What's a good dark roast coffee at home here?

USAtoBA

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A little less important than my other post today, home chronic coffee drinkers, which whole Bean do you like? I French pressed my coffee so can't do the molido. Everything I've been buying in my town, is okay, but looking for a bit better.

I like it opaque like super opaque. Strong, full body. Basically I want the Malbec equivalent of coffee?
 
Such a personal question you raise, my friend, the quality here ain't that great for finer coffee drinkers, i make do with cabrales,peru something or other or colombian also cabrales, also you can try juan valdez , a bit pricey but you can get'em whole bean.
Keep in mind water has a lot to do with it, i wouldn't use tap.
 
I'm a daily coffee drinker. I have an espresso machine at home and I buy La Virginia Espresso - pre-ground from the local mayorista. Call me a sinner, but saving money tastes pretty delicious to me too. It's my personal opinion that while Argentinians have 20 different brands of Mate to buy, the one that hits the spot for many is the one "en oferta".
 
I'm not so much a coffee snob as a coffee slob: I'll drink (almost) anything placed in front of me - just don't get me started on tea, okay?

Anyway, back to the subject. The big chains - Havanna, Bonafide and Cafe Martinez, etc - all sell bags of their own brand roast coffee but not necessarily in all of their locales. Each usually offers quite a selection. If what you want isn't apparent from the packet labeling, ask a barista Then there are the independents. Most famous of which is probably El Gato Negro on Corrientes which offers a huge range of different coffees and other goods. Well worth exploring if you haven't been there yet. El Gato Negro is one of the city's Cafes Notables and is quite the experience.
 
I have tried most that are available in the big stores or the national brands sold many places. Nothing great, just adequate

The past years I only buy the independent roasters. There are several around CABA and many cities around the country too. Many are online and deliver at least local, or post around the country.

One example is Cafe Delirante. They have been roasting in Bariloche for many years, now in Recoleta and centro (perhaps that makes them a big chain?). I get a 1kg whole-bean delivered every 3 weeks. I pick a different one each time from their small variety. Then supplement with 250kg found sampling while on foot. I grind at home. https://cafedelirante.com.ar/tiendaproductos/
 
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There are loads of new specialty coffee shops roasting their own beans. They're more expensive, but the quality is better than their grocery store counterparts (in my humble opinion, of course). You can also talk to the folks at the shop, tell them what you're after and get a bit of advice.

Rita, Cuervo, Negro Cafe, Full City Coffee House, Delirante, Blanca, pretty much any 'cafe especialidad' popping up has their own brand or uses someone local. You can pop in and ask them. You can get them full bean or they'll happily grind them for your French press. I use a volturno every morning and I try new bags of coffee each week or two from rotating shops. My favorites so far are: Fuego Tostadores (can be found at Negro Cafe locations or order online), Delirante (in Recoleta), Blanca (various locations) and Cuervo Cafe (various locations). For a darker roast, maybe try Full City (Palermo)? They had a bold Colombian bag we used to buy when I first moved here and it was solid and a darker roast than some of the newer cafes are producing. I also just bought an amazing bag of beans from Kissaten Tostador in Belgrano. Lattente (various locations) also have great beans, as does Surry Hills (Las Cañitas).

It really depends on if you're willing to pay extra to bump up quality a bit, many folks understandably aren't in today's economy. I really love coffee, it's one of my little joys in life when all the other joys have priced me out. I don't spend feverishly on anything else, but do pay a bit extra for better coffee beans while I can, until that luxury is also ripped away by 'the market.' haha

Happy hunting!
 
Then supplement with 250kg
Hah,!. 250mg I meant to say
Rita, Cuervo, Negro Cafe, Full City Coffee House, Delirante, Blanca, pretty much any 'cafe especialidad' popping up has their own brand or uses someone local.
So helpful to see many recommendations. Thanks @Paige55 and good that you mention that even the small cafes who do not roast their own, are probably using a local roaster if you ask them.
 
I don't know about a specific roast to recommend, but I've been getting Puerto Blest recently and have found their coffees to be really good and not wildly expensive (at least compared to other specialty roasters). If you're in Villa Crespo and pick up the beans in-person, they also offer samples of whatever they have brewing so you can try different kinds. They might all be too medium-roast for you, though, not sure.

 
I don't know about a specific roast to recommend, but I've been getting Puerto Blest recently and have found their coffees to be really good and not wildly expensive (at least compared to other specialty roasters). If you're in Villa Crespo and pick up the beans in-person, they also offer samples of whatever they have brewing so you can try different kinds. They might all be too medium-roast for you, though, not sure.

I was going to come back on to mention them. They're one of the original specialty roasters to exist here. You can also find a selection of their coffee in Selva markets across the city and in many of the small cafes as well. They really do have great coffee!
 
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