Coffee

Laidback

I was in the Independent grocer here is Cochrane, Ontario and I’ve come to the realization that I can no longer afford to buy coffee. In the past year, it looks like coffee has gone from around $12.95 for 925g to $23.03. Not quite 100%. This is Maxwell House coffee. I have 3 cans in the pantry right now, so should be good until the end of the year.

Astyanax

Laidback I can no longer afford to buy coffee.
…
Laidback This is Maxwell House coffee.

That’s because you insist on buying that fancy foreign, imported stuff! 🤪

mrweather

Coffee bean prices have soared the past couple of years primarily due to poor crops in the growing regions. Get used to it.

Sparkchaser

Laidback

Seeing 6 USD for 283 gm where we shop

taraf

… this is actually what we drink: https://www.happygoatcoffee.com/products/guatemalan-antigua?variant=210807945

Climate change is a bitch. Coffee is going to keep getting more expensive, unfortunately. So is chocolate.

Somewhat-Reticent

When I’m up to focusing for up to 8 minutes, I toast green coffee beans.
(Because I’m sensitized to burnt — browned is tasty, but burnt is toxic.)
Otherwise, my local dollar store has a mild instant that works well.

MichelR

I now buy No Name coffee. I do keep an eye for specials on other brands, but they still remain pricey, unless maybe it’s the PC brand and they throw in like 5000 PC Optimum points on top of the special. Haven’t seen that in a few months, though.

HardlyWorthit

We have Big Beautiful coffee down here.

HardlyWorthit

Somewhat-Reticent my local dollar store has a mild instant that works well.

Mixed reviews.

Somewhat-Reticent

HardlyWorthit Absolutely! After all, tastes differ, and
Marketing convinced many that burnt bitter earthy coffee is ‘better’.
——————————————————————————————————————
( Earthy = Tastes Like Dirt: a little balances flavor, a lot does NOT. )
( ( Most ) Robusta is Cheaper, thus more Profitable. )

HardlyWorthit

Somewhat-Reticent
Did you actually skim the reviews on the page that you linked?

Somewhat-Reticent

HardlyWorthit No, I read reviews - I don’t skim.
Didn’t expect 100% agreement from humans. ( That would be suspicious! )
Especially with shills & trolls these days. Tastes differ.

My review (updated):
5 out of 5 stars.
Mild, mixes easily hot / cold with any additive(s)
Quick and easy Mainstay.
Ordered online deliver-to-store when first available years ago, and again recently.
Still great.
( Gourmets: light notes of molasses and earthy. )

Astyanax

I was in Laos 2 years ago for a few days enjoying their coffee every morning in my travels of SE Asia. Saw 1 lb bags of their Lao coffee for the equivalent of like $1.50 US. Never thought to grab a few bags of it there where it costs like $75/lb to get it here.

Dks01

Laidback We drink Mcdonald’s McCafe coffee found in the tin. They reduced the amount of coffee by 100g to 875g and kept the price at $29.95 a tin, up from $19.95 six months ago. Fortunately we drink just one cup a day, so it’s not a sacrifice yet.

Somewhat-Reticent

Astyanax VietNam also has some fine coffees, even robusta.
Especially cat-shit!

Astyanax

Somewhat-Reticent Don’t remember their “cat shit” coffee (certainly have had some that may have tasted like it 😉) but I did have their famous “egg coffee” and had it in the actual coffee shop in Hanoi where it was originally developed.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/vietnamese-egg-coffee

Sparkchaser

Astyanax Don’t remember their “cat shit” coffee (certainly have had some that may have tasted like it 😉)

Yum! Only place in Asia I’ve been to is Beijing and I probably drank more tea than coffee.
Went to Kona coffee when in Hawaii. Was disappointed. Didn’t like it.

I think I may be in the “burnt” category. I liked the coffee (expresso) in Paris, Rome, etc. It does make you “bright eyed and bushy tailed”.

Somewhat-Reticent

Sparkchaser Beijing should know tea!
Hawaii grows coffee, but quality and processing vary greatly.
Done right, Kona has a nutty flavor.
( Last I recall, Pau Hana Estate has good Kona beans. )
Italy knows how to roast coffee without burning it.
Some varieties of beans have more caffeine.

GrumpyCanadian

Somewhat-Reticent Marketing convinced many that burnt bitter earthy coffee is ‘better’.

I don’t know when this started, but we often have grocery store brand “light roast” blends that manage to taste like ash, no matter how you grind or brew them. Smelling the grounds beforehand often reminds me of my grandfather’s old ash tray, and the resulting coffee doesn’t taste much better than that description would lead you to expect. Even with something that bad, it is still rather expensive.

Somewhat-Reticent

GrumpyCanadian I doubt grocers can afford the good stuff now.
There is no standard or legal definition of “light roast”, or any other “roast”.
Starting with cheap junk beans nearly guarantees the worst flavor(s).
( Insufficient roasting does leave the most caffeine intact. And it’s bitter … )
I once scored a jar of vintage Folger’s from decades ago - savored every drop!
Best I do now is find green ( unroasted ) coffee beans & toast ’em myself.

Astyanax Don’t remember their “cat shit” coffee

If you’d tasted some good Kopi Luwak, you’d remember.