The home page poll changes every few weeks. Currently it is Why didn't you enter HB SwagFest? (surprise, surprise, the #1 response so far is "Didn't know about it"). Here's a poll that's long overdue: Who's your favorite online coffee roaster? Please provide their name with link and your one preferred blend. Below are some nominations from Team HB:

Intelligentsia Coffee Roasters / Black Cat
Counter Culture Coffee / Toscano
Caffe Fresco Specialty Coffee Roaster / Dattera Reserve
Stumptown Coffee / Hairbender

Fine!

Batdorf and Bronson (they sell online, easy as pie) and their Dancing Goats.

Yes, I can get it fresh roasted across town, but they do quite a bit of online with roasteries in Seattle and Atlanta.

Ann

Coffee Emergency / Code Brown

This isn't my favorite, but it is high on my list...

Also, Caffe Fresco (above) Ambrosia is an excellent blend that's high on my list... You've picked out my current fav already, though, dan..

Intelligentsia / Kid O Organic

Better than Black Cat, IMHO.

It's largely dependent upon:
- method of consumption (straight shots, ristretto shots, short milk drinks, long milk drinks, sweetened drinks),
- type of machine being used,
- personal taste.

I know that I have a couple espressos I enjoy most when I'm drinking straight espresso, but when I drink a short milk drink there are different espressos that I'd find preferable.

OK, you can't narrow it down to one blend. But if you had to pick one roaster, who would it be?

Blends:
- Hairbender (straight shot),
- Doma Vito's blend (short milk drink),
- Intelligentsia Black Cat (long milk drink).

We had our New York Coffee Meet at Joe's last week, where I tasted for the first time Barrington Coffee Espresso Gold. This is the creamiest and most satisfying commercial blend I've had in a long time, and I'm surprised they escaped my radar for so long. It is South American & South East Asian coffees, with a little of high grade Robusta. Yeah I know, we normally shun Robusta, but keep in mind that a little high quality of that bean goes a long way. Schomer uses it in Dolce, and that ain't a bad blend. Best brewed at 203f 18 grams 25 secs.

Blue Bottle Coffee, Berkeley, CA -- Hayes Valley Espresso (this week's blend choice, at least, with great results from their Roman and Temescal espresso blends as well)

Stumptown