46 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

I like my coffee like I like my women - bitter and free of charge.

[cw68]

Nope, the best coffee is Steep & Brew out of Madison. That's where I order coffee from when I'm so inspired. Every trip to Madison includes a stop here. My sister sends it to me with every package and delivers some when she visits. Their Dark Sumatran is my personal favorite and I'm partial also to their Costa Rican La Minita, when available.

I highly discourage self-roasting, unless you have a lot of patience, attention and control. What makes Steep & Brew so good is the Sivetz fluid bed roaster that they use to roast the beans. Each different type of coffee and roast is managed to no more than +/- 1 degree from optimal roasting. You'll never see a scorched or lighter bean in a batch. Mark Ballering, owner and master roaster and perfectionist, visits each coffee farm personally to check it out before he buys beans from them (or at least he used to). I've seen him throw away large batches (forgot how many pounds are roasted at a time) when he sees a single scorched bean. (Scorched beans = bitterness)

Lots of you won't think the Steep & Brew coffees to be rich enough and that's because coffee style is different throughout the country. East Coast coffees are the lightest roasts and they are darkest on the West Coast (Peets and Starbucks). The Midwest style is in between. This holds true for all styles; a french roast will generally be lightest when roasted on the East Coast and darkest in the West.

I'm not a frappacino drinker, but I'll take a S&B Frosty Cap anyday!

As for espresso, coffee is fine for me at home. Someday I will break down and buy a nice espresso maker, but I only want a really good one and I don't feel I can afford one yet. It's got to have a great milk frother, too. I once was an expert, but that was 15 years ago.

[barb44]

Nope, the best coffee is Steep & Brew out of Madison. That's where I order coffee from when I'm so inspired. Every trip to Madison includes a stop here. My sister sends it to me with every package and delivers some when she visits. Their Dark Sumatran is my personal favorite and I'm partial also to their Costa Rican La Minita, when available.

I highly discourage self-roasting, unless you have a lot of patience, attention and control. What makes Steep & Brew so good is the Sivetz fluid bed roaster that they use to roast the beans. Each different type of coffee and roast is managed to no more than +/- 1 degree from optimal roasting. You'll never see a scorched or lighter bean in a batch. Mark Ballering, owner and master roaster and perfectionist, visits each coffee farm personally to check it out before he buys beans from them (or at least he used to). I've seen him throw away large batches (forgot how many pounds are roasted at a time) when he sees a single scorched bean. (Scorched beans = bitterness)

Lots of you won't think the Steep & Brew coffees to be rich enough and that's because coffee style is different throughout the country. East Coast coffees are the lightest roasts and they are darkest on the West Coast (Peets and Starbucks). The Midwest style is in between. This holds true for all styles; a french roast will generally be lightest when roasted on the East Coast and darkest in the West.

I'm not a frappacino drinker, but I'll take a S&B Frosty Cap anyday!

As for espresso, coffee is fine for me at home. Someday I will break down and buy a nice espresso maker, but I only want a really good one and I don't feel I can afford one yet. It's got to have a great milk frother, too. I once was an expert, but that was 15 years ago.

The lines move fast at Starbuck's, so why is everyone always in such a hurry around here ? Leave a little earlier... I'd rather have Starbuck's than Peets.

[SacKen]

For me it's convenience. I like Peet's more than Starbucks, but only go when I have the time. For one, that location is not in a convenient location for me. I rarely pass that strip of E. Bidwell. It also takes them sooooo long to make the drink. I understand why it takes longer and appreciate it when I have the time, but that doesn't matter when I just want to pull through a drive-through and be on my way in under 5 minutes because I have a freakin' full day of meetings and only got 3 hours of sleep the night before and I'm already running late.

Although, I usually make my own coffee at home and usually brew Peet's.

[supermom]

hmm--my favorite coffee--

Once I was sitting on this small beach with a bright white expanse of soft, smooth sand. The perfect beach without the sharp toe killers of california beaches. Anyway, I was sitting there and enjoying this incredibly warm day with a gentle breeze; and this man comes up and takes my order for a drink. My eyes are closed and I was incredibly relaxed. I told him him I would go for a strong coffee no sugar, no creamer.

Well after a few minutes I get bored and walk out to a settee on the beach. I take off my sarong and enjoy the hot ambience of the carribean sun behind closed eyes and a quiet beach. I began to doze. A call of some sort of sea bird woke me; and with a start I realized a naked man with a a perfect physique was walking toward me. No wait--after a second look--he wasn't naked--but rather wearing what appeared to be racing swim trunks--and he wasn't walking but rather gliding or even floating across the smothly raked sand. As he came closer I noted he was carrying a cup and saucer.

As he approached my right side he reached out a sun honeyed colored arm and asked me if I would like a a cool moist towel before I took my coffee. I blinked. I remember I blinked because I was assuming that what I was seeing was a heat stroke induced hallucination--up until the point that he stretched out his arm and offered me a wet towel. I accepted it gratefully. When done I accepted my coffee and listened (only partially) as the waiter then explained to me what was on the menu for the evening. I know that the coffee was spectacularly good as it was finished by the time my waiter had taken my order and then moved on down the beach ( the whole time I am positive I never breathed) and I know my waiter's eyes were a shade of wild frothy sea green; but the name and the taste of the coffee eludes me--even to this day. All I remember is --well--uh-hem a spectacular sunset and a glorious vision of nature, at his best.

Yes- the best coffee I've ever had--and I can't remember the name of it. **sigh**













ok--If you believe this story-- I got a bridge I can sell ya--but don't you wish these kind of coffee stories were true?
It would make a much better commercial than the dude at a ladies' window, sitting on a mule!!

[ducky]

hmm--my favorite coffee--

Once I was sitting on this small beach with a bright white expanse of soft, smooth sand. The perfect beach without the sharp toe killers of california beaches. Anyway, I was sitting there and enjoying this incredibly warm day with a gentle breeze; and this man comes up and takes my order for a drink. My eyes are closed and I was incredibly relaxed. I told him him I would go for a strong coffee no sugar, no creamer.

Well after a few minutes I get bored and walk out to a settee on the beach. I take off my sarong and enjoy the hot ambience of the carribean sun behind closed eyes and a quiet beach. I began to doze. A call of some sort of sea bird woke me; and with a start I realized a naked man with a a perfect physique was walking toward me. No wait--after a second look--he wasn't naked--but rather wearing what appeared to be racing swim trunks--and he wasn't walking but rather gliding or even floating across the smothly raked sand. As he came closer I noted he was carrying a cup and saucer.

As he approached my right side he reached out a sun honeyed colored arm and asked me if I would like a a cool moist towel before I took my coffee. I blinked. I remember I blinked because I was assuming that what I was seeing was a heat stroke induced hallucination--up until the point that he stretched out his arm and offered me a wet towel. I accepted it gratefully. When done I accepted my coffee and listened (only partially) as the waiter then explained to me what was on the menu for the evening. I know that the coffee was spectacularly good as it was finished by the time my waiter had taken my order and then moved on down the beach ( the whole time I am positive I never breathed) and I know my waiter's eyes were a shade of wild frothy sea green; but the name and the taste of the coffee eludes me--even to this day. All I remember is --well--uh-hem a spectacular sunset and a glorious vision of nature, at his best.

Yes- the best coffee I've ever had--and I can't remember the name of it. **sigh**
ok--If you believe this story-- I got a bridge I can sell ya--but don't you wish these kind of coffee stories were true?
It would make a much better commercial than the dude at a ladies' window, sitting on a mule!!

I believe! I believe! And you can keep the bridge. I just want the exact location of THAT Starbucks, supermom.

Actually, I've been to a Starbucks in the Caribbean and it wasn't anything like that. (I didn't order coffee. It was only to take a picture.)

I also had no idea people were so heavily invested in their coffee and espressos.

[futuremrs4]

My husband and I had a running joke in college that whenever we really couldn't meet up with each other we would say "See you at Peets" Why? Because everytime we tried to go to the one across from Lohmanns Plaza it would be closed, so we always went to the now defunct Java City.

I don't usually have coffee, but I am a STARBUCKS devotee. I LOVE LOVE LOVE thier iced teas, and I also like the convience of a drive thru with two kids under 3, and I need a caffiene fix. I also like all the new food they are offering for lunch. Especially the tomato mozzerella salad, the curry chicken, and they veggie plates and fruit and cheese plates. Kinda nice to have something from a drive thru that isn't a burger and fries

[Parizienne]

I'm doing weight watchers. I like the convenience and consistency of Starbucks. I know exactly how much sweetener I am getting when I order my venti nonfat one pump each tuxedo, and can accurately calculate the points for my meal plan. At Peets, I don't think they customize like S-Bucks does. I have been there a few times. I liked their sugar-free vanilla lattes, but I was kind of shy about asking for anything more um.. interesting than that without having to specify that I can only have a certain amount of sweetener. I don't like really, really sweet coffee. I don't like it unsweetened, though either. That can be hard to get at places other than Starbucks. People ridicule those who like to customize their coffees at Starbucks, but I kinda thought that was the point -- getting what you want the way you like it.

Pari

[Nylaan]

http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=peet

As anti-chain threads go, and there have been quite a few of them, this one's weak. If you were so anti-chain, wouldn't you go to Bella Bru right across the street? They're a wee bit more local than a national brand originating from Berkeley, oh, forty years ago. Yeah, that's terribly different from Starbucks. Except the getting the customers part.


You all love your chains, and you know it!

[bishmasterb]

Can't I like chains and small shops as well? Why does it have to be one or the other?

[tgianco]

Can't I like chains and small shops as well? Why does it have to be one or the other?

Good point. I like Starbucks. I also own shares of Starbucks, so it's a good way to teach the kids about investments (probably jumping the gun on that, but, hey, it's worth a try). Also, I like driving to Placerville on the weekends to get my kids down (if all else fails) and going through the drive-through on Main St/ Broadway (not sure which is which).

However, I really like Coffee Republic, although it can be hard to get to around dinner time, and I never have a clue what their hours are.

I like Bella Breu (Folsom location, not the EDH one...EDH staff used to suck...see my above grudge with Peet's) as well. Their staff there has always been super nice, too.

I haven't had the coffee at Black Rooster, just a couple of drinks.

Has anyone been to Kosmic Cafe in Placerville? I haven't had their coffee, but it has a cool, funky atmosphere, and, if you walk toward the back, you can walk into and sit at a table in a real gold mine.

[folsombound]

I learned to love coffee in the Army. Everything since has pretty much been a gourmet experience. I like Peet's, I like Starbucks, my favorite is Flying Goat in Healdsburg but the bottom line is that I enjoy coffee.

[Nylaan]

Can't I like chains and small shops as well? Why does it have to be one or the other?

It doesn't, which is kind of the point that I was making.

[ChipShot]

You all love your chains, and you know it!

You're absolutely right...I admit it, unlike alot of people here who are in denial about their chain-addiction. And another thing....when are we getting a Chevys Restaurant??....Folsom needs more Mexican restaurants.

[redman]

I like Peet's coffee better than Starbucks. BUT, when it comes to coffee drinks (lattes, etc.) I've found that Peet's baristas are incredibly inconsistent from one location to another. Some Peet's make them great and others do a lousy job. Starbucks may not be as good but they are consistent. I've had Starbucks lattes all over the US, in England, Germany and New Zealand and they are the same drink. I like that and don't have any real problem with Starbucks coffee.
As far as the "evil empire" goes, I don't buy it. Starbucks pays it's employees well, provides healthcare and other benefits and is a very good company. They didn't start big, they started with one location at Pike's Place Market in Seattle. They got big because they did it better than anyone else. That's what can happen if you have a great idea and execute it better than the other guy. Peet's started before Starbucks (and in fact was the idea behind Starbucks) but did not try to expand the business until Starbucks already had thousands of locations.

And yes, Peet's Freddo drinks are way better than Starbucks blended drinks!

I do agree that Peet's can sometimes be inconsistent. Sometimes they make a latte that blows me away. While other times their lattes are just ok. I always find the espresso part of it good, it's the milk frothing that varies. But in my experience, even on a bad day, Peets lattes are much better than Starbucks.

I've never had a bad experience at Peets. Certainly not like some of the ones described here. I admit their Folsom location is not the most convenient for everyone. But it's not that bad. It's right on the corner of a major intersection. And I've never had trouble finding a place to park.

I have to go a little out of my way to go to Peets. But it's still quicker for me than standing in line for 10 minutes at Starbucks. Though I guess that will change if my post here succeeds in bringing more people to Peets