Buriram Expats

Buriram Province - General Category => Shopping in Buriram => Topic started by: Hank Gunn on July 01, 2017, 10:58:29 AM

Title: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 01, 2017, 10:58:29 AM
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
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: urleft on July 01, 2017, 04:49:59 PM
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


Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 01, 2017, 05:17:21 PM
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
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: notrub on July 01, 2017, 05:38:10 PM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: BillH52 on July 01, 2017, 07:05:14 PM
My coffee of choice is a coffee grown here in Thailand.   http://www.redcliffcoffee.com/
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 01, 2017, 09:21:59 PM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: notrub on July 02, 2017, 09:23:50 AM
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
 

Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 02, 2017, 10:39:39 AM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: davureborn on July 02, 2017, 10:49:00 AM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: DeputyDavid on July 02, 2017, 05:26:54 PM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 04, 2017, 05:39:03 PM
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.  spot1 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
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: DeputyDavid on July 04, 2017, 07:23:47 PM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: davureborn on July 05, 2017, 06:32:01 AM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Pichai on July 05, 2017, 01:51:57 PM
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
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 05, 2017, 06:01:50 PM
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.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: urleft on July 11, 2017, 03:57:47 PM
Wow, need to drink more coffee!!!!!

Coffee drinkers live longer and have lower risk of disease, studies find
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sd-me-coffee-longevity-20170710-story.html (http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sd-me-coffee-longevity-20170710-story.html)

Coffee drinkers live longer, according to two large-scale studies released Monday that add to extensive research indicating coffee consumption is associated with better health.

The studies examined the health histories of hundreds of thousands of people who were tracked over many years. They found that coffee-drinking reduced the risk of various diseases among people from several ethnicities, and this effect was seen in drinkers of regular or decaffeinated coffee. And the more coffee consumed, the greater the benefit.

(http://k30.kn3.net/taringa/C/F/E/A/1/1/maximan23/013.gif)
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Pichai on July 12, 2017, 12:57:54 PM
While I do sell Electrolux Hot Water Heaters for a shower I do not currently sell the Electrolux ECM3505 drip coffee maker. This model was a free premium from the Electrolux  Thailand importer. Since Mr. Thai Bob is back on duty assisting expat customers I have bought some fresh ground coffee beans locally to offer free fresh brewed coffee daily from 8:30am until 5;30pm to customers of my family owned builders merchants store in Buriram. Thank you for your support. Mr. Pichai.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Pichai on July 13, 2017, 11:24:24 AM
Two of the five Buriram female Barista bi-lingual staff working each day inside my family owned Isaan hardware store are Miss Mild and Miss Jaew.  They are delighted to served fresh brewed Illy coffee with your choice of whole fresh milk, powdered creamer or sugar any Sunday through Saturday.  This is just one of the  services my store provides free to customers who drive to my store in Buriram. These two College graduates understand and speak English and Thai. Thank you for your support and I look forward to your next visit to Ruangsangthai. Mr. Pichai.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Freddy on July 13, 2017, 03:55:31 PM
I visited today to buy pool salt and investigate choice of Random orbital sanders. Excellent service as ever and enjoyed a cup of the freshly brewed coffee which was excellent. Thank you.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Hank Gunn on July 13, 2017, 06:04:48 PM
Well, I picked up an Electrolux drip coffee machine at Robinson's yesterday and had my first cup of "real" non-instant coffee in over a week and it was quite nice. While I got my hand, burr-grinder out and ground up some nice dark-roasted beans, with a lot of my stuff still in boxes at the MIL's house I didn't have my little coffee scoop and unfortunately brewed it a little on the weak side. Oh well, tomorrow morning I'll correct the measurements and I should be in coffee nirvana.  :P Ahh, it's really the simple things in life, isn't it.

I'd just like to thank those who pointed me to Makro for whole roasted beans. I did notice them yesterday and when my current supply of beans runs out, I should be okay with what I saw there.

And finally, I may just have to drop by Ruangsangthai for a free cup o' joe and take another look around.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Pichai on July 15, 2017, 10:26:03 AM
Saturday morning and  complimentary fresh brewed coffee is ready to be served by the Ruangsangthai Baristas to customers who build a home in Buriram or have a need for tools and materials to repair or remodel a house in Isaan. While the coffee is Italian, and genuine Pentax and Calpeda Italian water pumps are installed and serviced by Ruangsangthai do not be fooled by Italian sounding names on petrol or diesel generators. Thank you for your support. Mr. Pichai.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Pichai on October 28, 2017, 01:13:03 PM
Please stop by Ruangsangthai home builders merchants to enjoy a complimentary cup or two of fresh brewed 100% Arabica "The Coffee Bean" coffee with sugar or Equal sweetener in Buriram.  Thank you Mr. Pichai.
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: lucky1962 on October 28, 2017, 11:35:09 PM
Hi is it possible to buy coffeepads for nespresso or senseo or dolce gusto in Buriram. It can be an other brand too as long as they fix in those coffeemachines.
Thanks
 
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: Alanthebuilder on October 29, 2017, 08:23:31 AM
In Surin a lot of my friends use Monkey coffee many coffee shops also use this .
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: iammike on October 29, 2017, 09:02:28 AM
The Softpods for Senseo you can order online via BonCafe.

Have a look here:

http://www.boncafe.co.th/en/product-category/coffee/coffee-pods/soft-pods/
Title: Re: Shopping For: Coffee Beans and Electronics
Post by: lucky1962 on October 29, 2017, 08:08:18 PM
Thanks for the answers. thumbup