[djmcmath]

I can't imagine paying $37/lb for coffee -- it just isn't worth it. I mean, I've had EBM before, and it's great stuff, but ... $37/lb? No, I can't do that. Even Kona, which is also an excellent bean, isn't worth asking price to me.

I roast my own beans and make espresso at a very serious level. A friend of mine is putting together a blend of Costa Rican and some African and Indonesian beans that's quite good. Even as drip coffee, it's incredible. As espresso, it's enough to make a guy think indecent thoughts. I'm working on mimicking his work -- I have about 70lbs of beans in the back, and the next batch will be a blend much like what he's doing.

(shrug) Roasting your own beans is definitely the way to go, even if you're not that serious. It's cheap (I average about $5/lb), it's easy (I don't even think about it anymore), and it doesn't take much time (half an hour a week).

Good stuff.

Dan