Coffee Downtown

[Ocklawaha]

Any photos available of old Maxwell House coffee stands?

Sorry if I confused you, but the terminal really did have a great coffee shop, and Maxwell House coffee shops was an idea advanced by MJ a few years ago that met with the typical ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ not only from the city but from Kraft Foods.

[blizz01]

At least you can smell it.....

[ronchamblin]

This thread is interesting.  I am a coffee person, starting my day off with a big cup of espresso w/water.... I guess you'd call it an Americana.  If I don't have coffee in the morning... well, it's been so long since I've been without, I can't remember what happens.

If I have regular coffee during the day, which is seldom, I will have the Green Mountain French Roast, or the Sweetwater (from Gainsville I think) Midnight Oil.  Being a real macho man, I drink it all black, without anything added, except a sweet snack.  I can't stand flavored coffee.

In any case, I've been thinking about the actual quality of the Green Mountain coffee we serve, and what others think about it.  Our espresso is from Sweetwater.  We get lots of complements on the Gainsvillian Sweetwater Midnight Oil.  I have tried to compare the Green Mountain French Roast to the Midnight Oil.  They are both pretty good, but I sense that the Midnight Oil is richer, perhaps because it might be fresher.   

Then there is the Bold Bean, which we used as a side to the Green Mountain before they moved.  I liked the Bold Bean.  However, during the move, we somehow drifted away from Bold Bean. 

Then there is the coffee served by Jerry Moran.  He gets it from somewhere in or near New York.  It is very good.

Another option, when and if we expand the coffee shop into a real restaurant at the current Gus's Shoe Repair location, we could roast our own beans.  This would be fun, but it takes a lot of work too.

Feedback from those who have experience with our Green Mountain would be appreciated.  Do you like it?  Is it mediocre in your opinion?  Should we change completely to Bold Bean?..... or some other coffee?  I'm convinced that the quality of ones coffee is very important, especially for a place like ours... opening in the morning, and having people meet all day for discussions etc.   

[ben says]

This thread is interesting.  I am a coffee person, starting my day off with a big cup of espresso w/water.... I guess you'd call it an Americana.  If I don't have coffee in the morning... well, it's been so long since I've been without, I can't remember what happens.

If I have regular coffee during the day, which is seldom, I will have the Green Mountain French Roast, or the Sweetwater (from Gainsville I think) Midnight Oil.  Being a real macho man, I drink it all black, without anything added, except a sweet snack.  I can't stand flavored coffee.

In any case, I've been thinking about the actual quality of the Green Mountain coffee we serve, and what others think about it.  Our espresso is from Sweetwater.  We get lots of complements on the Gainsvillian Sweetwater Midnight Oil.  I have tried to compare the Green Mountain French Roast to the Midnight Oil.  They are both pretty good, but I sense that the Midnight Oil is richer, perhaps because it might be fresher.   

Then there is the Bold Bean, which we used as a side to the Green Mountain before they moved.  I liked the Bold Bean.  However, during the move, we somehow drifted away from Bold Bean. 

Then there is the coffee served by Jerry Moran.  He gets it from somewhere in or near New York.  It is very good.

Another option, when and if we expand the coffee shop into a real restaurant at the current Gus's Shoe Repair location, we could roast our own beans.  This would be fun, but it takes a lot of work too.

Feedback from those who have experience with our Green Mountain would be appreciated.  Do you like it?  Is it mediocre in your opinion?  Should we change completely to Bold Bean?..... or some other coffee?  I'm convinced that the quality of ones coffee is very important, especially for a place like ours... opening in the morning, and having people meet all day for discussions etc.

Ron-

Personally, I don't like the Green Mountain coffee. I mean it's OK, I've definitely had worse....but it's a little "one note" for me.

I think you should move completely to Bold Bean for a few reasons...

1) it's local, made by a great team of upstanding people who run a great little business in the core (when I leave town for extended periods of time, there's two things my girlfriend and I miss: Bold Bean and your store).

2) small batch, made with love, organic etc...you can watch them roasting it quite often

3) Green Mountain has annual revenue nearing one billion dollars...they're doing just fine. While they're dedicated to fair trade and organic products (as is our local Bold Bean), I can't help but to think a great local store like Chamblin's needs great local coffee like Bold Bean.

Everyone has an opinion about coffee....so there's mine.

[ronchamblin]

Illuminating Ben.  I’ve sensed there was a touch of mediocrity in GrnMtn.  But I needed more input….. other taste buds.  Your input is much appreciated.  And I agree about the local supplier choice.  Perhaps others have input too.  The choice of coffee is crucial in my opinion, and can, in some instances make or break a place.   

[downtownjag]

Too bad places like Java Junction have zero outside presence. I have never even heard of this place. To me, as a downtown visitor, I would never even go into that tower unless I had business there. It lookes too imposing and unfriendly.

They have a sign outside; but anyways it's good.  Everyone in the building is nice

[downtownjag]

This thread is interesting.  I am a coffee person, starting my day off with a big cup of espresso w/water.... I guess you'd call it an Americana.  If I don't have coffee in the morning... well, it's been so long since I've been without, I can't remember what happens.

If I have regular coffee during the day, which is seldom, I will have the Green Mountain French Roast, or the Sweetwater (from Gainsville I think) Midnight Oil.  Being a real macho man, I drink it all black, without anything added, except a sweet snack.  I can't stand flavored coffee.

In any case, I've been thinking about the actual quality of the Green Mountain coffee we serve, and what others think about it.  Our espresso is from Sweetwater.  We get lots of complements on the Gainsvillian Sweetwater Midnight Oil.  I have tried to compare the Green Mountain French Roast to the Midnight Oil.  They are both pretty good, but I sense that the Midnight Oil is richer, perhaps because it might be fresher.   

Then there is the Bold Bean, which we used as a side to the Green Mountain before they moved.  I liked the Bold Bean.  However, during the move, we somehow drifted away from Bold Bean. 

Then there is the coffee served by Jerry Moran.  He gets it from somewhere in or near New York.  It is very good.

Another option, when and if we expand the coffee shop into a real restaurant at the current Gus's Shoe Repair location, we could roast our own beans.  This would be fun, but it takes a lot of work too.

Feedback from those who have experience with our Green Mountain would be appreciated.  Do you like it?  Is it mediocre in your opinion?  Should we change completely to Bold Bean?..... or some other coffee?  I'm convinced that the quality of ones coffee is very important, especially for a place like ours... opening in the morning, and having people meet all day for discussions etc.   

I'd love to see you brew your own coffee!  That's my #1 choice by far. 

I'm in your shop probably twice or three times a week.  I'll say that Green Mountain is decent (Nantucket & Southern Pecan), but I also prefer midnight oil.

I prefer bold bean to what you're currently serving, but I'm there either way.  Everyone is an armchair quarterback these days, so don't make your decision on my account

[peestandingup]

I don't care for Green Mountain either. Midnight Oil is the only blend I get in Chamblins. I've just had too many nasty tasting cups of Green Mountain from different places & personally never saw the attraction to it. Esp when we now have a couple local roasters to buy from who actually have a better product IMO.

I too vote for Bold Bean for the reasons listed & would also love if you guys had the option of hand brewing each cup (while keeping the self-serve option). The investment is basically nothing (a burr grinder, a couple pour-over drip cones, something to pour hot water with & some paper filters). Its such an easy thing to do, but makes a BIG difference in quality.

Everything else in there is handmade (sandwiches, soups, lattes, etc), why not the joe?? Coffee needs love too.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I hadn't seen it mentioned, but could it just be that the flavor of the coffee is enhanced as much by the brewing method as it is the bean itself?

I go to Boldbean 3-4 days a week, sometimes multiple times a day, but everytime I veer from the slow-drip, I feel that I'm missing out on something. Maybe I just don't like hot coffee.  Maybe I just really like the buzz.  Maybe I don't have a clue what I'm talking about.     I'm just saying that slow drip (no matter what bean they're using at the time) always makes me happy.  The rest.....  hit or miss.

Ron.  My advice would be to try different brewing methods using the same coffee first and then branching out from there.  Upfront expense is a little more (well.... maybe more than a little), but you can always change the bean.  And on the bright side, you'd already have several options for filtering out that dark, caffeine-laced, mildly-euphoric, semi-bitter awesomeness.

[ben says]

I'm no expert, but I believe Ron can keep the existing self-pour machines (?) and just remove the GrnMt labels and replace them with Bold Beans. I'm sure BB has signage. I don't think he'll have to change much just by nature of changing brands.

And yeah, doing pour over coffee behind the counter could be a really cool option, but I think the self-pour machines should stay.

[sandyshoes]

I actually still use an old-fashioned electric percolator!  That, to me, tastes better than drip coffee.  My other alternative is a French Press.  And, of course, Half and Half is a must.  My hubby doesn't drink coffee, so this is my own personal vice.  Even if it does have to be decaf...

[ben says]

I actually still use an old-fashioned electric percolator!  That, to me, tastes better than drip coffee.  My other alternative is a French Press.  And, of course, Half and Half is a must.  My hubby doesn't drink coffee, so this is my own personal vice.  Even if it does have to be decaf...

Percolators are fantastic, just not sure they'd work on a larger scale like at a Chamblin's. French Press, also great, but something tells me they'd be breaking/getting knocked off those tables left and right.

[Dapperdan]

Ron,
I as well think you should switch to Bold Bean. To me, your bookstore and Bold Bean would go hand in hand. It would be perfect.

On a  side note, for the life of me, I can't understand why Maxwell Hosue doesn't have a small coffee shop somehwere downtown. I asked them once and they said that wasn't in  their busienss plan. It seems like a no brainer to me, especially on the days they do their roasting and you can smell it all over downtown.

[ronchamblin]

Thanks Dapper.  An interesting experiment might be for me to talk with Maxwell House, to determine if they would like to be our sole supplier of coffee products.  How more local could this be?  It could be a good partnership.  I've always liked their coffee.  I wonder if they have the espresso product?  One thing for sure, being so close, the coffee product would certainly be fresh.  I think I'll check this avenue out.

Again, thanks muchly Metro J persons, for the thoughtful coffee advice.  I'll print it out and discuss it with the girls at the cafe.  Of course, i.If we make any catastrophically damaging coffee decisions...... well....  my attorney said I can hold all participating Metro persons responsible.  I have your names.  Business is business......... knowwhatamean.       

[Dapperdan]

Ron,
  If you do talk to Maxwell, let us know hosw it goes. Maybe they can even give you test flavors if they are into doing that.