See the scan copy. Let’s try Gf$% Don't Miss!Seven Yummy Coffee Desse...
Comparing coffees from different coffee makers or sellers is a really hard process for the uneducated palate. If you’ve ever had to switch from Coke to Pepsi (or vice versa) and dreaded the thought, only to switch allegiances a week later when you get used to the new product, you know how much habit plays a part in your buying choices.
But that’s not to say we can’t give it a shot.
Before we get to taste, we should look over which companies are the most civically responsible, and in that situation, the answer may surprise. At the bottom of the list sit Coca Cola and Nestle, two companies that are voracious coffee consumers but do the least to help their suppliers financially, socially and environmentally. Phillip Morris (or as they prefer to be known in today’s post-tobacco settlement world, Altria) at least look after the environment, but are dogs when it comes to human rights. Procter and Gamble (Folger’s) have issues at both ends of the candle, but less than the big boys by a considerable amount, as does Sara Lee (Chock Full O’Nuts).
But the king of the bunch, in terms of large companies, is Starbucks. It seems odd to say, but they spend more on their suppliers than any other large coffee user, they take the environment into account, and they make plenty of charitable donations. And here we were, thinking Starbucks was a bunch of evil bastards bent on getting us hooked to fatty drinks!
It turns out, when you try every commercially available brand of coffee out there, that Starbucks has some good options. We particularly like the winterblend, breakfast blend, and the aged Sumatra beans, which always seem to be simply good coffee. The house blend (the stuff they normally pawn off on you) is burnt for effect, and though long time Starbuckers are used to it and thus want nothing less, it really is a trashy, weak way to make coffee.
Chock Full’o’Nuts makes a great New York Decaf, Maxwell House make nothing but crap, and though we enjoy the product from Seattle’s Best a good deal, it’s owned by Starbucks which sours some of the taste (come on, number 1 and number 2 under the same umbrella? Weak stuff).
Godiva does a superb creme brulee blend, which you should really try if you get the chance, but for our money there’s really only one coffee that survives the rest and remains king. Peets.com produces a coffee known as Major Dickason’s Blend, which will show you what a great coffee can be. That’s our pick for the best option out there today.
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Naomi says
Hello.. I started to like this forum and learned many things about coffee taste.
For me, Luwak coffee is the best. It has caramel or chocolatte taste. This exotic coffee has its own sweetness and strong flavor. It is no need to add milk or sugar to this coffee. It would compete with the bean’s natural sweetness, and distinct flavors and aromas.
Clang says
I’m not from your planet however, on our planet we drink Chase & Sanborn Coffee. We must drink it black as we are all lactose intollerant.
Redzuan Rasul says
I love coffee at a morning and raining. It’s make good all the day. In Malaysia, there are so many coffee stall like Starbuck, San Francisco, Kopitiam, Kluang Station, Sai Kee Kopi 434 etc. Mostly love coffee and I born in Muar, Johor. Of course in Malaysia.
I like home-made coffee like Kopi Cap Televisyen and Kopi Cap Tupai. It taste like good, butter-creamer. Beside that, you can easily find very popular coffee like “Nescafe”, “Kopi Cap Kapal Api” and Kopi Aik Cheong.
A hundred mixed coffee around here, but I like pure coffee (Kopi-O) and Coffee-Latte too much. :)
Frances says
I fancy McDaniel’s coffees, especially like the donut shop coffee. I wish they carried the whole beans. I love coffee made with a french press,whole bean coarse ground is a requirement for a coffee press. Also I like McDaniels powdered creamer, it holds a second to coffeemate.
marie says
spanish coffee good? you are kidding. it is only good if made in italian machines. I was used to buy the best coffees in Belgium (coffee shops like Java (the Murchie’s) provide all kinds. I had to go to the Corte Ingles to find some rare coffees (Hawaii was most expensive). But the majority of Spanish people dont know about coffee. italians do know. French is awful except for Malongo brand. Coffee is linked with chocolate and pastries. belgium has the best tradition (Chat Noir, Jacqmotte, etc) In Victoria where I am I began to despair till I found Murchie’s. People who drink dark roast dont realize all the flavours are damaged as well as the stomach walls; burned residues accumulate in the body; which might explain why so many cancers. Light roast is what develops aromas best. Since I am here, my stomach rejects most of the coffees (I drink coffee since I am a child) for they cause “nausea”; Meaning no good.
in Java shops I used to buy maragogype brazil or colombian : never had problems. Café a la Tasse is an excellent coffee brand too.
the average Spaniard drinks wine in tetrabrik. olive oil is tetrabik..how to expect their coffee is good? Spain is ecologically retarded. I was born there and each time i went, quality sinked.
In the USA, California offers the best choices as the worst. Starbucks is just not as good as Murchie’s. It is overrated. Folgers is not organic but I never felt sick when drinking it.
Truth is that someone loving coffee as i do, cannot understand how people can waste such flavours when mixing it with a million useless flavours. One capuccino at Murchie’s was a total delight. Why to walnutvanillapepperizecrunchwhateverstyle a beverage with such natural complexity of properties? why not coffee pizza aroma?
ok I think I love coffee too much.
John Jones says
Yes, I tried McDaniel’s Coffee a few months ago and then my local “Save-a-Lot” went out of business. I will try the Walmart “Pure Arabica” coffee, but really rather find a place that distributes McDaniel coffee. I like it very much especially if I mix it half and half with a good high end Guatamala coffee from Java Rosting coffee house. Sounds weird I know,but I like it.
Sheri B says
Thanks SandiC for pointing out … not all of us (for others, your day will come) can still enjoy “unleaded coffee” every morning, for suggesting McDaniels. Hopefully, I can find it in my area. Peace.
são paulo vidro automovel says
i tried kopi luwak which is sourced directly from coffee plantations as luwak scats (droppings)in sumatra. it’s very good.
SandiC says
Due to health reasons, I have to drink Decaf…..the very best and only one I will drink is McDaniel’s decaf. It is superb!
coffeenovice says
After reading the great info on coffee bean storage here & elsewhere, I’m having trouble finding a coffee storage unit that meets all the criteria: non-plastic, preferably ceramic, vacuum seal, allow CO2 to off-gas, non-clear. It seems the only ones that come close are either plastic, or don’t have both the off-gassing AND the vacuum-seal (hmmm… I’m not sure how you could have both in the same product, anyway). Can anyone help. I’ve spent hours on this already :(
DN909 says
Russ – I’ve found decaf tastes better in the darker roasts, as it gives it some flavor (decaf has much less flavor than regular because the process to remove the caffeine also removes a lot of the flavor). The French Roast (medium-dark roast) Decaf by Chock-Full-O-Nuts and also Maxwell House are much better than any of the decafs in medium or light roasts.
Of course it comes down to personal taste – some people hate the bitter/bold/strong taste of dark roast and others (like me) hate the bright/acidy/fruity/citrus tastes of light and medium roasts.
Marinemomsg says
Can someone tell me where I can purchase Mcdaniels Coffee?I even contact Save-a-Lot and they cannot ship coffee.
NewsView says
Trader Joes is not available to everyone everywhere. So in case some of you feel like you’re missing out, not really. Where I live Trader Joes carries such a limited/obscure selection that I mistook their tea section for the “medicinal” treatments of dubious efficacy, walked around the store looking for the “drinking variety” and was then told to go back where I started. That’s when I noticed their meager coffee selection. More space was dedicated to the grinder than the coffee! I almost never find anything I want at Trader Joes that I can’t get for a better price at the club stores, and generally I only go when I have a gift certificate or am trying to hunt down some exotic spice or ingredient for a recipe (they never have it). Maybe if I drank wine by the gallon I would do jumping jacks for Trader Joes, but…
Songbird says
I SO love the McDaniels coffee – even the instant. Only problem is that our Sav-a-Lot store here closed and we have not been able to find McDaniels brand any place else. Does anyone know of any other stores that carry this instant coffee or maybe one similar?
Thanks in advance for any help!
bebe says
If you want a strong cup, try “Wake the F^@$ UP” (which is the censored, they also have uncensored).
http://www.hotsauceworld.com/wafuupco1l.html
sachin dheb says
done a very good job
Brian says
Hello, does anyone in this forum know where a person can find the coffee beans that Dutch Bros. uses without going through them to pay retail? I want to start a coffee shop and this would be a big help.
Kelly says
I apologies as I forgot to comment on the Spanish coffee’s. I am wondering if you are referring to ones from Spain or Mexico? I was curious and purchased the Pilon Bean coffee, unfortunately it was a very HARD bean to grind, I ruined my costly grinder and was rather upset. I have purchased coffee from spain and Mexico, and found them to be just as diverse as others. Oh and Peets coffee brand is the ONLY one I buy at grocery or retail stores. There are several brands mentioned here I haven’t tried, but I will certainly give them a shot.
Kelly says
Trader Joes made me the coffee snob I am today, they carry such a variety its mind boggling. I only drink coffee I brew myself, I use distilled water which is a must, you will immediately notice a difference. Tanzania Peaberry, Ethiopian and coffee’s grown at high altitudes in volcanic rich soil are simply WOW. I highly recommend Trader Joes for pricing and variety, from shade grown, to rare blends its a great way to teach your pallet the differences, you will be amazed at how quickly you learn. Maxwell House, Folders, Chock full-o-nuts, Yuban the list goes on are simply weak excuses for real coffee IMO. Also if you are a blond and sweet (cream and sugar) drinker like me, my advice is to ONLY use quality cream or half and half, and quality sugar if your going to drink fine coffee’s. There is a symmetry between the oil of the bean and cream that is superb. I use white cane sugar as to not disrupt the taste of the coffee with molasses rich sugars. I use to be a Yuban and powdered creamer type, all of what I am now is due to Trader Joes. Evolution Baby!
As for all the boo hoo profanity whiners, GROW UP. The word bastard is not classified as profanity, as are many other words which one might think are profane..Teacher needs to do her homework.
Jose Greaseball says
Starbucks blows.
debbi says
hay mcdaniels coffee is great. i just discovered it and will make sure i use it from now on……it actually tastes so much better than the top brands…..
Donald says
Thanks for the information on the spanish coffees. I intend to give them a try. At the expense of being booed out of the forum, I’m going to recommend another commercial coffee that I find very good- Dunkin Donuts Original whole bean. Good stuff.
Donald says
Shelley,
We tried McDaniels coffee from Save-A-Lot on the recommendation of a neighbor and found it to be quite good. We later discovered Wal Mart’s pure Arabica (about same price or cheaper), and were really surprised at how good it is. Give it a try. If you liked McDaniel’s, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. It’s a great everyday coffee. Maybe not for the upper end afficianado, but just plain good for us average coffee drinkers. If you do feel like splurging, try Jamaican Blue Mountain.
Shelley says
Hey Russ I agree.That McDAniels coffee is great!Save-A Lot close down where I live.I MISSSSSSSSSSS It sOOOOOOOOO much.Where can I get McDaniels Coffee Now? Shelley
Russ says
Believe it or not, for everyday coffee I buy a very inexpensive brand called McDaniels. It is marketed by Sav-a-Lot stores and costs less than a dollar a pound. I heard a coffee buyer on NPR a couple of years ago talking about the quality of coffee. Most major brands, because they need volume and consistency, buy a “B” grade coffee. The “A” grade coffees are generally passed by due to limited and variable supplies, and it is these coffees that are purchased to make the less expensive brands. Ironic.
Red Roaster says
Mexican coffee is good stuff…better fresh roasted. I don’t care if the coffee is Lauk, Blue Mtn or Aussie. If it’s been roasted and sitting around for weeks, it is going to taste pretty bad. I also agree with the 1st comment, I like your site, but I think trying to contain the profanity would be good. Thanks
Zuleika Perales says
Tauria, Agreed! Pilon, Bustello and Goya definitly make a better coffee than anything I have ever tried, European blends included. Coffee from Ethiopia seems to be the only coffee that comes close. If you buy these Spanish brands as whole beans you can grind them to brew in a regular brewer for an excellent alternative to what’s out there.
Russ says
Can someone recommend a good decaf brand?
Russ says
Tauria, you are right about Spanish coffees. When I worked for an international firm we literally had three pots of coffee available; German, American, and Spanish. By far the Spanish was better, albeit brewed more robustly.
Tauria Kane says
you gringos need to try Bustello, Pilon or Goya brand, Spanish coffee has it all over American brands! I’ve been drinking it since age 5!
Russ says
The best cup of coffee is the one you prefer. I hate Starbuck’s coffee, it always taste burnt. I had a cup at BK yesterday and it was good, even though it was disappointing in times past. I prefer the coffee I make at home, simple American brewed Joe. But I admit there are times when a restaurant serves a superb cup. It makes the dining experience worthwhile.
rena carter says
I really enjoy you’re website….you have so much good information!! It is disappointing that you occasionally choose to use profanity. I teach school and grow weary of trying to encourage students to express themselves appropriately. Thanks for any consideration you may give this. Have a great day!