Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Food & Drink => Topic started by: Thor on 21 April, 2009, 03:20:22 pm

Title: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Thor on 21 April, 2009, 03:20:22 pm
I know there are a few coffee addicts enthusiasts on here.  I prefer to buy coffee beans and grind them myself, but the selection in supermarkets is minimal.  When I've looked at online stores in the past, they've been expensive, want to sell coffee in units of a hundredweight and charge you P&P per item.

So where do you buy good coffee?  TIA
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: tiermat on 21 April, 2009, 03:24:52 pm
I have found coffeebeanshop.co.uk to be good value and will supply beans or ground, to your liking, and are fast (most orders I have placed before 12midday have arrived the next day)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Pingu on 21 April, 2009, 03:25:27 pm
MacBeans, Aberdeen (http://www.macbeans.com/), by going to the shop, not mail order.

HTH  ;D
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: bikenerd on 21 April, 2009, 03:27:19 pm
Cardew's in Oxford covered market.
They have a branch in Cambridge as well.
They sell many different types of coffee (more than 20, I think) and you can buy either the roasted beans or they will grind it to your specification at no extra cost, which is typically £18.00 a kilo.  Smallest bag is 125g.
They get a big :thumbsup: from me, always friendly, can usually remember what you buy if you're a regular.

That might not help, depending on your location. :)

edit: They do mailorder (http://www.cardewoxford.co.uk/)!
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Kathy on 21 April, 2009, 03:29:36 pm
Whittard have a reasonable selection.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: JohnP on 21 April, 2009, 03:36:16 pm
Google (http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=qNH&ei=e9ntSd7RM9CRjAfPw-0Q&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=mail+order+coffee+bean+supplier+uk&spell=1)

Seems to have a reasonable selection of suppliers and most sell in 250gm packages.   Unfortunately the price, and visibility, is what we all have to accept for letting high street shops die.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: iakobski on 21 April, 2009, 03:45:09 pm
Ask in local independent restaurants/cafes and find out who supplies them.

If we phone our coffee man on Wednesday he will roast the beans that evening and bring them round to us Thursday morning. We get one of his own blends, fairtrade beans, and pay £11 + VAT/kilo
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: orienteer on 21 April, 2009, 03:53:09 pm
Mr Higgins in Duke St, off Oxford St opposite Selfridges:
www.hrhiggins.co.uk (http://www.hrhiggins.co.uk)
Can order by mail, but if you buy more than 500gr of tea/coffee in the shop, you get a free cup of coffee with biscuits and (optional) cream!
Will sell from 125gr upwards, ground or beans.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: andygates on 21 April, 2009, 04:00:48 pm
Cardew's in Oxford covered market.

Ah, memories!

Whittard's here.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: clarion on 21 April, 2009, 04:02:42 pm
I thought Whittards were struggling.

Personally, I used to shop at Pollards (http://www.pollards.com/), but I don't tend to bother now. :-\
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: numbnuts on 21 April, 2009, 04:35:10 pm
Sainsbury's Original Blend Coffee Beans 227g £1.39t
tastes OK for me, but I would drink anything
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: eck on 21 April, 2009, 04:41:47 pm
Well, not here anyway: unless you want it well roasted?
Quote
ONE OF Dundee’s oldest shops was hit by fire yesterday when a coffee roaster went up in smoke.

Firefighters were called to Braithwaite’s coffee shop in Castle Street around 3.30pm when the store owner got more than he bargained for while roasting a batch of coffee.

Allan Braithwaite said he was roasting some coffee beans at the store—which opened in 1868—when he noticed smoke belching from the equipment.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/04/16/newsstory12961805t0.asp (http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/04/16/newsstory12961805t0.asp)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: pcolbeck on 21 April, 2009, 08:53:20 pm
Try Nothing but Coffee (http://www.nothingbutcoffee.co.uk/). I haven't bought coffee from them but have bought a lot of tea from their other enterprise Nothing but Tea (http://nbtea.co.uk) and it's all been good (well bar the smoky caravan but that's just my taste).
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 21 April, 2009, 09:16:02 pm
Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans from Has Bean Coffee (http://www.hasbean.co.uk)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: border-rider on 21 April, 2009, 09:23:54 pm
These days I drink mostly Union Organic Natural Spirit, which has a marvellous farmyard aroma before it is brewed :)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: peterh on 22 April, 2009, 12:56:19 am
I buy from Monmouth Coffee Company (http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/) but mail order doesn't appear to be pushed on their website.  Not far away (physically) is the Algerian Coffee Store (http://www.algcoffee.co.uk)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: fred the great on 22 April, 2009, 03:27:20 am
I usually buy Hill Tribe Coffee which comes from Northern Thailand.

Quite strong.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Regulator on 22 April, 2009, 09:43:22 am
I buy from Monmouth Coffee Company (http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/) but mail order doesn't appear to be pushed on their website.  Not far away (physically) is the Algerian Coffee Store (http://www.algcoffee.co.uk)

The Algerian Coffee Store is my London supplier.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Charlotte on 22 April, 2009, 09:45:09 am
These days I drink mostly Union Organic Natural Spirit, which has a marvellous farmyard aroma before it is brewed :)

You mean it smells like sheep shit?
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: mike on 22 April, 2009, 10:01:05 am
Purists, look away now.  

since I got one of these (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/coffeemachines/extra-saeco/prod1013.html) for christmas, I get my coffee (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/capsules//prod1015.html) in Tesco.

It's lovely.


Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: border-rider on 22 April, 2009, 10:05:34 am
These days I drink mostly Union Organic Natural Spirit, which has a marvellous farmyard aroma before it is brewed :)

You mean it smells like sheep shit?

More like semi-fermented cowshit  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: tiermat on 22 April, 2009, 10:13:47 am
Purists, look away now.  

since I got one of these (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/coffeemachines/extra-saeco/prod1013.html) for christmas, I get my coffee (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/capsules//prod1015.html) in Tesco.

It's lovely.

That's just heresy!!!!!!!!!!!

Burn the witch warlock........... :)
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: fred the great on 22 April, 2009, 02:26:58 pm
Purists, look away now.  

since I got one of these (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/coffeemachines/extra-saeco/prod1013.html) for christmas, I get my coffee (http://storeuk.lavazza.com/a-modo-mio/capsules//prod1015.html) in Tesco.

It's lovely.




But that machine only uses capsules?
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 April, 2009, 04:39:41 pm
I usually buy Hill Tribe Coffee which comes from Northern Thailand.

Quite strong.

<coffee-pseud>

You should try and seek out coffee from the Bolovens plateau in Laos, it's some of the best stuff.

</coffee-pseud>
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Dinamo on 22 April, 2009, 04:44:37 pm
Union Rwanda Maraba Bourbon

http://www.unionroasted.com/ouroffer/coffees.aspx?type=fairtrade (http://www.unionroasted.com/ouroffer/coffees.aspx?type=fairtrade)

Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: fred the great on 22 April, 2009, 04:52:47 pm
I usually buy Hill Tribe Coffee which comes from Northern Thailand.

Quite strong.

<coffee-pseud>

You should try and seek out coffee from the Bolovens plateau in Laos, it's some of the best stuff.

</coffee-pseud>

Interestingly, there was  a Coffee and Tea Exhibition recently in Bangkok. My wife and I sat down with a cup of coffee from Laos. It was lovely.

Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 22 April, 2009, 04:57:31 pm
It is great stuff.  Not much that comes out of Vietnam is that good in my experience though, Chon is disgusting.  They flooded the market a few years back with cheap Robusta, and have little experience of decent grains.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: fred the great on 22 April, 2009, 05:28:26 pm
The Hill Tribe Coffees are reasonably priced here and I like to support them.

I am no expert though.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Really Ancien on 22 April, 2009, 05:43:27 pm
Booths are fairly good and do some unusual stuff at a good price.
Booths food stores North West, Booths food stores UK, Food stores Lancashire, Food stores Cheshire, Food stores Cumbria, Food stores Yorkshire (http://www.booths-supermarkets.co.uk/news-article/Coffee-Direct-From-the-Producers)

Damon.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: LEL on 22 April, 2009, 10:11:00 pm
Farrars in Kendal do mail order - my favourite is Maragogype.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Jurek on 22 April, 2009, 10:19:02 pm
Don't touch the stuff these days.

But when I did, it was either from Whittards or The Algerian Coffee Store - both of which I would highly endorse.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Thor on 23 April, 2009, 10:11:04 am
Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions.   :thumbsup:
I'll pick one or two suppliers and place orders.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: swood on 28 October, 2020, 12:38:10 pm
I get my coffee beans from Cafe Du Monde :)

Link removed for Holy Thread Resurrection, Batman!
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: ian on 28 October, 2020, 12:42:13 pm
I belatedly second Jurek's suggestion of the Algerian Coffee Store, who send me coffee beans by mail these days. Sadly, this doesn't capture the lovely smell of the store itself.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Hot Flatus on 28 October, 2020, 12:49:14 pm
I have 2 current sources:

coffeecompass.co.uk  for the quality stuff

and...

TKmaxx for Italian bar coffee. Yes, mad isnt it. I dont know where or how they are getting this stuff but they are, in 1kg bags for about £10. Quality varies from shite to average, and it is the average I'm after. Artisan coffee is great, but I quite like bog standard ristretto per every bar in Italy, and you need a pretty bland central/south american bean and a bit of robusta to get it. Got 7kg the other day in Swindon.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: orienteer on 28 October, 2020, 03:03:36 pm
From H R Higgins in Duke St (by post since lockdown) for over 30 years.

By royal appointment to Brenda too, but have never seen her in the shop.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: andrewc on 28 October, 2020, 03:12:36 pm
I have a regular delivery of a couple of bags from a local caffeine pusher.   https://92degrees.coffee/collections/our-coffee       
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: markcjagar on 28 October, 2020, 04:24:37 pm
I buy from a local roaster, https://www.smithstreetcoffeeroasters.co.uk/

1kg of beans for ~£20, nice as hot or cold brewed.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: pcolbeck on 28 October, 2020, 04:36:49 pm
Freshly roasted I tend to get from Roost in Malton (they do mail order too).

https://www.roostcoffee.co.uk/

For interesting canned or vac packed I like Espresso International

https://www.espresso-international.co.uk/

Note that whist that's a UK website they ship from Germany. I don't think they actually have any physical presence in the UK.

Lidl also have 1Kg bags of OK 100% Italian arabica from time to time, really cheap. Their normal coffee offerings are meh.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Peter on 28 October, 2020, 04:55:24 pm

 Got 7kg the other day in Swindon.


admit it: "coffee" is just code, isn't it?!
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: davelodwig on 28 October, 2020, 05:01:34 pm
I use a local roaster for beans to go in my machine.

https://goldensheepcoffee.co.uk/barn/

He delivers for free in the local area, and offers to fill reusable tubs.

D.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Regulator on 28 October, 2020, 05:08:24 pm
I belatedly second Jurek's suggestion of the Algerian Coffee Store, who send me coffee beans by mail these days. Sadly, this doesn't capture the lovely smell of the store itself.

I used to love going in there...

We have a couple of roasters in Cambridge, which is nice.  I find it easier than mail order, as I can 'sample'.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: citoyen on 27 April, 2022, 12:23:11 pm
Excuse the thread necromancy...

I want to buy a small gift set of decent coffee for a birthday present. Any suggestions of good ones?

Aiming to keep the spend low, would rather a few small samplers of good coffee rather than a larger quantity of average coffee. This is the kind of thing I have in mind, but I don't know anything about this particular brand so no idea if they're any good:
Fountain Rock Mini Coffee Explorer Gift Set 4x 70g, £13
https://fountainrockcoffee.co.uk/products/mini-coffee-explorer-gift-set-plus
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: andrewc on 27 April, 2022, 12:28:25 pm
These 2 places both do tasting / gift packs , but a bit more expensive than the one you mentioned.


https://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/tasting-packs


https://www.coffeecompass.co.uk/collections/gifts-trial-packs
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Jurek on 27 April, 2022, 12:37:09 pm
Algerian Coffee Store in Monmouth Street in Covent Garden used to be my go to coffee shop (when I drank coffee).
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: citoyen on 27 April, 2022, 12:57:32 pm
Algerian Coffee Store in Monmouth Street in Covent Garden used to be my go to coffee shop (when I drank coffee).

Thanks. I remember you mentioning them before but I’ve never actually tried them. They say there’s a 72 hour delay on proceeding web orders at the moment which is annoying. However, I’m in London tomorrow so could maybe even call in.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: citoyen on 27 April, 2022, 01:03:41 pm
These 2 places both do tasting / gift packs , but a bit more expensive than the one you mentioned.


https://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/tasting-packs


https://www.coffeecompass.co.uk/collections/gifts-trial-packs

I thought about hasbean but the website has gone to shit, which puts me off.

Are coffee compass any good in your experience? I hear mixed reviews.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: andrewc on 27 April, 2022, 01:39:11 pm
Their service is excellent & they are decent value for money.   I've not had anything from them that's been less than drinkable,  but I'm not the  sort of connoisseur who sips & goes on about mouthfeel or floral notes....  you'll have to wait for Flatus to log on for that....
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: Jurek on 27 April, 2022, 01:57:03 pm
Algerian Coffee Store in Monmouth Street in Covent Garden used to be my go to coffee shop (when I drank coffee).

Thanks. I remember you mentioning them before but I’ve never actually tried them. They say there’s a 72 hour delay on proceeding web orders at the moment which is annoying. However, I’m in London tomorrow so could maybe even call in.
I've just realised that its Old Compton Street rather than Monmouth Street.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: ian on 27 April, 2022, 02:43:49 pm
I can't confess I'm a coffee aficionado either, but I drink a lot and – as said – I get all mine from the Algerian Coffee Store (mail order now, but it's a lovely place to visit in person). The staff will choose coffees for you, I just get them to send me a box with 12 bags of dark and dangerous coffee beans, mornings not being my thing.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: citoyen on 27 April, 2022, 02:58:21 pm
I've just realised that its Old Compton Street rather than Monmouth Street.

No bad thing - slightly closer to the office!

I know Monmouth Coffee, which is on Monmouth St - they're very good but I don't think they do gift packs as such.
Title: Re: Where do you buy proper coffee?
Post by: orienteer on 27 April, 2022, 08:20:23 pm
H R Higgins in Duke St, opposite Selfridges, also do mail order from their roastery in N Yorks.

By appointment to the Queen, but in the 30 plus years I've been going there, never seen her there.

https://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/ (https://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/)