Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics

[Hank Gunn]

Howdy, I've been looking for "real" coffee (not the instant stuff). While I'm not a "coffee snob" I do like to grind my whole beans fresh and then brew. I've only seen one bag of whole beans in BigC but it was pretty small and relatively expensive. I'd imagine there'd be some in Tops/Robinson's but it's probably in small quantities and pricey too. I'm actually not too picky on price (within reasonable limits) but I'd like to be able to find 500g to 1Kg size bags of whole beans, of decent coffee. Any help would be appreciated.

Second, I found a decent little compact stereo unit on Lazada but I also need to get a little printer/scanner/copier as well as a TV. Am I better getting the printer/scanner and TV at one of the local, "brick and mortar"/physical stores in town in case I need to return for service/replacement or have you folks had good luck with Lazada. (No matter the country or online store, returning something by mail/shipping is a pain so maybe the local store option is best.) If you folks do know of a good local shop for electronics/TVs, any recommendations would be welcome. (Maybe it just comes down to the best price for a comparable item.)

Thanks in advance,
Hank

[urleft]

If you happen to be in Bangkok, go to the JJ Mall at the backside of Chatuchak market.  On the ground floor there are a lot of shops that sell coffee items, and I am fairly sure I also saw many different types of coffee beans (I have no idea on the price). But the stores had a lot of coffee grinders so they should have leads on where to get beans.

https://www.google.co.th/maps/place/J.+J.+Mall+Market/@13.7999461,100.5508544,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x4ef54f56a9bf403d!8m2!3d13.8020771!4d100.5491602?hl=en

http://www.jjmall.co.th/index.php#

Also, look here:

http://www.buriramexpats.com/forum/index.php/topic,8088.msg52366.html#msg52366

[Hank Gunn]

Thanks urleft! Those are great resources. (I might check on Makro again too, although I'm not too optimistic about them.) I have to head down to Bangkok for a couple of days next week, so a trip over to Chatuchak might be in order too.

Thanks again

[notrub]

Makro has Bon Cafe bean in 250 gr bags that cost about 110 THB or so per bag.  At the bottom of the coffee isle on the lower left.  Good quality coffee.

[BillH52]

My coffee of choice is a coffee grown here in Thailand.   http://www.redcliffcoffee.com/

[Hank Gunn]

Thanks burton and Bill. I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm at Makro. Bill, I came across those folks on an internet search and may try them too as a longer term solution. I like that it supports local farmers/growers.

We're moving into our rental here in town next week and can't wait to get put my manual burr-grinder (I may fit a hex bolt instead of the handle and then buy a power drill to grind) =;-) and French press to use.

Thnx again guys.

[notrub]

That's OK Mr. Gunn.  You can look up Bon Cafe on the internet and order from them direct.   Free shipping over 1500 THB (I think) Lasts me a few months and keeps well in a mouse proof container. I like good coffee but cannot be bothered with the coffee maker ritual. I have this recipe for a reliably good cup.

2 jugs of about 1 litre.  I use quality plastic but you might prefer glass
60-65 gr Bon Cafe Mocca ground coffee
1/2 fill 1 jug with boiling water and put in coffee
swirl around a bit to help settle grounds and let sit a bit
Pour contents into empty jug through fine mesh sieve
top up to about 700 ml

You can find inexpensive kitchen scales everywhere and they are useful to have anyway.

Take care

burton
 

[Hank Gunn]

Thanks again burton. I'll check them out. That's actually a pretty good coffee recipe. Looks like a "hybrid process" between the French press method and using a drip machine. I might try it after I get everything else set up in our house.

The French press is a bugger to clean but it does make a nice cup o' Joe and I brought it over with me because in the US all our appliances are 110V so my handy old drip machine wouldn't have worked here. I'll probably look to get a decent drip machine in a while but the French press should tide me over for a while.

[davureborn]

We buy our Boncafe Mocca in BigC. There is a direct outlet for Boncafe in Korat, you can try the coffee before buying a kilo or two. Some of the Thai coffee (Doi coffee) is ok also, not cheap and sometimes difficult to get hold of.

[DeputyDavid]

I order mine direct from the grower in Chiangmai. We spent an afternoon in the hills checking the place out. There is great history behind it. Anyway to get the beans my wife sends a message on line and I do a bank transfer and in 2-3 days the coffee is delivered to my home. I can forward the contact info if you wish to go this route.

[Hank Gunn]

Hi D Dave,

Sorry for the late reply. I've been busy shopping/getting some of our stuff over to our rental house and picking up my new truck.  I also had to run back down to Bangkok (just arrived today) for a couple of days personal business.

Yes, I'd love the Line contact info for that grower in Chiang Mai. (Maybe a PM?) My wife can contact them and check the details. The Redcliffe coffee suggested by BillH52 looks intriguing as well.

Thanks again folks.

Any suggestions/recommendations on places to buy a TV and a printer/scanner combo (i.e. local retailer vs Lazada)?

Cheers

[DeputyDavid]

Line id for coffee is Line ID  : coffeelive

I like powerbuy in Robinson for electronics. Especially when they have promotions. Sometimes you get freebies as well. I shopped around for a particular water heater and they actually had best price.  Got a tv from them on promotion and it came with free blue ray player.  Have had no problems with anything purchased there so I couldn't comment on warranty stuff. You do need to be patient at checkout as it does seem to take a long time but once registered there it is pretty much simple.

By the way if you like a bolder coffee I suggest the Turkish roast. If you want peaberry or coffee beans that have passed through animal intestines they have that as well.

[davureborn]

Sure you can buy electronics in a big store. They won't be able to repair even the simplest problem so your apparatus will get sent off to Bangkok for five weeks or so for guarantee. I'd rather pay a few hundred Baht more in a small shop. I learnt this back home and relearnt it here.

[Pichai]

No matter which vendor you purchase home appliances, large or small, quite often the manufacturer has a contract with an independent repair center in Buriram. Not far from Roma Pizza is one locally owned repair center that has the contract for Toshiba, Hitachi, etc.. Electrolux has a contract with a small repair facility 1/4 block from the downtown Buriram Bangkok Bank. Samsung has excellent Company owned repair centers in Surin and in Korat. Teka has a company owned repair facility in Ro iet.  Teka will send repair technicians from Ro iet or Bangkok to promptly repair or replace Teka kitchen appliances of Ruangsangthai customers. Mr. California Bob has been diligent in seeing product repair issues addressed in a prompt manner.
I try to send out the "PC" of the brand to a customer's home to determine a problem and see if they can fix it the same day for certain kitchen products I sell. For warranty repairs, it has proven prudent for the customer to save a copy of the warranty paper and the original sales receipt. Lazada has a slick system of returns via the post office or 7-11 drop off points. My family store does not stock a wide selection of small kitchen appliances, yet the Toshiba repair facility is in Buriram for free warranty repairs.  The warranty repair centers are very strict about the consumer having the warranty document or a photo of the warranty document in my experience. Thank you, Mr. Pichai

[Hank Gunn]

Excellent info on the warranty/servicing centers in Buriram. Thanks so much. I guess I'll start shopping for a TV and a small drip, coffee maker.

As mentioned, I'm in Bangkok for a couple of days and on another forum that I searched on, someone mentioned the availability of coffee beans at a shop in JJ Mall, near Chatuchak market. So the wife and I headed over there and found a Boncafe store. I picked up a kilo of Kenya dark roast and Expresso roast; both Arabica beans. A little pricey but around the same price I would have paid in the US. Can't wait to brew up a fresh cup of this! Mmmmm. Nice to know I can go to a BonCafe shop in Korat (assuming this coffee is as good as it smelled in the containers. I do like the other mail order options too. But at least I've got my supply for a couple of months.