I had the pleasure of being the roastmaster for my uncles company Ahrre's Coffee in Westfield NJ, for about two years. I know how to roast the perfect bean, and don't you know it. It was the best job i ever had.
I could be a coffee snob, it's sort of like wine, all the complexities
but i have a bit of a sweet tooth and my favourite flavour in the world is 7/8 of the cup of black, 1/8 half & half, and generally 1 - 2 teaspoons of raw sugar. So generally it doesn't matter what coffee i use (no Maxwell house, no pilao, no folgers, none of that nestle bullshit, only my uncle's stuff) when i do it this way. This is my midday, candy flavour.
I don't have a french press but that's how i'd go if i had one. I generally do a quick cup melitta if i need it, i have this neat single cup hot water warmer thingy. We have a drip in my house, it's okay, i don't really drink coffee as much lately unless i'm in the studio or have to wake up early, so it works.
To be honest i'm more of a tea fellow. In the fall and winter i'll drink 5-10 cups of tea a day! and when i lived in london, forget about it. Too many adorable tea shoppes to count.
this is my uncle's shoppe, it's awesome.
my favourite beans, generally are the indonesian coffee's, Java and especially Sumatra Mandhelling. Such a bold, rich, complex taste. Fucking awesome when i'm drinking it black. That's early morning shit, and studio shit.
Oh, and when i'm having a coffee, i'm going to smoke a cigarette. if i have them. i don't really buy packs because when i do i smoke a whole lot real fast.
http://www.ahrre.com/My uncle and i actually grew a coffee plant in his house and had enough beans to roast one very tiny batch, which we roasted and had enough grounds to make about 2 cups melitta. That was one of the coolest things i think i've ever done. I guess it's like growing your own vegetables. but cooler.
