Nominate your favorite online coffee roaster (poll)

[HB]

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

[annp]

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

[shadowfax]

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..

[richardtempura]

Intelligentsia / Kid O Organic

Better than Black Cat, IMHO.

[malachi]

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.

[HB]

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

[malachi]

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

[Abe Carmeli]

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.

[Jeff]

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)

[espressoDOM]

Stumptown

[parity]

Terroir Coffee & their North Italian Roast Style Espresso.

[HB]

Results from the home page poll:

[Abe Carmeli]

That's puzzling. Barrington were a total unknown when I nominated them. How did they end up on top? Is it possible that we are on the receiving end of a marketing campaign? Dan, could a guest vote in that poll, or must one be a registered user?

[AndyS]

That's puzzling. Barrington were a total unknown when I nominated them. How did they end up on top? Is it possible that we are on a receiving end of a marketing campaign? Dan, could a guest vote in that poll, or must one be a registered user?

Interesting, Abe. One of local coffee shops around here (upstate NY) uses Barrington as their secret (unnamed) supplier. I've never been a big fan of the Robusta-tinged flavor when I've tried it at home, but the local folks pull a pretty nice shot with it.

[HB]

Dan, could a guest vote in that poll, or must one be a registered user?

The home page polls are open to anyone and you can vote once a day.

[Abe Carmeli]

The home page polls are open to anyone and you can vote once a day.

That may explain the result.

[Abe Carmeli]

Interesting, Abe. One of local coffee shops around here (upstate NY) uses Barrington as their secret (unnamed) supplier. I've never been a big fan of the Robusta-tinged flavor when I've tried it at home, but the local folks pull a pretty nice shot with it.

Andy,

The shots I pulled at home were very different from the ones I tasted at Joe's and I prefer my home brew. I get a much bigger body at home. They use a L/M Linea there. With the M3 grinder, I pull it at 201.5f 16 grams /1.5 oz./26 sec.

[HB]

That may explain the result.

I wondered the same thing, so I've created another poll for registered users only. Let's see if the results are consistent, or if there is a sudden surge in new members. In the future, home page polls will avoid naming specific businesses to remove any incentive to skew the results.

[brianneary]

Over the last year I have used
LaColumbe -Nizza, Vivace - Dolce, Intelligencia - Black Cat, and Barrington -Gold. My new favorite is Fresco-Ambrosia.
BTW, besides being a meticuluous roaster, Tony has a great sense of humor.

Question: Has anyone noticed more Caffeine "Kick" in Barrington Gold?

[Abe Carmeli]

Question: Has anyone noticed more Caffeine "Kick" in Barrington Gold?

If you notice a kick it is probably from their Robusta. I pull it as a double ristretto 1.5 oz and avoid the kick.