Whole Foods espresso beans

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Date: 21 Jul 2006 14:16:47
From: Cordo
Subject: Whole Foods espresso beans

I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting for
a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the store)
to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.

I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a big
mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred and
produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.

Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
espresso?

C

Date: 21 Jul 2006 22:39:55
From: Mud Pup
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

Date: 21 Jul 2006 14:58:11
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

"Cordo" <cordoveroRemoveThis@RemoveThisyahoo.com > wrote in message
news:e9rg7t$cfm$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
> I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting
for
> a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the
store)
> to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>
> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a
big
> mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred and
> produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>
> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
> espresso?
>
> C
>
>
So where are you now? Still lost wages?

Sorry no suggestion, only a conformation of "it's not enough to have an
in-store roaster, you also need to roast well" ;-) The lightly roasted beans
I had were too light and the dark too dark. No middle ground. OTOH in the
store I was in you could sample the beans before purchase as they were in
open containers , like a bowl or somesuch, on the top of small wooden
barrels. For all to see just how they looked and if you were presumptious
enough try one.
The roaster (machine that is) did not seem to have a trademark on it. Looked
like a custom several pound air-roaster. Noted two PID looking things on the
front.
You'll just have to sample all they offer, and maybe give the roaster some
guidance, and get back to us on what's best where you are as I doubt it will
carry to the next whole wallet outlet <lol >

Date: 21 Jul 2006 16:37:04
From: Cordo
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

Your experience mirrors mine in that I saw a lot of beans too dark/oily and
a lot too light (for my taste), with few in the middle. It seems the
suggestion of buying by color, rather than origin or blend, is the right way
to go. I'm still in Vegas, so it is the Whole Foods in Henderson I'm using
for this stopgap.

I had put in my usual order for Vivace beans through WLL, but someone (WLL
says Vivace, Vivace says WLL) lost my order. I have to say that it was the
first time I've had subpar customer service from WLL, in that when I tried
to have it rectified after not receiving my order after 3 weeks, I was told
that things would be taken care of but was never given any way of knowing
(e.g. there was no procedure in place of following up with a confirmation
call or email that they had spoken with Vivace and cleared it up), and,
indeed, when I called another week later, they had just contacted Vivace
that morning (or did so after my call!) though I had been told that would be
taken care of 6 days earlier. I have had excellend customer service from
WLL before, so I think this is a case where they might want to change a
procedure, namely where a corrected mistake leads to a confirmation of that
correction, rather than a "we'll fix that... will there be anything else?"
One thing that I definitely valued was that EVERYONE involved was super
friendly.

C

"Johnny" <removethis.huuanito@hotmail.com > wrote in message
news:36cwg.2722$Mz3.1485@fed1read07...
>
> "Cordo" <cordoveroRemoveThis@RemoveThisyahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:e9rg7t$cfm$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
>> I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting
> for
>> a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the
> store)
>> to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>>
>> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a
> big
>> mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred
>> and
>> produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>>
>> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use
>> for
>> espresso?
>>
>> C
>>
>>
> So where are you now? Still lost wages?
>
> Sorry no suggestion, only a conformation of "it's not enough to have an
> in-store roaster, you also need to roast well" ;-) The lightly roasted
> beans
> I had were too light and the dark too dark. No middle ground. OTOH in the
> store I was in you could sample the beans before purchase as they were in
> open containers , like a bowl or somesuch, on the top of small wooden
> barrels. For all to see just how they looked and if you were presumptious
> enough try one.
> The roaster (machine that is) did not seem to have a trademark on it.
> Looked
> like a custom several pound air-roaster. Noted two PID looking things on
> the
> front.
> You'll just have to sample all they offer, and maybe give the roaster some
> guidance, and get back to us on what's best where you are as I doubt it
> will
> carry to the next whole wallet outlet <lol>
>
>

Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:40:18
From: Johnny
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

"Cordo" <cordoveroRemoveThis@RemoveThisyahoo.com > wrote in message
news:e9roev$jn4$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
> "Johnny" <removethis.huuanito@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > Sorry no suggestion, only a conformation of "it's not enough to have an
> > in-store roaster, you also need to roast well" ;-) The lightly roasted
> > beans
> > I had were too light and the dark too dark. No middle ground. OTOH in
the
> > store I was in you could sample the beans before purchase as they were
in
> > open containers , like a bowl or somesuch, on the top of small wooden
> > barrels. For all to see just how they looked and if you were
presumptious
> > enough try one.
> > The roaster (machine that is) did not seem to have a trademark on it.
> > Looked
> > like a custom several pound air-roaster. Noted two PID looking things on
> > the
> > front.
> > You'll just have to sample all they offer, and maybe give the roaster
some
> > guidance, and get back to us on what's best where you are as I doubt it
> > will
> > carry to the next whole wallet outlet <lol>
> >
> >
> Your experience mirrors mine in that I saw a lot of beans too dark/oily
and
> a lot too light (for my taste), with few in the middle. It seems the
> suggestion of buying by color, rather than origin or blend, is the right
way
> to go. I'm still in Vegas, so it is the Whole Foods in Henderson I'm
using
> for this stopgap.
>
> I had put in my usual order for Vivace beans through WLL, but someone (WLL
> says Vivace, Vivace says WLL) lost my order. I have to say that it was
the
> first time I've had subpar customer service from WLL, in that when I tried
> to have it rectified after not receiving my order after 3 weeks, I was
told
> that things would be taken care of but was never given any way of knowing
> (e.g. there was no procedure in place of following up with a confirmation
> call or email that they had spoken with Vivace and cleared it up), and,
> indeed, when I called another week later, they had just contacted Vivace
> that morning (or did so after my call!) though I had been told that would
be
> taken care of 6 days earlier. I have had excellend customer service from
> WLL before, so I think this is a case where they might want to change a
> procedure, namely where a corrected mistake leads to a confirmation of
that
> correction, rather than a "we'll fix that... will there be anything else?"
> One thing that I definitely valued was that EVERYONE involved was super
> friendly.
>
> C
>
>
If you are already buying from WLL you should also try their drop-ship of
Supreme Bean espresso offerings.
Supreme Bean are real close to finishing their own website for their
_expanded_ offerings and meanwhile _some_ of what they offer is available at
http://www.wholelattelove.com/supreme_bean.cfm
where there seems to be 7 regular espresso roasts plus one decaf espresso
offered. All around $12/pound which is _very_ reasonable for the quality
they deliver.
I may have tried some of these offerings last Sunday at their event, which
you should have driven over for, it would have been worth the drive imo. I
only remember their Bella Luna and the new one, the organic Dolce Terra,
both of which are wonderful.

Johnny "a guest so far but soon to be a happy customer"

Date: 22 Jul 2006 20:25:18
From: Cordo
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

The Whole Food beans are Allegro brand.

I thought of asking them to buy green, but that normally means a rip off,
and besides, I would expect that any commercial roaster would do a better
job than my I-Roast.

I should have bought by color. I've been using the beans and they're pure
ash, and I like really dark roasts!

C

Date: 22 Jul 2006 15:11:08
From: Jack Denver
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

WF in my area don't roast in store. Will WF sell you green coffee and if so
do they discount below the roasted price?

There are surprisingly few shop roasters in Phila. area and most are not
green friendly. Olde City Coffee, last time I tried offered $1/lb. off of
roasted price. Most of their roasted are in $9/lb. range so $1 doesn't even
cover weight loss in roasting, making green more costly that roasted despite
savings in fuel & labor. I found one coffee they had on sale for a
reasonable price (an Indian arabica) if you bought 5 lbs. and suddenly they
said, no, it's not $1/lb. it's 10% off. You'd think they were trying to
discourage people from buying greeen - maybe they're afraid the word will
get out or something?

"Cordo" <cordoveroRemoveThis@RemoveThisyahoo.com > wrote in message
news:e9rg7t$cfm$1@news.Stanford.EDU...
>I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting
>for a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the
>store) to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>
> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a
> big mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred
> and produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>
> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
> espresso?
>
> C
>

Date: 23 Jul 2006 02:17:24
From: daveb
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

makes Starbucks sound yummy!

dave
89

Cordo wrote:
> I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting for
> a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the store)
> to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>
> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a big
> mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred and
> produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>
> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
> espresso?
>
> C

Date: 24 Jul 2006 09:09:27
From: Jim in NJ
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

Cordo wrote:
> I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting for
> a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the store)
> to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>
> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a big
> mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred and
> produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>
> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
> espresso?
>
> C
My local WF in Middletown, NJ does NOT have the same problems that you
are facing.
Each blend that Allegro provides comes with separate PID time/temp
profiles that the local crew seem to follow to the letter.

They provide over twenty different blends in bins marked with the
roasting date. The bins are relatively small and are always empty
within 3 to 5 days. They seem to roast every other day & sometimes
daily depending on demand. I avoid ALL of their dark/oily roasts
(about a third of what they sell).

Their mocha java & antigua roasts are good (imo) espresso blends.
Their espresso blend is too dark for my taste.

I can only conclude that your local crew don't know what they're doing.
If you complain to both WF & Allegro, I'm sure you'll see rapid
results.
Jim in NJ

Date: 24 Jul 2006 11:17:26
From: notbob
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

On 2006-07-24, Jim in NJ <commboy46@yahoo.com > wrote:

> Each blend that Allegro provides comes with separate PID time/temp
> profiles that the local crew seem to follow to the letter.

> I can only conclude that your local crew don't know what they're doing.

Near as I can tell, it's pretty much a hands-off burger-flipper
operation, the roaster being completely automatic. Employees load
the beans, push a couple buttons and go off to stock some shelves or
something. The Sivitz-style roaster goes through it's roast and cool
down cycle and shuts itself down. The employee comes back to unloads
it when he gets around to it.

nb

Date: 24 Jul 2006 12:06:56
From: Cordo
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

I'm not sure anything I experienced is different from what you described. I
never said that the beans weren't freshly roasted. I just said that the
espresso roast is dark, oily, and ashy. You say you avoid it for being too
dark and oily. My original post was meant to solicit suggestions for one of
the other blends or single origins to use as espresso, since the "espresso"
blend won't do. It was suggested that I choose there by color, and maybe
try the PNG. I should have thought of that.

My OP was not meant as a rant. I just don't have Allegro's notes, as I have
Sweetmaria's, on which of their non-espresso blends/origins might serve well
as espresso.

C

"Jim in NJ" <commboy46@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:1153757367.454358.78940@75g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
>
> Cordo wrote:
>> I now have a Whole Foods nearby. I just ran out of green and am waiting
>> for
>> a shipment, so I stopped by there (it's one that has a roaster in the
>> store)
>> to get some freshly roasted to tide me over.
>>
>> I didn't know which to get, so I got their "Espresso" blend. That was a
>> big
>> mistake. Even though it was roasted just a few days ago, it's charred
>> and
>> produces instantly-disappearing crema. The taste is charcoal.
>>
>> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use
>> for
>> espresso?
>>
>> C
> My local WF in Middletown, NJ does NOT have the same problems that you
> are facing.
> Each blend that Allegro provides comes with separate PID time/temp
> profiles that the local crew seem to follow to the letter.
>
> They provide over twenty different blends in bins marked with the
> roasting date. The bins are relatively small and are always empty
> within 3 to 5 days. They seem to roast every other day & sometimes
> daily depending on demand. I avoid ALL of their dark/oily roasts
> (about a third of what they sell).
>
> Their mocha java & antigua roasts are good (imo) espresso blends.
> Their espresso blend is too dark for my taste.
>
> I can only conclude that your local crew don't know what they're doing.
> If you complain to both WF & Allegro, I'm sure you'll see rapid
> results.
> Jim in NJ
>

Date: 24 Jul 2006 01:13:51
From: Dan
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

daveb wrote:
> makes Starbucks sound yummy!
>

Nah - that's impossible!

Date: 24 Jul 2006 19:13:11
From:
Subject: Re: Whole Foods espresso beans

I like their Nantucket Blend, but all their coffees seem to have
disappearing crema, at leas the ones I've tried.

Liz

Cordo wrote:

>
> Anybody have a suggestion for which other bean/blend they carry to use for
> espresso?
>
> C