"Wasn't that on Main St.? Or am I thinking of another coffee roaster?"

Yes, they were on Main Street in Evanston for a very long time, across from a really cool guitar shop. I think it was at 505 Main.

But before that location, Lee Casteel had a small shop on the 1100 block of Davis street in Evanston, where he had a custom small batch roaster. He could do batches as small as 1 pound. I think that opened in 1984 or 1985 - and I know that dates me. When the rent got too high there (and the small custom roaster burned out) he moved to Main Street.

BTW, Lee Casteel is no longer with Casteel Coffee, he sold his interest about 2 years ago. Even so, the new owners are pretty cool, having kept most of the coffee sources intact, and their products still start my every morning!

picked up some REDEYE by stewart's chicago,il.
also got kona blend by fratelli coffee co. schiller park,il.

philw wrote:picked up some REDEYE by stewart's chicago,il.
also got kona blend by fratelli coffee co. schiller park,il.

the REDEYE is good coffee not bitter

rfleisch1 wrote:They taught me that their Mocha Java is a 50/50 blend of the Ethiopian and Sumatran - so I do that once in a while for variety. I tried their fair-trade Mexican decaf, but I just don't like it.

Thanks for that info! I used to work at the now-defunct Cafe Express on Dempster in the 90s, and we got all our coffees from Casteel. My favorite was the Mocha Java--it never occurred to me to ask what it was. Now I know. Time to experiment a little.

FYI: Coffee/Tea Exchange on Broadway sells green Ethiopian beans for home roasting.

When I can get up there I alternate among Viennese roast (the lightest of the darks, and perfect to my taste), Dave's Blend (I forget the particulars), Blue Mountain Style (I don't know what that means exactly, but the result is a mellow, med. body brew that makes me think of a really good diner or coffee shop. It was the house coffee of a dear friend, now departed. I liked it anyway, and the aroma brings back a lot now.)

I love Metropolis, but rarely get up there.

When I'm feeling poor I get Eight O' Clock Columbian, and it's perfectly satisfactory.

I get various fresh roasteds at Costco, but I have to say that freshness aside, I don't love it. I make do with it.

There's a Caribou roast called Onyx (I think), which someone got me on to. It's very, very dark, but pretty smooth. Not an every day coffee for me, but intense and good.

Buying bulk at Treasure Island (closest source to home), I tend to stick with the various Latin roasts. Generally light and bright, though they have some they go darker with. Peru is one, I think. Pretty good.

Good post idea! I have drank enough coffee to float a boat on and Peet's has been one of my long term favorites but lately I have been going to Wisconsin and am hooked on Alterra coffee. 90% is fair trade and an awesome selection from all over the world. Lately, I have been drinking the "Punch in the face" as the name sold me and the brew is really good!
http://www.alterracoffee.com/store/findacoffee.aspx

Binko wrote:

rfleisch1 wrote:Thanks for that info! I used to work at the now-defunct Cafe Express on Dempster in the 90s, and we got all our coffees from Casteel. My favorite was the Mocha Java--it never occurred to me to ask what it was. Now I know. Time to experiment a little.

Hey I used to work at Cafe Express on Dempster in the early 90's. When were you there?

mrbarolo wrote:FYI: Coffee/Tea Exchange on Broadway sells green Ethiopian beans for home roasting.

When I can get up there I alternate among Viennese roast (the lightest of the darks, and perfect to my taste), Dave's Blend (I forget the particulars), Blue Mountain Style (I don't know what that means exactly, but the result is a mellow, med. body brew that makes me think of a really good diner or coffee shop. It was the house coffee of a dear friend, now departed. I liked it anyway, and the aroma brings back a lot now.)

I used to live down the street from there. Walking in there on a wintertime afternoon and getting hit with the warmth and the aroma and the sight of all those barrels of coffee beans was priceless.
I almost always went for the flavored beans. The strudel cake was a favorite, as was the coconut. Pumpkin spice and vanilla were decent, irish cream was okay. The tiramisu was pretty good, but I would only have that from time to time.
Dave's Blend in the non-flavored was also pretty good.

Their teas and spices got purchased by our household pretty frequently, too.

If I have to get something off the shelf at Kroger, I like Seattle's Best, their breakfast blend, I think is what I usually get.

i have a client that is bring me back some coffee from costa rica .
don't know what brand yet , but it should be great

Successfully roasted green beans in new coffee roaster. Husband proclaims victory!

pairs4life wrote:

Binko wrote:

rfleisch1 wrote:Thanks for that info! I used to work at the now-defunct Cafe Express on Dempster in the 90s, and we got all our coffees from Casteel. My favorite was the Mocha Java--it never occurred to me to ask what it was. Now I know. Time to experiment a little.

Hey I used to work at Cafe Express on Dempster in the early 90's. When were you there?

Summer 1995-1998. Jeff & Randy were just on their way to selling the cafe when I joined. I worked for three owners: them, Sue, and Dawn. It sounds like you might have been there a little earlier than me, but I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have a couple common co-workers between us.

pairs4life wrote:Successfully roasted green beans in new coffee roaster. Husband proclaims victory!

Awesome - congratulations! Roasting beans at home adds a new layer of appreciation for coffee, for me anyway.

picked up some HELA BONOR MORKROST from ieka it was hole bean (had to grind) nice & smooth

mrbarolo wrote:I love Metropolis, but rarely get up there.

You can get Metropolis beans at Whole Foods in the Chicago area.

Elfin wrote:I make a blend - one part any fresh ground bean with one part Trung Nguyen (the vietnamese coffee). Yum.

that sounds like a great idea. will have to try.

myself, i seem to always have tons of coffee i get while traveling. right now that includes coffee from Selva Negra i visited in Nicaragua (which whole foods sells, but on a seasonal basis starting around April). Selva Negra is sold at a single coffee shop in Atlanta, and to Whole Foods. it's acidic yet with nice body. it's quite nice actually, and it's hard to dispute that there's a better cup to be had at the moment when you've had the first hand experience of visiting.

and I bought several kilo of coffee sort of by accident at a market in vietnam, including some Weasel coffee--beans that were fed to weasels, which they pass through their digestive track and then they wash/clean/roast them. Trung Nguyen apparently has patented a process to do this with enzymes chemically, eliminating the weasel from the picture. but this isn't Trung Nguyen so i don't know if it's the real deal or not...oye. it's pretty tasty. the other is some form of mocha coffee... not the cheapo Trung Nguyen (which is nice too...), though I actually wish it had more cocoa essence in it than it does

b t w, speaking of those mentioning Whole Foods / Allegro brand... they carry at least 30 different varieties/regions, it might be helpful to state which ones you like. ? :]

I've been buying Ipsento's whole beans, and I have been really impressed. They are such a tiny little cafe, but they still manage to roast their own.

Ipsento
2035 North Western Avenue (near Armitage)
Chicago, IL 60647-7249
(773) 904-8177

Peet's Major Dickason's Blend the house brew around here.

We usually get it at Dominick's. We just started Peapod recently and was pleasantly surprised that we could get it there too. I was even more pleasantly surprised that they also sell Intelligentsia coffee!

On a quick side note, I got a Technivorm Moccamaster for Christmas and it's amazing how much better the coffee is! I really liked the Major Dicakason's before the Moccamaster, but now it's ridiculous that the coffee I'm making is pre-ground grocery store (albeit high-quality) coffee.

philw wrote:i have a client that is bring me back some coffee from costa rica .
don't know what brand yet , but it should be great

my client made it back from costa rica, the brand coffee is
EL YODITO 100% TICO

EL YODITO
san jose,costa rica
web site
cafe-elyodito.com
can't wait to try it


it is very smooth . great coffee

Beaumont Donut Store blend from Aldi. Or, any Beaumont brand.

My Soul Cafe has the best coffee in Chicago. Especially if you're a fan of Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee, which is always a delicious treat. http://www.mysoulcafe.com

Lately I've been drinking Cafe Pajaro from Trader Joe's. Dark roast, fair trade, organic, and fairly cheap (around $6.50/can for whole bean).

Intelligentsia is my brand and i love it.

danieljones2006 wrote:Intelligentsia is my brand and i love it.

WHERE DO YOU BUY IT?

i tryed dunkin doughnuts coffee at home , it not the same

philw wrote:

danieljones2006 wrote:Intelligentsia is my brand and i love it.

WHERE DO YOU BUY IT?

You can buy Intelligentsia at any of their Chicago stores, directly from the website (although shipping cost is a bitch), from any number of local coffee shops that sell Intelligentsia roasts as their regular coffee, as well as pretty much every specialty grocery store in the city and suburbs.

More info here:

http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/

Lavazza for cafe au lait and cappucino.

Had good Vietnamese iced coffee at Pho Ha in Glendale Heights made from Cafe du Monde in traditional drip filter cups atop the ice filled glass.

Currently drinking Stumptown at the source.

picked up some

yuban org.
i will try it in the morn.

St. Barth Blend. Traveling to get it is difficult, but well worth it.
If not, then I do estate grown Kona (Fox and Obel tends to be my source).

i picked up today some

roastin ronnie's coffee
ethiopia masaka harrar.

i can not wait to try in the am
hints of bittersweet and dark chocolate
with spice and some dark fruit


this is great coffee. going to pick up more on sat.july 10th
ron is cooking at a bbq comp. & i will see him after i judge .
shannon,il.