Burr grinding ensures the grounds are uniform in size allowing for a more consistent brew. Blade grinders are fine but once you get used to a Burr grinder, it’s hard not to use one. It’s funny, I never meant to become a coffee snob, but once you get used to the quality, you realize life is too short for bad coffee, lol.
As for the beans themselves, I’m a fan of small, craft roasters. These are some of my favorites:
Arbuckles’ - my go to with creative variety, consistent quality and great customer service
Arbuckle Coffee | Fresh Roasted Coffee | Buy Coffee Online
Mark Ferrari - excellent Kona coffee
Caffé Unimatic - unique, Neapolitan style coffee in a variety of roasts
Hand Crafted Coffee Blends
Ohori’s - love their Latin American single origins and blends
Ohori's Coffee Roasters
ohoriscoffee.com