Calling all coffee fanatics

Hi, I have been getting my espresso from Kaufhof am Marienplatz. I pick out the bean and have the sales rep grind about 100g for my stovetop. I have tried almost everything and also find the prices on the higher side (after being in the Netherlands.) Does anyone know of a place where there is a better selection and value? Also, it helps if the minimum purchase is not like 1kg since it only stays fresh for a few weeks. I only drink one shot a day but can't live w/out it. Thanks, all! Oh, and anyone out there with an espresso bean grinder? Is it a worthwhile investment?

Freeze it, it stays fresh longer...

Even keeping it in an airtight tin in the fridge will help it stay fresh longer. Or go hightech and buy your own grinder.

Starbucks

Or just buy a slave to do it all for you

Drink more per day?

There is a little coffee shop in the viktualianmarkt who's name I have forgotten. Not only do they have a most excellent Electro coffee machine which makes beautiful coffee they also roast there own beans. I think they also have some other coffee as well. The coffee is fab. I don't remember the prices being high either. They have just expanded to the room next door as well so you can sit and enjoy a lovely coffee while there. I have a coffee fanatic friend who goes out of his way to go there every time he gets down to munich.

Edit: I don't think they have a min purchase and they also have many varieties to choose from.

Illy beans stored airtight in the fridge, hand grinder from Josef Fischer hardware store at Rotkreuzplatz (or other stockists) - for the amount you drink a hand grinder is more than enough.

hand grinder could be a good investment. Make sure you get a good one though.

but coffee is always best freshly ground...and if you live alone it's hard to buy small enough quantities to keep it fresh (depending on how much you drink, of course!).

The little machines which you have to wiggle around (one setting) are not really suitable for espresso, and even some of the ones which say they are and have several settings have been reviewed as not actually grinding finely enough for espresso.

I have just bought a Delonghi grinder via Amazon - for 45 € including shipping. This machine got a very good review. If you're still interested in a few weeks/months, I can let you know my experience with it.

Not trying to be picky, but as a chemist, I feel obliged to stress that the compound "caffeine" is technically found in tea as well. Therefore, I petition for a change in the thread's description.

Yes it does but the statement 1kg since it only stays fresh for a few weeks. is also correct. Even with air tight packaging in the freezer it is still only good for about a month. I worked five years under an espresso snob from Italy and that was one of the things I learned from him.

@peachy

Locally in Regensburg I go with my local fair trade. Not just because they are fair trade just because they understand the importance of the quality of the bean. I would be interested to hear from you on places in Munich that pour a quality espresso.

For proper espresso I think until you are ready to upgrade to a professional model mill then a quality hand grinder is the way to go. All hand grinders have different settings of fineness. What you do have to watch is that you get a grinder that works well (ie doesn't require too much work).

Lavazza Crema e Gusto. Not Illy, but it'll make you a fine cup of coffee.

Iain nailed it. I have had the luxery of having an espresso poured by Iain so he knows what he is talking about. The problem of being in Germany that too often all these new coffee houses use automatic espresso machines and give no bother to giving attention to the process. The whole point of being an espresso drinker is to have a quality espresso. Creme' is not just not being brown it is a rich creamy texture that gives an espresso it magnificence (sp?).

Edit: I hear that the Sunday Chill Out group is meeting at Karos Kaffe haus on Sunday afternoon. You should join them if you are free for this Kaffee haus does have ,when the right barista is there, a quality espresso. I often draw there when in Munich because of this.

Ok but what if you re-use your tea bags...only the fisrt time around you will have caffeine since it is water soluble. I still vote for hired help to make the espresso.

actually you have to watch creme. too much creme is a sign of rubusto (sp?) beans in the coffee. 100% pure Arabica will only make a thin layer of creme however it should be thick and have at least three gradiants of brown in it. I really do recommend that little coffee shop they really do make a nice espresso.

No. 1 : Tea bags!?? Ewww yucky
No. 2 : Re-using tea bags!!!??? DOUBLE Ewwwwww yucky

Not even the Irish re-use their tea bags!

If in Regensburg I recommend Kaffee Literature. The guy uses an old school steam hand press. Quality! Also I think germans feel bad on the price of the double espresso and often place too much water to make up for it. I just want to say "Dude thats an amercano not a double espresso"

I think that should read, "Particularly the Irish do not reuse their tea bags."

Jaysus, it's tea we want, not slightly brown water. You'll be proposing hibiscus fairy pee next or whatever the flavour of the month German tea is.

Actually hibiscus tea is really good, I had it in Mexico...at least that is what they said it was.

Next time you order it ask about the "organic, very biological" filtering method and check the temperature.

Almost boiling is good, lukewarm not so, listen for the zipping of tiny zips followed by the flapping of tiny wings.

Nah, it was more the pitter patter of frantic feet searching for a toilet before my ass opened up and shat on them.

Another semantic remark. Can infusions be considered "tea"? Camomile infusion or hibiscus infusion do not contain caffeine. So it is not correct to say hibiscus "tea".

Ah, tea cake then.

Cafe Literature is fabulous. Is the same tall skinny italian guy running the place? Next time I am back I am going to have to go back and have a coffee there. The Bavarians put way to much water through the espresso catching most of the garbage you are trying avoid by making an espresso.

i'm not a coffee drinker, but i remember buying 1/2 kilo beans from Tchibo. maybe try dallmayer, not from any shop, but from them directly?

Christ, Elfenstar, those are big beans. Did you rent a cement mixer as a grinder ?

hahaha Thanks Yeti, I laughed so hard I snotted myself

Between that and the rollers it's no wonder you get asked for ID.

I never said I was refined...are there sound files on this site...I can belch louder than any guy

If you are truly canadian I believe it.

It wasn't about how refined you are, it was the effectiveness of your disguise that threw them off.

semantics or pendandics? well, being a fellow pedant, this a favourite gripe of mine. imo, a tea should only be called a tea if the infusion is made using tea leaves. Anything else just isn't tea. Surely the EU must regulate this, along with Vodka, Feta cheese and Champagne!

I dunno what 'value' means to you, but in terms of quality I like Dallmayr coffee. You can get 500g of espresso beans for €8,70.

fyi, I lost several precious points in my History exams back in secondary school due to the constant mispelling of "Owain Glyndwr"... *grumble grumble* so I'll refer you as Owen Glendower from now on.

With regard to the proper usage of the term "tea" I agree with you, my dear prince of wales...

Sorry, feck that, it's like with Highlander, there can be only one.

It's Barry's Tea, not just drinkable but also useful for tarring currachs, waterproofing oilskins, painting cows and repairing roads.

Anything else, well you might as well like the English drink it.

Barry who? You meant Berry's tea? I thought we have established that infusions made from materials other than tea leaves are not tea!



... i know, i know... I'll stop being funny...

would kill to find this place!

oh heh heh heh Yeti. you know what i meant!

@Elfenstar

Oh right, ho ho ho, you crazy kids.

You know I got a very well poured cup of espresso the other day with she-ra. Cannot think of the name but it was new and in the west end ection. Atmosphere was definately lacking but the guy took pride in his work. I will have to add an edit later with the name.

Edit: Still no name but it's in on the corner of Kazmairstr and Ligsalzstr

@Iain

yeah its still run by the italian guy. He has lengthened the hours as well increased the selection on the menu for food.

For both of you, it should be Vees, the best coffee place for me, has also a georgeous cappucino... Their other shop is facing the Viktualienmarkt, right next to the Japanese Shoya restaurant, Blumenstrasse I think...

brilliant thanks v much ... will def drop in on the weekend ...

Strangely, I used to get a 250G packs of high quality LAVAZZA from Saturn!... very aromatic and better price than other supers.

How much are they?

The Golden pack costs about 5 yoyos which is quite cheap for the quality

Lavazza has the following classes as far as i know, from lowst to highst quality

- creme a gusto (red+blue)
- arabica (black)
- quality something... (golden)
- ...don't remember the name (blue)

What ever brand you buy make sure it says 100% Arabica other wise it will be Robusta.

for the low down go here I Need Coffee - Arabica vs Rubusta

The freezer is probably only best for non roasted (green) beans. These can be kept frozen for quite a long time. But then you would have to roast them yourself. The smell would be great, but probably too much fuss.


Dallmayr is more suitable for coffee with milk in it, not for espresso. Much like all the German roasts. The Italians seem to be good at espresso beans somehow.

Actually it's called Kaffee + Mehr It's located at Viktualienmarkt 1.