Thread: Bean recommendations?

HI all
Ive just started home-roasting, up here in the Blue Mountains, and soon will be looking towards buying some green beans in a reasonable domestic-bulk supply -- I guess that means somewhere between 10 and 20 kg. There is a cafe-cum-bean outlet in Katoomba, but prices are a rip-off -- they charge the same or more for their green beans than for roasted!
So, to get the ball rolling on my second or third posting here, I have two questions...
First, can anyone supply web address for the best green beans supplier in Aus?
Second, can anyone recommend a specific straight bean or blend? Im not doing true espresso as yet (though my wife and I aspire to a rancilio silvia in the not too distant future). Right now were using our venerable Atomic, to produce a beautiful drop which I guess is more strictly a Moka style than espresso. The Atomic makes a longer drink than I have in a cafe (which would be espresso, ristretto or macchiato), but very sweet and delicious. Maybe several of you out there have experience of what beans suit the Atomic style best?
Cheers from Anthony in the Blue Mountains......

Hi (again),

I havent really used the Atomic since I started home-roasting, but Ive had great results with stove-top moka pots using a blend of Peruvian and Yemen mocha which I bought through this site. This might be a bit expensive (Im thinking here particularly of the Yemen Mocha). Similarly satisfying stove-top results have come from Ethiopian Harrar. Really it depends on what flavours you enjoy and the best way is to experiment and see. If you want to try before you commit to buying in bulk green, you could buy roasted beans of different origins in small lots from a trusted roaster and see what tastes best in the Atomic.

Cheers,

Rob