The Search for the Best Coffee: Part One

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages in the world. According to authors Dicum and Luttinger of The coffee book: anatomy of an industry from the crop to the last drop, approximately 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed everyday worldwide. It is the second most sought after commodity globally after crude oil. In America, over half of Americans over 18 drink coffee daily and Americans drink an average of three and a half cups of coffee daily.

There are some studies that show positive health effects of coffee. According to a study published less than ten days ago by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, “people in the study who drank four or more cups of coffee daily were 20% less likely to develop malignant melanoma than non-coffee drinkers.” In two studies published in 2013, moderate habitual coffee consumption was associated with improvement of function in the endothelial cells, which line the interior surface of blood vessels. Moreover, another study in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that over a ten year study of women, coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk of depression. Despite these promising results, both the New England Journal of Medicine and Harvard’s School of Public Health have concluded that more studies need to be conducted as caffeine may have negative health effects. The main health take away lesson is that moderate coffee consumption is optimum in most cases. However, if you have a medical condition or are taking medication that may conflict with caffeine, please consult your doctor.

Given the vast popularity of coffee, it was only prudent that I start a quest to find some exquisite tasting coffee. After meticulously researching the various methods of making coffee, I decided to choose a stainless steel Frieling French Press with a manual conical burr grinder. There are many other great choices such as machines like Nespresso and Tassimo, but I chose a press due to affordability. The initial price of both the press and the grinder total was just a little over $100, so it was a moderate price point. Moreover, because a French press does not require filter paper and minimal maintenance, it suited me best. One main advantage of the French press above almost all other methods of coffee making is the most natural taste of coffee (including natural oils) due to a lack of filter. As a result, the hot water makes direct contact with the ground beans for optimum flavor. I primarily chose the manual grinder due to novelty, but some coffee aficionados argue that it is the most natural way to grind the beans and you retain all oils compared to an electric grinder.

Since I have started using the press, I have been searching for the ‘best’ coffee. Although it is highly subjective, I still thought I’d share my impressions. For this segment, I’ve tasted: Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend, Starbucks Verona, Gevalia Kaffee Traditional, and Starbucks French Roast. Please find below my ranking followed by a description of my impressions regarding flavor, aroma, and robustness.

4^th Place: Gevalia Kaffee Traditional Medium Roast

Although Gevalia wasn’t my first coffee bean purchase, it was earlier on in my experience. The aroma was great and it had a fairly good flavor. Unfortunately, for me, the robustness wasn’t the best for my liking. I personally tend to favor darker roasts due to their complexity of flavor. However, if you desire a smoother tasting coffee that has a fantastic price point, I highly recommend Gevalia. There was no Gevalia dark roast whole bean coffee available at my local grocery store, but if I can try it, I would give it a fair shot.

3^rd Place: Starbucks French Roast Dark Roast

Starbucks has created a household name for itself, so it was only natural that I included at least one Starbucks brand coffee on my list. I found the French Roast to have a decent aroma, but it is the flavor that truly shines. The flavor is very robust, which I appreciate. However, I did note a lack of complexity in terms of flavor. Therefore, I would recommend this particular blend if you desire a coffee that is bold, dark, and simple.

2^nd Place: Starbucks Cafe Verona Dark Roast

Starbucks has been my go to brand recently primarily because they are the only ones that carry dark whole beans in my local grocery store. This was recommended by a friend as one of their favorite roasts and I can see why. It contains a fantastic blend of boldness with complexity of flavor. There is an Italian roast undertone to it, and actually a hint of chocolate as well. As a result of the robustness coupled with flavor, this is my favorite Starbucks coffee so far. I’d give it a try if you want a bold wake up call in the morning or if you want to end the day with a bang.

1^st Place: Cafe Don Pablo Signature Blend – Medium-Dark Roast

My, oh my. This coffee has a perfect blend of everything I desire. Not only is it robust, but the flavor is outstanding. It was the first coffee I bought, alongside with my French press and grinder. I keep coming back to it every time I try something else. Their signature blend contains a combination of Colombian, Guatemalan, and Brazilian arabica beans. The result: sheer excellence. Moreover, the price point is fantastic. It is only $12.99 on Amazon for 2 lbs. I’m pretty certain that there are much better artisan coffees out there somewhere, but at this price point, it is hard to beat. I also love Don Pablo’s goal, which is to use beans cultivated by elite farmers who know the art of harvesting inside out. Overall, this coffee is great any time of the day. If you want a great wake up call, a compliment to your work day in the early afternoon, or a finishing touch to your day/evening, Don Pablo is the way to go.

There are many more coffees I desire to taste. If you are a small artisan coffee maker and would like me to sample your coffee, feel free to email via the “Contact Us” form at any time. If you all have any recommendations, feel free to comment below.

Thanks!