A While Back.........

[Jeza]

Someone on Ab said they were real happy with the small cafetière they had bought so I decided to get one. Also bought Columbian medium roast coffee. After a lot of faffing about I got my coffee. It was vile. Can anyone recommend a decent coffee, or better still can you buy small sachets to try?

[EcclesCake]

Can you explain what you mean by vile? Too strong, weak, burnt flavour.....etc?

I'm not a fan of Starbucks, Costa etc but you can drink the coffee and then buy the blend.

[Jeza]

Very bitter eccles.

[Zacs-Master]

Jamaican Blue Mountain.

[EcclesCake]

I'm surprised you found a medium roasted Columbian coffee so bitter, it is a very middle of the road coffee.

It is almost impossible for anyone to recommend one that you will like as it is all down to personal taste. To go with every suggestion could cost you a small fortune and leave you with a cupboard full of unwanted coffee.

Whenever you are in town buy a coffee from one of the coffee shops that also sell their blend and see which one takes your fancy. It might take a while to find one that suits you but you'll find one that you like and none of us can suggest what that may be.

[Jeza]

Sorry for the delay, called away. I live in a small town there are no coffee shops, maccyd's here. I would have to go into Leeds. Unfortunately I cannot be away from home for that long. I guess it's back to Tetley tea bags.

[woofgang]

trial packs here
http://www.realcoffee.co.uk/shop/trial-packs/

and on amazon

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[EcclesCake]

OK, well perhaps if you tell us which brand you have tried then others may have suggestions for less bitter offerings from their experience or general recommendations.

[Jeza]

Woof, I'm going to buy that one from Amazon thanks.

Zac I'm going to try that too.

Eccles, I don't want to get another 250g pack until I know what I want. I have thrown away too much already.

[Clanad]

Zacs opinion would be great if you could actually find the Blue Mountain … and if you could get a loan enabling you to purchase a smallish amount. When it's found here in the U.S., it
s only sold in 1/2 pound sacks…

I'd suggest the Pike Place roast by Starbucks… a few years back Starbucks did a stand down and closed all of their stores here for one day to retrain employees as well as take suggestions from the customer base… they found the single most prolific complaint was that a customer could't come to any store and depend on finding one single, favorite blend at each… hence their development of Pike Place. It's a rich blend but none of the bitterness or after taste found with so many darker blends…

We have a brand here in the western U.S. (actually comes from Minnesota, I think) named Caribou and their Caribou Blend is just excellent. If they have it in the U.K. it's well worth the try...

[venator]

I have a Dualit coffee grinder and percolator - excellent if you want 2 mugs, won't do less.

The Phillips Senseo cost £30 odd, and does 2 small cups.

Either way, I buy Starbucks beans from Costco.

if short of time, Starbucks VIA sachets arte OK

(I have no shares in Starbuchs!

[woofgang]

I chucked my senseo because I thought it made rubbish coffee, didn't like the tassimo either. Have got a nesspresso now, not sure i would recommend it for what it costs.
Horses for courses i guess

[Tilly2]

I always find coffee disappointing. It never seems to taste as good as it smells.

[Zacs-Master]

Available here but yes, as grass says, quite expensive. Gulp.
http://yorkcoffeeemporium.co.uk/jamaica-blue-mountain-coffee.html?gclid=CKTHrLOG9L8CFeTItAodoU0Ang

[Zacs-Master]

Sorry, Clanad. Not grass.

[Maydup]

I like Sainsbury's Italian style Fairtrade Coffee, strength 4, in a cafetiere.

The second cup goes in the microwave to warm it up again complete with the milk for a few seconds!