Hi. My name is Kim. I am a coffee addict.
It’s true. I drink at least one cup of coffee every day. Usually, it’s just my trusty French press and me before work. Sometimes I have a cup at Starbucks if it’s a particularly harried day. Usually, my coffee is taken only with milk and a dash of sugar. And it’s usually just enough and I don’t crave any other caffeinated drink.
Except that I made the unfortunate decision the other week to buy a bag of coffee that was not my normal coffee. It’s an entirely different brand. For shame, I know. I don’t buy Starbucks coffee in the bag. It’s usually too strong for me. So I’ve been buying Peet’s when my grocery store has it on sale. And I like the brew. I really do. What possessed me to buy the no-name coffee a few weeks ago I do not know.
But I wish I hadn’t. Because my morning coffee now tastes like dirty socks. And really, who wants to start the day drinking dirty socks?
So my question is, what coffee do you buy to brew at home? Any faves? Anything I should truly stay away from? French Roast tends to be a little too strong for me. House blends, breakfast blends, Columbian… along those lines. 
I am not a big fan of Starbucks either.. it is always too bold for me and sometimes tastes burnt. I do however like their new Pikes Place blend coffee. It is mild and smooth.. and you can but it by the 1/2 lb
Let me know and I can bring you a few scoops to try out before you buy it!!
We roast our own coffee beans. We buy fair trade beans from Sweet Maria’s in Oakland and then roast in our coffee roaster.
The coffee roaster is an investment at the outset, but the beans can be as reasonable as $5/lb, so ultimately we save money by roasting.
And seriously? Best coffee ever. I mean it’s REALLY the best coffee ever. Makes even Peet’s pale in comparison. And I love me some Peets.
I’ll bring you some of our home roast the next time I see you.
You both are dolls.
Thanks!
Roast my own coffee beans?? Hmmm, that’s definitely a thought…
I’m a coffee snob. I love Caribou, a Midwest company. But the other coffee I love is the Folgers Vanilla. I heard that gasp! It smells heavenly. I usually don’t like flavored coffees, but it’s really good. Also, I don’t like Starbucks, except for the Breakfast Blend.
We just got Emeril’s brand of coffee and it’s pretty good. We are also big fans of Tully’s, but it can be on the strong side like Starbucks, but without the burnt taste.
Hi Kim! I buy Seattle’s Best and I really enjoy it (and it’s a buck or two cheaper than ol’ SB) – Henry’s Blend is the name of the coffee I like best. Very well rounded, not bitter, not acidic. And I’m so not a flavored coffee gal but their Cinnabon is to die for.
I’m with you on the Peets. I’m not a fan of French Roast (or Starbucks) but it’ll do in a pinch. I prefer beans of South / Central American origin. When you stop by Peets they have a laminated coffee/tea selection wheel that has information about all of their blends and single-origin coffees, ask to see it. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Columbia, and Arabian Mocha-Java are my favorites from Peets.
I’ve found that Whole Paycheck usually has a good selection of bulk beans and often several different vendors. With the bulk, you can buy any quantity, so you can come home with several different coffees to try.
Other than those two, I’ve had good luck at an awesome small one-off espresso/coffee house in the SF bay area that roasts their own beans (http://www.barefootcoffeeroasters.com) but they don’t sell beans online. If you’re ever in Santa Clara, CA, they’re the best espresso I found in the area.
Good luck with your quest.