Favorite Coffee? Coffee House?

[neildmitchell]

Just curious what people prefer.

Im a Peets (http://www.peets.com) kinda guy.
I gladly support any smaller mom & pop coffee houses too
Cant Stand *$ (starbucks) for many a reason.

[devilot]

Just curious what people prefer.

Im a Peets (http://www.peets.com) kinda guy.
I gladly support any smaller mom & pop coffee houses too
Cant Stand *$ (starbucks) for many a reason.
Oh my goodness, I love you. I heart my peet's! I even did a little review thingie over here (http://www.reviewsaplenty.com/?p=36). So glad I'm not the only peet's lover! :D

[neildmitchell]

Oh my goodness, I love you. I heart my peet's! I even did a little review thingie over here (http://www.reviewsaplenty.com/?p=36). So glad I'm not the only peet's lover! :D
I made a batch of sun tea using the Mango Iced tea, YUM!
The last batch of sun tea was Black Currant, one of my all time favorites, hot or cold. And the African Blend coffee is back, my favorite, YEA! :D

[Applespider]

I use Starbucks in the UK but that's because it's the closest one to work save for Coffee Republic where they seem to specialise in burnt coffee and Cafe Nero where there's such a permanent fug of ciagrette smoke in my local branch at 8 in the morning that I'd go to work feeling like I'd been out clubbing all night. I like the local Starbucks baristas who know their regulars. No Peet's here - though I do go there on holiday.

Otherwise in London, I like the little espresso shop on Old Compton St where they have the best espresso known to woman...

And at home, I use dark ground Illy coffee to make strong lattes in my Francis Francis coffee machine ;)

[Piarco]

I am very, very jealous Applespider - I want a Francis Francis! In red though :D Whats the bar on them out of curiosity?
If I don't get my coffee imported from the shop I'm about to mention, its Illy all the way... best stuff you can buy from a supermarket.

I'm biased with my recommendation because in a year out at Uni (way back in '99) I worked there. It was called the Oby Lee Coffee Roastery, but now is called the Notting Hill Coffee Shop/Roastery. First coffee house in Delaware to roast their own beans on premises. Two shops, one in Lewes and one on Rehoboth.

Awesome coffee. Beans from all of the major geographic locations on the planet (including Jamaican Blue Mountain) and all of the different bean types. Amy (the wonderful lady who owns/runs the place) makes some brilliant flavoured coffee, which is done right after the roasting process and before grinding, giving a more intergrated and subtle flavour than what you get in $tarbucks.

Plus she's the inventor of Vanilla Dream, an alternative to hot chocolate which is magnificant. God only knows why she hasn't sold it out beyond the shop!

Checkout their webpage - they even do ordering for half and full kilo bags of the vast majority of the range. I'm intending to go back to the States in late Sept/Early Oct, and will be picking up a decent supply then!

[Applespider]

I am very, very jealous Applespider - I want a Francis Francis! In red though :D Whats the bar on them out of curiosity?

I didn't have choice of colour since it was a sample from a photo-shoot that they manhandled just enough (jarred the bar at the top) that they couldn't return it to the store so I got it for £150 rather than the usual £375. For that kind of discount, I would have taken any colour!

It's a 15 bar machine, heats up to brewing temperature within 5 minutes :eek: and produces beautiful espresso with crema from both pods and ground. The ground takes a little more tweaking and practice but once you've got it figured out, it's great. It's got a clever little 2-part tamper than you leave in the filter while you brew which helps to keep the machine clean. The steam attachment is also good - although it's designed in such a way that you can only do smallish quantities. Oh yeah, and it comes with a tin of Illy pods...

I've been tempted to try Angelucci's coffee at home (the shop's on Frith St) since I've seen it advertised in various cafes in Soho as their preferred blend and it's always been pretty good. But I haven't quite got round to it yet.

Who'd have thought that 6 years ago I loathed coffee and couldn't drink it. :p

[iGav]

Who'd have thought that 6 years ago I loathed coffee and couldn't drink it. :p

Coffee makes me violently ill... :eek:

You know in Biology at School, the experiment where they make you sup a coffee and measure the effects on your heart rate, well the teachers just didn't listen to my protests... and SPEW!!! :D

[skunk]

Sally Clarke's in Kensington Church Street. Small, two-shot latte every time.

[dcv]

I'm also a fan of Illy espresso at home and even their decaff version is good. i've always laughed at the idea of decaffeinated coffee - it's not proper coffee! - but do like the odd cup in the evening and prefer to be able to sleep at night.

Out and about I really like AMT coffee. They generally only have small outlets in railway/tube stations but I know there's also a small shop in Covent Garden. They use a really good Fairtrade coffee and also have a delicious "froffee" drink, which is a chilled espresso 'milkshake' type of thing... bit like a starbucks frappucino only a million times nicer, less sugar-syrupy and also cheaper.

Worst coffee chain in the UK has to be Costa. Their coffee just has the most unpleasant aroma and don't get me started on the revolting nesquik-like 'freezer' iced coffees....

edit: actually those 'freezer' things might be from coffee republic not costa, can't quite remember which but - ugh, never again!

[DJY]

I have a Rancilio Expresso machine here at home... Italian brand.
Love my coffees! I only use ground beans - that I grind myself. I buy particular blends or beans from my local market - which import the best cuban beans you can imagine!

mmmm I think I might have to have a Latte right now!

[gwuMACaddict]

murky coffee (http://www.murkycoffee.com/) in washington dc, eastern market area. medium skim mocha, no whip. $4.00 + tip

:D

[garybUK]

I prefer tea in the morning and when I get a brew in the morning it's twinnings breakfast tea or sometimes I have the Ritazza Lattè or Cappuchino.

(We have a ritazza tea / coffee stand in our office restuarant).

Edit:

I go through about 9 cups of tea a day!! hmmm better start cutting back!

[AmigoMac]

I'm a latte macchiato type and from the cafeteria at the train station :rolleyes:

[Chundles]

Lazumba (local company that makes superb blends of beans) Lavazza (Italian) Illy at a pinch but it's not my absolute favourite. Maybe Toby's...

These are all suppliers, not coffee houses for my american and canadian friends, we aussies have a real disdain for the mass market Starbucks type of coffee house and most of us get our coffee from little cafés...

None of that brewed stuff either, Blech!! can't believe you can drink that stuff, it tastes like dirt - espresso all the way

[Jay42]

Definitely Peet's! I'm so glad they have it on the east coast because I used to mail order it from the early days!

[mpw]

Miracles in CA. I went there a few times years ago when on holiday. It was a little wooden beachside shack with a terraced area out front by the road with a view across it to the Pacific. We were staying in Encinitas so it wouldn’t be far from there. It had a large pale blue sign with a yellow sunburst and introduced me to coffee. I’ll return some day and try to find it, there can’t be that many coffee places in southern CA.

If I can’t find that place I’ll make do with Bean Around The World.

[Aeolius]

Folgers. No cream. No sugar.

[ebow]

Lately I've been getting my coffee from Trader Joe's (http://traderjoes.com/products/brochures/coffee.asp)--particularly their Papua New Guinea blend (not listed). Opening a new canister of that just makes me drool. Then I take it home and make it up each morning in my bitchin' Cuisinart Grind & Brew (http://www.cuisinart.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi/en/item.cgi?item_id=DGB-500BK). :D

[Aaon]

Hehe, sometimes I think people don't like Starbucks just because it is Starbucks. Sorta an anti-establishment thing.

That being said, I do enjoy my Starbucks coffee, though it may just be the lack of other options around here.I like Peets when I am in Seattle, good cup of Joe.

Oh, and if you're ever in Albuquerque, stop by any of the Flying Star locations. Good coffee, and FANTASTIC desserts. Bring a friend, because their stuff is too rich to finish on your own!

At my house I use a Melitta One:One single cup maker. It comes with replacable spouts, so I use it to make coffee in the mornings, then I switch out the spout in the evenings for a nice cup of tea.

[iSaint]

Folgers. No cream. No sugar.

Hot and Black, like my....well, never mind

[devilot]

Definitely Peet's! I'm so glad they have it on the east coast because I used to mail order it from the early days!Now that is devotion... Being as it was founded in Berkeley, CA, I think it's awesome that the store has grown enough in popularity to have expanded. :cool:

[Don't panic]

I am very, very jealous Applespider - I want a Francis Francis! In red though :D Whats the bar on them out of curiosity?
If I don't get my coffee imported from the shop I'm about to mention, its Illy all the way... best stuff you can buy from a supermarket.

that's what i use at work!http://www.illyusa.com/ab1666000store/images/x1x3x5/x5-red.jpg with Illy pods.
I am drinking one right now!

[m-dogg]

I'm a simple man, and most of the time I am content with Dunkin Donuts coffee (gasp!). Although I also enjoy Daybreak Coffee (an local place in Connecticut):

http://www.daybreakcoffee.com/

[Mr. Anderson]

murky coffee (http://www.murkycoffee.com/) in washington dc, eastern market area. medium skim mocha, no whip. $4.00 + tip

:D


Have you been to Misha's in Old Town? That's my favorite by far....but I haven't been to the Murky - do they roast their own beans? Misha's has a nice roaster in the side room....great stuff.

http://pages.alexandriacity.com/dining/mishas.htm

D

[bousozoku]

UCC Milk Coffee or Folgers Jakada. As far as places, I've yet to find some place with really good coffee. Most places in the U.S.A. seem to have really bitter coffee, no matter the blend and they don't use light corn syrup for sweetening it.

[taeclee99]

Coffee Bean and tea Leaf. Love those ice blended mochas and tea lattes.

[gammamonk]

Hot Coffee (http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/gaming/7925/?cpg=wnrdf)

I can't believe no one made this obvious joke yet. ^__^

[njmac]

Wow, there are a lot of people from England who are passionate about their coffee!

I drink Dunkin Donuts, I brew it at home in my cheap coffee maker. But, you've all inspired me to try Peets, Illy or Trader Joes.

I'm lovin' that Francis!Francis! by the way. How much better is your coffee in that? Is it the coffee that is the big deal, or the pot?

[gammamonk]

In all seriousness tho, I drink Blendy. It's the best instant coffee you'll ever taste. It's far better than the "real" coffee at work.

This instant coffee is so instantized, you can add it to cold milk and make a nice frappuchino. Great on these sweltering summer days.

[devilot]

I'm lovin' that Francis!Francis! by the way. How much better is your coffee in that? Is it the coffee that is the big deal, or the pot? Can't answer for that machine, but honestly coffee is a complicated art form. The beans themselves must be of good quality, same w/ the roasting of them, and of course, the brewing (where the quality of a machine comes in). So the answer-- it's all important! :D

[gwuMACaddict]

Have you been to Misha's in Old Town? That's my favorite by far....but I haven't been to the Murky - do they roast their own beans? Misha's has a nice roaster in the side room....great stuff.

http://pages.alexandriacity.com/dining/mishas.htm

D

yes! also delicious!

(i snuck out of work to go to murky's a few minutes ago. just got back. yum. medium iced skim mocha)

[Dagless]

i don't drink coffee, or tea. i hate the taste of that and the effect of caffiene, and the whole culture associated with it "can i have a moco loco latte triple caffinated etc etc..."

now Lo Han Kuo is my poison :D sometimes Chrysanthemum tea but mostly just mineral water.

[ebow]

UCC Milk Coffee or Folgers Jakada. As far as places, I've yet to find some place with really good coffee. Most places in the U.S.A. seem to have really bitter coffee, no matter the blend and they don't use light corn syrup for sweetening it.

Pardon my ignorance, but... light corn syrup?? Really? Where is this common, and what are the advantages? :confused:

[Applespider]

I'm lovin' that Francis!Francis! by the way. How much better is your coffee in that? Is it the coffee that is the big deal, or the pot?

As devilot said, it's a little of both. Good coffee to start with is a must; not having found a decent grinder to get it to espress fineness, I tend to buy sealed ground coffee and then keep it in the freezer to try to keep its freshness. Stale coffee doesn't taste good.

The machine is also important - the temperature it brews at (high is good but not so high the coffee burns), the pressure that the water is pushed through the coffee, how well tamped the coffee was in the machine. I like my FrancisFrancis because I can make a good cup of coffee without too many technical details.

Have a look at Coffee Geek (http://www.coffeegeek.com/) for a look at just how serious some people get about their coffee!

[bousozoku]

Pardon my ignorance, but... light corn syrup?? Really? Where is this common, and what are the advantages? :confused:

It's common in Japan, maybe in all of Asia. The advantage is that you don't have undissolved sugar sitting at the bottom of the cup. Every place that serves iced coffee or iced tea should be using it.

[Eevee]

murky coffee (http://www.murkycoffee.com/) in washington dc, eastern market area. medium skim mocha, no whip. $4.00 + tip

:D

Cool, I'll be going to DC at the end of this month for a conference. I'll check out the place :D

[wdlove]

Mine is Starbucks, at home and store. We purchase the beans and grind them fresh. Our coffee maker is a Hot Press.

[joetronic]

House/Cafe: Pour House in Westminster MD (one block from office)
Coffee: Triple latte with soy milk. I have one almost everyday with usign there free wifi at lunch, while surfing MR.

[neildmitchell]

i hate the whole culture associated with it "can i have a moco loco latte triple caffinated etc etc..."


Yes!
I order drip coffee with room for cream.

I was stoked when I was in London, I found the 216 Strand Twinings shop.
I love teas, and there were flavors and styles of tea that I had no idea existed.

Pink Grapefruit, Mandarin & Lime (&) Orange, Mango & Cinnamon (&) Mandarin & Lychee (&) Blackcurrant, Ginseng & Vanilla (&) Ginger, Orange & Honey

and those are just some of the herbal teas, and then theres the Black and Green teas..... The Twinings we get in the States, Im sad to say is CRAP

[xsedrinam]

Oma and Sello Rojo (Colombian Supreme) "no dañado": (no cream or sugar)- Colombia. None of the Latte boys stuff.
Freshly ground bags (still warm) out of factory in Armenia, Colombia.
http://www.coffeereview.com/index.cfm
X

[MattG]

I happen to like Starbucks. I know it's fashionable right now to hate Starbucks because there's so many of them and "they've changed from a small business to a big corporate whore," but I really don't care. They have very good coffee regardless of what anyone might say, and from what I understand, most of the people who work there would tell you that it's a great place with good benefits and a very un-corporate-like environment. Rant over...

That being said, I also like Dunkin Donuts coffee (lots of cream, lots of sugar), and the coffee at Borders (not sure what brand they use) is also pretty good.

[puckhead193]

i love starbucks. I love getting a white chocolate mocha. yummy :p

[rainman::|:|]

i gave up caffiene, so i haven't had the magical taste of coffee in a while. i really miss it, i was thinking about it when i cleaned my espresso machine out this weekend-- i haven't made a single shot since the last time I cleaned it out. But when I did drink it, anything other than starbucks was good, I generally buy wholesale from the local coffee house, they get really nice blends and fresh roast them just for you. mmm. oh, hell, i'm going to make a bunch tonight and look like a cross between Tweak and a crackhead.

[CanadaRAM]

Mmm.. just this moment got back from my local, an owner operated cafe - Buon Amici's. Locally roasted organic beans, great decor, nice atmosphere, free WiFi, good food (today: shrimp and crab on croissant, lightly toasted) unlike the Starbucks 1/2 a block away (burnt coffee and no decent savories). Talk about committment though - the owner sold his house to raise the money to set up. :eek:

Here in Victoria there is no smoking in indoor public places, so we have been 'fug-free' for a decade or more -- for which I am eternally grateful. I remember not being able to drive home sometimes, simply because my eyes were so badly irritated from smoke I couldn't $#&^* see.

At home, local fair-trade Guatemelan organic beans, dark roast, in our new (US$499 reconditioned) Saeco Magic all-in-one machine. 1 button makes a perfect shot, and I am getting a reputation among the neighbors for latte making...

[Applespider]

Mmm.. just this moment got back from my local, an owner operated cafe

I used to go to a local cafe on the way to work which served a great cup of coffee although the service wasn't brilliant. But it's such a high-rent area (and the footfall isn't huge so most shops compensate by charging silly prices) that it's now closed down, hence going to Starbucks. We have a black-aproned barista (apparently the creme de la creme - or should that be the crema d e la crema?) who doesn't seem to go for that last bitter drop and makes a fine triple latte. Part of the problem in the UK is that there are very few local cafes who can make *good* coffee so Starbucks, although homogenised, at least offers a consistent standard.

I did briefly try making it at home and using a thermal cup to drink en route but discovered that busy London commuting and trying to balance it on a busy bus just wasn't a good plan! :(

[xsedrinam]

Ya, I go to Starbucks and Dunkin's too. My last post was too snobbish for my own taste, though I still go for "black" :cool:
X

[joepunk]

The Barista's at my University who operate the Starbuck's counters have a few times put way to much chocolate syrup in my Mocas. I never complain as I love chocolate.

I enjoy Tony's free trade coffee that the Underground Coffehouse at the University serves. I have visited a few of the local shops in downtown Bellingham.

However, I am a much bigger fan of Coco (not milk chocolate) like Aztec Coco or Mexican spiced coco.

[oldschool]

As devilot said, it's a little of both. Good coffee to start with is a must; not having found a decent grinder to get it to espress fineness, I tend to buy sealed ground coffee and then keep it in the freezer to try to keep its freshness. Stale coffee doesn't taste good.

The machine is also important - the temperature it brews at (high is good but not so high the coffee burns), the pressure that the water is pushed through the coffee, how well tamped the coffee was in the machine. I like my FrancisFrancis because I can make a good cup of coffee without too many technical details.

Have a look at Coffee Geek (http://www.coffeegeek.com/) for a look at just how serious some people get about their coffee!


hey applespider how much do you pay for a tin of illy? I just like to know the prices around the world because it varies so widely. here at my store in canada, we sell it for 12.99 a tin...that's canadian dollars.

[Mr. Anderson]

Cool, I'll be going to DC at the end of this month for a conference. I'll check out the place :D


Try Misha's too - see above post - and let us know which one you like best :D

D

[neildmitchell]

Aztec Coco or Mexican spiced coco.
AH YA! Good Stuff!

[HiRez]

Im a Peets (http://www.peets.com) kinda guy.
I gladly support any smaller mom & pop coffee houses too
Cant Stand *$ (starbucks) for many a reason.$tarbux is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, they are an evil giant chain, but of all the evil giant chains, they are not that bad. People tend to throw them in the same bin as Wal Mart. Starbucks actually treats their employees pretty well, is fairly environmentally conscious, does quite a bit with the local communities (at least some places they do), and I do credit them for making it easy for people to get decent coffee almost anywhere. Most people forget that before Starbucks, nasty gas station or diner coffee were the only choices for most people.

But yeah, Peets is also my favorite of the "chain" coffees. Their espresso is pretty good, iced Americano is my drink. Don't forget Peets is a large chain now, too, and I have no doubt that if they could be as large as Starbucks, they would love to be. Last year they took the SFO airport coffee concession from Starbucks and I'm seeing them in more and more places I travel to.

Tully's coffee is also not bad, but I miss Spinelli, which Tully's bought years ago, that was the best ever.

[HiRez]

Hot and Black, like my....well, never mindHehe, I just watched Airplane! last night. :) There's now a Peets only 2 blocks from me, I'm off!

[Piarco]

I didn't have choice of colour since it was a sample from a photo-shoot that they manhandled just enough (jarred the bar at the top) that they couldn't return it to the store so I got it for £150 rather than the usual £375. For that kind of discount, I would have taken any colour!

Awww.... ya killin' me! £150?!?!? Some folks have all the luck! Didn't know it did pods as well. Prefer the grounds, but then for convenience a pods would be fantastic.

And Don't Panic - you're no better! That is one sweet espresso maker! I was planning on having a frugal September given that I've bought a new PowerBook (and tons of accessories), 60GB iPod (and erm, a ton of accessories) and a new digital camera in the last too months, but the temptation you pair have heaped upon me...... well if the bank kicks up a fuss at the state of my account I'm just going to squarely blame MacRumors!

The hospital in which I work has opened up a Peabodys Coffee Shop. Now what I've heard is that they are a hospital specific chain - which is handy as you won't have far to go to reach A&E to get your stomach pumped. Worst. Mocha. Ever.

One of the main thing I miss about the States - a decent Mocha made with Hersheys chocolate.... Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :D

[Applespider]

hey applespider how much do you pay for a tin of illy? I just like to know the prices around the world because it varies so widely. here at my store in canada, we sell it for 12.99 a tin...that's canadian dollars.

It's £3.99 here for a 250g tin which is about $8.50-$8.75 Canadian?
Lavazza is £2.65 for 250g - I think the grind on it is a little too coarse for my machine. Gaggia have also just brought out a ground espresso which is priced the same as the illy - haven't tried it yet though might do if they do an introductory offer on it.

[Jesus]

Blue Mountain from Hawaii or Jamaica is, in my opinion the best coffee in the world, but it costs about £22/100g, so I buy a brazillian coffee who's name escapes me now but it is "only" £4/100g from Harrods. I make all my coffee in a cafetierre, as you get the best taste, but recently I bought myself a presso coffe maker that makes better coffee than a gaggia, and it only costs £35.

Jesus

FYI coffee is about my only vice, so i have a bit of an obbsesion

[xsedrinam]

Blue Mountain from Hawaii or Jamaica is, in my opinion the best coffee in the world, but it costs about £22/100g, so I buy a brazillian coffee who's name escapes me now but it is "only" £4/100g from Harrods. I make all my coffee in a cafetierre, as you get the best taste, but recently I bought myself a presso coffe maker that makes better coffee than a gaggia, and it only costs £35.

Jesus

FYI coffee is about my only vice, so i have a bit of an obbsesion
Jesus in Purgatory with a vice. There's the next sit-com.
X

[Jesus]

BTW if we had all the coffee chains america had, i would go to peets, as it is how starbucks was long long ago, in the uk, the best simple expresso (sometime Macciatto) is Cafe Nero.

Jesus

[Jesus]

Jesus in Purgatory with a vice. There's the next sit-com.
X

this is a good start to my wednesday, i'll phone ABC tomorrow for a 6-part series after springer.











FYI, i am not jesus, just moses with an ego (and polystyrene shoes). :D



(Apparently) Jesus



Edit for more insulting humor :p :p :p

[MacHarne]

The day I lose internet for forever is the day a thread about the first love of my life is begun! What dark, dark irony!

All of my favorite coffee houses are local. When I'm at the university, I go to Bollo's or buy their espresso roast. They sell only organic, free-trade coffee which is very important to me, personally. Starbucks is ok (good in taste; very, very, very poor in business relations) when no local shops are visible, but I have a difficult time paying their prices. Bollo's is cheap; nothing more than $3.25 (unless you keep adding flavors at 30 cents each).

But I usually make espresso myself and then take it on the road in my bullet thermos or indestructible water bottle (that I never use with water, only iced lattes). I've used Starbucks' espresso roast once but is was not nearly as exciting as some of the roasts I've tried from local shops.

[HiRez]

If you ever get the chance, try Lion coffee from Hawaii, it is suberb. You can get it in a few places on the mainland, but their office is right between the Honolulu airport and Waikiki if you ever get the chance (on Queen Street, I think). All their coffee is good, but the Chocolate Macadamia Nut is the best smelling coffee I have ever smelled. For a while I was drinking a lot of this coffee, and I think it must actually have macadamia nuts in it, because I put on quite a few pounds during that time. :eek: I stopped drinking it and went back down, so beware. :)

[pivo6]

As devilot said, it's a little of both. Good coffee to start with is a must; not having found a decent grinder to get it to espress fineness, I tend to buy sealed ground coffee and then keep it in the freezer to try to keep its freshness. Stale coffee doesn't taste good.

The machine is also important - the temperature it brews at (high is good but not so high the coffee burns), the pressure that the water is pushed through the coffee, how well tamped the coffee was in the machine. I like my FrancisFrancis because I can make a good cup of coffee without too many technical details.

Have a look at Coffee Geek (http://www.coffeegeek.com/) for a look at just how serious some people get about their coffee!

I went to that site a couple of months ago,and it changed my coffee experience for good. Try fresh coffee (roasted within a week of purchase) and you'll never go back to that swill you buy at the grocery store.

[Dynamyk]

Tim Hortons or Second Cup for me

[PlaceofDis]

no particular place stands out for me, although i loved The House when i was out in DeKalb, but now back in Chicago i have to try a few places to see what i like, got a date tonight with Filter in Chicago's Wicker Park, we will see how it goes and hopefully they are good....

[capone2]

Its a very cool wi-fi hang-out for all the mac users of the area. They have organic coffee with steamed soy, my fav!


Greenwich Ave. NYC

[drison]

Oh my goodness, I love you. I heart my peet's! I even did a little review thingie over here (http://www.reviewsaplenty.com/?p=36). So glad I'm not the only peet's lover! :D

Hmmm, very interesting. There is 1 Peets in Columbus and near where I work. Maybe I should give it a try. I am a Starbucks biggot of course but I yearn for the coffee nirvana.

-Dave

[drison]

Can't answer for that machine, but honestly coffee is a complicated art form. The beans themselves must be of good quality, same w/ the roasting of them, and of course, the brewing (where the quality of a machine comes in). So the answer-- it's all important! :D

Yes, I completely agree. I have attempted to reproduce "good" coffee at home using state-of-the-art coffee pots and just cannot produce a good cup of coffee. I used to drink the free crap at work happily but once I tasted better coffee, I could never go back. Now I am on a journey to find the answers to the good coffee.

Where are you Zen coffee Master? :)

[kilimanjaro]

Ok.. here's two posts in one day.

Best Coffee I ever had - Traditional Coffee in Ethiopia, brewed for you while sitting on the couch with 3 servings.. There is a ceremony for coffee there, so you can tell how important 'Buna' is in Ethiopia. BEST IN THE WORLD From HARAR, ETHIOPIA.

Best Coffee In Europe - Illy, no doubt. I did have some Kilimanjaro blend from the Fair Trade store on some 'Straat' in Amsterdam.

Best Coffee In North America. - I like to make my own.. I like imported Kenyan Estate AA Dark, Ethiopian Limu and Yirgacheffe. And if I can afford, Blue Mountain from Jamaica.

By the way, I am Canadian and don't like Second Cup of Tim Horton's..

And for those dissing Starbuck's - when I was in Ethiopia visiting, I learned that despite the falling price of coffee, Starbucks was the only company that not only didnt try to undercut a contract that they signed, but increased the price. So they are not all that bad..
[FONT=Lucida Console]

[gwuMACaddict]

Try Misha's too - see above post - and let us know which one you like best :D

D

hahaha- will be interesting to get an unbiased opinion of the two! :D will be heading out to murkys (http://www.murkycoffee.com/) in a bit to get my usual... (see above post)

[pivo6]

Yes, I completely agree. I have attempted to reproduce "good" coffee at home using state-of-the-art coffee pots and just cannot produce a good cup of coffee. I used to drink the free crap at work happily but once I tasted better coffee, I could never go back. Now I am on a journey to find the answers to the good coffee.

Where are you Zen coffee Master? :)

If you're trying for "good" coffee at home, get some fresh roasted coffee and a quality grinder. The coffee maker itself is down the list as far as importance goes. Look to see if someone locally roasts coffee in your area, and buy only what you will drink in about a week. Grind 'em up before brewing, and you'll notice the difference in your coffee.

[MattG]

If you're trying for "good" coffee at home, get some fresh roasted coffee and a quality grinder. The coffee maker itself is down the list as far as importance goes. Look to see if someone locally roasts coffee in your area, and buy only what you will drink in about a week. Grind 'em up before brewing, and you'll notice the difference in your coffee.

Very true...whenever I have my parents over to my house, my mom always compliments me on how good my coffee tastes compared to what she's used to having. I tell her it's not really how I make it...it's the fact that I don't use the shiat out of the can :)

As for the coffee maker itself, I really like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004R936/qid=1123762140/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_2/102-7012365-0839308?v=glance&s=kitchen&n=507846).

[Applespider]

If you're trying for "good" coffee at home, get some fresh roasted coffee and a quality grinder.

What grinder do you use? I bought one (can't recall model since it's been relegated to the cupboard) but found that even on the finest setting, it was only really suitable for cafetieres or filters. It just was too coarse to get a decent espresso. That was a couple of years ago so perhaps with so many espresso machines being sold, there might be more widely available ones now without having to spend a fortune.

I do, on occasion, take a wander down to Borough Market on a Saturday and get some freshly roasted beans from Monmouth's and ask them to do a fine grind on it. Perfect for Sunday morning... ;)

[drison]

Very true...whenever I have my parents over to my house, my mom always compliments me on how good my coffee tastes compared to what she's used to having. I tell her it's not really how I make it...it's the fact that I don't use the shiat out of the can :)

As for the coffee maker itself, I really like this one (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004R936/qid=1123762140/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_sbs_2/102-7012365-0839308?v=glance&s=kitchen&n=507846).

Thanks for the good advice pivo6 and MattG. I'll give this a shot. I have a friend who roasts his own beans but he says it is really messy so he has to do it in his garage? I only know that the stuff in the can and the free stuff at work tastes like hot burnt water. :(

[nomad01]

What grinder do you use? I bought one (can't recall model since it's been relegated to the cupboard) but found that even on the finest setting, it was only really suitable for cafetieres or

I'd recommend the Rancillio Rocky. Excellent grinder!

Gaggia do a slightly cheaper grinder (Gaggia MDF I think) with a doser or they do a little blade grinder that might just go fine enough for about 60 quid.

My parents used to own a coffee house and when they sold up I missed the big Rancillio machine so much, I had to buy a home model.

How people cope without drinking coffee is just beyond me! ;-)

Steve

[mpw]

....coffee is a complicated art form....

So true. At my local coffee shop you have to weigh up who's working the cappuccino machine before you know what to order. There's one guy who makes the best cappuccino and a girl who's mocha's unsurpassed. Then of course there’s the girl who’ coffee tastes like really poorly prepared sawdust, luckily she’s hot though.

[jayscheuerle]

My first choice Peets from the ING Direct down the street. $1.50 for a 20 oz. cup (that includes tax), though my laziness usually takes me to Starbucks across the street, which is more acidic and sharper than the earthy Peets roast, but a helluva an eye opener.

[jayscheuerle]

But yeah, Peets is also my favorite of the "chain" coffees. Their espresso is pretty good, iced Americano is my drink. Don't forget Peets is a large chain now, too, and I have no doubt that if they could be as large as Starbucks, they would love to be.

Alfred Peet taught the Starbucks guys how to roast. In their first store, they sold his beans. They loved coffee, but were more into the business of it. He was a roaster and that was what was important to him. Maybe he's seen the financial light. Howard Shultz, the CEO of Starbucks, has referred to Alfred Peet as their "spiritual godfather"...

[EJBasile]

I'm not a huge coffee fan so I rarely drink it.

Even though I don't like chocolate I like hot chocolate. Go to Starbucks in the morning and that stuff will wake you right up. It could bring back to life a dead elephant.

I also have my top secret recipie when I make it at home. The best HC mix to buy is Nestle, but I won't tell you the rest.

[XIII]

Cafe Nero, but I don't drink Coffee, so what can I say.. :p

[highres]

a little place close to my house in Santa Cruz called the Buttery, I get the Double Mocha with whip cream (take that all you half/caff/soy/nonfat/chai latte/with a twist of cinnamon drinkers) and an Olallieberry Puff, the combination is exquisite.

[cloud 9]

I always go to jacqmotte (http://www.jacqmotte.be/home.asp?lang=&page=&re=) but recently it changed management and is now called Mockamore (http://www.sandenburg.com/mockamore/) here in Belgium, part of a dutch company (ugh).
'Mockamore' has coffee with white chocolat or with yummy vanilla and the best applepie i have ever eaten...

And sometimes i go to illy, their coffee tastes better but they have poorer recepies.Their iced coffee is cubes of ice with cold coffee, that's just wrong :confused:

[dcv]

Cafe Nero, but I don't drink Coffee, so what can I say.. :p

They have nice coffee to take out but what puts me off going in there are the chain smokers!

[jelloshotsrule]

Its a very cool wi-fi hang-out for all the mac users of the area. They have organic coffee with steamed soy, my fav!


Greenwich Ave. NYC

while i'm not a big coffee person (at all), i've seen that place and been tempted... i am a big fan of benny's burritos which is right across the street... rare place with vegan burrito options (ie soy sour cream and cheese). mmmmm

[StarbucksSam]

Starbucks

Grande Skim White Chocolate Mocha
Venti Shaken Passion Iced Tea Lemonade Sweetened Light Ice
Tall Chocolate Chip Vanilla Bean Frappuccino Blended Twice No Whipped Cream

[CubaTBird]

Starbucks

Grande Skim White Chocolate Mocha
Venti Shaken Passion Iced Tea Lemonade Sweetened Light Ice
Tall Chocolate Chip Vanilla Bean Frappuccino Blended Twice No Whipped Cream

um just black? lol actually... i don't really like coffee... i don't know why but for me the stuff tastes uber bitter and i don't like bitter stuff... :rolleyes:

[Applespider]

um just black? lol actually... i don't really like coffee... i don't know why but for me the stuff tastes uber bitter and i don't like bitter stuff... :rolleyes:

Chances are that you're not getting good coffee. Bad coffee is bitter - combination of old/badly stored roast and grind, water not at best brewing temperature, coffee being brewed too fast/slow, dregs are always more bitter. A top quality espresso should taste bittersweet - kinda like molten 90% cocoa solids chocolate

[blackfox]

mmm...coffee.

Although my coffee intake has somewhat dwindled as of late, my usual preference (of the moment) is the little cans of Starbucks Doubleshot (espresso and cream). I don't pretend they are the best, or even among the best drink in the coffee family, but they are consistent, cool (as it is summer), and easy. The latter is particularily important as I am both near-comatose and often running late in the mornings...no time to stand in line for coffee and no social-skills to order it...

My favorite coffee drink (if I have the time) is a vietnamese coffee, although I am sure it goes by many names...the recipe is as follows:

(1)dark espresso coffee (few shots worth)
(2)Tall glass filled with ice
(3) can of condensed milk
(4) empty glass

You mix about half of a tin of condensed milk with the fresh hot espresso and stir well. Pour over ice. It is very sweet and very strong if done right.

As for coffee shops, I usually choose them more on location, ambiance and amenities (such as wi-fi) than by their coffee.

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says....I have been basically off coffee for about a year now....i've only had 2 latte's in that time instead of the one per day I was doing.

I never liked Starbucks regular coffees - they always tasted too over-roasted for my taste...but I do like their latte's and their cold drinks - the frappaccinos. For "regular" coffee's I always preferred Murchies - a local west coast Canada shop, as their coffees are all low in caffeine and taste good (especially with their great selection of pastries) .....oh yeah!

[florencevassy]

I like Starbucks but it is too expensive, so my 2nd favorite is Wawa (http://www.wawa.com) coffee.

Most people who haven't heard of Wawa think the name is pretty funny. Wawa is located in 5 states in the US and is named after a rual town in Pennsylvania called Wawa, which was named from a local Native American tribe in honor of their favored game - the Canada Goose (according to the website).

[njmac]

I like Starbucks but it is too expensive, so my 2nd favorite is Wawa (http://www.wawa.com) coffee.


I have seen Wawa's down at the shore, but it looks like a 7-11 convenience store. I'm shocked they have good coffee!

[bousozoku]

I have seen Wawa's down at the shore, but it looks like a 7-11 convenience store. I'm shocked they have good coffee!

Don't be surprised. They've got good everything. Living in Philly for 8 years, I depended on Wawa for a lot of things. Their ice cream, iced coffee, iced tea, hoagies, wraps--it's all first rate.

[iJon]

I would have to go with the coffee shops in good ol' Amsterdam :). As for real coffee, we have some great local chains here in town, excellent drinks.

jon

[neildmitchell]

I would have to go with the coffee shops in good ol' Amsterdam :). As for real coffee, we have some great local chains here in town, excellent drinks.

jon
:D I LOVE AMSTERDAM COFFEE HOUSES :D

[Guitarius]

In the city I live in, there are basically two coffee houses to go to.CC's (http://www.communitycoffee.com/ccc/Default/CoffeeHouseBody/), and Mello Joy (http://www.mellojoy.com/home.htm). I normally go to CC's because they have better coffee. By better, I mean stronger and a tad more bitter. That's just what I like, you know? There are other places, but they aren't worth going to. We have a PJ's and a couple Starbucks. But yeah. I pretty much only go to CC's, unless I'm downtown, then I'll stop in at Mello Joy.

Local coffee is the best. If I ever move up North, I'm going have to get my parents to mail me Community Coffee (http://www.communitycoffee.com/ccc/). It's a Southern thing. I love it. I think you can order off their site, so if you're ineterested in trying something new, go for it. And for you instant coffee fans, that stuff beats anything else. Trust me. Walk on the wild side. Enjoy some Southern Tradition.

[devilot]

:D I LOVE AMSTERDAM COFFEE HOUSES :D
Never been, plan on going... but whenever I hear about Amsterdam+coffee houses, I can't help but to think of Missus Mia Wallace. ;)

[njmac]

Don't be surprised. They've got good everything. Living in Philly for 8 years, I depended on Wawa for a lot of things. Their ice cream, iced coffee, iced tea, hoagies, wraps--it's all first rate.

OK, thanks for the tip :D

I'm gonna check them out next time I'm at the shore, thanks.

[XIII]

They have nice coffee to take out but what puts me off going in there are the chain smokers!

LOL, I know what you mean. :p Maybe I should reconsider. ;)

[StarbucksSam]

I like Starbucks but it is too expensive, so my 2nd favorite is Wawa (http://www.wawa.com) coffee.

Most people who haven't heard of Wawa think the name is pretty funny. Wawa is located in 5 states in the US and is named after a rual town in Pennsylvania called Wawa, which was named from a local Native American tribe in honor of their favored game - the Canada Goose (according to the website).

I live in that "rural town". It's not rural, it's now suburban - and it's less than half an hour out of Philadelphia. It's actually called Media, the town is not known as Wawa and never was. The Wawa factory and corporate location is in Middletown TWP, Delaware County, which, though it has farms, is actually not rural at all. "Wawa" means wild goose in some lenape language.

[AstrosFan]

Chai Latte (nonfat, no-foam) at Starbucks.
Some find it too sweet, but I think they do a good job.
I have friends who prefer it w/soy milk b/c it imparts a nutmeg-like flavor to it, but I'm happy with the plain-jane nonfat stuff.

My favorite chai, though, is Indian spiced chai (aka masala chai), which can be found at Indian restaurants (& homes) - mmmm, good!

[florencevassy]

I live in that "rural town". It's not rural, it's now suburban - and it's less than half an hour out of Philadelphia. It's actually called Media, the town is not known as Wawa and never was. The Wawa factory and corporate location is in Middletown TWP, Delaware County, which, though it has farms, is actually not rural at all. "Wawa" means wild goose in some lenape language.


-- I took that info off the wawa website. I have heard of Media PA, I didn't realize they were the same. Thanks for the info.

[sambo.]

out of my own coffee-pot, using fresh ground, good (which doesn't equate to "most expensive" by any means) coffee beans. :D

i been clocked at 13 cups of the stuff in a single workday once....
(down to around five or so...) :eek:

[jayscheuerle]

I live in that "rural town". It's not rural, it's now suburban - and it's less than half an hour out of Philadelphia. It's actually called Media, the town is not known as Wawa and never was. The Wawa factory and corporate location is in Middletown TWP, Delaware County, which, though it has farms, is actually not rural at all. "Wawa" means wild goose in some lenape language.

From Wawa's website:

1800s
The Company was founded in 1803 in New Jersey, and incorporated in 1865 as the Millville Manufacturing Company, a textile company with mills in several states and sales offices across the country.

1902
In 1902, George Wood, Millville's owner, opened a small milk plant in Wawa, PA, which specialized in processing, and the home delivery of "doctor certified" milk. The Wawa Dairy enjoyed a reputation for superior fresh products and customer service.

1964
On April 16, 1964, Wawa Food Markets opened their first store in Folsom, PA. This store was an immediate success, and it marked the beginning of the Wawa chain of food markets. From the beginning, Wawa made a commitment to fresh food - selling fresh produce and featuring a full-service deli. Over the years, the food service offer has been expanded to meet customers' needs.

2001
Today, the Wawa "family" has grown to include more than 13,000 associates with over 500 stores in five states.

[gwuMACaddict]

wawa rocks... wish they had one in dc... the closest ones to me are in VA and MD

[jayscheuerle]

wawa rocks... wish they had one in dc... the closest ones to me are in VA and MD

They ARE nice. Like an upscale 711. I don't know if I'd say their coffee was GREAT, but it's tolerable. They have far too many flavored ones (hazelnut, etc.) instead of plain bean varieties. The nicest are the superstores that are gas stations, with sandwich delis and some hot foods. Great. Now I'm hungry...

[neildmitchell]

The best convenient store chain coffee that I know is from
White Hen Pantry.
http://www.whitehenpantry.com/
I know they are in Chicago and it looks like Boston also

[gwuMACaddict]

They ARE nice. Like an upscale 711. I don't know if I'd say their coffee was GREAT, but it's tolerable. They have far too many flavored ones (hazelnut, etc.) instead of plain bean varieties. The nicest are the superstores that are gas stations, with sandwich delis and some hot foods. Great. Now I'm hungry...

usually the cheapest gas around also :D