Well, UK poster here. (for a change!)
I've never seen anyone in the UK have a pod-based coffee maker (Tassimo / Keurig) in their kitchen. Remember UK kitchens are much smaller, and we don't have such a fetish of electronic kitchen gadets.
I only know one guy with an expresso machine in his kitchen, and he's from the USA anyway.
Almost never seen drip-based coffee sold in UK cafes.
Most most MOST people drink instant coffee at home and work. The usual crap. Nescafe or whatever.
Older people will make filter coffee at home, using a plastic thing that sits on top of your cup, with a paper filter in it. That's the only thing we have room for in our kitchens.
Did I mention we have small kitchens? UK fridges only have one door on them, and they're not walk-in style. Often, they will fit under the counter, about the same size as a washing machine or cooker. And yes, our washing machines and cookers are smaller too.
Some people use cafetieres at home:
They're quite common, but tend to stay at the back of the kitchen cupboard. (It's easier to make an instant.) We don't call them French Presses. That sounds slightly rude here - kinda like a French Letter
Argos just put a notice on their website saying they don't sell cafeteries Woolworths had some nice ones, but they've gone bust now. You could try just going up and down the shops on your local high street. Local mixed-goods shops will have them (any shop that sells pots and pans will do).
I have a one-cup one which I use most, and a 3 cup one that is a bit too big for my kitchen (yes like most english people, I have a tiny kitchen) but I use it when friends come over. (the girlfriend doesn't drink coffee, but she likes the smell of it.)
My spanish and italian friends don't trust the English way of making coffee and will bring this
with them and guard it with their lives. I don't really know the name of it in English. It opens into three compartments. Coffee goes in the smallest one, in the middle, water in the bottom, and the whole thing goes on the stove top, hob or gas ring. Water boils in the bottom and steam goes through the coffee and into the top. Damn nice.
Putting decent coffee in whatever machine you use is important but not to get obsessive about it. Just get the most expensive of whatever your supermarket has. Generally about £5-£7 for 500 grams and will last a long time. I always drink fair trade or organic. No need to support slavery with your daily drink.
If you are in London, Monmouths do the best coffee beans. http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/ I often see their beans in other hippy shops.
My father drinks his cofffee the old fashioned way - a big handful of ground coffee shaken into his cup, pour boiling water on, wait 30 seconds and drink. No milk or sugar. Blimey. I always pour mine with milk first then coffee second. Tastes smoother to me. No sugar. Sometimes honey.
I've never seen anyone in the UK have a pod-based coffee maker (Tassimo / Keurig) in their kitchen. Remember UK kitchens are much smaller, and we don't have such a fetish of electronic kitchen gadets.
I only know one guy with an expresso machine in his kitchen, and he's from the USA anyway.
Almost never seen drip-based coffee sold in UK cafes.
Most most MOST people drink instant coffee at home and work. The usual crap. Nescafe or whatever.
Older people will make filter coffee at home, using a plastic thing that sits on top of your cup, with a paper filter in it. That's the only thing we have room for in our kitchens.
Did I mention we have small kitchens? UK fridges only have one door on them, and they're not walk-in style. Often, they will fit under the counter, about the same size as a washing machine or cooker. And yes, our washing machines and cookers are smaller too.
Some people use cafetieres at home:
They're quite common, but tend to stay at the back of the kitchen cupboard. (It's easier to make an instant.) We don't call them French Presses. That sounds slightly rude here - kinda like a French Letter
Argos just put a notice on their website saying they don't sell cafeteries
Woolworths had some nice ones, but they've gone bust now. You could try just going up and down the shops on your local high street. Local mixed-goods shops will have them (any shop that sells pots and pans will do). I have a one-cup one which I use most, and a 3 cup one that is a bit too big for my kitchen (yes like most english people, I have a tiny kitchen) but I use it when friends come over. (the girlfriend doesn't drink coffee, but she likes the smell of it.)
My spanish and italian friends don't trust the English way of making coffee and will bring this
with them and guard it with their lives. I don't really know the name of it in English. It opens into three compartments. Coffee goes in the smallest one, in the middle, water in the bottom, and the whole thing goes on the stove top, hob or gas ring. Water boils in the bottom and steam goes through the coffee and into the top. Damn nice.
Putting decent coffee in whatever machine you use is important but not to get obsessive about it. Just get the most expensive of whatever your supermarket has. Generally about £5-£7 for 500 grams and will last a long time. I always drink fair trade or organic. No need to support slavery with your daily drink.
If you are in London, Monmouths do the best coffee beans. http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/ I often see their beans in other hippy shops.
My father drinks his cofffee the old fashioned way - a big handful of ground coffee shaken into his cup, pour boiling water on, wait 30 seconds and drink. No milk or sugar. Blimey. I always pour mine with milk first then coffee second. Tastes smoother to me. No sugar. Sometimes honey.
