BajaNomad - Coffee, yep another coffee thread.

Coffee, yep another coffee thread.

joerover - 6-3-2018 at 09:58 PM

Well; I just got off the train from Seattle, where they have good coffee. Not just on every corner, but in the middle of the block as well.

Last time I read a Baja coffee thread they said Marino coffee was good. Then I got a bad batch a couple of times and quit that brand.

I got some Folgers at IGA in Chula Vista. It aint good enough. It is not just Tj and Ensenada where you can not get good coffee, no, San Diego just is not a good place to buy coffee.

HELP.

I want a good cup of coffee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z26BvHOD_sg

[Edited on 6-4-2018 by joerover]

Marc - 6-4-2018 at 06:18 AM

I go with Peets. Shops in the SF bay area serve very strong coffee. Beans and grounds in super markets as far as here in Palm Springs. My friends in the mid-west beg me to bring a couple of pounds along when I visit.

Lee - 6-4-2018 at 06:22 AM

I've been roasting green coffee beans for a long time. I travel with a small air roaster. For brewing, a Aero Press works fine. At home, a VIBIEMME Domobar. I only use filtered water. Green beans are half the price of preroasted. A pop corn air popper works well for roasting if you don't want to spend money on a real roaster.

25 pounds of green beans will last me about 6 months. I roast enough for about a week takes about 10 minutes.

In Baja, use to buy preroasted beans at Baja Beans, Pescadero. Then they stopped putting roast dates on the bags.

The only way to get fresh beans commercially is from a shop that roasts in house. Prepackaged won't be fresh.

I think Starbucks is garbage. On the other hand, I've had good coffee at McDonalds.

https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/d...

https://www.sweetmarias.com/green-coffee.html

mtgoat666 - 6-4-2018 at 06:28 AM

Quote: Originally posted by joerover

Well; I just got off the train from Seattle, where they have good coffee. Not just on every corner, but in the middle of the block as well.

Last time I read a Baja coffee thread they said Marino coffee was good. Then I got a bad batch a couple of times and quit that brand.

I got some Folgers at IGA in Chula Vista. It aint good enough. It is not just Tj and Ensenada where you can not get good coffee, no, San Diego just is not a good place to buy coffee.

HELP.

I want a good cup of coffee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z26BvHOD_sg

[Edited on 6-4-2018 by joerover]

San diego has several local roasters, if you want brew your own and “buy local,” or even drink in their locals shops. San diego also has all the regular corporate giants like peets and strawbucks.

There are local roasters in baja if you want to “buy local.” In rural baja you wont find much good coffee in the way of coffee shops, restruant service. Plenty of better coffee shops in TJ, Ensenada, and other big towns

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2018 at 07:39 AM

When we were recently in San Diego, we went to a new to me coffee shop, named To The Point in Point Loma. They have food, but we didn't eat. I had a latte that was really good. The owners are Italian, they have a reputation to hold up! Kind of pricey.

4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107, USA

When in La Paz we got a can of Café Punta del Cielo, cosecha premium. They had beans from different states, we tried Oaxaca and Chiapas. Oaxaca is my preference.

Last week I was in Ensenada for a day and I went to a coffee shop called Kaori and also had a really great cuppa.

This coffee shop is located inside CEARTE which is a huge gallery with works by local artists, plus art & cultural events, lectures & classes for all ages. My biggest complaint is that it only opens at 8 and I was ready for coffee at 7:30!

There was a large group of people outside, each one with a dog, getting dog training in the huge park in front of this café. There must have been 50 dogs with their humans.

Lázaro Cárdenas 1477, Bahia Ensenada, 22880 Ensenada

A beautiful sculpture outside that I would love to replicate in my garden.

2.jpg - 110kB

and here is the latte that was soooooooooo good.

shari - 6-4-2018 at 07:52 AM

OK since this is a coffee thread, I want to throw my 2 centavos in here. Luckily amigos bring me lovely coffee beans and I have been drinking Bulletproof type coffee and wow...what an amazing brew! Its so good you dont need to add sugar.

I grind the beans every morning, put it in my French press for 4 minutes. I put a tablespoon of coconut oil and a couple tablespoons of heavy cream.....we only have media crema here but it works great too...then I add some vanilla, cinnamon and tumeric and whip it all up and it is a fantastic fru-fru looking coffee that keeps me going till I can make some breakfast....one cup is like a full breakfast with the oil and cream...delightful!

Paco Facullo - 6-4-2018 at 07:52 AM

Sorry this story isn't going to get you a "good" cup of Joe but it does have to do with Baja and coffee....

It was in the 70's and my Dad was going to a Dentist in Tijuana once a week for a few months getting his teeth extracted and new dentures.

We would leave at O-dark-thirty from Santa Monica because that is how my Dad always did it and how I do the same today. There is NO time better to travel by car than leaving BEFORE the sun rises with a cup-O-coffee in hand and NO traffic !!

Well of course we were in TJ way early for his appointment and by then were always ready for breakfast . We started off eating at many restaurants in Revolution Blvd. but were vary disappointed every time.
Finally I say to my Dad " we need to get out of the tourist area and find where the locals eat, and so we did, we found a hole in the wall place that with no menus. The menu was painted on the wall in Spanish only and of course no one spoke a word of English and us likewise with Spanish. We pointed , my Dad got the steak picado that ended up being the best that he ever ate! I the huevos rancheros that again were the real deal . We ate there every time after that.

Now the coffee part, while my Dad was getting his procedure done I had time to waste so I explored Tijuana and in doing so I came across a coffee roasting shop that roasted the beans there. Well I would by a kilo at a time and bring them home. It was some of the best coffee I have ever had and is a dear memory of mine.

Thanks for posting that question Joe.

mikeymarlin - 6-4-2018 at 07:57 AM

hi sheri--- thats not a cup of coffee --- thats a milk shake !! lol---

we have been using DOKA ESTATE from costa rica --prefer french roast-
been a customer for 12+ years-- delivery very dependable-- about the same price as good coffee --similar in cost to starbucks or dunkin donuts

very smooth ---

joerover - 6-4-2018 at 10:09 AM

Blanca, is that the museum in Ensenada?

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

I've been roasting green coffee beans for a long time. I travel with a small air roaster. For brewing, a Aero Press works fine. At home, a VIBIEMME Domobar. I only use filtered water. Green beans are half the price of preroasted. A pop corn air popper works well for roasting if you don't want to spend money on a real roaster.

25 pounds of green beans will last me about 6 months. I roast enough for about a week takes about 10 minutes.

In Baja, use to buy preroasted beans at Baja Beans, Pescadero. Then they stopped putting roast dates on the bags.

The only way to get fresh beans commercially is from a shop that roasts in house. Prepackaged won't be fresh.

I think Starbucks is garbage. On the other hand, I've had good coffee at McDonalds.

https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/d...

https://www.sweetmarias.com/green-coffee.html

Roast your own. I bet it is not that easy.
As I think about that,
anybody have ideas to go into Calimax or Soriana and buy a bag of coffee?
If possible I would buy preground coffee somewhere. I am all forgrinding my own beans if someone knows where to buy them in Baja.

Lee did you print step by step instructions on home roasting? Take a class? Work at a coffee place for years?

last week I payed $45 for a titanium coffee press.I had to return it, as it only filtered out most of the grounds, not all.

many people like the arrow press. Yea, to much plastic and boiling water is bad for your health.

John Harper - 6-4-2018 at 10:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by joerover

San Diego just is not a good place to buy coffee.

OMG, coffee places are a dime a dozen here in San Diego, especially North County. Unless you expect a blow job with your order. Or you only drink civet cat chit coffee.

Sounds like a first world kind of problem. Buck up, sailor.

John

[Edited on 6-4-2018 by John Harper]

Lee - 6-4-2018 at 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by joerover

Lee did you print step by step instructions on home roasting? Take a class? Work at a coffee place for years?

last week I payed $45 for a titanium coffee press.I had to return it, as it only filtered out most of the grounds, not all.

many people like the arrow press. Yea, to much plastic and boiling water is bad for your health.

A friend turned me on to roasting. Seriously, stop by Target get a hot air pop corn popper. Buy a pound of green beans ($5.00) from Sweet Marias. Cup of green beans, start popper, I roast with lid off, watch beans jump around for about 5 minutes. Darkness of roast depends on your preference. There are 2 distinct ''pops'' you'll hear. I stop right after 2nd pop, medium brown colored beans.

Here's the deal. You NEED a ''conical burr'' grinder. Not a Braun whirly-type made for spices. Entry level is pricey.

That said, once you're set up, you'll have the freshest beans and cup possible.

Lots of web sites like Coffee Geek with forums on everything coffee. Videos from Seattle Coffee Gear are outstanding. Whole Latte Love site is good.

All self taught, no classes, though I think about Barrister school in LA.

pauldavidmena - 6-4-2018 at 11:31 AM

I buy mine from Tandem Coffee Roasters, in "the other Portland". They ship cross-country in two days. It's medium roasted, whole bean coffee that is ideal for cold brew.

That said, I'm intrigued at the prospect of roasting my own. I drink too much coffee not to.

mtgoat666 - 6-4-2018 at 11:51 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

All self taught, no classes, though I think about Barrister school in LA.

Perhaps if you attend barrister school you might learn how to spell barista, eh?

willardguy - 6-4-2018 at 11:55 AM

I totally get the roast/grind your own bean is the hot set up......but for the less discerning coffee drinker is there a good choice you can pick up here at the Soriana? on another message board a coffee guru claimed up and down Oaxaca coffee was the bomb, bought a bag and it tasted the same as the rest. any canned favorites?

chippy - 6-4-2018 at 12:15 PM

I really like this brand https://www.capdecafe.com/seleccion-capsulas
I´ve tried Veracruz,Oaxaca and Chiapas from them. Chiapas being my favorite. I´ve bought it in walmart, bodega aurrera and calimax.

[Edited on 6-4-2018 by chippy]

BajaBlanca - 6-4-2018 at 12:36 PM

Shari - you had my mouth watering with your description!

Having lived in Brazil for so long, a strong coffee is what I really like.

I also ran a coffee shop for 7 years in Ocean Beach and I sure got spoiled with the fresh ground coffee beans and the fru fru drinks we would make. My cappuccino was wicked good.

willardguy -Oaxaca coffee that we got came in a can, not a bag.

chippy - the Chiapas coffee tasted somewhat like a French Roast to me.

John Harper - where do you recommend in north county? after being in Seattle, it may be a first world problem, but the struggle would be real in the search for a great cup of coffee! I loved Seattle and the many choices for good brew.

John Harper - 6-4-2018 at 12:58 PM

I'm not an aficionado, but if you drive through Encinitas alone, there are literally dozen's of places, almost an unbelievable number. Someone's coffee must satisfy anyone's palette.

Can't possibly be that difficult to find what you like, can it? Maybe it is.

John

Bob and Susan - 6-4-2018 at 01:36 PM

pretty good sh*t

coffee.jpg - 66kB

surfhat - 6-4-2018 at 01:46 PM

I fresh grind my own each time before brewing in a french press and love it. Trader Joes carries an organic medium roasted Bolivian coffee in a can that works for me. Fresh grinding each time makes a difference.

I can't see paying $4 to $5 for coffee, as I am a cheapskate, but see that it can be a social thing to go to Starbucks or any of the other multitude of coffee places that abound everywhere these days.

Jorge Miraz' Crossing South, has done a couple of programs about the growing coffee scene in TJ and they seem to be attracting a lot of attention. The drivel of the past is thankfully being upgraded.

I recall having breakfasts all over Baja and usually the coffee was pretty tasty. No clue what it is was at any one place, but maybe the ambience helped the taste as much as anything.

I remember a brand name that always gave me a chuckle when I saw it in Baja, though I can't speak for the quality. Cafe Combate! Sounds about right. haha.

Shari, I now know what to bring down to you next time I have the chance for some Whale Magic. Thanks to all here, everyday.

AKgringo - 6-4-2018 at 02:05 PM

Café Comate is what was in the cupboard when I stayed at Shari's place last March! It was whole bean though, and I couldn't find a grinder.

I found the same brand at the local grocery store that was already ground, so I bought it. I found it to be above average, with a nice, bold aroma! I brought some home with me.

[Edited on 6-4-2018 by AKgringo]

There may be Better, BUT ......................

MrBillM - 6-4-2018 at 02:34 PM

I'll likely never know.

Starbuck's Cafe Verona !

REALLY Good.

Years ago, I ordered some books from Barnes & Noble. Luckily, they were sent in (3) separate shipments. Each containing a sample packet of Cafe Verona.

I was hooked. Finished off the Cafe La Llave and haven't bought anything other than Cafe Verona since. I watch the sale ads and stockpile it on sale ($5.99 [limit 2] versus $7.99) @ Stater Bros. I try to keep enough on hand (sometimes 8-12) to get between sales. Often brewing (2) 12-cup pots daily, it goes fast.

As good as it is, though, I couldn't see buying that (or any other) AT a Starbuck's or any other specialty cafe. Never have. Never will.

joerover - 6-4-2018 at 06:44 PM

Quote: Originally posted by willardguy

is there a good choice you can pick up here at the Soriana? guru claimed up and down Oaxaca coffee was the any canned favorites?

Wow some nomads know things about coffee.
While we think about roasting our own,

What can we buy in Baja?

You know I will have to try the green bean and roast my own sooner or later.
I do not have the green beans or air poper in TJ, or see them for sale.

[Edited on 6-5-2018 by joerover]

Ensenada

bajaguy - 6-4-2018 at 07:23 PM

Guy has beans from everywhere, can probably get what you want

Casita Del Cafe - Prolongacion Calzada Cortez 559 - Ensenada - 646 152 1950

Lee - 6-4-2018 at 08:56 PM

Part of my motivation in roasting green beans was budget. I was buying a $3.00 latte every morning.

Here's the math now. Pound of green beans about $5.00. 453 grams in a pound, I use 25 grams per shot -- I pull long shots for about 2.0-2.5 ounces. That's about .27 cents a shot, or cup of coffee. (1 pound = 18 shots)

Ground beans good for a day. Roasted beans good for a week. Green beans good for a year (stored in burlap).

My roaster broke one Winter in Baja and I roasted using a wok. Med-high flame, stir rapidly. Rough around the edges but still great.

Appreciation versus Obsession

MrBillM - 6-4-2018 at 09:29 PM

Good (or even great) coffee is worth a modest premium, but this grinding business seems a bit obsessive.

While I appreciate better coffee, I can drink whatever's available wherever I go. One of the things that many Mexican restaurants back in the '60s-'70s-'80s didn't do well was coffee. Some of it could have been called lousy, BUT it was drinkable. Usually. Better than a morning without. Even instant beats none.

Lee - 6-4-2018 at 10:29 PM

Vibiemme: espresso worth the obsession

LukeJobbins - 6-4-2018 at 11:09 PM

Well as someone who has been called a coffee snob more than a few times, I can tell you the selection of the beans from the wholesalers and knowing how to roast that specific batch is what is most important. You can't just roast every batch the same. Places that do that will have an epic cup one time and a horrible cup the next because they get lucky sometimes. As far as getting a good cup, here is my list of spots that very rarely let me down.
Cafe Neron- Rosarito
Das Cortez-Tijuana and Valle Guadalupe
Black coffee is better than most but not great-ensenada
Cafe columbiano-rosarito(just ok)
Robles-rosarito
cafe chocolate-vicente guerrero and san quintin

And San Diego has some of the best coffee in the world including Steady State(Carlsbad), Zumbar(Sorrento Valley), James Coffee, Ironsmith,.........

If you want good beans to brew yourself you will have to order or buy from a good shop in the US. There are a few good bags around in TJ and Rosario but more consistently in the US.

joerover - 6-5-2018 at 10:07 AM

What about the coffee maker?
I saw a $1,000 coffee maker at best Buy yesterday. I noticed it is all stainless steel.
However,
as I travel baja, I have a stainless espresso maker, at least this week. It makes about a 12 ounce cup of coffee.

looks a lot like this.

I also have a little aluminum one like this, but a 3 oz cup is not big enough for me.

Sometimes I just boil water in a small stainless pan, and put coffee into the pan and wait 4 minutes, then poor from the pan through a paper filter into a stainless thermos, works.

What is the best coffee maker?

Avoid plastic!
Trader Joes has a $60 french press, Aguliars in TJ has a 60 peso press glass and stainless, no plastic parts, like the $60 press.

Black coffee is best.... .. .....
for your health. People that add milk and sugar and ... have a higher rate of health problems.

A double wall glass coffee cup has 0 leaching, thats zero.
Titanium leaches at a rate of 0.000000000000001,
stainless leaches at a rate of 0.000000000001
aluminum, 0.000001
plastic is unacceptable for boiling water, it leaches into the coffee

[Edited on 6-5-2018 by joerover]

willardguy - 6-5-2018 at 10:28 AM

for the short term traveler, can you brew up a bunch of this high end coffee in one of those fancy makers at home and re-heat it and have a decent (better than you'll find on the road) cup of coffee?

joerover - 6-5-2018 at 10:30 AM

no, do not reheat coffee, yuck

Lee - 6-5-2018 at 10:48 AM

Used Bialetti moka pots for years starting out. Nice brew just limited in quantity. Graduated to the Rancillio Sylvia before the Vibi.

https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/rancilio-silvia-espresso-m...

Drip brew isn't strong enough so that eliminates automatic brewers. Bodum Chambord is a good french press. Grind is important with presses as too fine will leave sediment. Too course will be bitter. Water temp: bring water to a boil (212 deg) and wait about 30 seconds. Ideal temp is 200 deg.

I use Aero Press 6 months a year and for $30, it's great.

https://www.sagebrushcoffee.com/collections/brewing-equipmen...

Lots of research and experimenting to reach Nirvana.

bajaguy - 6-5-2018 at 10:50 AM

Go to coffee maker when on the road..............

https://www.hamiltonbeach.com/5-cup-personal-coffee-brewer-4...

Can be found for about $18 on Amazon and other sources

Paco Facullo - 6-5-2018 at 10:59 AM

For traveling I have now switched to Starbucks Via Instant Colombia .
It was on sale at Costco so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

It ain't half bad, defiantly the best instant coffee I've ever tried. It is also rated #1 on many instant coffee reviews.

The main thing is it's quick and easy, takes up no room........ and good.....