All the following is regarding filter roasts/coffee…
TL:DR - Roasters who sell premium beans and roasters who sell premium beans that disappoint are frequently the same roasters, you mostly can’t discuss one without the other. After a point, cost is a poor indicator of how much you may enjoy a coffee. Roast level, region & varietal are better indicators.
More depth…I pay premium prices (average £7.52/100g and 7.2/9.0 in overall preference), the lowest I have paid in the last 57 bags is £5.20/100g and that coffee was delicious scoring 7.3/9.0 (EDIT - on closer examination there was also a £4.80 coffee scoring 7.1/ 9.0 and a £4.54 coffee scoring 6.0/9.0). Had some other really nice beans around £12.00/100g, most expensive was £23.33/100g and that was around average in terms of preference at 7.1/ 9.0 (Geshas are usually expensive, but very hit & miss on flavour intensity).
As I said earlier, the good value beans that tasted great and the expensive beans that disappointed often came from the same roaster, so it’s not always a case of finding a good value roaster, or relying on a roaster to consistently meet your preference.
You’re often paying for the rarity/process. The ‘story’ is always a good one, but doesn’t ensure a good cup. The thing that really strikes me with roasters, is that they write paragraphs about the grower, the names of his children and all their pets, the region, weather, altitude, detailed processing…and then nothing about their (the roaster’s) part in the chain - the actual roasting. Loads of information & facts about what happens prior to arriving at the roastery, then at the last step, prior to realising the potential of the bean/snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…it all turns a bit ‘woo woo’.
Best to directly contact the roaster prior to a purchase and explain what you’re looking for & follow a few recommendations. If they don’t live up to recommendation over a few bags, move on. Alternatively, follow the V60 thread & ’What’s in your cup this morning’ here, for specific recommendations.
Most coffee is roasted & then sent out without that roast being QC’d in the sensory aspect, usually the roasters seem to refer to roast curve records.
Right now, the only roaster I can really recommend for filter is Darkwoods & their lighter roasts..
I also buy mass market coffee, like Illy, Nespresso/compatibles (both my parents & girlfriend have machines, so it’s nice to have something familiar if visiting), I have an Iperespresso machine too but I only like the Yirgacheffe in that (about £5.80/100g). Some of the last 60 bags I have bought taste no better than these. Some were quite a bit worse.
Today, I will be drinking preground Illy Yirgacheffe brewed in a Melitta Aromaboy…probably 6/9 in terms of preference, but bought as solution to allow my better half to actually be able to make me a coffee, when she kindly offers.
Roaster log
