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Coffee Buying Guide
By The Net Analyst | June 8, 2008
Writing a coffee buying guide was tricky because there are just so many brands, preparation methods, and varieties to choose from. Here we provide a few recommendations in our simple guide to building an efficient coffee bar with all the fixins right at home. Surprisingly, we found a way to do it for less than the cost of one cup of Dunkin Donuts 5 days a week!
Coffee is Good for You
It is our belief that coffee offers some hard to beat lifestyle improvements like antioxidants and energy enhancement. It can even be turned in to low calorie dessert for those of us who absolutely must satisfy our cravings for sweetness.
In addition to health benefits, drinking coffee is an excellent social activity and can even give you the confidence you need to handle social situations. Unlike alcohol, the typical choice for social fluidity, you will actually remember the conversations that you have with your friends and build real relationships.
The Cost of Coffee
You can spend a $1.50 at Dunkin Donuts or splurge at Starbucks for a $4.00 coffee creation. We have to ask, “Why don’t you just do it a home?”
Sure, you need to have a few things stocked like fancy syrup in a variety of flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and caramel. You will also need to select a simple wine rack and set up your own coffee bar at home. With this a simple setup you can brew your coffee how you like it, put it on ice for a cool drink in the summer, or just drink it traditionally hot. A coffee bar may be just what you need for some new flair in your kitchen.
Fancy Flavors
Fancy syrups can be commonly found at home and gift stores for $5-$10/bottle. Another item to consider is the old fashioned coffee percolator which can be found in most department stores for $15-$30. Percolators brew the good bean directly on your stovetop; when used properly these medieval devices beat the taste of machine-brewed beans.
Our Coffee Recommendations
Finally, you will need to start building your coffee collection. Start with the basics and be sure to have on hand a mild, medium, and bold roast as many of your guests will prefer one variety over the other. A Sumatra Blend with mild acidity and slightly sweet aroma is a great selection for both coffee newbies and those liking a smoother blend. Kona coffee (The Net Analyst personal favorite) is next in line, with an interesting nutty taste that can please almost anyone. Then be sure to add a traditional French or Italian Roast to kick things up a notch with more caffeine and stronger aromas!
The Best Coffee in the World (The Top 8% of Coffee Beans)
Did you know that “over 90% of coffee waiting to be sold in stores is stale… and from the time coffee is roasted, it only stays fresh for 45 days!” Both of the gourmet coffee companies that we recommend have the absolute high standards in the world for bean selection!
Boca Java (our favorite), who currently has an unheard of 2 for 2 deal only selects the top 8% of coffee beans in the world and is one of the very few companies that grinds to order and delivers the freshest beans in the industry directly to your home. They offer your typical blends (which are great by the way) or you can request intriguing flavors such as Bananas Foster Float or Lee’s Caramel Kiss Island for a truely unique experience! Yum… Sounds good doesn’t it?
If you’ve been in the coffee game for a while and you’re just itching for the absolute best, then you need to check out Joffery’s (our second favorite) for the ultimate selection of high-end coffee beans. These rare beans can be quite pricey with standard blends running between $10-$15/lb and rare estate blends like Jamacian Blue Mountain Estate approaching the $50 range! To much surprise, you can still brew $10-$15 coffee for less than Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts 5 days a week!
The Fashionable Thing to Do
Adding a coffee bar to any home is a fashionable thing to do these days. It will impress your friends and add a bit of cultural flair to any living space. And you’ll have an excuse to keep 31 flavors of coffee on hand and stay up all night. Seriously, what could be more fun?
What Do You Need?
| Wine Rack (for fancy syrups) | $20 |
| Coffee Canisters | $15 |
| Percolator (brews hotter and tastier coffee) | $20 |
| Normal Coffee Pot (keep for when you are lazy) | $20-$100 |
| 12 1 lb Bags of Good Coffee - $7 x 12 = | $84 |
| 3 Coffee Syrups (Vanilla, Chocolate, Caramel) | $15 |
| 1 lb Bag Turbinado Sugar (tastes much better than the regular stuff) | $5 |
| Togo Mug | $10 |
| And of course…Coolwhip (the best part of all) | $2 |
Total With Cost Comparison
| The Net Analyst Coffee Bar(including one time costs) = | $202/yr |
| Dunkin Donuts Coffee= $1.50/drink x 5 days/wk x 52 wks/yr = | $390/yr |
| Starbucks Coffee = $3.00/drink x 5 days/wk x 52 wks/yr = | $780/yr |
The Bottom Line Benefits
You can do it a home. You get to go shopping. It’s fun. It’s easy. It costs way less than Starbucks. Your friends will be jealous of your coffee bar. You will have a new hobby. And most importantly, you will now have a reason to stay up all night on the internet.
Chao,
The Net Analyst
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