Coffee culture has gotten weird. Frankly, I'm unnerved by how easily the public has normalized using froofy proprietary language* and the contents of a Brinks truck to get their daily java fix. It's absolutely fine to dig a big ol' caramel drizzled, half-caf, whipped cream Frotheratta if that's what brings a smile to your face. It just happens to bear about as much relation to real coffee as a "chocotini" does to a glass full of gin, vermouth and an olive.
I love good, plain, powerful coffee. Whether it's poured from a fresh diner pot, artfully barista-brewed, or ground and pressed in my kitchen, a good cup of coffee will take hold of my day and pause the world for a while. There's poetry in the simplicity of it -- in knowing that ground beans, hot water, and a dash of milk have the collective power to wholly lift my mood. It's not just the caffeine (though that certainly helps). It's also the sublime flavor, the heady, enveloping aroma, the warmth, the comfort, and...you tell me. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Read Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Coffee But Were Too Caffeinated To Ask
*Nope - Italians don't order their coffee "Tall", "Grande" and "Venti" like certain chains would have you believe. They drink espresso in various formats - Caffé Americano (espresso with hot water), Doppio (two shots of espresso), Caffe Macchiato (espresso with a drop of milk), etc. - but not in goofily named sizes.
1-24-2008 @1:28AM Patricia said... My favorite coffee is my brother's Sumatra, in a french press with a dab of cream. Check out his coffee at Mahoganyroasters.com
Reply
1-29-2008 @9:46AM Mr. Magoo said... Sharon & Joey have it right. Columbian coffee preprared in an electric perculator is the only way to go.
Reply
2-03-2008 @4:20PM i.brown said... I LOVE HOT COFFEE ,NEVER LUKEWARM OF ANY KIND .
COLD COFFEE BLACK , ABSOLUTLY DELICIOUS ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER.
Reply
2-06-2008 @8:59AM Nedra said... We drink decaf - the best I've found is the Kirkland(Costco) brank decaf - fine grind and I'm told it's ground by Starbuck's! For my coffee house coffee - I enjoy a good hot latte at It's a Grind!
Reply
2-07-2008 @6:22AM John Nicewonger said... My guests nearly always tell me I make the best coffee they ever tasted. Personally, I love coffee, drink 20 cups a day (2 pots), and take great pains to make the best I can. My secrets are as follows:
1. I use Jamaica Blue Mountain beans
2. I grind them fresh for every pot
3. I use cold filtered water (acually reverse osmosis)
4. I clean my coffee pot carefully after every pot, never using soap, but wash it out then wipe everything down with paper towels.
5. I follow the amount as one scoop for every cup plus one for the pot.
thats it. john
Reply
2-07-2008 @7:27AM Kent said... I AM SO TIRED OF READING OPINIONS FROM SUPPOSED "EXPERTS" THAT HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THE ART OF COFFEE BLENDING AS WELL AS THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE PRODUCT.
ANYONE CAN BUY AND ROAST A SINGLE ORIGIN. WHAT MAKES A COFFEE GREAT, UNIQUE, CONSISTENT AND FLAVORFUL IS A COMBINATION OF MANY THINGS, UTMOST A BLEND..BLEND ! ! OF VARIOUS ORIGINS.
IF YOU WANT A LESSON OR A GOOD BLEND OF COFFEE, TRY GOING TO A REAL ROASTER...NOT SOME LITTLE MICRO ROASTER THAT BUYS A DIFFERENT GUATEMALAN OR ETHIOPIAN COFFEE THIS YEAR OR SEASON THAN LAST.
Reply
2-07-2008 @7:27AM Kent said... Barbara, It is okay to refrigerate the coffee as it will extend the life by about 30%, although Folgers has a large amount of Robusta species in it and will decline more rapidly. If you want to know more, call this guy...he mentors at least 3 pros in the business: Keith Johnson
Fresh Brew Group (I think they're in Texas)....... www.freshbrewgroup.com
Reply
2-07-2008 @7:30AM TJ said... 1 Caribou Colombian
2 Eight O'Clock 100% Colombian
3 Dunkin' Donuts Original Blend
This according to a leading Consumer ratings.
Enjoy!
Reply
2-07-2008 @7:37AM Mrs. D said... My husband and I love our Flavia machine and go between the Sumatra and French Roast. By the way, the reason not to freeze or refrigerate coffee is that either way will allow moisture to seep into the coffee. Better to keep it in a dry place in a tightly sealed container.
Reply
2-07-2008 @8:02AM carol said... I like it the old fashioned way I perk my coffee on the stove. Nothing like the smell of maxwell house coffee going thru my home.
Reply
2-08-2008 @8:06AM pat said... Folgers columbian dark or med dark gets my vote
Reply
2-07-2008 @8:43AM Nancy Strachan said... Give a thought to trying a cup of FAIR TRADE coffee from Rwanda. It benefits survivors of the genocide by paying them a really fair price for their coffee and supports microfinance loans AND it tastes really great. I started a Rwandan Fair Trade coffee ministry at my church and most people bought small bags out of compassion, now they come back and by the big bags because they love the taste! Drink a cup and do good!
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:48PM Janet, Wantagh,NY said... I was always told to freeze or refrigerate the coffee-that the oils would make it rancid. So I do that with my "flowery" or "foo foo" coffee as some call it (Hazelnut!!) As recently as the past month I read coffee is no longer fresh after a week. And I believe I read it on AOL!!! So it really is in the beholder's taste buds as to what is the best!!!
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:09AM jan geis said... I like boco java costa rican. Just a real smooth cup.
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:17AM Brian said... I have tried many brands and family-owned roasts and have finally decided on "First Cup" by Ugly Mug Coffee out of Tennessee. It's smooth and what coffee should be. I made the mistake of mentioning it to friends and family and now I have to compete with more people to get my hands on it at the store...they sell out so quickly. I may have to start buying it online. Check it out. They have several different brew tastes like "Good Vibrations" and "Good Vibes". Other than that...I would prefer to go to Hawaii and drink fresh kona. :-) Later.
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:41AM Bette said... For my husband and I, we prefer coffee from Costa Rica. We discovered it during a Cruise and now buy it over the internet. Don't remember buying supermarket coffer for a very long time. Enjoy everyone...whatever your own choice is.
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:29AM Jackie said... I brew my Dunkin Donuts Original blend in the espresso machine...visitors always comment on how great the coffee tastes. Just be sure to fill the espresso filter almost to the brim. Makes a great Cappucino too!
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:27AM Nancy said... Without a doubt, Kona is the best!!!
Very smooth and no 'after-taste'.
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:36AM Grinzalot said... Common ways to RUIN any coffee, no matter where it's grown: Over-roast. A lighter roast retains more of the wonderful aromatic oils. Over-grind. A less fine grind (~1/32 to 1/16" diameter avg.) releases less of the bitter natural flavors. Over-extract by a too-slow drip or long exposure of the "brew" to the grounds. Over-cook by keeping on a hot plate too long. Better to 'zap' refills in a microwave than to cook away the water and the best aromatics.
Reply
2-07-2008 @9:41AM John said... Normally I do not like flavored coffees, but a few years ago my office worker had a small amounts of Southern Pecan andIrish Cream. To get a pot, we mixed them 1/2 and 1/2. To this day, friends who say that they do not like flavored coffees rave about how good this mix tastes.
Reply