Best Ground Coffee availably in Supermarkets?

[Zak33]

Hi people.

What's your favourite ground coffee from a Supermarket?

Long ago, Rave got me some Illi from somewere (LIDL I think) and it was superb..but I got through it (as he predicted) while my little lad was young and keeping me awake!

I have now moved to the Starbucks ground coffee, and it's pretty good. But I'd like some suggestions please

What to buy? I like all flavours, on different days I like different coffee, so don't be shy

[ShenBlade]

Why order from Supermarkets, when you can be brave and try these specialities

http://www.firebox.com/product/1077/...fee-Kopi-Luwak

http://www.firebox.com/product/616/Weasel-Coffee

[kalniel]

Red Monkey is the best online place

http://www.redmonkeycoffee.co.uk/

As for supermarkets, it seems to vary greatly, but some of the fairtrade specials are really interesting. I think I'm on a cafedirect kilimangaro(sp?) at the moment which I first thought was a bit rough for a medium strength coffee, but after having so many 'smooth' coffees elsewhere I'm beginning to appreciate its character a bit more. Union hand-roasted packs are quite nice too.

[joshwa]

Illy, or Lavazza if you have an espresso machine.

If you've got a whittard's near you why not go in and get them to grind you some beans

Alternatively get one of these and buy your own beans:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dualit-Burr-.../dp/B000094U5T

Then grind them fresh as you need them

The next step after this is to buy green beans, and roast them yourself in the oven (WOW!)

(the smileys indicate garanteed satisfaction levels)

[tiggerai]

I like Nescafe (I think) Alta Rica - it's the colombian version I believe.

I especially like it as you can get it in decaf... and you can only normally get decaf in the crappy bottom of the range coffee.

[Lee @ SCAN]

I only tend to get ground coffee when tesco have their finest range on special offer

The alta rica is nice, as is the columbian but I just can't find the time to make a real brew nowadays.

[Clingy]

The price of Supermarket coffee has gone through the roof! Starbucks way too expensive.....I am finding Tesco Finest is close to the cheapest. I must admit we always struggle to get good beans (I like a fresh grind ) from Supermarkets.

[DavidM]

<snip>

[99Flake]

Lavazza is my personal favourite, doesn't have to be espresso either, works fine in a cafetiere as well.

[IBM]

I'm a fan of Lavazza and illy too, although I barely drink the stuff these days.....if you're after incredibly strong coffee, see if you've got a middle eastern store nearby and buy anything with Arabic writting on it (although make sure you don't get the cardammon version, as that's not to everyone's taste). I got heart palpatations and the shakes after having a cup of coffee made to my regular strength.....don't think I slept much that night.

[timread]

The best ground coffee I've found is Union Hand Roasted (as recommended to me by a US friend of mine who is a serious coffee drinker!). All of their coffees are excellent - Sainsburys sell three of their varieties at £2.59 for a 227g bag. The Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe variety is a great daytime coffee, and it's fairtrade as well.

[Zak33]

cor....lots of coffee people here


cooooooooool

[Russ]

ikeas is nice

[wildgoose1uk]

Asda (surprisingly) do some really nice ones. Tesco Finest are also very good as are some of the fair trade ones (like the Kilimanjaro one mentioned above). Lidl's were disappointing as were the standard tesco ones.

I think Asda is probably the best value.

[DavidM]

<snip>

[Saracen]

My personal favourite coffee is Blue Mountain. I don't drink vast amounts of coffee these days, but when I do want a proper coffee to savour and enjoy, nothing touches it. I've been drinking it since for at least 30 years, initially sourced from a bean shop in Coventry then from one in St. Albans. And, in my view, nothing touches it.

Three things though. First, I usually buy beans, not ready-ground, and grind my own. I find that coffee stays far fresher far longer if you grind it when you want it, or in small amounts, and it shoes in the taste. I do a day or two's worth at a time, at most. Second, it's a very personal taste, and I like a rich not smooth taste, and I don't like it bitter. Third, it's not that easy to get. And fourth (out of three things ) .... it ain't cheap.

Failing that, F&M do a nice "finest Columbian", (or used to, but I haven't had it for awhile) which is decent for ready ground. And for locally available stuff, I don't mind Waitrose blended Columbian.

But, for my taste buds, nothing but nothing touches Blue Mountain.