Lame Cuppa Joe

[plumtreeblossom]

I bought a bag of drip-grind Equal Exchange fair trade coffee for $8 (12 oz) at a non-profit gift shop in Central Square. I'm almost to the end of the bag, and the coffee has uniformly come out watery and flavorless in spite of increases to the coffee-to-water ratio. I have a drip coffee maker, and it doesn't have settings, so all I could do was decrease the water level. It's still like drinking weak broom straw tea.

This was my first try with fair trade coffee. At this point I'm disinclined to try it again, though I wish that wasn't the case. My usual brand is Maxwell House, which is about $5 for a standard size can, and it's always good (to the last drop, I might add). I'm not interested in buying fancy brewing equipment in this economy, and I'm not fond of espresso or steamer drinks made with it. I just like regular drip coffee. My thinking is that the Equal Exchange was just crappy quality coffee.

But my question: are there other brands of fair trade coffee that are better and can produce a good brew in a standard drip machine? I do have a grinder, if that matters. _{(Note: I don't shop at Whole Foods, so elsewhere will have to do.)}

Comments

[daisytells.livejournal.com]

Plums, I always get compliments on my coffee. I buy the 52 oz. Folger's Classic Roast, which lasts me about five months. I do not store it any special way, just on the cabinet shelf in its plastic original container, which has been opened, seal broken, and with a measuring tool left inside. I fill my 12 cup drip pot with water to the brim and pour it into the water well. I put a filter into the basket, add 1/2 of an empty eggshell (crumpled) - to cut the acid - two 1/4 cup measures of coffee and a small dash of salt. Then I put it through the brew process. The result? Cheap coffee that tastes (almost) as good as Dunkin Donuts. And believe me it is perfectly strong in spite of the fact that there are only eight tablespoons (1/2 cup) of grounds to more than 12 cups of water.
About Fair Trade stuff? I might -- IF I could afford the extra, and IF the product was as good as or better than what I already use.
I do not for a minute believe that if brewed coffee comes out tasting like tea that it is your fault or that you ought to take extraordinary measures to ensure a good cuppa. Only my opinion...