Coffee and Tea Appreciation Thread IV

[Jeff]

I forget if this is version 3 or 4, so I called it 4. Anyway, you know the drill by now. All things coffee and tea.

This morning was a nice, strong cup of Organic Peruvian Select from Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (http://www.gmcr.com). Good start to the morning, and helped chase my sore throat away (it's gone now).

[skipshady]

Nothing gets me going like Earl Grey in the morning.
I drink Japanese barley tea during the day - a summer staple.
Japanese Genmai tea or Houji-cha at night goes well with dinner.
I miss North Carolina, mostly for the sweet tea.
Nothing gets me smashed like Long Island Ice Tea. Yeah.

[CSheard]

I drink probably, on average, about 7 litres of tea a day. But I don't care for Earl Grey, or any oolong or souchong.

[Knave]

Ok. Me and my well caffeinated self are finally going to participate in one o' these ol' coffee threads.

Where to begin ... For me it is all about coffee houses and roasteries.

For the last 12 years I have rarely gone a day without a double espresso. It has become a veritable trademark for me.

The habit began at Marin Coffee Roasters in San Anselmo, California near where I grew up. Of course, way back then the place was called San Anselmo Coffee Roasters. Actually, I still call it that.

Truth be told, however, I truly began my coffee adventures in my early adolescence (with things like mochas; drinks I wouldn't ever touch these days) at a small roastery in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Even today Truckee Coffee Roasters remains a wonderful coffee spot. In fact, I plan to head over there this afternoon for my usual.

Then I went off to college in what was then a coffee wasteland - the suburbs of Philadelphia. The only thing that saved me from the Starbucks doldrums (mediocre at best but in some parts of this country mediocre is really all you can hope for) was Bucks County Coffee (http://www.buckscountycoffee.com/). I spent a bit of time in Washington DC during college - Alexandria actually - and discovered a great roaster there too. Back then it was called Misha's but I understand that they've now changed the name and, in fact, I don't even know if they're any longer in business.

Upon my return to California after college I returned to my old San Anselmo haunt and also began to frequent Peets (http://www.peets.com). I'd always gone there off and on but now - because I was working long hours in local politics - my need for coffee went up.

Peets, of course, is one of the finest and oldest roasters around. Their original store in Berkeley remains the best but I've been impressed by just how they've been able to expand to a small nationwide chain without compromising either their quality or their old neighborhood feel.

In fact upon moving to LA for grad school Peet's was my only link to really good coffee. I have been - well - underwhelmed by the coffee on the LA's Westside. It's too often more style, flash and attitude than really craftsman-like roasting. But within a few miles of my place down there are three Peets stores and I frequent one of them daily. The other really quality roaster is City Bean in Westwood. Tough parking but excellent coffee.

With grad school my need for coffee grew even more and I began to experiment with French press coffee. (Filtered coffee never really did it for me.) I am now very good friends with my Bodum coffee presses - I have two of different sizes so that I can match my coffee production with my specific needs. :rolleyes: This morning I used my tiny little one cup press to brew up some Major Dickason's Blend that I procured from Peet's during my trip down to Bay Area a couple days ago.

But the simple old fashioned and yet so devilishly complicated double espresso remains my drink of choice. And through it all San Anselmo Coffee Roasters (er, I mean Marin Coffee Roasters) is still far and away the best.

...

And also - by the way - I think Green Mountain Coffee Roasters makes excellent coffee. I used to go to Boston quite often to visit an aunt who lives there and one of their stores was near her place. Quality stuff. There used to be another roaster in Boston - The Coffee Connection - who were also quite excellent. But, alas, I think they've gone out of business. :(

[Jeff]

Knave comes through with the coffee rant!

Unsure about the coffee connection in Boston.

Personally, I wasn't impressed with Peet's but please keep in mind that the Peet's I had was those mass produced small bags for offices that in turn was brewed in one of those rickety old office brewers that never quite got cleaned out completely. I'd probably like it if I bought/drank some elsewhere.

[Knave]

I've only bought Peets in their stores. I imagine the bagged variety is a bit different - or at least a bit stale.

[Jeff]

Stale, the word I was looking for actually. That was what the office coffee tasted like.

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

i ********ing hate starbucks.

[spejic]

I found something called "Lifeboat tea" in a local Cost Plus. It is the best black tea I have ever had - smooth and not harsh, but with real strength. It is damn cheap too, and the profits go to helping the British private version of the Coast Guard.

[Aimer, Northend Diva]

Hate: Starbucks

Like:
Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
Urth Cafe on Melrose
Priscilla's in Burbank
Insomnia on Beverly (little pricey though)
The Coffee House on Sunset
Billy's Deli in San Clemente
Coffee Table in Columbus, OH

[ktsd]

I bought me a coffee tree at:

www.coffeeproject.com

Just a seedling, really. Maybe in 4 or 5 years I can have my own home-made cup! In the meantime, I've been a Kona freak (Greenwell Farms) ever since my trip to Hawaii a few months ago.

Kevin D.

[Chris_Bailey]

Originally posted by Own Goal Hat-Trick
i ********ing hate starbucks.


why?:)

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

Originally posted by Bailey8



why?:)

heh, lets just chalk it up to thier buisness tactics...

[Jeff]

On an unrelated note, OGHT when did you move to MD? Are you going to school there this fall?

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

Originally posted by Jeff
On an unrelated note, OGHT when did you move to MD? Are you going to school there this fall?

this thursday, and nope. i just decided to move. im actually not such a fan of the city of columbus, and i figured just up and leaving would make my life interesting for the next few months. ill be going into the air force sometime between december and june anyways, so this is just for a little short term change.

[Jeff]

Never been to Rockville, but I love D.C. You're right on Metro's Red Line so getting into the city will be a snap. You'll have a good time while you're there. I can't speak for you, but I'd take in as much monument/cultural stuff as possible before you leave. I never get to do enough of that, I need a 4 day stay there with no soccer-related stuff.

Back on topic, if you find any cool coffee shops, throw em up here. It's more Organic Peruvian Select for me today. Have a small bean grinder, but can't afford one of those automated grind + brew machines. When I get a job, it'll be easier if I want to splurge $80-100 for one at Target. For now, it's grind and filter drip brew.

[Own Goal Hat-Trick]

yeah. i know ill have a blast. i was lucky though, ive seen a lot of the stuff in DC already (i used to visit fairly often as a child, when i lived in York, PA). itll still be really cool though. and i plan on finding some nice coffee joints while there. i think a friend of mine said something about silver spring having a few but i could be wrong on the location...

[Jeff]

Could be Bethesda, might be Silver Spring. Adams Morgan in DC itself may be the best bet of all for funky coffee places.

Speaking of York, PA, I stopped in Dunkin Donuts there Friday on my way from Harrisburg to DC. Man, I love their French Vanilla, and there's only one here, make that one west of Illinois.

[nicodemus]

Not much of a coffee drinker (hate most of it actually) but I can get down on some tea. My favorite is Indian chai, but not that crap they sell in coffee shops (or even most Indian restaurants), you've got to do it homestyle or it just isn't worth drinking.

My local coffee/tea shop of choice is the magnificent Liquid 360: http://www.liquid360.net/

Crappy website, but its a coffee shop in the morning, coffee shop/bar at night.

Another big plus, they utilize the 80 inch television for US National Team games.

Next time US plays in B'ham, be sure to check it out....it is really out of the way though and kind of hard to find.

[Aimer, Northend Diva]

Originally posted by Bailey8



why?:)

cuz they burn their coffee