Will trade cow for magic beans

July 16, 2008 5:06 AM

CoffeeFilter: Where I can find good flavored coffee beans in the Boston area?

I know we're big coffee philistines and all, but the wife and I like flavored coffee beans for our morning cup, and the only ones we've been able to find, at Shaw's and Dunkin Donuts, are adequate but underwhelming. The intense sweetness of flavor syrups is too much to go with my Frosted Mini-Wheats in the morning. Is there someplace I can go to get the hazelnutty goodness I need to start my day off right?

I'm willing to travel, but it should be T-accessible, and something in the Cambridge-Somerville-Downtown Boston area would be preferable.

posted by Horace Rumpole to food & drink (8 comments total)

Whole Foods has a fantastic selection of coffee beans. Some are flavored, most are single-origin. The WF near Alewife lists roast dates, as well.
posted by ellF at 5:37 AM on July 16, 2008

Could you just brew decent coffee and add hazelnut syrup? Usually flavored coffee beans are not of the greatest quality.
posted by electroboy at 6:23 AM on July 16, 2008

ellF, I frequently check out the coffee at the Alewife Whole Foods and I've rarely seen flavored coffee there. (Also their roaster was broken the last time I was there, but presumably that's temporary.)

electroboy, see my mention of flavored syrup in the question. I know bean-flavoring is frowned upon by purists, but I've been to serious coffee places that had them. I just haven't been able to find any in Boston.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:41 AM on July 16, 2008

Check out this little place in the north end called Polcaris. It has more of a general store kind of vibe than a coffeeshop, but they offer a surprising collection of coffee: some flavored, some not. Plus its family owned and independent, which is always a plus in my book.
I also manage a coffee shop that sells Jim's Organic beans, and we offer some beans that aren't along the starbucks beaten bath of genereic flavors. Come check out the place if you want, we have a blend called Double chocoloate which is unbelievable. Worse comes to worse, you don't find some you like and I'll make you a really good drink.
Espresso Royale
736 Commonwealth Ave.
(get off at the BU central stop on the B line)
posted by Texasjake987 at 7:40 AM on July 16, 2008

Have you tried Peets by South Station?
posted by reptile at 9:09 AM on July 16, 2008

Oops, that's what I get for skimming. I suppose Frangelico is out too.
posted by electroboy at 9:41 AM on July 16, 2008

Man, I want to go to Boston just to visit Polcari's. That's just the sort of shop I'd love to own.
posted by goo at 9:47 AM on July 16, 2008

Call Equal Exchange, your local Fair Trade roaster, and see where they serve near you.
posted by tiburon at 9:57 AM on July 16, 2008