Issue Date: August 15, 2004
A better cup o' joe
The world's finest coffees, delivered to your door.
Every month I get a package my mailman hates to surrender. He reluctantly hands me the box, telling me how far out of his way he went so he could enjoy that heady scent a little longer. The parcel contains 4 pounds of excellent coffee.
If you're willing to go that extra mile for a good cup, just hit the Net. For a connoisseurs' guide, visit coffeereview.com. Experts critique the world's finest coffees -- with links to sites that sell them. No microbrewer is too small.
For a complete education in the art of coffee, go to Peets.com. Click on "Brewing Basics" (it's under "Learn") to read about six rules for improving the flavor of your brew. (Did you know a press pot or gold filter can eliminate the papery taste that paper filters introduce?)
Of course, the perfect cup of joe is a matter of individual taste. A lot rides on your choice of bean. To be sure you're starting with the right one for your palate and personality, take the Coffee Taste Matcher quiz at Starbucks.com (under "Our Coffees"). It asks probing questions about your motives for drinking coffee, your sense of adventure and your brewing preferences before making recommendations. I was pleased when it told me I should try Sumatra -- one of my favorites.
My coffee delivery comes from Peet's, though. This California coffee roaster is religious about flavor and freshness, and I won't drink anything else. Peet's Coffee Selector, accessible from the coffee shopping page, is a coffee-colored flavor chart. Choose the hue that resembles coffee you would enjoy. Love a dark, pungent cup like Arabian Mocha Sanani? Click on its deep brown color to read appetizing reviews, then add it to your cart.
-- Christina Wood
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