Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

[colinwen]

I know the I should go after the fresh bean and it can make decent shot.
However, after try several bag of the fresh bean with my EM6910, I decide to find alternative cheaper choice for some visitors who dont care what they drink and save my pocket as well.
And by myself, I am not sure if I can test the real different between fresh bean and supermarket bag when they both pull with ice milk and vanilla or other flavor syrup.

Now, I am looking for peoples advice and experience to choose an acceptable supermarket bean.
In my personal experience, illy and lavazza is good, Vittory and Rubert Harris is acceptable.
But the price of illy and lavazza is almost equal to the local fresh bean shop, I dont think they are budget choice.

I know this thread may not been interested by coffee snobs, but as limit budget and also like to have some acceptable espresso.
Any advice and suggestion will be appreciated.

Colin

[muppet_man67]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Id go the illy if you have to get it from a supermarket, Illy uses good beans and roasts them well, Illy packaging prevents them going rancid,  although it will lack the richness and flavor of fresh coffee. IMO they need to be used up in a few hours or they become like any other stale coffee.

Some supermarkets are becoming a bit more aware of coffee and introducing products that have roast dates etc. If its roasted within a reasonable time i would choose that.

Personally i found it to hard to get to a roasters regularly and supermarket coffee sucks.

I can recommend home roasting

[hazchem]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

well, im not even going to suggest any supermarket coffee as I dont think we should encourage them to manufacture more of it by giving them money ;D ;D

That said, I understand your point about not giving your good coffee to people who wont appreciate it. While my personal rule is not to serve anything I wouldnt eat or drink myself, I realise that this wont work for everyone.

Assuming you are grinding your coffee fresh, perhaps there is some excess left over in your doser that would normally be thrown away? Perhaps you could keep this in a airtight container for your less discriminating guest. That way you are getting the full use out of the good coffee you buy, and wont provide any further encouragement to the supermarket brands.

At least, thats what Id do.

[Koffee_Kosmo]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Personally i found it to hard to get to a roasters regularly and supermarket coffee sucks.

I can recommend home roasting  

Yes Colin try home roasting
Try first with these 3
Good- Pot and hand stir on stove method
Better - Popper method
Best - Heat-gun and a bowl with hand stir method

We can help - you need only to ask  
KK

[Lovey]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Gday Colin,

I can see where youre coming from in not wanting to waste money on coffee philistines, who wouldnt know good quality coffee from floor sweepings, but look upon it as a chance to educate and spread the joy of great coffee among your friends and family .

I see that you mentioned the use of syrups in your post. Youre right, in that you wont be able to tell the differences between the coffees if theyve got additional flavours (syrups) competing with the coffee in the cup.

If youre really adamant about using syrups in your coffee to gain the flavour that youre after, then my suggestion would be to pick the least oily, cheapest, whole beans you can find in the supermarket and grind them at home to suit your machine.

If money is an overriding factor in your decision, may I (and I dare say others on this board would) suggest getting some super quality green beans from the Beanbay, getting a popper, and roasting your own. The cost would be about 1/2 or probably less of the cost of store bought beans.

Great coffee is all about the journey, especially who you choose to enjoy it with 8-).
All the best,
Steve.

[GregWormald]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

1 I never lower my standards. If others do not appreciate good coffee, they get it anyway. It keeps me in practice too.

2 If money/time is the issue a 2nd hand popcorn popper is fast (under 10 minutes from cupboard to roasted beans including clean-up) and cheap (it will pay for itself in the first kilo of home-roast).

With fresh beans, roasted the way you want them, Im sure you will taste the difference. I take milk and sugar and make iced coffee with Irish Mist, and I appreciate good beans every sip.

Greg

[A_M]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

I decide to find alternative cheaper choice for some visitors who dont care what they drink and save my pocket as well.

Beans from teh super market are no cheaper than fresh bought beans..

So I would suggest a self fooling process...  Unless they are 1/2 price.

If they dont care - feed them instant...

If your using your machine, then use the opportunity to educate them.

If your going to swap between Good beans and crap beans; who will waste lost as you have to flush your grinder and change settings each time.

I am not sure if I can test the real different between fresh bean and supermarket bag when they both pull with ice milk and vanilla or other flavor syrup.

Most would not and thats why GJ does such a trade..    You might as well use instant... And cheep instant at that...

Sorry, but as per GW above, Dont lower ya standards...

Next thing ya know ya will be drinking Bonox or  Black Velvet ( Locally made drink from boot polish and Metho)

[elbeano]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Blend 43 ;D

[Shilling]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

the more important question is

how far down the rabbit hole are you willing to go?

[Thundergod]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

I agree with giving them instant.

I dont always have coffee when making the good stuff for others.

So if I gave them instant it would make no difference to me.

If they were to ask about my not using the machine my answer would be that it takes an hour to warm up and has only just been switched on.

If you know they are coming just say you are out of fresh beans (make sure you hide them).

[CarrieK]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

 
Id rather just stick to making the real stuff and hopefully educating them a little.  I wouldnt waste the electricity boiling water for instant, or the cupboard space to store it  :P

I am however worryingly intrigued by your Boot Polish & Metho reciepe AM  

[A_M]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

 
Id rather just stick to making the real stuff and hopefully educating them a little.  I wouldnt waste the electricity boiling water for instant, or the cupboard space to store it  :P

I am however worryingly intrigued by your Boot Polish & Metho reciepe AM  

Agree with the highlighted comment...

Many years ago we would put Rice and Raisins in a Full Coconut, plug the bung, and then bury it and wait for some time. Very interesting bushy home brew. :P

For the hard core drinkers, Metho has always been a fall back. Some shops were even known to have in their drinks fridge. So get a cloth, add plenty of boot polish and strain the metho... The resulting fluid is of another colour and then people can drink it out of other containers and not look so suss.

Tis a shame the same can not be said for Instant.... ;D

[colinwen]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Thanks for everyones response.
I think use the left over powder is a good idea.
And roast bean by myself sounds a good idea to save money, I will start to read the thread with that topic.

And I think I can tell the different between fresh good bean and very bad supermarket bean, so thats why I want to ask the good supermarket bean.
I believe AM is right about the price, because I have do some work about the price.
Illy and Lavazza cost around 35.- for one kg, and my local roaster charge me 18.- for the 500 g (I forget the one kg price tho).
So if I want to save money, of course not go after these two brand.

To educate my family and good friends is fine. but some other normal friends...I am worry we dont have strong relationship to support this kind of ....coffee coaching...
I think its no problem for people like milk base drink and with some syrup.. I like its flavor either...
But some people I found its most likely want to drink syrup milk base drink with some coffee flavor.....
Then I think a instant or a coffee flavor syrup maybe a good stuff to buy and serve....^^

Thanks again for every handy advice and info.
I believe I have some idea to start.

Colin

[vasanna]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

I believe AM is right about the price, because I have do some work about the price.
Illy and Lavazza cost around 35.- for one kg, and my local roaster charge me 18.- for the 500 g (I forget the one kg price tho).

yeah colin... im still learning too but i feel its worthwhile you checking out the brown beans section here on bean bay you can get a sample bag of fantastic coffee from andy freeman ( love that man )
which is 1kg of 4 styles of the weekly roast at cost of $ 30.00 plus postage thats what i have been doing and then i even share the costs of sample bag with my mum as she too loves a fab coffee.....
this way we get to half the cost and try great coffees and always have very fresh beans on hand.. anyway ;Dworth a look ...good luck...
happy sippin V

[Dimal]

Re: Which supermarket bean is accepatable for espresso

Quote from comedian Adam Hills.
Going to *bucks for coffee
is like going to prison for sex >>>>
Oh youll get it but it will be rough!!!!!

Thats a goodn vasanna.... ;D

He comes up with some beauties seemingly off the cuff. Smart chap...

Mal.