OzBargain's Coffee Bean of Choice

homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:15
Last edited 04/02/2023 - 11:56 by 1 other user

Hi all, I was recently gifted a Delonghi automatic coffee machine with all the bells and whistles. Prior to this I used good ol' Nescafe Blend 43 or if I felt a little fancy the Nespresso pods.

Due to our eagerness to use the machine, I purchased a big bag of Kirkland Signature Columbia (which I quite enjoy actually) which we are nearing the end. On average my partner and I have ~4-5 coffees a day between the two of us and found we were able to get through the 1.3kg bag in slightly over a month. We normally just make an espresso and add warm frothed oat milk and are by no means coffee aficionados.

Anyways, I would like to know what majority of the OzBargain community uses in terms of brand/types of beans etc.

Thanks for your time :)

Poll Options

  • 70
    Airjo
  • 172
    Aldi
  • 13
    Harris Smooth Coffee beans
  • 31
    Inglewood
  • 8
    International Roast
  • 5
    Kirkland Signature Columbian beans
  • 77
    Lime Blue Coffee
  • 7
    St. Ali
Food & Grocery Coffee Coffee Beans

Comments

  • MS Paint on 04/02/2023 - 10:15
    +19

    International Roast

    /thread

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:58
      +8

      A gentlemen of taste I see.

      • parsimonious one on 04/02/2023 - 11:32
        +4

        Caterer’s blend no doubt

        After all, caterers are professionals, so it is surely a mark of quality

        • ConsumerAffairs on 05/02/2023 - 21:04

          All of the bosses and managers provide it to the professionals too, so it must be good

          • CowFrogHorse on 07/02/2023 - 11:34

            @ConsumerAffairs: Amazing how many think they are getting a prize because they got a few free cups of coffee, instead of asking for a real prize like extra days off per month etc.

      • jv on 04/02/2023 - 14:28
        +1

        A gentlemen of taste I see.

        Don't knock it until you've tried it.

      • ThithLord on 04/02/2023 - 15:36
        +2

        They're cultured, that's for sure

  • Cheaplikethebird on 04/02/2023 - 10:20
    +10

    4-5 coffees a day?? Maybe just start taking NoDoz.

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:56
      +1

      Haha, that's between my partner and I. I don't normally go any more than 3 a day.

    • CacheHunter on 04/02/2023 - 11:10
      +6

      @Cheaplikethebird
      Sounds like you don't have kids. I was a 1-2 coffees a week guy before kids. Now I'm 3-5/day just to get through the working day.

      • aragornelessar on 04/02/2023 - 15:09
        +3

        Haha touche! I was zero before kids… now it's on the bandwagon

      • skittlebrau on 05/02/2023 - 20:30

        I went the opposite way after having kids. I'm down to 3–4 coffees per week (was previously on 14 per week) and even then, some of the coffees I have are decaf.

        My kid is a terrible sleeper too.

        My alcohol consumption on the other hand, that definitely went up.

    • ForkSnorter on 05/02/2023 - 12:35
      +2

      4-5 coffees between 2 people is nothing. I drink 4-6 shots (2-3 double shots) every morning, and wouldn't call myself a heavy coffee drinker.

      • Geoff01 on 05/02/2023 - 13:42
        +4

        That's an addiction

        • ForkSnorter on 05/02/2023 - 16:27

          Yep, but it’s also a choice. I’ve quit several times for a few months without any difficulty. The first day without coffee might give me a headache mid-morning, but otherwise no withdrawal effects.

      • rover100 on 05/02/2023 - 15:50
        +1

        I would call you one

        • ForkSnorter on 05/02/2023 - 16:27

          Really? I find a single shot results in a very weak coffee, so I usually make double shots.

          • smartazz104 on 07/02/2023 - 07:58
            -1

            @ForkSnorter: So you've built up an immunity to caffeine.

            • ForkSnorter on 07/02/2023 - 08:07
              +1

              @smartazz104: This is definitely not unusual. I have friends and family who drink as much coffee as me. They also drink in the afternoon, which I can’t do because it affects my sleep.

      • johnno07 on 07/02/2023 - 10:13
        +2

        "wouldn't call myself a heavy drinker"
        "I can stop whenever I want"
        "my friends are all doing it"

        Hmmmm…

      • greatlamp on 07/02/2023 - 16:38
        +1

        You might be quick to develop tolerance to the effects of coffee on your brain, but not necessarily it's effects on your cortisol levels. That level of caffeine isn't healthy - especially if it's all in the morning.

        I would suggest to add something else if coffee alone isn't working, rather than drink 6 shots

        • ForkSnorter on 07/02/2023 - 16:47
          +2

          Usually 4 shots, very occasionally 6.

  • indium on 04/02/2023 - 10:22
    +3

    I usually purchase beans from Airjo or Lime Blue Coffee depending on what's on sale at the time I need a resupply.

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 11:00

      Will check this out. Thanks!

      • buckster on 05/02/2023 - 22:22
        +3

        Code Black Coffee are really nice too

    • serpserpserp on 04/02/2023 - 13:51

      The best advice.

      Otherwise if you are Melbourne based and want to pay for a more premium brand, Seven Seeds and Undercover Roasters are great.

    • Shoocat on 04/02/2023 - 14:41

      I use Airjo regularly and it's good value. Just tried the recent Inglewood deal and that's very good.

      ALDI coffee not good in my opinion, even relative to the price.

    • rentonc on 06/02/2023 - 11:58

      I have been going between these two and Manna Beans, another mob that used to post deals here. Search for them, you can still get their deal even though technically it is expired.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/02/2023 - 10:25
    +12

    Aldi brah
    U will not regret.

    ~4-5 coffees

    Gotta pump those numbers up. Those are rookie numbers in this racket.

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 11:00
      +2

      A trip to Aldi it is!

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 04/02/2023 - 12:01
        +2

        Very rare I disagree with @Jimothy Wongingtons.

        My partner has a Nespresso, and buys some boutique recyclable Pods from somewhere.

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 04/02/2023 - 12:56
          +1

          I’m actually legitimately considering a Nespresso as my misso is starting to get back into drinking coffee and a no fuss solution would be ideal

          • serpserpserp on 04/02/2023 - 13:57
            +1

            @Jimothy Wongingtons: Get a Breville Oracle on sale. Don't look at the price tag so much and thank me later for the easiest, best tasting coffee you'll get outside of a cafe or own a full manual and expensive grinder.

    • Falkner on 04/02/2023 - 15:43

      They were my go to when I lived in the burbs as well.

    • Nickels n Dimes on 06/02/2023 - 22:02

      You should note, that the very decent Aldi Medium Roast beans have won several awards internationally, but they have nothing in common with the Aldi K-fee pods (which range from weak bland 43 to stale burnt ashtray, none of them are good).
      The crappy pods are made by a different supplier.

  • djc on 04/02/2023 - 10:46
    +2

    Depends on the flavour you’re after etc

    I get Harris Smooth Coffee Beans, 1kg from Amazon through Subscribe & Save

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:59

      Will check this out!

    • Nickels n Dimes on 06/02/2023 - 22:08
      +1

      Harris has come a long way over the decades, their beans actually stack up pretty well, better than many other supermarket brands, mid- range-Lavazza, of course not at the level of premium beans, but great value.
      Always check the dates on the bag, they claim about a long shelf life but reality is 3 months unopened is about the limit, before noticeable flavour changes.
      With a little adjusting grind you can get a smooth aromatic cup from these.

  • djc on 04/02/2023 - 10:48
    +1

    Also, learn how to grind your coffee beans to get the flavour and consistency you’re after

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:57
      +1

      We have been playing around with the grinder settings, going from coarse all the way to finer grinds. Amazing to see the difference it makes.

      • baldur on 05/02/2023 - 12:57

        Which method do you use to make your coffee?

  • Ocker on 04/02/2023 - 10:59

    St. Ali - well worth the price

    • homelessguy on 04/02/2023 - 10:59

      I've seen it at Woolies, will give it a go (if it goes on sale haha)

    • original15 on 04/02/2023 - 12:53

      Not at the current price imo.
      2022 subscription was <$30 a kg

    • buckster on 05/02/2023 - 22:23
      +3

      Although the guy who owns them is a dodgy dude isn't he?

  • 87percent on 04/02/2023 - 11:02

    Inglewood is my go to now. But our house drinks about 3 cups a day total, so 250g lasts a while for us

    • original15 on 04/02/2023 - 13:02
      +1

      Didn’t mind the Sunset Blvd blend 👍🏻
      Grabbed a single origin brazil bean and wasn’t one we enjoyed

  • brandogs on 04/02/2023 - 11:04

    OP you should add a poll and let users suggest new poll options in the comments.

  • USER DC on 04/02/2023 - 11:10

    Here you go too much coffee drinkers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj_AOzSSDMM

    • MS Paint on 04/02/2023 - 11:45

      I'm not a student so all good.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 04/02/2023 - 11:41
    +1

    Airjo is my go to. Obviously when on sale. What can I say, I'm a coffee snob hahahah

  • dtc on 04/02/2023 - 12:34
    +2

    Airjo has (amongst the ‘value’ brands) has the most variety of tastes eg very bitter to quite sweet. So it’s a good way to figure out what you like, buy some of the smaller packs and experiment

    Lime Blue has fewer flavours but some variety.

    Aldi is pretty limited but if you like the taste then excellent value. St Ali is the same - it’s a very traditional flavour, if that is what you like then it’s also good value

    So…when you start out I think it’s worth experimenting with a few different brands and different types of beans and roasts. Don’t worry too much about minor price differences; once you decide what kind of coffee you like then you can focus in on ‘value’

    • serpserpserp on 04/02/2023 - 13:55

      I would say that Lime Blue are the go to if you want a cheap single origin. But then the profile becomes even more narrow is you have to know what kind of SOs you like (ie. south American regions, African etc.)

  • original15 on 04/02/2023 - 12:56

    Undercover roasters DRK blend

    Drank St Ali wide awake for 2 years and loved it, onto the DRK now.

  • Cuchavira on 04/02/2023 - 13:13

    Aldi dark or medium roast. Picked up some the other day that were only roasted 2 weeks ago.

  • Gunnar on 04/02/2023 - 13:47
    +1

    Best bang for buck? Aldi

    What I buy most regularly? Inglewood when it’s 1/2 price

    When I want to splurge? Ona

  • EightImmortals on 04/02/2023 - 14:11
    +2

    Coffesnobs Beanbay. We do try others but we keep going back.

    https://beanbay.coffeesnobs.com.au/

  • chickenchipsgravy on 04/02/2023 - 15:25

    Code Black 3056 is my go-to

  • ThithLord on 04/02/2023 - 15:38
    +1

    My local coffee shop roasts their own and they are fantastic.

  • CheapskateQueen on 04/02/2023 - 17:19
    +3

    Lavazza beans half price

    • Kamsi on 05/02/2023 - 14:29

      And the OP didn't put this on the poll :)

  • djsweet on 04/02/2023 - 19:03
    +12

    I guess ozbargainers aren’t really into coffee… almost all the options and recommendations are utter crap with a few notable exceptions. Neg away

    • coffeeinmyveins on 04/02/2023 - 19:49
      +6

      Because ozb seems to want to spend as little as possible, disregarding quality entirely I've found

    • dtc on 04/02/2023 - 22:17
      +4

      So, guru, which brand should we use?

      • djsweet on 04/02/2023 - 22:58
        -7

        instant if it tickles your fancy my fine friend

    • Thatbargainhunter on 05/02/2023 - 06:20
      +3

      Upvotes. Because ita true.

      I get Proud Mary shipped to Queensland every week.

      You don't buy coffee front the supermarket. The logistics of supermarket supply chains means the coffee is too far from roasting date - even if it wasn't crap beans.

      • baldur on 05/02/2023 - 12:59

        You dont have to be so snob is a good solution to that too.

        • Thatbargainhunter on 05/02/2023 - 15:21
          +2

          It's not a snob.

          It's about enjoying quality.

          You aren't paying for a brand name, you are paying for quality products.

      • dtc on 05/02/2023 - 17:04

        The only beans from the supermarket suggested were Aldi, so how does that make 'almost all the options…utter crap'? St Ali you can buy from the supermarket but you can also buy it from them direct

        Funny how supermarkets manage to get fresh fruit, vegetables etc on the shelves within days, but apparently for coffee the 'logistics' means its too far from the roasting date

        And your suggestion is a $80 to $100+ per kg product?

        • Thatbargainhunter on 05/02/2023 - 20:31
          +2

          Beans should be consumed around the 2-5 week after roasting date.

          St Ali can be bought direct and at the supermarket. But they are not the same product. Coffee in the supermarket will have a use by date. From a roaster - it will have a roasted date. This explains the price differential

          You can buy Gelato Messina at the supermarket. Is it the same?

          Fresh food at the supermarket is in a whole different ball game. Coffee in the supermarket is not considered a perishable item. At a roaster it would be thrown out if it's not sold in 2 weeks after roasting. A supermarket is selling it well after that date.

          • NigelTufnel on 06/02/2023 - 11:23
            +2

            @Thatbargainhunter:

            Coffee in the supermarket will have a use by date. From a roaster - it will have a roasted date. This explains the price differential.

            Except Aldi beans do actually have a roast/packed date (and it's common to find packs that were only roasted <3 weeks ago). That's why it's being recommended and has the most votes.

            At a roaster it would be thrown out if it's not sold in 2 weeks after roasting.

            Seems wasteful. Surely they would at least mark the price down first…

            • Thatbargainhunter on 06/02/2023 - 11:43
              -2

              @NigelTufnel: 3 weeks is too long, especially for 500g bags.

              Most people would be pushing it to get through 500g in two weeks.

              And that's the best case scenario of it been aub 3 weeks

              You proved my point.

              • NigelTufnel on 06/02/2023 - 12:29
                +1

                @Thatbargainhunter: Even seven miles says coffee in standard packaging is 'Acceptable' up to 8 weeks post-roasting.

                To each their own though. We all have different value trade-offs. I'll take my 'Acceptable' coffee over paying >3x that for slightly fresher roasted beans . Occasionally I'll splurge on some roaster coffee - it is marginally better, but not worth the bump in price to me on an ongoing basis. Either way you should add a decent vacuum storage container to the mix to extend the freshness.

                • Thatbargainhunter on 06/02/2023 - 12:36

                  @NigelTufnel: Most supermarket beans are not flushed though. I'm not sure about the Lazzio at Aldi.

                  I'd certainly drink it if I had stuff.left.at.that point, but I wouldn't be buying it with the expectation that I was co it at 8 weeks.

                  Also brew methods here are important.

                  It's all irrelevant to me. Aldi, as far as I know don't have filter roasts and drink almost exclusively filter.

      • champ23 on 05/02/2023 - 22:31
        +1

        Proud Mary is one of the best

      • caitsith01 on 05/02/2023 - 23:09

        It is possible to get decent beans at a supermarket if you can find something made locally that actually has a roasting date. But 90% of what's on the shelf is stale garbage.

      • nepalesesquirrel on 06/02/2023 - 18:26

        Aldis gave a roast date on them and can often get them at around 3 weeks.

      • 1Kenobi on 07/02/2023 - 07:30

        The better brands are dated so that’s not always true

    • Nebargains on 05/02/2023 - 09:53
      +1

      100%, I find it amazing when people say they use Aldi beans and it's better than any cafe, for that to be true they have to be going to places like Gloria Jean's or some crap cafe using Lavazza or something . Those beans are rubbish and you get what you pay for.

      • keejoonc on 05/02/2023 - 10:32
        -2

        100%. Always chuckle when people here rave on about Aldi. There is only one reason to buy Aldi beans. Price.

        • CheapskateQueen on 05/02/2023 - 14:39

          or each to their own taste buds perhaps?

          everyone loves kingswood coffee at work and i think it tastes like sour shit

      • Ragzs on 11/02/2023 - 18:12

        ALDI beans are definitely not rubbish. They're roasted at Veneziano in Richmond Melbourne. As others have mentioned, what they offer is limited, but can promise is a super professional process (walk past regularly and watch the roasting process). It is a scaled roast and they're not my favourite bean, but they're leagues about any other supermarket beans/ global coffee brands. Processing is more aligned with other small coffee Roasters.

        • kiitos on 12/02/2023 - 15:58

          What's a scaled roast?

      • Snowy83 on 08/03/2023 - 15:31

        Tried the Aldi dark roast, taste just wasn't enjoyable for me. Found a fresh bag of the Brazil Single Origin and although i enjoyed it a bit more than the dark roast, it was a very simple flavour. Straight back to the Airjo Enterprise Blend for me :)

    • serpserpserp on 05/02/2023 - 14:00

      I recommended two of the very best on the comments. What do you suggest?

    • CocaKoala on 05/02/2023 - 20:14

      What are the notable exceptions please? I'd like to try those.

    • caitsith01 on 05/02/2023 - 23:11

      Agree, the responses/recommendations are mostly hilariously terrible. And the fact that some people apparently think it's line ball between buying beans and using Nespresso pods.

      IMHO people need to find a decent local roaster and figure out the timing so that the beans peak during the window of time you are likely to use them in.

      6 month old bulk beans from the supermarket are not going to be close to this.

  • dandandan on 04/02/2023 - 22:20
    +4

    Campos

    • reddead2067 on 06/02/2023 - 20:20

      Campos, or Pablo & Rusty.

  • kiitos on 04/02/2023 - 23:54

    Which variety of Aldi coffees do people like? I tried the Brazilian single origin a while ago and looked it, trying it again now and finding it seems milder than I remember.

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