Wow - What Amazing Beans You Have!
Written: Apr 05 '01 (Updated Apr 05 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Amazingly fresh, quick delivery
Cons: Pricey
The Bottom Line: Best coffee beans I have ever seen - amazingly fresh and tasty!
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| producer's Full Review: Peet's Coffee & Tea |
First, let me say that I have been a devout Starbucks fan - until now.
My future husband brought home a pound of Peet's coffee that he'd bought on the internet, because someone had brought some into the office. He just raved about it, and said I had to try it.
Now, my fiance is a novice coffee drinker (he only started two years ago) - so I viewed his undying devotion with some skepticism - until I tried it myself.
It's all about the beans... they were so incredibly fresh - they were actually still oily.
I have never, ever, seen beans like this before... Part of the reason some store bought coffee (including starbucks) taste's dead when you brew it, is because the beans are old and dried out from sitting on store shelves. So this freshness was something new for me -and I have to say it made a difference.
Peet's guarantees to have the beans to you as soon as possible after roasting - they usually ship the beans on the same day they're roasted.
When brewed, I tasted more of the coffee, and less of the "bean" flavor that I am more used to. I don't remember what blend this was, but it was fairly mellow - with hardly any acidity. It was the kind of coffee you can make very strong, and not feel overpowered by any one flavor.... I guess the correct term would be "well balanced." It was also very smooth - something I attribute to the freshness of the coffee, since most coffee I make tends to have at least a little bite (even when I'm careful to get it fresh).
I will say that the coffee is pricey (range is anywhere from $9 - $16 per pound) plus shipping. There are even some "reserve" roasts, like Kona, that are $48/pound.
However, the prices for most of the blends are comparable with other "gourmet" coffees like starbucks - however you do have to pay shipping. Still, I think it's worth it, as a treat once in a while.
For the most part I still buy Starbucks for my everyday coffee, but when I know there is something special coming up (like a visit from the future in-laws) I'll spring for the Peets. Kind of like having everyday wine and special occasion wine.
If you're a coffee connoiseur looking for something new, or just really enjoy great coffee, then I recommend that you try Peets. It's worth indulging every once in a while!
Also - a couple of notes on brewing good coffee - since it is about more than just the beans.
1) Use good water - if you don't like the taste of the tap water, or you live in an area with "hard" or "soft" water, use filtered or bottled water - it will make a huge difference in the taste of the coffee.
2) Don't leave coffee sitting - if you leave the pot on the burner for more than 20 minutes, you risk it getting a "burnt" or "hard" taste.
3) Use a good coffee pot - and make sure the burner isn't too hot. This was a problem I had with one of my coffee makers. The plate that the pot sat on was getting too hot. It was a really cheap coffee maker, and no matter what I did I couldn't seem to get a good cup of coffee. I realized what was happening when the element in the heater burned out in just two months. The other option to a good coffee maker (I like Braun's Flavor Select) is a french press.
4) Use a permanent filter - the gold ones sold in stores only cost about $5- $10, and make for a "cleaner" taste to your coffee.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
producer
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Location: Gaithersburg, MD
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 8 members
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