S/D: Reasonably-Priced Coffee

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The absolute cheapest half-decent coffee I've had is Chock Full Of Nuts Colombian. Runs $2.50-$4.00 a can at local supermarkets (coffee fluctuates).

Better-tasting and a little more is the Melita Colombian -- $3.50-$5.00 a can.

Going up a notch, Zabar's is some of the best coffee I've ever had PERIOD, and a lot of their blends are only $6/lb. for whole bean or ground. Kenya AA is a pretty damn good one.

$8-9/lb is my ceiling, and I'll usually only spend this if my conscience convinces me to buy organic/fair-trade/bird-sanctuary coffee.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:17 (twenty-one years ago)

And Starbucks -- all though they make a FEW good coffees, they are ridiculously overpriced, often 10-12 dollars a pound. Not to mention those triple-priced "Black Apron Exclusives". Who the fuck do they think they are?

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Actually, starbucks coffee (drunk in starbucks) is quite inexpensive compared w. dunkin donuts!

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Really? I thought a small at D'in D's was like $1.10, whereas at Starbucks it's more like $1.50. Dunkin Donuts coffee is pretty bad though -- only a notch above gas station coffee. I'll take it if stranded, but I prefer Starbucks over that.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

$ / oz, cheaper last time I compared.

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I flat-out refuse to call a small coffee a 'Tall' at starbucks. Fuck a 'tall' 12oz coffee. I say small / medium / large, and if corrected always stick to my motherfucking guns.

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

It's 2005 dude. Time to get over it.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Besides, it's pretty absurd to call 12 oz -- two full servings of coffee -- a "small"

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

My wife and I have started to buy fair trade coffee, at 12 bucks a pop (canadian). Considering how cheap home brewed coffee is anyways, it made sense to do this, figuring we get 150 to 180 cups of coffee out of it. Still terribly cheap compared to any cafe's prices.

― peepee (peepee), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:26 (twenty-one years ago)

who the fuck gets regular coffee at starbucks? the point of starbucks is teh caramel machiatto latte soy gingerbread syrup things! THEY ROT YOUR TEETH AND FUCK YOUR INSULIN!

I buy peet's beans for the morning, they're expensive. I drank folger's at my parents. it gives you rightous farts.

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:26 (twenty-one years ago)

The worst thing ever is Maxwell House "Premium Cup." It tastes like tea made from grass and poop.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

At home, I'm half way through a can of Autocrat. I forgot what it retailed for, but I'd say 4 bucks. I'll buy it again. It's strong enough to get my tired ass moving in the a.m.

― jim wentworth (wench), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Not over it, won't get over it, refuse to get over it.

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Ehh, it went to a pay article. Fuck it.

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:25 (twenty-one years ago)

try bugmenot.com

― Autumn Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

and if corrected always stick to my motherfucking guns

Dude, maybe you should pretend your roommate is a Starbucks employee.

― Curious George Finds the Ether Bottle (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 03:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't tried the Autocrat, I should though. Currently going through a gigantic can of Maxwell House Colombian (it was on sale at the Stop & Shop), it's really not too bad - but I have a French press coffeemaker which makes most kinds of coffee taste fairly decent. Dunkin Donuts coffee is much much better than Starbucks!

― daria g (daria g), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Lavazza was always good for me back home, I don't even know if they sell it in the States, but it's at least better than some of the pond scum they sell out there. We buy ours at the local roasters, $10 a pound. Not cheap, but gooooooooooood

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 04:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Dunkin Donuts is much better than Starbucks, too, whether it's a caramely sugar thing you order or ground coffee you make at home. Wish it was as common as Starbucks.

― Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 04:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Uh, where do you live? Round here (NJ) Dunkin' Donuts IS as common as Starbucks, if not moreso -- when you see Starbucks you know you're in an upwardly mobile area, but DD is everywhere.

Anyway, I maintain that DD coffee is meh. Sure, if you take sugar and cream, well DD fucking PUMPS the cream in there and measures out sugar with an ice-cream scoop. So it tastes great, and somewhere under it all is the coffee.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 04:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I think the coffee at Dunkin' Donunts is far superior too! Starbucks seems willing to confuse 'obscure' with 'high-quality' and has convinced their customers on the necessity of buying expensive Ethiopia Sidamo rather than a nice Colombian/Italian blend.

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Fact is, most people know less about coffee than they do about wine. Note: I know fuck-all about wine. But Starbucks preys on this coffee ignorance, marks-up so-so product w. fancy packaging, nice ad-copy, and a Fair Trade sticker, and sells it to customers who believe - by sheer dint of paying $12.00 / lb - that they're (1) coffee connoisseurs (2) getting a superior product (3) worldly. Enough to drive a Colombian boy mad!

― Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (x Jeremy), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:13 (twenty-one years ago)

two words: tim. hortons.

― scout (scout), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Lavazza was always good for me back home, I don't even know if they sell it in the States...

They do!

― jim wentworth (wench), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 05:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Trader Joe's for whole bean. The Yemen dark roast is their best, but also most expnsive at $9 for 12 oz, I think.

There's a Lavazza cafe in Pasadena, but I haven't tried it yet.

― nickn (nickn), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 08:22 (twenty-one years ago)

If the donut shop on W 72nd in NYC is a Dunkin Donuts (I can't actually remember which chain it is), then Dunkin Donuts coffee is teh crappy.

Do they have Illy in the US?

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:10 (twenty-one years ago)

HAVE YOU FAGGOTS NEVER HEARD OF A GODDAMN DELI?!?!?!?!?!

I mean jesus christ it might not hurt your goddamn yuppie bullshit i-hate-starbucks knee-jerk bullshit to just pay $.75 for a better-tasting deli coffe, FAGGOTS. JESUS CHRIST LEARN TO LIVE IN THE BIG CITY OR MOVE TO THE SUBURBS, BITCH.

SERIOUSLY, people like you should either a. MOVE or b. SHUT THE FUCK UP. YOU ARE WASTING WHAT PRECIOUS AIR THE REST OF US HAVE TO BREATH.

(the following message brought to you by well tequila shots)

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:14 (twenty-one years ago)

hstencil has eaten Ally.

― Markelby (Mark C), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:46 (twenty-one years ago)

He has eaten an alcohol-steeped Ally.

― moley, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:50 (twenty-one years ago)

ally went to bed hours ago. i'm gonna see her in about 13 or so.

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 09:51 (twenty-one years ago)

i agree with Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald. Small, medium, large.

great coffee can be had for about 5-7 bucks a pound. Much better to buy whole beans and roll your own.

Often stores like Marshalls or TJMaxx (this is boston area - not sure if these stores are around elsewhere) have good coffees. just stay away from the flavored crap.

― AaronK (AaronK), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 13:48 (twenty-one years ago)

-- Remy Ulysses Q. Fitzgerald (jcoomb...), March 30th, 2005.

I agree with you there -- only the regular House Blend type coffee is any good.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:03 (twenty-one years ago)

HAVE YOU FAGGOTS NEVER HEARD OF A GODDAMN DELI?!?!?!?!?!
I mean jesus christ it might not hurt your goddamn yuppie bullshit i-hate-starbucks knee-jerk bullshit to just pay $.75 for a better-tasting deli coffe, FAGGOTS. JESUS CHRIST LEARN TO LIVE IN THE BIG CITY OR MOVE TO THE SUBURBS, BITCH.

SERIOUSLY, people like you should either a. MOVE or b. SHUT THE FUCK UP. YOU ARE WASTING WHAT PRECIOUS AIR THE REST OF US HAVE TO BREATH.

A lot of deli coffee sucks. Anyway, the thread started out about coffee that you brew at home, not that you buy out. When I buy it out around here, I get it from local Jersey City coffee places, but there wouldn't be much point in me rattling those off places you guys don't know and can't get to.

― Hurting (Hurting), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:05 (twenty-one years ago)

The only place to get coffee near my office is a Wawa (NJ convenience store chain), and I fear that my taste in coffee has been corrupted by prolonged exposure to the Wawa coffee. At first, I thought it was too mild as compared to the very bold-flavored brews you get at Starbucks - especially after I add my usual generous helping of half-and-half - but now I've gotten to the point where I almost prefer it. If there were a Starbucks next door to the Wawa, I still think I'd drink the Wawa, at least some of the time. It's cheaper too - only $1 for a 12 oz cup. In terms of caffeine, I think it's at least as strong as Starbucks. Actually medium-roast beans have more caffeine than dark roast, so it might even be stronger.

― o. nate (onate), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurting OTM re: the "secret" to DD's coffee-flavored water. A bag of sugar & a pint of cream will make ANYTHING taste good. As it does in this case.

I've never had Starbucks coffee. I always opt for the chai tea. (Wait a sec - my office cafe serves Starbucks! And I'm having some right now! And I killed the flavor w/ milk & sugar! Go me!)

Stencil, I guess you've never had the pleasure of drinking burnt-ass barrel-bottom coffee from a deli / mom-&-pop joint / convenience store / gas station / office rec room? Or did you forget about that shit in your unhinged booze-fueled fugue?

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

dude, connecticut

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 16:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Uh, where do you live? Round here (NJ) Dunkin' Donuts IS as common as Starbucks, if not moreso -- when you see Starbucks you know you're in an upwardly mobile area, but DD is everywhere.

They are equally common in my town (i.e. one of each), but this does not seem to be the case anywhere else in the country. Also, I don't actually *like* coffee without at least an ice cream scoop of sugar (cream not necessary).

My school has fair trade coffee in the dining halls. It tastes terrible, but I'm sure whatever other coffee they'd be willing to give us would be at least as bad.

― Maria (Maria), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

S: I actually don't mind regular store-bought coffee. I can deal with Folgers. Costco's Kirkland coffee is actually really good.

D: Never, never ever drink anything from a gas station billed as "cappuccino" or "mochaccino."

― mike a, Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

dude, connecticut

Dude, weak.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

exactly

― hstencil (hstencil), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I hate to be the annoying person who calls it out every time, but "f*ggot" is just unacceptable.

Anyway, I don't brew often at home, but Trader Joe's usually has good and cheap coffee. Sometimes I'll get a can of Illy or Levazza to remind myself of traveling (and they're both tasty to me).

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 30 March 2005 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

Porto Rico in the East Village is fantastic (St. Marks?) - their colombian makes great espresso, and it was something like 6 bucks a pound - roasted that day too.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 02:09 (nineteen years ago)

cafe bustelo, espresso-grind or drip..

in a can:

http://boricuaproduce.com/store/product_thumb.php?img=images/CAFE%20BUSTELO%20CAN.JPG&w=180&h=135

in a brick:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00032HCCY.01-A3CDPEGSIQM61V._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

or even.. INSTANT!!

http://www.thecoffee.com/site/images/products/BUS-01100.jpg

the instant makes a GORGEOUS iced coffee.. just add milk, water, ice cubes, and SHAKE IT... ggglaahaggghg

― Euai Kapaui (tracerhand), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 02:26 (nineteen years ago)

Equal Exchange, supplier of fair trade coffee/bar chocolate/cocoa/etc. The dark chocolate is TANFASTIC, the coffee runs to about 30 different blends, the cocoa is also made with organically produced milk (powdered) and organic sugar from farmers' cooperatives in Paraguay. Altogether the do-gooder-ness is almost nauseating but the products are so GOOD that I can't hold out.

Sadly the coffee seems to be about $8-9 for 12 oz, but there are volume discounts. VOLUME DISCOUNTS, PEOPLE.

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:44 (nineteen years ago)

Oops: http://eeretail.stores.yahoo.net/

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

Ohmigod, I had forgotten Cafe Bustelo... I used to LIVE on that stuff. Even had my former housemate ship me over a brick when I first moved back to England.

― Curtis Incest (kate), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

Do they have Illy in the US?

yes. I drink it more often than Starbucks these days, but it doesn't keep me as awake. Porto Rico, referenced above, is pretty good.

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 13:37 (nineteen years ago)

Illy is quite good but not usually reasonably priced.

― A-ron Hubbard (Hurting), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 13:41 (nineteen years ago)

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