[rbbert]

Kona coffee is harvested between August and January, at several different times at most of the farms.  As I posted early in the thread, most of the bigger farms will sell direct, and if you contract for regular shipments it will usually arrive 2-3 days after roasting, in other words just about perfect.  The price range is wide but you are unlikely to get it for less than about $35/lb delivered, depending on grade.

[jqp]

Kona coffee is harvested between August and January, at several different times at most of the farms.  As I posted early in the thread, most of the bigger farms will sell direct, and if you contract for regular shipments it will usually arrive 2-3 days after roasting, in other words just about perfect.  The price range is wide but you are unlikely to get it for less than about $35/lb delivered, depending on grade.

Are you saying $35 for roasted coffee? And how is "grade" defined?

[rbbert]

No less than $35/lb for roasted whole bean; grade is defined by the grower and roaster, but is always better than what they are selling to the mass market.  For example, at the Costco's in Hawaii you can buy 100% Kona coffee for about $20-$25 per pound, whole bean roasted, but those beans are the ones graded lowest by the farms.  Look at the websites for the growers I posted above, you can see some of what I mean.  For example, Mountain Thunder sells different varieties for anywhere from about $40 up to $100/lb from their website.  It's somewhat cheaper if you join their "club", and they have some more expensive varieties not sold on their website.

If you are into coffee, plan a trip to the Big Island at a time when you can attend a coffee fair and sample a bunch of different farms' coffees.  Most of the farms also offer tours where you can learn more and possibly have an opportunity to buy one of the more rare varieties.

[FullRangeMan]

Here is a good video that shows how I do it (this is not me   )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6ajrQnTgII

Thanks for the link, hard to believe coffee bean are so expensive as prices mentioned here.
I will get with my usual brand ready to use, I know its not great but cost $2usd pound.

[roscoe65]

Coffee beans can be expensive, but they don't have to be.  Some varietals like Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain are limited quantity, which drives prices.  If you roast your own, green beans may be 5 dollars a pound or so.  In my expensive COL area, fresh roasted beans from a local shop are about $20 a pound, about the same as high-end online vendors.

However, $20 per pound works out to about $1.67/mug - less than the price of a Venti Starbucks are far better quality.

You can buy cheap coffee and expensive coffee, just like wine, scotch and audio equipment.

[jqp]

Thanks for the link, hard to believe coffee bean are so expensive as prices mentioned here.
I will get with my usual brand ready to use, I know its not great but cost $2usd pound.

99% of the green coffee beans I buy over the internet are less than $7 per pound. That ends up cheaper than buying whole beans at the grocery store. I want fresh, really fresh. It makes a big difference, as does buying the right kind of single-origin coffee.

[ctviggen]

Ctviggen , can you explain how you cold roast ? Thanks!!

I cold brew, using a Toddy cold brew system:

http://toddycafe.com/toddy-cold-brew-system

I've tried tons of other ways to make coffee, some of which I really liked, but cold brew coffee tastes good (can't drink Starbucks -- which tastes burnt -- after drinking cold brew), is easy to do, and makes days worth of coffee for two people. 

I periodically look into roasting my own beans, but if you cold brew your coffee, you usually use 12 ounces of coffee.  When I use my burr grinder to grind that amount of coffee, it's difficult to grind 12 ounces at a time and it turns out to be incredibly messy.  The ground coffee is often statically charged and goes everywhere.  My burr grinder only makes a few ounces at a time, and I have to refill a few times to get to 12 ounces.  So, I've basically given up on grinding coffee at home, unless I could get a grinder that would grind 12 ounces at a time.  I assume that's possible, but then to roast your own beans with a good roaster and have a coffee grinder that can grind 12 ounces, I'm probably looking at well beyond $700.  I don't think I could convince the wife to do that, even if the coffee is better than what we get now. 

[S Clark]

Of the top grinders that I'm familiar with, the Gaggia, the Rancilio, and the Kitchen Aid, the largest capacity is 10.5 ounces... but it would be no problem to simply pour the last couple of ounces in as the level of beans drops during grinding.  These would set you back $225-$350.  The Behmor roaster is $369 or maybe find it for %10 off- so you were pretty close with your $700 figure.  You could go cheaper, but not easily at the volumes you are talking about.

[stlrman]

Thanks ctviggen!! Cold brewing looks easy,fun and inexpensive. I checked out some how to Toddy videos on youtube . So easy , very cool. And 67% less acedic. And I do like iced coffee in the summer. Thanks again
Todd , lol..

[randytsuch]

I've wanted to try cold brew for a long time, maybe this summer I'll try it.

And stay away from Starbucks, they over roast.  Makes it easier for them to be consistent with different beans.

I haven't roasted for a couple years now, but when I did roast, I bought from here
http://www.greencoffeebuyingclub.com/ and here http://greencoffee.coop/

Both of these places have people who buy bags of greens wholesale, and then distribute the bags at basically no profit.
They will try the beans, and only buy good beans.
The beans from coop were the best, but they don't have many distributions, and they go really fast when they do.

But coffeebuyingclub had really good beans too, especially at the price you pay. 

BTW, sometimes they distribute kona and sometimes they have award winning beans, but that is kind of rare.

Randy

[FullRangeMan]

Ctviggen , can you explain how you cold roast ? Thanks!!

Not need expensive roasters, even a pan do the job perphars w/few temp control:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuhV2dUGaI
Detailed procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4wu1HxvQk0
---
Or in a concrete mixer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3f6DnLCZI

[S Clark]

I know better but I watched those pan roasting videos anyway.  If you think this can produce a product close to what a good roaster can achieve, you haven't got a clue. 
And no, a pan can't do the job.

[robcentola]

Here's a nice little place just outside of Asheville. Very reasonable prices and the coffee is outstanding. I've been ordering from this guy for about a year nd have yet to be disappointed. It's also roasted to order and I swear those beans are still warm when I get them! http://www.notoriouscoffee.com/ Specifically: http://www.notoriouscoffee.com/wholesale_order.html

Lately I've been creating my own blend. Sumatra Mandheling with Papua New Guinea. DE-licious.

[FullRangeMan]

I have bought this coffee yesterday:
http://www.nativealimentos.com.br/en/produtos/roasted-and-ground-coffee/
For the double price my usual brand and was surprised how soft and suave it is.
It so weak/boring I will mix it w/my regular brand(Melita Tradicional).

[Philistine]

I recall reading on the Sweet Maria's website a few years ago that their was one buyer that was consistently at auctions for some of the finer estate grown beans, and was the major player in the market.  At the time I was surprised to find that the buyer was Target!  I've bought some of their specialty espresso beans in the past when I've between roasts, and they're very good if you can't get to a specialty roaster.  I was in a Target today and they had an impressive range of specialty beans...

[Mikeinsacramento]

Not need expensive roasters, even a pan do the job perphars w/few temp control:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeuhV2dUGaI
Detailed procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4wu1HxvQk0
---
Or in a concrete mixer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3f6DnLCZI

You're right.  I've been roasting with $2 popcorn poppers for 30 some years now.  I've taught scores of people how to roast coffee.  Some have gone into the professional coffee roasting biz and you couldn't tell mine from theirs in a blind tasting. 

[S Clark]

The old 1500 watt poppers worked pretty well.  After juries began holding manufacturers liable for their customers stupidity, they began making them all 1200 watts, which isn't hot enough to roast coffee quickly enough. 
Now as to your claim that you can do it as well with a garage sale popcorn popper as a pro... let's just say I'm skeptical. 

[FullRangeMan]

I have bought this gourmet coffee Baggio Bourbon:
Its just a bit better than my regular brand Melita and cost 5 times more! The taste is soft and suave what made it more suited to Italian coffee machine than the usual electric.
Its marketing are:
Consisting of coffee beans Types 2 or 3, classification COB
All grains are 100% Arabica
All grains have controlled origin
Grains originate only from grain cherry (fruit maturation of the apex)
Its grains are classified between 17 and above
The grains have outstanding taste characteristics
The coffee is made with social responsibility
It is an eco-sustainable product
It is produced in high quality standard facilities
It is produced above an altitude of 1000m
http://www.baggiocafe.com.br/produtos/baggio-bourbon.html

[rbbert]

Does anyone here have experience with a good 1.5 L  metal French press (the Bodum is not good)?

[FullRangeMan]

Price aside I prefer the Italian system or moka invented by Bialetti in 1932/33, it made a coffee similar to expresso; the french system do a coffee no so good.

Mine is this sino inox model to 12 cups or 800ml: