What's the best coffee for a strong flavorful cup?!
Answers: I use a French Press and I like my coffee strong. (I really do love Starbucks but I can never make it taste like that at home.) I am always in pursuit of the perfect cup. (I drink it with cream or half and half.) I have heard that most of the coffee we get isn't really fresh and that really fresh-roasted beans make a difference. I'd like to hear from people with experience. What do you recommend?
Fresh roasted is THE ONLY way to go. I roast my own coffee and have been doing so for over 5 years now.
As for the 'strong' coffee it can be a Sumatra, Java or even a Columbian.
If you want fresh you will need to locate a roaster in your area. Don't buy their baged coffee at the cute little shoppe's they set up, unless you can confirm that they have an actual roast date on it. These 'Best by' dates are worthless. Most of those are dated anywhere from 6 months to a year after the roast which means it is 5 1/2 months to a year stale.
If you are in a city that has a small custom roaster that is your best bet.
But, if you want to be sure about the freshness, do it yourself. it's not that hard. listed below is a site that will teach you how easy it is and what tools you will need. If you have a airpop popcorn popper at home you have the best starting tool already.
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Fresh roasted makes a difference, but also type of bean and type of roast. Arabica is the best bean (robusta is more common, since it's hardier and easier to grow) and degree of roast is a personal thing--since you like Starbucks where they scorch the living bejeez out of the beans, I'd hazard to guess that you'd want a lot of dark roast.
Find a local place that sells good, fresh beans. One frequent good bet is a Halal market, a place that sells to Muslims. My local Halal guys, nice Iraqi-Americans all of them, sell excellent beans for $6 a pound, so I can get them in my preferred mix of 1/4 dark to 3/4 light roast and grind to my desires in my little home coffee-grinder.
For what you seem to like, stick with Starbucks. My fav is Sumatra (Caff or Decaf). Extremely rich and full-bodied. I buy a pound for about $11; it lasts a long time.
Their instructions are to put 2 tablespoons in 6 oz. of H20... this makes for a ridiculously strong cup. I use about a tablespoon and a half in a small Boodum French Press and maybe 8 oz. of H20.
Make sure they grind it for French Press if you are not grinding it yourself.
Double brew any coffee.
If you can find Community Coffee (from Louisiana) that has not been ground, try it. It really does make one of the best cups of coffee no matter how you grind it or use it ... press ... drip ... filter ... percolate. Deep and dark and pure Heaven.
Starbucks Venti black.
French Roast, I think has the strongest flavor. You can always press it twice, this also raises the caffeine levels 5 times. So be easy!
