Any recommendations on nice coffee beans in Taipei for a filter/espresso drinker?
I just put in a delivery order to Orsir, I fished that out of some crusty old thread on this forum as recommended there, thanks @SlowRain, I will see how that goes.
I tried some Cama takeaway beans, they were terribly smokey. I think their small batch roasting set up by junior lackeys in the shop is a bit hit and miss. Louisa’s tastes staler than my Lavazza from the supermarket.
Is any of the supermarket stuff any good? Obviously it is not fresh, but I am flexible. I noticed UCC ‘Charcoal coffee’ (not the most enticing description to my palate), has anyone tried this?
Plumbing the depths a bit, just trying to find something up my alley, any one with any opinions please come forth!
For everyday coffee (and I drink a lot of it), I like the Costco Kirkland brand Columbian - medium roast beans. Dark roasting is usually for the lesser quality beans.
ouch, I just put in a false order, $71 shipping, that is outrageous! It seems USPS is even worse than Australia Post, I didn’t think that was possible.
I buy either from Costco or Partner Coffee, a two-branch “chain” in Danshui. I believe many neighborhoods have a local place that sells recently roasted beans - there are at least three or four with easy walking distance of my place.
See also the below; the last on the list was just a couple of months ago:
Stay away from any of the supermarket stuff. It’s usually burnt/smokey and stale. Stay away from the franchises for the same reasons. And, even if it’s not burnt, it’s likely still stale. Use Google Maps and search on “coffee” near your home or workplace. Look to see if they’re large chains/franchises (avoid) or independents (consider). Go there and have a cup of something you know you like. Ask for the barista’s assistance in choosing. If the coffee is good, buy a bag. If not, find another place and do the same.
I’m not familiar with Taipei, but you could consider Fika Fika as a starting place.
Thanks @SlowRain, I have more or less already done what you have said with a lot of places in my local area. I wouldn’t say every place, but I am beginning to lose patience with cafes that look every bit chic and indie, then the coffee is ordinary! Most I’ve visited can’t even prepare a Long black/Americano. Water first, shot second being the correct preparation, most baristas here put the shot in first and blast all the oil away with hot water (from the machine!).
Anyway I’m starting to rant. Thanks for the recommendation I will duly look into.
I’m a regular coffee drinker, but . . . what’s the opposite of a coffee snob/ connoisseur? That’s me. Anyway, I like milk coffee and add a teaspoon of sugar, so maybe the quality of the bean is less important to me.
$43 per pound (NT$1300) for Kona coffee (before shipping) is way beyond me, but I understand that some of you know and appreciate the difference.
Best bang for My buck is the frequent deal they have at Chuenlien supermarkets. It’s NT$212 a pound, but they often have buy-one-get-one free deals. So, it’s NT$106 per pound.
Yea, . . . this is the supermarket stuff that SlowRain warned you about. I grind the beans myself, and run it through our cheap coffee machine. My wife and I like it just fine.
Kona coffee is expensive because Hawaii has a high cost of living, not because it’s of a super high quality. Same with Taiwanese coffee. Both can be OK-to-good, but they’re mainly for locals or tourists.