BILL LUSH
Sherrills Ford, North Carolina
About me:
My Equipment:
Coffee maker & grinder
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A GREAT CUP
Bill Lush | Tue, 11/08/2011 - 11:24Dean's Bean's has done a great job with this stuff. The out-of-the-bag perfume is about the best I've experienced, and that's just the start of an enjoyable cup. One caution: watch the water temperature. Too hot, and some scary monsters make their appearance. Hold it at 200, and you'll enjoy the benefits of a nice, long finish with no acid aftertaste. I'm not an expert on "Sumatran", but if this is typical of this origin then I'm on my way to try others. As an extra benefit, I like their old-fashioned packaging, and the lack of a one-way valve does not seem to have hurt the shelf life. It's also nice to see a pound of coffee weigh 16 oz. How quaint!
LION KONA FRENCH ROAST COFFEE
Bill Lush | Tue, 07/12/2011 - 11:29Full disclosure; I have never been a big fan of Kona coffee. In general, I think it's overrated for the price. That being said, as Kona coffees go, Lion is pretty much true to type. I think the key to getting the most enjoyment out of this roast is to brew it a little on the strong side. Initially, when I followed my basic recipe (1oz drip/4 cups, medium grind), there wasn't much to talk about. However, when I upped the recipe to 1 1/2 oz / 4 cups, the aroma and flavor were suddenly much enhanced. So, as coffee goes, this Lion Kona gets a good rating from someone who is not a big fan. Just be sure to brew it a little stronger than you normally would.
WILD BLUE: DA BEST!!
Bill Lush | Mon, 08/30/2010 - 09:40These folks really know how to select and roast coffee. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because of what my old English teacher said when she gave me an A- instead of an A+: you should always have room for improvement. Try this coffee: you won't be disappointed.
CHICKADEE GOOD, BUT....
Bill Lush | Mon, 08/30/2010 - 09:26From time to time, I enjoy the taste of chicory-blend coffee, and Chickadee was a good mix. It served up a tasty brew, EXCEPT... There was a slight taste of hazelnut, probably because the beans were ground in a machine that had not been properly cleaned after grinding flavored coffee. For some folks, this might not have been too disturbing, but for me it was not acceptable. I personally do not enjoy any flavored coffee, but hazelnut is especially offensive. Unfortunately, the artificial flavor that is generally used is particularly persistent and therefore difficult to clean up from a grinder. I'm going to assume this was a one-time problem, and I'm going to give Chickadee another chance.
REVIEW
Bill Lush | Thu, 07/22/2010 - 10:20I just finished a package of Alabama Environmental Council Blend (whatever that means), and it's darned good coffee! The whole bean aroma is about the best I've sniffed... makes me want to put off the grinding and just smell the bag. The brew is also 4-bean quality (out of 5). I used a French press, and my only suggestion would be to limit the brew time to maybe 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. Any longer, and the results dropped to 3-bean quality.