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Apologies in advance for the middle class first world problem post. Big fan of Union Coffee ‘Yayu Forest’ blend beans. Bought some originally as it was on offer in Waitrose and the bag said it had hints of bourbon biscuits in its flavour profile. It certainly does and I think it’s delicious. It’s a bit spendy at £27.50 for 1kg on Amazon so I’m on the lookout for other chocolatey coffees that may be a bit cheaper. Any recs?
Im grinding the beans and using a Hario V60. Happy to get ground if it’s fresh.
If you have a look on Hasbean's website theres usually a fair choice of chocolate / biscuit / caramel tinged coffees (although their stock changes all the time so your luck may vary). One thing I like about them is theres usually lots of choice and while it's always changing line up of beans and blends their description of flavour is very consistent.
They've come up with an interesting approach recently which is to colour code their labels with variable hues with different colours for different aspects of flavour - caramel and chocolates and biscuity flavours will tend to have shades of yellow and orange.
I’m working my way through Hasbean’s purple (fruity) range. I had one recently that tasted so clearly of blueberry that for a few brief moments my wife thought I wasn’t entirely mental for spending so much money on coffee.
Rave do a mocha blend that's nice.
Probably doesn't fit your cheaper than sainsburies union
Check out unions website though. Their fresh roast is even nicer than their supermarket bulk.
Look for coffee from Central/South America - that is usually best for chocolate/cocoa/caramel/nutty flavours.
African beans are quite floral and light, Oceania/Asia is usually more spicy (cinnamon/nutmeg earthy type).
If you have a look on Hasbean’s website theres usually a fair choice of chocolate / biscuit / caramel tinged coffees
Bloke asked for coffee that costs less than £27 a kilo and gets recommended a site where 1kg is £40 - £60
Never change, stw
😅😉
Rave Monsoon Malabar is my go to, thats £25.50 delivered. A nice dark roast which is consistently good and seems pretty forgiving.
Look for coffee from Central/South America – that is usually best for chocolate/cocoa/caramel/nutty flavours
As a relative coffee novice I have found the Waitrose own brand stuff to be quite a good way to explore. My current favourite (not a chocolatey one) is a light roasted Rwandan coffee, there seems to be a lot of variety and it's about £3.75 a pack.
Serious coffee types might turn their noses up but I've been enjoying trying the different styles so far!
Off in a wee tangent, but, seeing as Waitrose offer free* hot beverages with every purchase, and the option to ‘double the dose’, it would be nice if they’d let you add a shot of hot chocolate to your coffee.
Might be a winner at Greggs…
*byom
I haven't been able to afford freshly roast beans for a while, but the past few years I've been enjoying Grumpy Mule Millstone. If you a Makro card, ends up being £15 kg.
Either of Heart & Graft's house blends would fit the bill. Excellent coffee bought direct from growers/co-ops. £22 a kilo, and free postage if you buy that much (>£20).
https://heartandgraft.co.uk/product/60-40/
https://heartandgraft.co.uk/product/barnraiser/
They have a full range of single origin coffees too, and I've never had a bad one from them.
Usual STW "recommend what you use" thing, but I like the Sumatran Mandehling beans from Redber...
Thanks for the replies.
TheNorthWind, I’ve ordered some Barnraiser from Heart and Graft, sounds bang on.
The Hasbean coffees look great also. Will maybe treat myself to a few different 250g bags when funds allow.
Cheers all.
TheNorthWind, I’ve ordered some Barnraiser from Heart and Graft, sounds bang on.
Excellent choice, sir. I'm running on it today, as most days, in fact.
Try Wogan No.11 Finca Castilla £22 a kilo (Dark Choc flavours)
No. 77 Talk Club 10 £25 a kilo (cocoa flavours)
No. 4 Sumatra Mandheling £23 a kilo (dark choc flavours)
for starters, they have other blends than mention chocolate in the tasting notes. All listed out here.
As long as your bill is bigger than £25 the postage is free which would allow lots of 250 sample packs at around £7 each.
Waitrose own brand house blend, i tried a bunch of supermarket offerings and settled on this, tastes chocolatey whilst still very definitely coffee.
I swear by Whittard’s Guatemalan Elephant coffee beans - currently £38 a kilo on their website.
Our most popular medium-dark roast with good reason – these big Guatemala Maragogype beans trumpet a bold dark chocolate and orange flavour.
I make and enjoy my flat white using freshly roasted momentum espresso beans but I've no idea about this tasting chocolate or blueberry
If I wanted to taste chocolate I'd drink a sugary sweet hot chocolate or get some Coco powder sprinkled on top and for blueberry taste I'd suggest a muffin
It's just coffee to me
£25/kg is about the average, unless its some 'artisan' brand offering the same thing for ten or so quid more.
At least its not those beans that get fired out a monkeys arse.
Have a look at something from White Rose, Halifax. I use the Cattlemarket.
Helloo. Since lockdown I took on coffee as new hobby whilst working from home, I have learnt a lot about coffee and have since spent a small fortune on my setup / equipment. I have tried many brands of beans and the best I've found for price, consistency and the chocolaty profile you are looking for is Hasbean Jailbreak blend. You won't go wrong with it and it's really forgiving when dialling in for espresso. I have a subscription for it as my main but i still like to try different blends
I use these for my coffee & can highly recommend. All sorts of roasts & types.
@thenorthwind - Since reading this thread i've started using Barnraiser beans. What a great suggestion. I owe you one.
@Blackflag really glad you like it! I should have mentioned really that I went to college with one of the guys who started the roastery, but I wouldn't recommend them if I didn't genuinely think it's excellent quality, and particularly for the price.
I can't comment on the beans but is that V60 substantially different to the Melitta filter my mum used back in the 1960s?
I've been buying single origin coffee from Hormozi for years. Big variety on offer, you choose your roast and it's considerably cheaper than much of what's quoted above.
I’ve been buying single origin coffee from Hormozi for years. Big variety on offer, you choose your roast and it’s considerably cheaper than much of what’s quoted above.
Thank you. They don't sell my favourite coffee but I've been meaning to try some new stuff anyway and struggled to find a roaster with what I want.
@lambchop - Thanks for starting this. I have similar tastes.
I've used the following coffee beans with chocolate notes:
• North Star Docks
• Ozone Empire
• James Gourmet Coffee Simply Brazil
North Star Docks is my daily bean. I've ordered the two Heart and Graft and will work through some of the others.
For those in the Ditchling area, have just started buying beans from Craft House Coffee on hundred acre lane. Espresso blends working very well.
And it's an excuse to get out on the road bike to pick up direct and save me postage
I’ve been buying single origin coffee from Hormozi for years. Big variety on offer, you choose your roast and it’s considerably cheaper than much of what’s quoted above.
Came back to this thread to find an alternative supplier for our office, where the market can't withstand even Heart & Graft's reasonable prices. Hormozi's blends are cheap enough to save us from whatever's been in the corner of Amazon's warehouse longest, and while I'm assuming they're not going to be exciting, will hopefully at least be fresh. Thanks.
johndoh
Free MemberI swear by Whittard’s Guatemalan Elephant coffee beans – currently £38 a kilo on their website
Blimey, i'd want it to contain actual elephant for that price, and actually I just checked and they're currently £44/kg not £38!
I'm on Coffee Compass' Brighton Lanes and Sweet Bourbon espresso beans at the moment. Both have chocolate notes, and only £26/kg.
https://www.coffeecompass.co.uk/products/sweet-bourbon-espresso-blend-500g
https://www.coffeecompass.co.uk/products/brighton-lanes-espresso-blend-500g
I alternate between Clifton Suspension and Hard Lines House Party for the chocolate. 1kg delivered for under £30 if you're smart.
Worth looking out for a local roastery you can actually ride over to.
I found one set up by a couple two streets away from me. By post it'd be over £40 a kilo for their lovely South American chocolatey blend but well under that once they've taken off the postage and I've turned up with my own container as well.
https://www.google.com/maps/search/coffee+roasters+near+me
Worth looking out for a local roastery you can actually ride over to.
There's several I could ride to, and have done. It would be a lovely thing to do. But all of them would be more expensive than I currently pay, most of them considerably. And some of them aren't necessarily that special either 🤷
Rounton Granary Blend.
Too me the chocolate will probably be only tasted as espresso. We're talking a hint of.
Rounton Granary Blend.
Too me the chocolate will probably be only tasted as espresso. We’re talking a hint of.
This is my go to if they have a discount code going. Daybreak was great until they changed it a few months back and now I can't get it dialled in with ought making a big mess.