Guinea beans and roasts them on site.

-Laelth

[Squinch]

7. Lavazza is my favorite. Their regular espresso grind is fabulous, and they make a nice decaf too.

Also their Gran Aroma.

The price is higher than your range, but I have seen it in that range when it goes on sale a few times a year.

[LazySusanNot]

25. I will watch for it on sale

Have not tried any espresso grind in the percolator yet due to the recommendation for the course grind. I did have 2 large cans of Folgers High Yield in a fine grind that I wanted to use up (not great coffee but already paid for). I bought some of the Melitta "Wrap Coffee Filters' to catch the grinds and utilize this coffee. Worked fine with little grinds but the multiple layers of filter made for a weak first perk. 3rd perk was finally dark enough to drink.

We are learning that the rules don't necessarily apply to grind size and method of brewing for our needs. At least not to the point where we have to waste $15 worth of Folgers by not drinking it.

Thanks for checking in. I appreciate it.

[Squinch]

30. A consideration: A few years ago, I had a problem with my cholesterol.

I started researching how to reduce it and came across a weird fact. There is an oil in coffee which is one of the most potent sources of dietary cholesterol. If you make coffee without a filter, you ingest this substance, but if you use a regular filter, it filters almost all of it out.

So coffee made without filters, i.e. in a French Press or percolator or a Norwegian boiled coffee, can increase your cholesterol.

I was using a French press. When I switched to a filter coffee pot, my cholesterol went way down.

[LazySusanNot]

34. Wow. Did not know that.

We are using a Melitta standard 3.5" paper disc filter in the bottom of the percolator basket. Seems to work pretty well as evidenced buy the last pour into the cup. Cholesterol lowering is important in our household since my hubby is on 2 different Statins to control his. He recently suggested that Blue Bell Ice Cream should go back on the shopping list since his last Lipid profile came back so low. He occasionally has a good idea but this is not one of them.

[Squinch]

35. Right? I didn't either and it was a shock when I learned it. Even more of a shock when

my cholesterol went way down after I started using a filter.

Your paper disc filter should be fine. Any kind of commercial filter like that catches the vast majority of the oil. I grew up on the old electric percolators that didn't have any paper filter.

[intrepidity]

54. That's interesting, I'd never heard that

My go-to is French press, but lately have been using a Moka pot.

I will try pouring the brewed coffee through a paper filter on the way to my cup.

Can't hurt! Thanks for the tip.

[Demsrule86]

45. I use that coffee in my Jura espresso maker...some people like wine... I love love coffee. I got

a killer deal a few years ago for a small office all in one Jura...95 model I think. It had been used for one week in a small office before being returned( to complicated they said) and was sold for 800 bucks... I had some credits for machines which had broken too. We had the equivalent of a small office when all the kids were home. this was a $3000 machine. I remember a panicked email from hubs...'please tell me you didn't spend $800.00 on a coffee machine?' But we love it! And we make better coffee than Starbucks and most coffee shops so we probably saved a bunch of money.

[marble falls]

8. The ones my dear son sends to me with a bag of pot in each one, about four times a year ...

... he's a very good boy. His shop has some great coffee. Fair trade and organic.

[LazySusanNot]

26. I love it

Great that you have raised a son who understands the concept of multi-tasking.

Strong coffee and kind bud. Breakfast of Champions.

[bamagal62]

9. I've started using the pour through method.

I have a chemex. The coffee is so much better.
My new favorite coffee is caribou. Starbucks and Peet’s always upset my stomach.

[LazySusanNot]

28. Same here on the Peet's especially.

I did not list the Pete's on my "likes" list for this very reason. Made a few pots around the time of the coup. Could not determine if my tummy ache was stress or coffee related. Chalked it up to "both" but never bought that brand again.

I may look into the Chemex in the future.

Thank you for the suggestions.

[yellowdogintexas]

75. Peet's has one type that interests me: Major Dickason's Blend

My uncle was a Major in the Army during WW II and his name was Henry Dickason.
However it is a very dark roast, which I can't drink (need low acid coffee)

[HarvestMoon]

76. I looked into this blend after your post. Very interesting

At the Peet's website:

MAJOR DICKASON'S BLEND
"A loyal customer of our original Berkeley store, retired army sergeant Key Dickason brought the idea for our most beloved blend to Mr. Peet in 1969. Intrigued, our founder worked with the local gourmand and coffee aficionado to refine it. They sampled countless combinations before arriving at what is now our all-time bestseller. The result was so good, Alfred Peet decided naming it after his friend wasn't enough—Dickason's rich, complex blend also deserved a promotion from sergeant to major".

"Major Dickason's combines the best origin coffees from the world's premier growing regions, each imparting its distinctive regional characteristics while still effortlessly rounding into a smooth, balanced cup. Over the years, it has become the coffee that epitomizes Peet's: flavorful, deeply roasted, and unsurpassingly satisfying. But for us, "Major D" is just like a relationship with an old friend. We'll always remember it as the story of a customer's passion, an expert's palate, and a shared love of coffee".

https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons-blend

According to Peet's this is their #1 seller. We have had a couple of Peet's varieties that were OK but this sounds promising.
Thanks for the lead. We'll give it a try!

[Adelante]

12. Britt cafe espresso

Costa Rica and Mexico. Available on Amazon. I've been drinking Britt for years. Try it, you'll like it.

[LazySusanNot]

31. I love Costa Rican coffee. Actually, I love Costa Rica.

Looks promising and certainly worth a test. Many sterling Amazon reviews to add to yours. Saw one review on this where he complains about the "weakness" of the brew. My thought was that the problem may not be with the bean but his brewing method may not be ideal for this coffee/grind. I'm not above running any brew a second or even third time to improve the flavor. If that breaks the rules, so be it.



Thanks for the suggestion. I will try it!

[hlthe2b]

13. I remember growing up with both my Mom & Grandmother using one

My sister still occasionally uses one, though she has other coffee makers. Unfortunately, I tend to remember the burnt coffee taste that occurs when it is left plugged in for a long time. I'm not even sure I remember how to use one. LOL

Since hot coffee, tea, and other drinks are pretty much an all-day demand in my house, I bought a 4-liter water warmer that I really love and just do pour-overs. They are really energy efficient and can hold temp anywhere from 160 degrees to 205 F. It was a pricey purchase, but (knock on wood) I've had it for about five years now without problems. Zojirushi makes a fine one.

I'll be curious what coffee the other percolator "afficionados" suggest.

[LazySusanNot]

43. Yes, the pour-over method may be in our future.

Bought the percolator in remembrance of similar times from my childhood. Some were electric, some went on the stove. Multiple pots brewed throughout the day.

I also remember that "burnt coffee" taste and smell. New Hamilton Beach we bought perks for 15 min on a high temp and then drops to a lower maintenance temp as long as it's plugged in. Will still burn after a long time being left on though. Not like the old days.

Thanks for chiming in hlthe2b! This has been a fun exercise. I now have a vastly improved coffee shopping list from when I woke up this morning. Hoping others here have some new "morning Joe" varieties to try as well.

[Enoki33]

15. High Mountain Coffee. From Jamaica Standard

Products out of Miami and Las Vegas. Available on line.

[LazySusanNot]

36. Thank you for the tip

I've had different Jamaican coffees but mostly blends. Will try this one for sure.

Drink up. Daylight's burnin!

[Rorey]

16. As long as we're talking about coffee

I, also, apparently don't have a sophisticated palate, because I'm pretty basic.

I have a question about coffee grinders. Does anyone have a burr grinder, and are they worth the price? I know that's probably a stupid question considering that I already said I don't have one of those sophisticated palates.

I'm still using my Keurig, because it's so economical for me. I use the refillable pods, and I generally buy Folgers. I also buy New England Coffee. I like the Chocolate Cappuccino flavor. I was getting it from Amazon, but then they were out and I discovered that I could also get it from Walmart. It's less than $4 for an 11 ounce bag, but I don't know if you can just get the beans. It's just got a subtle chocolate flavor.

Last week I got a bag of coffee from Tuesday Morning that's just fine for me. It was also very economical.

I do love the smell, and the entire experience, of a percolator, but because it's just me, it's just not economical. I have a couple of cups when I wake up, which is super early. Then I have at least one cup later in the morning, and sometimes a fourth. None after noon, at the latest, because I'm now at the age where it'll ruin my sleep.

[hlthe2b]

18. Honestly, I only bought mine because I had accidentally bought whole beans a few times

(and Starbucks won't grind it--even if it is THEIRS--unless you had just bought it there).

I think I got a deal on this Cuisinart, but it has worked pretty well. It was reviewed pretty highly at the time I was looking for a burr grinder.

Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill

[Rorey]

20. Thanks!

Maybe one of these days I'll decide to spoil myself!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. I need that! All I have is a dinky little one and takes like 10 beans at a time:)

[yellowdogintexas]

74. I have a mini blender jar that does a great job of grinding beans

I started using it when my husband brought home whole beans instead of ground.

[LazySusanNot]

44. Making half pots in a 12 cup maker or a smaller Percolator might be an option

Thanks for jumping in on the topic. When we bought the new 12-cup percolator, many of the features for this one and other brands included 4-12 cup portion brewing. We also saw several smaller capacity models. This could be an option to consider. Much more fun (for my husband anyway) than our old drip machine and I think in the end - better coffee since we've switched.

[Major Nikon]

55. I have a few burr grinders

Some are hand crank and some are electric and they range from a very small model capable of single cup operation to an Italian made commercial grinder that is as big as a blender.

Any grinder is better than no grinder. Pre-ground coffee loses quite a bit of aromatics in just a few minutes after grinding that you will never get back.

$20-30 coffee grinders are better than nothing, but they aren’t really grinders at all. They have a blade that spins at a high rpm that pulverize the coffee rather like taking a hammer to the beans.

Burr grinders have opposing burrs that actually grind the coffee. The advantage is lower grinding temperatures, adjustable grind settings, and uniform size to the grinds which result in more even extraction.

In my experience cheap electric burr grinders are a waste of money because they generally don’t work all that well and break if you use them much. There’s a few ceramic burr hand grinders that don’t cost much and work well provided you don’t mind all the cranking.

[Ferrets are Cool]

23. If you have a Costco account, this is my go-to coffee.

I used to drink Kick Ass from Kicking Horse Coffee, but this is cheaper and just as good.

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-rwandan-coffee-3-lb%2c-2-pack.product.100039935.html

[bamagal62]

33. I love Kicking Horse. But,

My grocery store stopped carrying it.

[LazySusanNot]

37. Wow. Sounds great. Looks to be pretty budget friendly...

and for what appears to be a quality bean. Price is not our only consideration, just a general guideline. This one works for that. Life is short. Drink good coffee when you can.

Thank you for the suggestion. This will go on my Daughter-in-law's Costco list for next week.

[Ferrets are Cool]

47. I think you will like it. I am pretty picky with my coffee and this one is my favorite

regardless of price (no, I've never had 100 lb coffee)

[LazySusanNot]

50. If you're taste is pretty picky this could work out well for us

After all the years of bad office coffee, we have both learned to appreciate anything that is a step up from that. We will get some of this Kirkland Signature and give it a good once over.

Thanks for the help. Great people here willing to share.

[consider_this]

39. Costco Sumatran is very good.

Whole bean. A dark roast, if you are up for that.

[keithbvadu2]

24. Good stuff!

[LazySusanNot]

38. Perfectly timed clip. Great movie.

I had forgotten about this particular variety of coffee bean.

I may move this down toward the end of the purchase list for now. Right in the same place with Rocky Mountain Oysters and Bird's Nest (spit) Soup.

Very funny. Thank you for the morning laugh.

[RicROC]

27. Costco + M.E.

My go-to is Costco because of the varieties of coffee and the reasonable prices. But for something more exotic, tasty and strong, I would suggest visiting Middle Eastern and Indian food stores. Prices are very reasonable, I find.

For years I had a Keurig, but I've retired it so that I use a French Press.

[LazySusanNot]

40. Great suggestion on the specialty food stores. We will try it.

I had never thought of this. We are in the Phoenix metro area with numerous stores of this type.

Thank you very much for the idea.

[yellowdogintexas]

79. yes Phoenix has a wonderful variety of specialty food stores

My daughter and her in-laws have taken me to a Persian grocery/kitchen shop a few times. It is so much fun to browse around there. I think it is in Scottsdale; the family lives in Paradise Valley and the store is not far away.

Visiting there has given me a love of Persian food; everything her mother in law makes is delicious

[Ferrets are Cool]

48. I bought a vacuum pot about 10 years ago and have never looked back.

For me, it's so darned easy to make a pot of coffee and it tastes great. If you ever get one, make sure you go on ebay and buy the glass filter. They are cheap. I think I paid 12 bucks for two.

[OregonBlue]

29. Seattle's Best is very good if it's on sale. Lots of dark and medium roasts. If you just want

something for every day, Dunkin Donuts if often on sale. They are fair trade and have good medium roast coffee that is not bitter or acidic and it's cheap for good coffee.

[LazySusanNot]

41. We've had both and liked both.

Neither one is on my earlier list of "likes" due to higher pricing last time we bought. Both Brands seem to be good from what we have tried. I also found some of the Dunkin Donuts Medium Roast at our 99 Cent Only Store. $2.99 for a 12 oz. bag is not bad but it was all gone when I returned.

Thank you for the great suggestions. Will look for these 2 again. Everyone has been so helpful with information about this very important topic.

[northoftheborder]

32. Cameron's Specialty Coffee, organic, whole beans

Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2021, 08:45 PM - Edit history (1)

comes in various roasts, I like medium roast from Costa Rica. Use pour-over cone so each person can choose their own strength.

[LazySusanNot]

42. This go's on the shopping list as well

Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2021, 08:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Thank you for the suggestion. I've read up on the pour-over method. We may look into this as a possibility later on. Having just bought this percolator, adding a different technique might deprive my husband of his new favorite pastime. Making me coffee - bringing me coffee - shopping for coffee - and talking about coffee.

The talking has to wait until after I've had my first cup - not before.

[RicROC]

52. The Puerto Ricans are very proud of their coffee.

[Vinca]

56. I always have Cameron's Kona coffee in the house. It's very affordable, too.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

49. My personal favorite is Kroger 100% Colombian.

Medium dark roast.

Kroger often slaps their labels on other products and then sells them for lower prices, but I've never figured out which brand they re-labeled for this coffee. Could it actually be unique for them in this case?

I tried many types of "Colombian" and "Arabica beans" coffee over the years, including the big-name brands and various more expensive ones, but I finally stuck with Kroger.



EDIT:
The taste probably depends on how coffee is made too. Kroger Colombian turns out well with my drip coffee makers. Yet another (local) brand which tasted GREAT at a nearby donut shop was very bland with my slow-brew method at home. I had bought a bag of it from the donut shop, but the taste was nothing like what they had made with an industrial-sized coffee maker, which filled a pot in just seconds! Same coffee, very different results.

[LazySusanNot]

53. Kroger (errr.....Fry's out west here) has been our go-to coffee for years.

We have always shopped their stores under several names and in whatever state we were living in. Great store brand products in general. Several varieties of their coffee seem to be on sale every time we go. Here in our little town, they are struggling to compete with another independent retail chain plus "99 cent only" type discount pricing. We bought their 20 oz Medium Roast Premium Blend for $4.97. You're right. It is good coffee.

Spot-on observation too on "how the coffee is made" factoring into the final taste. Learning as I go. Goal is for consistently good coffee at a reasonable cost.

Thanks for the info. It's much appreciated.

[spinbaby]

57. I have two suggestions

The first is the German roast coffee from Aldi. I don’t think it comes as whole beans, but it’s an excellent medium roast in your price range. I’ve had mixed results with other coffee from Aldi, but this one is really good.

My other suggestion is Whole Foods 365 Pleasant Morning Buzz. It’s also an excellent medium roast and it’s available as whole beans, but is more expensive—around $12 for a 24-ounce bag.

I drink my coffee black, so I’m fussy about what I drink. I’ve also found the easiest, best coffee is from an electric kettle paired with a simple pour-over coffee cone.

[LazySusanNot]

58. Thanks for jumping in. Great suggestions.

Black coffee only - for both of us after years of never being able to get the cream and sugar consistently right. The Whole Foods price is actually close to our target budget. Our Fry's (Kroger's) will have a few 12 oz bags of "whatever coffee" in the $5 range. I will look for both of these online.

We will also be taking a strong look at the pour-over method. You and others here have mentioned it as a relatively simple way to make optimum coffee. Once hubby tires of this new percolator "toy", we may try it. It could be awhile before I can get him to focus on a new method though. He's in the process of ordering some of every coffee mentioned in this thread.

[spinbaby]

59. The secret is the electric kettle

The kettle gives you near instant boiling water. I make four or five cups of coffee every morning and each is quickly made and fresh. The best price on the filters is at Costco.

[LazySusanNot]

60. Ahhh yes, the kettle.

Through all the generous replies in this OP, Youtube and some online browsing on the subject, we know just enough now to be dangerous.
Thank you. Thank you.

[OregonBlue]

64. Electric kettles are wonderful. Couldn't live without mine.

[LazySusanNot]

65. A pour-over kettle is in our future (after hubby loses interest in the new toy, I mean percolator).

After reading about the merits of the pour-over method, we are thinking this is the next fun project in our better coffee journey. I saw one yesterday that looks promising from our limited knowledge about these things. Reviewer from sipcoffee.com lists his top 8 kettles with the OXO BREW Adjustable Temp Electric Gooseneck Kettle in the top spot.
[link:https://sipcoffeehouse.com/best-electric-gooseneck-kettle/|

Thanks for adding fuel to this kettle fire!!!

[OregonBlue]

66. I looked at the one you provided. I just have a regular spout Oster which is quite old

so I may go for one of these too when this one goes. I can see where the goose neck spout would be a big advantage. Thanks.

[LazySusanNot]

67. Yeah, I noticed the added feature of the goose neck

allowing for slower more controlled pours. Once we get ready, I'll probably look at LOTS of reviews on the Kettles. My fear would be investing in one without any knowledge and then having to buy another one to be happy......

[happybird]

62. I keep coming back to the Walmart brand Colombian

They sell whole beans, too. It’s surprisingly tasty and inexpensive.
I used to manage a small gourmet shop and we carried about 2 dozen different, premium coffee bean varieties. I honestly like this Walmart coffee better than any of those, and you can’t beat the price.

[LazySusanNot]

63. Nice find. Thank you for adding to the list!

We buy the Great Value brands quite a bit at Wallyworld. Pleasantly surprised a few times and like you mentioned, at great prices. Looks like this may be another one.

Thank you again!!!!!

[leighbythesea2]

68. We add Cafe Bustelo

To other milder coffees. I like it so much we use just that in drip maker too.
Its strong, but nice. & not expensive.

[LazySusanNot]

69. Nice latest addition to the list...

I almost bought some at the .99 Cent Only store last week. It will have to wait since our coffee drawer is now overflowing (from all the great suggestions up-thread). I will put this on our list to try again when we run out. Had it before and liked it very much. Should also help us use up some of the blonde roast milder coffee we still have. I'd forgotten about this brand!!!
Thank you so much for the suggestion/reminder.

[leighbythesea2]

70. Yeah, im late to the coffee party

But am an enthusiastic coffee person. Been shoveling a lot of snow. Lol. This thread was really informative on a few topics.

[HarvestMoon]

78. I missed your post before

Thanks for chiming in. Good hot coffee makes a nice pairing with snow shoveling!
I learned a lot from all these DU'er posts. Glad others are doing the same.

[yellowdogintexas]

72. I am a mild roast drinker myself. Gevalia is one of my favorites

Over the years I have used stove top percolaters, Melitta, drip pots and French Press. I currently have a 5 cup pot (Mr Coffee type)
Being the only coffee drinker in the house I don't need much in supplies.

I have a French press but don't use it much

[yellowdogintexas]

73. If there is a WinCo nearby, they have a wide range of whole bean coffee

at $6.99 per pound.

[HarvestMoon]

77. Ah yes, the old Buddies turned Winn-Dixie turned Winco Foods

We are a ways outside the Phoenix metro area and don't have a local Winco. Next time we drive to Chandler where they have one, I will check their selections. Winn-Dixie had great store brands from what I remember.
As a kid, Buddies was our one and only big Supermarket. Winn-Dixie later (or Winco Foods) purchased the Buddie's chain back in the 70's I believe.

Thanks for the leads. From your profile, it looks like we share both Tx and Az interests!