NetJunkie Senior Member Joined: 7 Apr 2003 Posts: 13 Location: Morrisville, NC Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Dec 1, 2003, 7:26pm Subject: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
I have a Jura F9 on the way from WLL. I'm lazy. :)
Any good place to get fresh beans around the Raleigh, NC area? I get some from Tradewinds right now...mainly Kona Fancy (for drip) and their Espresso (moka pot). I'd like to throw some really good stuff at the F9. Suggestions for others? The only mentions of Tradewinds on here aren't good...but they've done OK up to this point for me.
Posted Mon Dec 1, 2003, 7:55pm Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
I started with Cup-A-Joe and got some great results. Sadly, their consistency is historically irratic. There are local shops that sell their beans; JavaBlü is the closest to you (I would avoid NeoMonde even though it is in Morrisville; I've had trouble with very stale beans from them). I now order almost exclusively from Internet roasters. The longtime house favorite is Intelligentsia's Black Cat, although I'm overdue to rotate someone else into the roster. In an pinch, I've tried some Espresso Bel Canto from Whole Foods. It's in the open bins (ekk-k!) but not bad if you arrive the day they fill it (Fridays I believe).
I used to buy beans from them . They seemed honest about what they sold, even had them steer me away from certain blends if they felt it didnt live up to their expectations.
Just be sure to call before 3pm, as they all seem to leave long before "closing" time.
NetJunkie Senior Member Joined: 7 Apr 2003 Posts: 13 Location: Morrisville, NC Expertise: Just starting
Posted Tue Dec 2, 2003, 6:38pm Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
Thanks for the info! I'm actually in North Raleigh/Durham now...as of two weeks ago. I work in Cary though so I'll check those places out. I also ordered some Black Cat today for the new machine.
auerbach Senior Member Joined: 30 Oct 2002 Posts: 18 Location: Durham Expertise: Intermediate
Espresso: Isomac Zaffiro Grinder: Gaggia MDF Vac Pot: Hario Nouveau Drip: Krups Aroma Control Therma
Posted Wed Dec 3, 2003, 8:43am Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
I think the best local roaster is CounterCulture Coffee. (By the way, they have open cuppings every Friday.) The best source for their beans is probably Helios coffee shop, since they have a lot of turnover and get in a new shipment every Thursday.
CupaJoeKid Senior Member Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 208 Location: Cary, NC Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Silvia w/ PID, pressure mod Grinder: Mazzer Mini P Vac Pot: nada, french press Drip: See french press Roaster: WB Poppery II w/ control box
Posted Tue Dec 9, 2003, 9:25am Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
Just to pitch in $.02, my access to beans is largely limited to where I can get to in my car at lunchtime with reasonable bean turnover, geographically southwest Raleigh, but in practical terms meaning CupaSmoke on H'boro Street.
Dan and I have often discussed the variability of the Cupa Espresso blend, and in fact both came close to abandoning it due to some serious aftertaste "flaws" that creep in from time to time (politely refered to as the aftertaste that whacks you in the side of the head).
[At least in my experiments that seemed to be a particularly musty Sumatra that he stocks and included in the blend, at least at one time. I don't find that taste anymore, so either he is on new greens or he dropped it].
I've spent the past few weeks working from a palate of mostly Brazil, Yemen and Guat, and some other accents that I had lying about, and I'll tell you it has been a lot of fun, and I've found some blends that really suit my palate. With pre-made blends you can eventually find what you want, but boy with a mere 25+ 'experimental' shots you can really go a long way toward developing your own house blend to what you really like ;)
I can get a fair approximation of the Cupa Esp blend, but with the Sumatra 'whack' left out. I think rough proportions were 40% Br, 30% Y, 30% G [all by volume] (but it is a moving target). It was a shade brighter in the start, but had the same nice powdered cocoa finish from the Yemen. I know I don't have all the beans in there that he does, and I THINK he roasts beans destined for the esp blend longer than he does his 'stock' beans, but it is reasonably close and a nice cup.
I was very much enjoying the following blend: 30% Br, 30% Y, 25% G with a kicker of 15% Kenya AA. Really nice fruit tones, great aromatics. A bit bright on the start, but a wonderful finish if the Yemen is right. Unfortunately, the Yemen picked up yesterday has little to none of the dusty cocoa finish (looks roasted longer than normal), so now it just finishes overly fruity and acidic. As a control, I noted the same thing in the 2x shot I had while there. Back to the drawing board! Again, variability in the roast at Cupa.
As you can tell, I'm big into getting some stock beans and working some blends. It also brings up the respect level a lot for the guys that have to blend on a weekly basis to get a consistent taste profile. It's hard work.
Thanks to the guy who suggested Helios, I might have to extend my lunchtime trips to get out there. Peter and the folks at CC are top notch, and it would be fun to play with their beans.
Posted Tue Dec 23, 2003, 12:55pm Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
Today I did some holiday shopping at the Streets of SouthPoint mall. Just around the corner is Bean Traders, a café that another local CG mentioned might be worth a visit. It seemed encouraging since they have a big roaster operating in the store. The two employees had a very friendly, cheery attitude. The first warning bell sounded when I asked for a ristretto ("Is that a long shot?"). I got a blank stare when I suggested they would have to move their grinder setting just a tad finer to shoot for a ~1.5 ounce double. Undaunted, I suggested instead adding a few extra grounds and tamping harder. That was accepted as a reasonable request.
The next warning bell was when I looked at their aluminum tamper. It was 53mm and looked like it had been tossed out the window of a speeding truck at least a half-dozen times. Another blank stare when I mentioned that the tamp might be better if they acquired a 58mm tamper. The good news is that the patient barista timed the shot and proudly announced it was right on ("Hey, not bad for my first ristretto!"). Indeed, the timing and volume were correct. The taste? Good by what passes for café standards in the Triangle, in fact better than the majority I've tried. The body was medium, crema was light to carmel colored and maybe 1/8" deep. The flavor wasn't particularly remarkable, but wasn't bitter or harsh either. I suspect channeling along the untamped edges accounts for much of the shortcomings. I don't think they were interested in hearing any critiques of their product, despite their friendliness and evidently ample free time.
I hung around for 5-10 minutes as two other customers came and went. A holiday cappuccino they prepared was topped with fresh whipped cream, a nicely drawn chocolate syrup design and red/green sprinkles. Not my thing, but very festive looking. That's when the third and final warning bell sounded: Recycled milk and seafoam bubbles. Little hope of finding any microfoam there. The next customer after the holiday cappuccino lady was served a regular cappuccino (latte? hard to say at those dimensions) with a 1/4" crown of dishsoap-sized bubbles. Given the weak finish of my (pseudo) ristretto, I wouldn't expect their milk-based drinks to stand out. I'd be willing to try, but only if they allowed me to do the steaming. I imagine that idea would be met with raised eyebrows and perhaps reluctant acceptance. I didn't push my luck on this visit.
While it might sound like I'm down on this place, it actually is above average for this area. They have free wireless Internet access (and only wireless, I asked about plugging an Ethernet cable in). The decor is funky / retro and the seating looks comfortable. Tables and chairs only at that location, no couch. According to their website, the other location is more plush. Their bean prices struck me as high (some upwards of $12 per pound with tax) and my sampling didn't tempt me to take any home.
-- Dan
PS: Another McCafé opened this week, located on Highway 54, right on my way to work. Oh joy. ;-)
Posted Wed Dec 31, 2003, 5:39pm Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
Another day, another Triangle espresso stop. Today is was Foster's Market in Durham. I will be uncharacteristically brief: Don't bother ordering their espresso. Lamenting about the endless grief their "POS" La Cimballi has given them (their words), they served a three ounce blond out of the gate shot. Two sips and I decided it wasn't worth it. Undaunted, I bought a half-pound of their Counter Culture Coffee espresso blend because I have heard good things about it. A few hours later I stopped by another CG's house. In his hands, it made a very good shot of espresso.
NetJunkie Senior Member Joined: 7 Apr 2003 Posts: 13 Location: Morrisville, NC Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu Jan 1, 2004, 5:52pm Subject: Re: F9 on the way... Good beans around Raleigh, NC?
We stopped by The Coffee House on the corner of Glenwood and Pleasant Valley. It's a nice place to sit and drink. I think they did a good job preparing the espresso (fresh grind for each shot..etc) but I don't care for their beans. I bought a little to try at home and didn't really care for them. In the lattes we had at the shop they weren't as bad...
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