Ground coffee recommendations..

[sight-pin]

[QUOTE 5013427, member: 259"]But where do the Guatamalan elephants come in? [/QUOTE]

Bean grinder

 

[Profpointy]

Morrisons Hot Java Lava strength 6

Good choice, though I (now) buy the beans version and grind my own, using my Mazzer grinder, coffee snob that I have.

 

[Threevok]

Good choice, though I (now) buy the beans version and grind my own, using my Mazzer grinder, coffee snob that I have.

I really should do this - there is so much more choice in bean form than pre-ground

 

[Profpointy]

I really should do this - there is so much more choice in bean form than pre-ground

More importantly it tastes noticably better. If you can stand the buttock clenching (even 2nd hand) cost of a proper cafe style burr grinder you'll not regret it. One of my better extravegances certainly

 

[Red17]

Tried quite a few and settled on Illy coffee as my favourite

 

[MontyVeda]

I don't have a grinder but make my own blends by sticking the last bit of each bag into an airtight jar in the fridge. I tend to drink this random blend when i've run out or the jar is getting full. Makes a change.

 

[NickNick]

This site is amazing, I've never had a coffee I don't like and the selection is mind boggling. The guy that set up the site sources the beans from small scale producers from around the world and he personally visits them first iirc and pays them a decent rate. You can choose what type of grind you want, or go whole bean (or even green bean and have a crack at roasting it yourself, although thats always seemed like too much of a faff!)
https://www.hasbean.co.uk/

If you want a decent quality not too expensive shop bought one, then the M&S single origin Honduras is one we are currently drinking and its really nice.

 

[Hill Wimp]

This is the best available-pretty-much-anywhere option I know:

View attachment 380226

^^^^^^^ this

 

[srw]

Is there much difference to pre ground?

Yes. Pre-ground is (a) always ground to the wrong size - for a cafetiere you want really coarse, and (b) gets stale really quickly, even if you keep it fairly airtight and in the fridge or the freezer. Sniff a freshly opened package next door to one that's been open a few days and you'll see what I mean.

And this:

Electric coffee-grinders are difficult animals to live with. They generate incredible static electricity which charges the coffee particles and makes them stick to everything in the vicinity. They become impossible to wipe and get rid of.

is a load of hokum. Over the years we've used three or four different electric grinders and have never found the grinder difficult to clean (you don't need to do it very often) or the coffee difficult to get in the right place. Use a little paint-brush (quarter-inch size from any old hardware shop) to brush out the container and the machine.

 

[srw]

This is the best available-pretty-much-anywhere option I know:

View attachment 380226

If by "best" you mean "most predictable", then yes. But it's pretty mediocre stuff, really, and nowhere near well roasted enough for a decent cup of coffee.

 

[srw]

UCC

?

 

[srw]

United Coffee Company

If by "all" you mean "not all", then, yes, you're right.

 

[MrPie]

Costco do a splendid own brand Rwandan. It’s billed as a medium roast, but is on the slightly heavier side of medium. Deep and nutty with a smooth finish. Ok, it’s in bean form so you have to grind it yourself, but it is worth it. They also sell the Lavazza ‘red’ beans, which is a particularly inoffensive ‘standard’. If I’m struggling, I’ll pick anything with a French roast.

 

[srw]

"lots"?

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Some?

As far as I can tell from their website, their business is basically supplying ready-to-drink coffee, not beans or ground.

 

[srw]

If I’m struggling

For what it's worth, if we're on holiday without a grinder and our own coffee (creatures of habit, we have a favourite blend which kick-starts the day at home) we will pick the strongest roast 100% arabica we can find. I don't particularly like the bitterness of robusta.