You Need Coffee #3, Ethiopian Gima

This post is the third and for the meantime final in the series of coffee reviews about You Need Coffee. From the size of the bulk of the impressive bag of Ethiopian Gima coffee, I was sure that I had bought quite a bit of it. A discernible aroma wafted out the minute I opened it, but so did the air. Yes, there was lots of air, too much packed together with the coffee.

Ethiopian Gima coffee served with milk and a bit of sugar

Finally, I realized why their, and other Israeli freshly ground coffee then stored for a few weeks or even days, tastes so disappointing. They make no real attempt to vacuum pack it. Other shops haven't a chance, since their bags are of cheaper materials. But You Need Coffee uses quality bags, and even if the sealing included very low-tech pressing to attempt "vacuum-pack" pushing out all the air possible, the coffee would keep fresh much longer. When I return to the shop, and I probably will some time after the Passover holiday, I will request better bag sealing.

In the meantime, I'll finish what I have and then perk simple Israeli Turkish coffee until after Passover. Gd willing I'll be getting some good American ground coffee from a friend. Then I'll even be able to "cold brew" coffee, though I do need a new French Press... but that's another story.

French Roast, #morningcoffeehaiku

Another coffee post for your drinking pleasure.

First the review of the French Roast which I bought at "You Need Coffee." It cost a bit more than the Colombian I had gotten there, but it does have a bit more flavor and aroma. Considering that I haven't liked any of the Columbian coffee bought ground in Israel, I hope I remember not to buy it any more in any coffee place. The French Roast was worth the extra money.

And now for a few more of my recent #morningcoffeehaiku collection/writings. They are posted most weekdays (non-Jewish Sabbath) on facebook.

winter rain returns
hot coffee to warm me up
thank Gd for the gifts
#morningcoffeehaiku

white winter morning
no snow, just very pale sky
choose to be happy
#morningcoffeehaiku

early, dark outside
French Roast, nice strong aroma
busy day today
#morningcoffeehaiku

Hot morning coffee
Now in cold Jerusalem
Family warms me
#morningcoffeehaiku

perked the new coffee
sadly too subtle for me
sun burst into sky
#morningcoffeehaiku

keeping coffee hot
on a cold winter morning
lots of plans today
#morningcoffeehaiku

Chodesh Tov, Dear Friends
May Adar bring joy to all
l'Chaim, coffee
#morningcoffeehaiku

hot instant coffee
busy day leaving early
blessed rain falling
#morningcoffeehaiku

cinnamon coffee
trying to add spice to life
when sky is dull grey
#morningcoffeehaiku

perked coffee fills air
let the caffein fill my brain
substitute for sleep
#morningcoffeehaiku

vanilla coffee
hot, strong perked to perfection
cool winter morning
#morningcoffeehaiku

coffee stock dwindling
soon back to perking daily
at least there's sunrise
#morningcoffeehaiku

steaming perked coffee
spectacular winter sky
must unfog my brain
#morningcoffeehaiku


I hope you like them even if you don't drink coffee or you read them at times other than dawn.

"You Need Coffee" Review Colombian

 Ever since it has opened, I've wanted to get ground coffee from "You Need Coffee." I love the name. It now has two stores both on Jaffa Road, Jerusalem, one near the Municipality and the other across from the shuq. This week I finally bought myself some ground coffee from there, three different ones.

I really must make it clear that I only buy the least expensive coffees available. NS10 for 100 grams of coffee is high enough a price, as far as I'm concerned. I try to always buy the strongest smelling of the least expensive.

Yesterday morning I opened the Colombian coffee. First of all, it was properly ground for the French Press. No powder. But although the beans seemed to have a nice aroma in the shop, it didn't fill my kitchen with even a faint scent. Maybe that's why it's one of the least expensive they sell. In terms of flavor and aroma, nothing here seems to be on the level of the packaged American ground coffee. What can I say, other than that I love the American packaged coffee. Its flavor beats pretty much everything I've bought in Israel.

Unlike every other place I've bought freshly ground coffee here in Israel, at the least the packaging in You Need Coffee is excellent. The other coffees I bought are safely stored.  I'm looking forward to trying them, too.

The staff was friendly and really seems to care about the coffee and customers. Gd willing, I'll be back.