Gaoler
Well-known member
'I havn't noticed...
Coffee
- Thread starter nakkers
- Start date
'I havn't noticed...
Since my wife turned me onto her native Africafe with its great nutty and hint-of-cocoa flavour, I’ve struggled to find it. Her family always brings several large cans when they visit every few years, but the scamdemic put a stop to their visits—although they’re planning a trip next spring. For a while I was able to source it on Amazon for $32 per 250g can, which is not cheap, but still cheaper than that nasty Tim’s. The price is now $75 per 250g can, and I stopped sourcing it from there once it exceeded the $32. I now find it on Etsy at about the same price once shipping is added, and I order in bulk.
Africafe is an instant coffee that’s been ground to a fine powder, and it’s the most delicious coffee I’ve ever had. I drink it black or with a pinch of stevia. I can’t drink other coffees often because I start to get a chest pain when I exhale, which gets worse if I don’t take a break for a couple weeks. Tim’s is the worst for triggering this. I don’t know the correlation and have never spoken to the doc about it—I just know that it exists. I read something online about mould from warehouse storage, but I haven't looked any deeper into it. I’m 50 now, and when I was 21 I was forced to quit smoking cigarettes because of a lung infection that did this same thing, but got worse. The doc said it’d go away if I stop smoking, get worse quickly if I didn’t, and come back if I ever start smoking again. Apparently coffee also somehow brings it on. Doesn’t make sense to me.
Anyway, Africafe I can drink daily with no issue.
Two weeks ago I discovered mushroom coffee. Surprisingly, it tastes very similar to Africafe, and I’ve tried two different kinds. It’s supposed to be good for you, although I haven’t looked into it yet, but it also hasn’t affected my chest pain, and I’ve been drinking it daily for two weeks. Strangely, it’s also a powdered instant coffee. Both Africafe and the mushroom coffee froth when you pour, which I like.
I’ve attached photos. The Africafe is not in its original package—I repurposed a Nescafe jar to split some to keep at work, but the label and branding is accurate. I strongly suggest you all try it if you get the chance.
Africafe is an instant coffee that’s been ground to a fine powder, and it’s the most delicious coffee I’ve ever had. I drink it black or with a pinch of stevia. I can’t drink other coffees often because I start to get a chest pain when I exhale, which gets worse if I don’t take a break for a couple weeks. Tim’s is the worst for triggering this. I don’t know the correlation and have never spoken to the doc about it—I just know that it exists. I read something online about mould from warehouse storage, but I haven't looked any deeper into it. I’m 50 now, and when I was 21 I was forced to quit smoking cigarettes because of a lung infection that did this same thing, but got worse. The doc said it’d go away if I stop smoking, get worse quickly if I didn’t, and come back if I ever start smoking again. Apparently coffee also somehow brings it on. Doesn’t make sense to me.
Anyway, Africafe I can drink daily with no issue.
Two weeks ago I discovered mushroom coffee. Surprisingly, it tastes very similar to Africafe, and I’ve tried two different kinds. It’s supposed to be good for you, although I haven’t looked into it yet, but it also hasn’t affected my chest pain, and I’ve been drinking it daily for two weeks. Strangely, it’s also a powdered instant coffee. Both Africafe and the mushroom coffee froth when you pour, which I like.
I’ve attached photos. The Africafe is not in its original package—I repurposed a Nescafe jar to split some to keep at work, but the label and branding is accurate. I strongly suggest you all try it if you get the chance.
Attachments
We have the typical fancy stuff, cappuccino machine, French press, some Turkish deal, etc. We haven't had a classic drip/pot style one for a couple of decades.
Day to day, the Keurig is the go-to. I get some don't like it but for us it does good enough and there is no fuss and it is on demand. It is used for coffee and various kinds of tea.
Day to day, the Keurig is the go-to. I get some don't like it but for us it does good enough and there is no fuss and it is on demand. It is used for coffee and various kinds of tea.
If you're on a road trip for other reasons, it looks like places near Ottawa stock it for $30 with a discount for volume.
Africafe Coffee - 250g
The purest and organic instant coffee from Africa! Imported straight from Tanzania, this particular coffee package consists of 250g of pure Africafe packaged in Tanzania!
www.treeofafrica.ca
Closer to home, did you try Naomi, Grace or Calabar? Not listed on their website but they may have info for you.
Give you a tip with the French press...don't put the plunger all the way down...only go as far as you need for one cup.
Then it will not oxidize and the next cup will taste excellent.
There are small French press for single cup use....I use a fine grind with it rather than the I think wasteful coarse grind that is recommended.
Nespresso provides large recycle bags for the aluminum cups that can be dropped off at local vendors and Nespresso picks them up. I reallllllly don't like the smell of stale coffee from the used cups. We keep them sealed in a honey tub until we send them back.
Relax
Well-known member
An Italian friend swore by her Bialetti Moka pot, and gave me one as a gift along with a bag of Moak Gusto Bar. It was so good, I could drink it black when normally I put enough to sugar and cream to make it taste like ice cream. Pain to clean, though, and the last time I used it not realizing it would be the last, it wasn't cleaned thoroughly and now there's stains in the actual aluminum pot, with signs of the anodizing wearing off. I scrubbed and cleaned as best I could, but there are still some small stains. When I made a pot, it had a sour taste. Made another with just water and same thing, so it's the pot or maybe the rubber seal. A new one isn't that much, but I'd hate to do another one in.
By far my favorite coffee comes out of a clover. The machine is five figures, it breaks often, it uses a ton of coffee and takes minutes of active work to make a coffee. But damn. Best black coffee I have ever had.
I'll add another easy idea for MP and OP. Cold-brew. Fundamentally a sieve in a container of water. No heat required. Let it sit for a day or three and enjoy a delicious smooth coffee (many people want to heat it just prior to drinking it). Multiple size containers are available. Cost is pretty low.
I rarely get to Ottawa, but if I take a trip to Quebec to see family, it would be worth a stop.If you're on a road trip for other reasons, it looks like places near Ottawa stock it for $30 with a discount for volume.
Africafe Coffee - 250g
The purest and organic instant coffee from Africa! Imported straight from Tanzania, this particular coffee package consists of 250g of pure Africafe packaged in Tanzania!www.treeofafrica.ca
Closer to home, did you try Naomi, Grace or Calabar? Not listed on their website but they may have info for you.
I've never heard of Naomi, Grace or Calabar. Are those brick and mortar stores?
We have a few African stores in Brantford, but none carry it. I tried contacting the company in Tanzania for years. I'd send an email every couple months. I finally got a response last year, and got a quote for a case. I don't remember what it came to, but I think it worked out to about $20 per can with shipping. They were working on a quote for a shipping container But after a couple back-and-forth emails, they stopped responding. I hoped to make a deal with African stores in Brantford, Hamilton and London to supply them. The company (Afritea and Coffee Blenders Ltd.) said they didn't have a distributor in Canada.
This is were I ordered last. $35 + $20 shipping for $55. But 6 cans is $198 + $20 shipping for $218 for 6 cans. That's $36 per 250g can. Best price I can find.
But I have mushroom coffee that I like just as much, and is (I think) healthier then just coffee.
But I have mushroom coffee that I like just as much, and is (I think) healthier then just coffee.
10-in-1 Mushroom Coffee – 8.28 oz (235g) – Premium Gourmet Coffee with Mushroom Blend – Smooth Instant Coffee Powder – Vegan, Non-GMO, Plant-Based, Rich Aroma : Amazon.ca: Grocery & Gourmet Food
10-in-1 Mushroom Coffee – 8.28 oz (235g) – Premium Gourmet Coffee with Mushroom Blend – Smooth Instant Coffee Powder – Vegan, Non-GMO, Plant-Based, Rich Aroma : Amazon.ca: Grocery & Gourmet Food
a.co
Same. Mine's not that posh though.
Find a blend that you like black and leave the candy to the others.
AllistonGT
Well-known member
Yea I'm into coffee. Big time.
This thread did not disappoint. Thank you all for your contributions!
I have a French press and I tried to grind some beans in a magic bullet blender and wasn’t impressed.
I did a quick Amazon purchase of a coffee grinder and going to give it another shot. If not, the dance between Kuerig and a traditional pot of Kirkland medium roast swill will suit me fine until………this thread pops back up and I go down a rabbit hole.
To the post of cold brew, it might be an experiment to try but, I’ve had some cold brew concoctions and never been impressed.
Hot cuppa Joe, and I’m on go!
What do the folks of GTAM recommend for bean choice for regular mornings? Not the special brew meant to impress the neighbours.
I have a French press and I tried to grind some beans in a magic bullet blender and wasn’t impressed.
I did a quick Amazon purchase of a coffee grinder and going to give it another shot. If not, the dance between Kuerig and a traditional pot of Kirkland medium roast swill will suit me fine until………this thread pops back up and I go down a rabbit hole.
To the post of cold brew, it might be an experiment to try but, I’ve had some cold brew concoctions and never been impressed.
Hot cuppa Joe, and I’m on go!
What do the folks of GTAM recommend for bean choice for regular mornings? Not the special brew meant to impress the neighbours.
Can’t beat Costco's prices for fresh beans.
At home I do pour over. Use a nice lil hand grinder (Q Manual Coffee Grinder - 1Zpresso) does enough beans for a cup and measure the water with a scale. I drink it black. Since I only have a cup or two per day it works for me. A friend owns School coffee in Mapleview mall Burlington so I generally get the house blend from them, though since he & his partner are super-duper into coffee he throws recommendations my way.
When I'm away I have a hand grinder and a Wacaco Handpreso portable espresso machine. Packs down very small and it's a great little luxury to have.
WACACO | Portable Espresso Machines | Travel Coffee Makers
Prepare delicious espressos and amazing coffees, anytime, anywhere with Wacaco's portable espresso machines and travel coffee makers.
wacaco.com
Little known fact, lighter roasted beans have more caffeine in them by volume but by weight light and dark roasts are practically the same level of caffeine. So you don't need the treacly black stuff for a jolt in the morning.
