The coffee/tea appreciation thread

[speed_demon]

Bit late to the party but I like a nice cup of coffee every once in a while. I usually opt for the costco stuff roasted by starbucks as it's fairly strong with a nice flavor. No sugar or milk for me, the sweetness ruins the good flavor IMO.

 

Not too big on tea but I've had a few that were pretty good. The standard lipton tea with a bit of lemon added is not too bad.

 

Sadly I'm hooked on the sugary soda drinks and that's my regular each morning. Been cutting way back, am down to a 2 liter every 3 days. Down from a 2 liter every 8 hours originally lol.

[Slaughtahouse]

15 hours ago, neurotix said:

 

 

All way beyond me man, and my single serve Cuisinart I have every morning, french vanilla. And then a single cup of Columbian from the drip brew pot.

 

I can say that I am pretty much addicted to Cameron's black masala chai with brown sugar. If you or anyone else isn't aware, putting milk in tea causes the milk to bond to the catechins and make them inert. So you don't get the health benefits that come from drinking tea if you add milk or creamer. No effect from chemicals like ECGC. Nevertheless, we have Half & Half to make chai lattes with.

 

 

I never heard about the reaction from milk resulting in benefits being inert. Thanks for sharing  I typically don’t drink tea with milk, beyond my little bender with London Fogs.

 

RE: Espresso process. It’s honestly pretty simple once you get into the rhythm but I can understand why many would opt out of making espresso. 

 

A lot of the blends, including the one I bought, are recommended for drip, french press etc. and they ship to the US.

 

I made my first cup today (double shot espresso cappuccino) with the echo espresso and I can easily say it was the best coffee I’ve made yet.

 

 

Blends

STEREOCOFFEE.COM

 

 

Edited March 10 by Slaughtahouse

[neurotix]

Thanks for the link. Got a lot of Kicking Horse coffee because of you guys in this thread. Maybe I'll check them out. What kind do you recommend?

 

I would love a double shot espresso cappuccino that you mentioned, lol.

[Slaughtahouse]

1 hour ago, neurotix said:

Thanks for the link. Got a lot of Kicking Horse coffee because of you guys in this thread. Maybe I'll check them out. What kind do you recommend?

 

I would love a double shot espresso cappuccino that you mentioned, lol.

 

Since you do filter / drip, I suggest one of the blends. We did a taste sample of a few at the roaster, both in espresso and filter / drip  and I really enjoyed the Columbia - Caldas Blend, Analog Espresso, and the Echo. I typically prefer beans from Columbia after trying different types of beans from different roasters but this Echo so far is now by far my #1 favourite. The flavour profile is sweet / rich, and it has this effect, like an IPA beer, that hits the side of your tongue and really opens up a different effect. At least, thats how the roaster described it and I can concur! Super fun  

 

 

Echo Espresso

STEREOCOFFEE.COM

---

Our goal in creating this contemporary espresso is to selectively source coffees that are sweet, fruity and chocolatey. We carefully and lightly...

 

I really don't think you can go wrong in other words.

Edited March 10 by Slaughtahouse
my terrible grammar

[neurotix]

5 hours ago, Slaughtahouse said:

 

Since you do filter / drip, I suggest one of the blends. We did a taste sample of a few at the roaster, both in espresso and filter / drip  and I really enjoyed the Columbia - Caldas Blend, Analog Espresso, and the Echo. I typically prefer beans from Columbia after trying different types of beans from different roasters but this Echo so far is now by far my #1 favourite. The flavour profile is sweet / rich, and it has this effect, like an IPA beer, that hits the side of your tongue and really opens up a different effect. At least, thats how the roaster described it and I can concur! Super fun  

 

 

 

Echo Espresso

STEREOCOFFEE.COM

---

Our goal in creating this contemporary espresso is to selectively source coffees that are sweet, fruity and chocolatey. We carefully and lightly...

 

I really don't think you can go wrong in other words.

 

Getting it but because we're in Murica, it's going to take 10 days minimum to arrive.

 

We're getting drip grind and it'll be made in our basic Cuisinart drip pot. Hopefully that is ok even though it's an espresso.

 

I'll report back with my thoughts on it once I have it.

Edited March 11 by neurotix

[Slaughtahouse]

12 hours ago, neurotix said:

 

Getting it but because we're in Murica, it's going to take 10 days minimum to arrive.

 

We're getting drip grind and it'll be made in our basic Cuisinart drip pot. Hopefully that is ok even though it's an espresso.

 

I'll report back with my thoughts on it once I have it.

Awesome - Hope you enjoy. Yea, the naming is sometimes confusing but I believe thats just branding. Any bean should be usable for any brew process.

[neurotix]

6 hours ago, Slaughtahouse said:

Awesome - Hope you enjoy. Yea, the naming is sometimes confusing but I believe thats just branding. Any bean should be usable for any brew process.

 

Exactly what I was thinking. They mark it as an espresso, but in reality if it's beans it needs to be made in an espresso machine to actually be espresso. Otherwise, it is just beans you can just as well grind or get grinded and use in a "normie" coffee machine. lol

Edited March 11 by neurotix

[neurotix]

Hey @Slaughtahousedo you ever drink tea besides your london fog tea?

 

I highly recommend Rishi vanilla mint chai aka vanilla pu erh. Try the 1/4lbs. option. Its loose-leaf so you'll need a tea ball, but I make it in a french press. Also, it's not great on it's own- you're going to need honey for it too. We get ours in a big thing at Costco.

 

Thought I'd bring it up for you to possibly try since I'm trying the Stereo Echo. This is the one I make or suggest to people who say they don't like tea, lol.

 

 

Edited March 12 by neurotix

[Slaughtahouse]

1 hour ago, neurotix said:

Hey @Slaughtahousedo you ever drink tea besides your london fog tea?

 

I highly recommend Rishi vanilla mint chai aka vanilla pu erh. Try the 1/4lbs. option. Its loose-leaf so you'll need a tea ball, but I make it in a french press. Also, it's not great on it's own- you're going to need honey for it too. We get ours in a big thing at Costco.

 

Thought I'd bring it up for you to possibly try since I'm trying the Stereo Echo. This is the one I make or suggest to people who say they don't like tea, lol.

 

 

 

I drink coffee at maybe a 25:1 ratio to tea for context XD. Yes, I do drink tea from time to time and mostly it’s green or herbal. 

 

Only last year I started to order london fogs from my local coffee shop and decided to try making it at home once we bought that Rocket Appartamento. Which has opened me back up to black teas again.

 

I definitely will try one of your recommendations. I don’t want this to be one sided of course! I’m still working through my tealish order but next order I’ll check out that chai!

 

Additional info - I typically make 4 double shot espressos a day. 2 for me, 2 for my wife. Double shot meaning larger portafilter with ~19-20g of coffee pouring from the double spout per drink, as seen below.

 

 

If Im on the road or at the office (flex schedule) I only make 2 double shots and then I order a drink at my local coffee shop. That shop recommended to me to try Stereo and they’re one of the best shops in Toronto IMO.

Edited March 13 by Slaughtahouse

[neurotix]

18 hours ago, Slaughtahouse said:

 

I drink coffee at maybe a 25:1 ratio to tea for context XD. Yes, I do drink tea from time to time and mostly it’s green or herbal. 

 

Only last year I started to order london fogs from my local coffee shop and decided to try making it at home once we bought that Rocket Appartamento. Which has opened me back up to black teas again.

 

I definitely will try one of your recommendations. I don’t want this to be one sided of course! I’m still working through my tealish order but next order I’ll check out that chai!

 

Additional info - I typically make 4 double shot espressos a day. 2 for me, 2 for my wife. Double shot meaning larger portafilter with ~19-20g of coffee pouring from the double spout per drink, as seen below.

 

 

If Im on the road or at the office (flex schedule) I only make 2 double shots and then I order a drink at my local coffee shop. That shop recommended to me to try Stereo and they’re one of the best shops in Toronto IMO.

 

The espresso looks amazing.

 

Also, the tea I mentioned is actually not chai at all, it used to be called vanilla pu erh back in the day. Like 6 years ago or so now they renamed it to vanilla mint chai.

 

However, it is pu erh tea (aka red tea) that is similar to black tea but not black tea. It has Pu Erh, cinnamon, vanilla bean, mint, and cocoa shells. It tastes most strongly of cinnamon. So fair warning there if you're allergic to cinnamon or anything. This is not a real chai because that comes from India and there are many styles and blends of it, whereas Pu Erh tea is Chinese and this is an artisan herbal blend from a Chinese tea master.

 

If you want good chai, get Cameron's masala chai. That is a real chai and what I'm drinking every day 90% of the time lately. It's here but not available atm and hasn't been for at least two months. We get it at a grocery store that has loose leaf Cameron's tea in bins that you can put in a bag and pay by weight. (Maybe search around on Google for any place to get their chai in a grocery store or market near you.)

Edited March 13 by neurotix

[neurotix]

So this came today:

 

 

Made a pot in our Plebeian Cuisinart drip machine:

 

 

 

This coffee (Stereo Echo) is excellent and one of the best, if not the best unflavored coffees I've ever had. It blows Kicking Horse out of the water.

 

I used a flat spoon and a heaping spoon of sugar (spoon is pretty small) and about half the amount of milk I usually use. It has a great, very strong and rich coffee taste upon hitting the tongue and drinking it, and notes of cocoa shells and chocolate after you swallow.

 

I love it but it was $30 for a bag so it will have to be a luxury and used infrequently. Though some of my teas that we re-buy cost that much or more.

 

Thanks so much for the recommendation and man, after two cups of that I'm wired

[Slaughtahouse]

Started to make Iced Tea with the leftover Tealish, black teas we have. Super fun with honey and lemon.

 

 

Also bought a larger bag of Echo espresso (2lbs) and another bag of blend as a gift.

 

[Slaughtahouse]

On 14/03/2024 at 18:06, neurotix said:

So this came today:

 

 

Made a pot in our Plebeian Cuisinart drip machine:

 

 

 

This coffee (Stereo Echo) is excellent and one of the best, if not the best unflavored coffees I've ever had. It blows Kicking Horse out of the water.

 

I used a flat spoon and a heaping spoon of sugar (spoon is pretty small) and about half the amount of milk I usually use. It has a great, very strong and rich coffee taste upon hitting the tongue and drinking it, and notes of cocoa shells and chocolate after you swallow.

 

I love it but it was $30 for a bag so it will have to be a luxury and used infrequently. Though some of my teas that we re-buy cost that much or more.

 

Thanks so much for the recommendation and man, after two cups of that I'm wired

 

Just seeing this now - yea it’s pricey but it’s fantastic.

 

I still think Kicking Horse is the best value. Like it’s a B tier coffee at an S

tier price. Whilst Stereo is an S tier coffee at an A tier price.

 

It’s expensive but compared to other local roasters, it’s quite affordable. You also get a decent discount when you buy in bulk. The 2lb bag I bought was $44 CAD. Which is probably around 32-34 USD. Still, I can drive there but I implore you to find your local roaster. Start by speaking to your coffee shop if in doubt, as they have those B2B hook ups

 

The other Barroco brand I bought was more expensive and IMO only A tier. Still very good but not as good value and quality compared to Stereo.

[neurotix]

Yeah the bags half full so I'm having to ration it lol

 

Man, it's good. Compared to my original evaluation, having it more now (and with a spoon and a half of sugar and small amount of milk), I realize how fruity it is. It's got a very strong and subtle taste of something like mangos but that's not quite right. And a chocolatey finish in the end of the sip. It's awesome stuff.

 

My fiancee recently took a work trip to Hawaii (I was unable to go because of my disabilities) and came back with two bags of Kona coffee. One needs to be ground and my Mom (hey, she's very useful) hates doing it even though she has a decent coffee grinder. The other came in a bag with cloth around it.

 

If you're interested in these I can take photos of what they are.

 

Also, sun tea soon. We usually do a black tea with peach flavor and add a tiny bit of sugar. Making iced tea is a good way to use up your remaining tea. (BUY Rishi Vanilla Mint Chai!)

[firedfly]

On 10/03/2024 at 09:22, speed_demon said:

I usually opt for the costco stuff roasted by starbucks as it's fairly strong with a nice flavor.

 

Is the Kirkland brand roasted by starbucks?  Historically, I've used Starbucks French or Espresso roasts for a nice dark coffee.  Switched to Kirkland French Roast from Costco a while back and like it much more...and I brew it quite strong.

[neurotix]

1 hour ago, firedfly said:

 

Is the Kirkland brand roasted by starbucks?  Historically, I've used Starbucks French or Espresso roasts for a nice dark coffee.  Switched to Kirkland French Roast from Costco a while back and like it much more...and I brew it quite strong.

No clue but slaughtahouse might know.

[neurotix]

 

 

These are the coffees my fiancee got on her trip to Hawaii. Mid dark roast so they both smell mostly identical to me. I'll try them but I agree that all dark roasts taste the same, just like really strong coffee. The one in the bag was $30. I'll be trying it tomorrow morning but I don't think I'll be gaga over it like I am with the Stereo.

 

I should be more grateful snd appreciative that she got them but honey, why'd you get dark?

[Slaughtahouse]

17 hours ago, neurotix said:

No clue but slaughtahouse might know.

No comment. Never tried

[Slaughtahouse]

15 hours ago, neurotix said:

 

 

These are the coffees my fiancee got on her trip to Hawaii. Mid dark roast so they both smell mostly identical to me. I'll try them but I agree that all dark roasts taste the same, just like really strong coffee. The one in the bag was $30. I'll be trying it tomorrow morning but I don't think I'll be gaga over it like I am with the Stereo.

 

I should be more grateful snd appreciative that she got them but honey, why'd you get dark?

 

You can still get flavour out of a dark roast. I’m no coffee roaster but I think there is a lot of nuance to how you roast and can still obtain unique flavours up to a point. Personally if it’s super oily and roasted to hell and back, I can’t notice it.

 

My local coffee shop always has a medium roast and dark roast in their grinders. I swap around between them because the beans they use get a real nice smokey chocolate type flavour. Like a peated whiskey. Same shop that reco’d Stereo.

 

I do have to say, this is not a flex lol, a good brew process can make the difference. I couldn’t notice as much of the diff between good dark roast and so-so one with my delonghi espresso machine.

 

I’d personally suggest to you to use up your Echo if it’s pre ground to get the most out of it while it lasts before you open another bag   

 

Have fun exploring new beans  

[speed_demon]

22 hours ago, firedfly said:

 

Is the Kirkland brand roasted by starbucks?  Historically, I've used Starbucks French or Espresso roasts for a nice dark coffee.  Switched to Kirkland French Roast from Costco a while back and like it much more...and I brew it quite strong.

It depends on which specific kirkland coffee beans you buy. There is one that is roasted by starbucks and the rest are not stated who roasts them (I assume not SB or they would say so).

 

This one is pretty good and the same price/lb as all the other kirkland offerings. Cheaper than maxwell house too! Hard to beat.

 

 

[neurotix]

Hey @Slaughtahouse try this:

 

 

 

100% Kona Coffee from Kona Mountain Coffee

WWW.KONAMOUNTAINCOFFEE.COM

---

Kona Mountain Coffee sells 100% Kona Coffee from the Big Island of Hawaii. We farm, roast and pack everything by...

 

Get a bag of the signature roast whole bean. It's pretty dank.

[neurotix]

Hey @Slaughtahouse

 

We store our coffee in the fridge, my mom had always done it this way because she thinks it keeps it more fresh.

 

I am wondering since you're the resident coffee expert if this is true, or if it's bad to do because of moisture in the fridge etc.

 

Thanks buddy.

[Slaughtahouse]

13 hours ago, neurotix said:

Hey @Slaughtahouse

 

We store our coffee in the fridge, my mom had always done it this way because she thinks it keeps it more fresh.

 

I am wondering since you're the resident coffee expert if this is true, or if it's bad to do because of moisture in the fridge etc.

 

Thanks buddy.

 

Honestly don't know what's best. Not an expert  but I always just ask my coffee shop what they do and they store beans in containers. So I went ahead and bought an "airscape" container. 

 

As you push the lid down, it pulls out any air from the storage space. Essentially vacuum seals the beans. I paid about $50 CAD for a medium container that holds approx. 1Kg. 

 

Airscape Coffee Storage | Planetary Design

PLANETARYDESIGN.COM

---

Airscape® brings you the best coffee storage canisters. Keep goods fresh with the patented inner lid which forces excess air out and keeps freshness in.

 

[neurotix]

We looked on Amazon and you can get those vacuum seal containers for a lot less, unless there's something else that makes the one you linked special.

 

All our coffee is ground and most is stored in the fridge. Heathens that we are.

 

My looseleaf tea is all stored in bags in a cupboard though. But there's really nowhere else here to put the coffee.

Edited March 28 by neurotix

[firedfly]

19 hours ago, neurotix said:

All our coffee is ground

 

I didn't know this thread contained a horror story within! 

 

If you ever want to improve the flavor of your coffee, freshly ground is the first step I'd take.  You don't need to get an expensive grinder either.  A handheld blade grinder for ~$20 would be a huge improvement.