TeaChat

Ok, I've gotten my gourmet tea fix from adagio...

Now, what do you all recommend for getting my gourmet coffee fix?

I would agree. Even a local roaster of mediocre quality will beat the flavor of someone who bags and tags their stuff. Of course, a coffee company that does business like adagio would be the exception. If they did their roasting in small batches so it wouldn't grow stale then they would have a great product.

A couple worth considering:
http://www.flyingbean.com/
http://www.mellelo.com/ -- highly recommended. I used to buy from this guy when he had his cart in Medford, OR and then he built his shop just a block away from where I used to work (I can still smell the roasters).

Most importantly... buy whole beans. NEVER buy the pre-ground stuff, it's like buying bagged tea

As for grinders... if you can find one, get a burr/mill grinder as opposed to the cheap, little chopper thingies that flail madly at the beans. With a mill, you get more a consistent size grind and thus a better cup.

Cheers!
Paul

http://www.zokacoffee.com/

Awesome coffee! Zoka's is the place where I buy my beans and they are roasted on the same day you order. I always look fwd to receiving my coffee beans (in a personalized bag too, with the date they were roasted).

Anyone intersted in great coffee, check them out!

Zoka is great. If you can find something you like, look for a local cafe/roaster or small independant roaster. I reccomend Blue Bottle if you are in the SF area.