Get some Roasterie Super Tuscan or Organic Espresso beans. I've had good luck with both. You can try the retail locater on their site but I've had better luck buying beans from shops. But, they stamp the roast date so you could get lucky at your local price chopper.

shayner wrote:Get some Roasterie Super Tuscan or Organic Espresso beans. I've had good luck with both. You can try the retail locater on their site but I've had better luck buying beans from shops. But, they stamp the roast date so you could get lucky at your local price chopper.

Thanks for the tip! I'm going to head out to PT's Coffee tonight and pick up some stuff.

c0bra wrote:Thanks for the tip! I'm going to head out to PT's Coffee tonight and pick up some stuff.

They won't have The Roasterie's blends but PT's La Bella Vita blend is nice.

HB wrote:Despite the cost, I recommend getting fresh roasted coffee (see Three good beginner espressos for suggestions). I've tried Whole Foods in our area in moments of desperation. It's hit and miss at best. I look at this way: You've spent over $600 in equipment, why frustrate yourself to save $30?

I've had Silvia now for over a year and am still striving for consistency. I'm hoping the new PID that I ordered will help things along tremendously... the Temp surfing is getting old.. and is still inconsistent.

The roasted coffee I have purchased on line or homeroasted was night and day from what I could even get from my local roaster. I don't think the local roaster has much volume turnaround on his espresso blend... My point is, just because you have a local roaster, doesn't mean they are any good at their craft or offer fresh roasted beans from their hoppers.... I even tried them again a few weeks ago with the same awful results. I'll never buy there again.. especially at the $12/lb they want to charge for it. I can get fresh roasted great tasting stuff online for the same price or for $1-2 more including shipping.

When beginning, I noticed the same problems you are having. If I used old or overroasted blends (such as anything from the supermarket or even my local roaster as noted above) no matter how fine the grind or hard the tamp, or diligent in my technique, I would get thin, bitter, awful espresso... they would all be tossed, or turned into an instant mediocre Americano.

Then I finally broke down and ordered some roasted beans from Sweet Maria's... a Night and Day difference... I got better shots with the well roasted fresh online stuff even when my dose, tamp, and grind were all less than adequate...

At that point I tried a few different online roasters... all with great results.. some I liked better than others, but all provided me with the ability to get an adequate espresso with my less than adequate skills.

I do still order roasted beans on occasion, but mostly I now buy green blends and roast in a popcorn popper. Even poorly roasted beans work out better than my local roaster or supermarket blends, and at a fraction of the cost. It's really not as difficult as some may make it out to be... It's one of those things that you get out what you put into it..

Myself, I don't expect or aspire to roasting at the level of the great micro-roasters that are out there... I'm looking to save a few bucks roasting for 20 minutes a week with the expectation that it probably won't be as good as it can be.. . but I have to say... I'm never disappointed.

My latest order was from Metropolis, and I am really enjoying the Redline and the Redline Decaf. I think I actually like the Decaf a bit better... I chose them because they offer both roasted and green beans of the Redline blend they offer. I have yet to roast the "greenline" I received.. but I'm sure it will be tasty... maybe not up to the pre-roasted... but good enough for me, and at 1/2 the price.

Good luck!!

TonyB

The Whole Foods in Austin roasts in-store but I don't think many others are doing that yet.

bc

At least one of the Denver Whole Foods (on Hampden) roasts in-store as well, and puts the roast on date on the bin. While the bins aren't optimal, if you get there in a day or so, the beans are pretty good. Have had good luck with their Sumatra Decaf.