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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.
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9-23-2007 @12:15PM Joann said... Mello Joy...the original cajun coffee....seduced me away from that "big chain" we all know. Try it, it's wonderful!
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9-23-2007 @11:58AM Chris said... Sadley, I just like a great cup of coffee in the morning. I settled in to Eight O'Clock French Roast years ago. And when I serve it to my guests they always ask for seconds or thirds, raving over the flavor. I do grind mine fresh which I truly think is the secret to any coffee.
Hmmm, think I'll have another cup. Enjoy everyone!
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9-23-2007 @11:59AM Joann said... Mello Joy...the original cajun coffee...seduced me away from that "big chain" that we all know! Try it, it's wonderful!
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9-23-2007 @12:07PM barbara said... u say putting coffee in fridge or freezer a no-no on my can of Fokgers it says REFRIDGERATE sfter opening?????? so whos right??
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9-23-2007 @12:09PM Chris said... I don't care enough, nor do I have a refined enough palate, to ever become a real coffee snob. However, I did discover in my mid-30s that freshly ground beans, however ordinary, beat anything that comes out of a can. Then a guy opened a place right here in our little town, roasting and packaging a wide variety of coffees. I've tried a bunch of them, but my personal favorite is his dark roast. Not fancy, not terribly subtle, just a good, solid, flavorful cup of coffee. It's a delight to start each day with it, and to serve it to friends. And that's really all that matters, isn't it?
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9-23-2007 @12:26PM TMARTIN said... Start with spring or well filtered water! Any brand of C100% columbian coffee and a braun coffeemaker. The water is most important, tap water ruins the flavour--in addition to poisioning your system. AND for GODS sake , throw out that Mr.Coffee machine!!!!!
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9-23-2007 @12:16PM gina said... Dunkin Donuts has the best Coffee
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9-23-2007 @12:20PM Bob F said... I have been using 8 O'Clock brand Bokar Blend for many years (http://www.eightoclock.com) It is the perfect combo, not too mild not too rich and it retains a real coffee flavor. It is a also a lot cheaper than the fancy brands. I buy the whole bean and burr grind just what I need. Even though the so called experts give them a bad name, I personally still like a small 4 cup electric perculator. Its fast and the coffee is always perfect and HOT!
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9-23-2007 @12:24PM Faith an Java said... Antigua Guatemala dark roast...need to experience this one!!!
One of the perks of a voluntary surgical mission trip to Guatemala each year is bringing back bags (20+) of coffee beans from a small local Antigua farm. We put our order in at the beginning of the week, they roast it, bag it and have it to us by the end of the week. And the really neat thing is, each 1# of beans is contained in a colorful bag made from the diverse native Guatemalian village's textiles. Each village has it's own unique pattern and color combination. So not only is this coffee grown at hi altitudes, helps support a small family operation and the colorful bags are great to recycle as gifts bags, the COFFEE TASTES AWESOME!
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9-23-2007 @12:29PM Jane P said... Your recommendation of the "french press" should have been researched further. It has been found that this method of brewing is bad for people with high cholesterol so use it wisely.
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9-23-2007 @12:42PM Liz said... Maxwellhouse Rich. Then I had triple bypass surgery and my veins couldn't take the excitment so I had to change to Folgers Decaf Simply Smooth. All cups had to have Splenda and CoffeeMate Vanilla. Have a good morning, coffee included! :D
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9-23-2007 @12:51PM Chrissy said... I live in Louisiana and my coffee of choice is Community Med. Roast. It has a great flavor, and wakes you up on those early mornings when you have to get up and go to work!
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9-24-2007 @11:58AM tina said... Jamaican Blue Mountain is by far the best coffee for me. No bitterness at all.
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9-23-2007 @12:50PM Rolando Salvo said...
You have forgotten the quality of water.Regular water contains undisolved mineral ,but when water is boiled these mineral become soluble in water and give a bad taste to the finish coffee.Use the best water you can obtain and you will see the difference.Have a nice cup of Good Coffee.
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9-23-2007 @1:08PM kathy said... Know why restaurant coffee tastes better than home brewed? They all use metal coffee makers, not the GLASS ones most of us have in our homes. I asked a waitress this one time and she told me that makes the difference.
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9-23-2007 @1:04PM Bill Arnold said... Seattle's Best is my favorite and 2nd is MacDonald's
Premeium coffee. Consumer's Guide likes Mac Donald's too; over many named brands that cost an arm & a leg.
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9-23-2007 @1:09PM Dorothy Bienen said... Love all your coffee comments and adore reading about one of the loves of my life...coffee!!!! I agree 8:00 coffee at 6:00am is great, then I move on to Early Morning Buzz...Whole Foods brand and to cap it off....Elephant Beans, which is a Fresh Market brand. My day would not be complete or enjoyable without those treats!!!!!
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9-23-2007 @6:57PM Jay said... I agree 1000% with #10. Dunkin' Donuts coffee, black, without sweetener, is all I need.
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9-23-2007 @1:19PM ABBY, BELTRAN said... I GREW UP DRINKING ESPRESSO FROM RELATIVE'S FARM IN PUERTO RICO. GROWS IN THE MOUNTAINS UNDER BIGGER TREES. HAVE TRIED EVRYTHING ELSE AND NOTHING COMPARES TO THAT. ANY COFFE GROWN HIGH IN THE SHADE SATIFIES THE SOUL.
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9-24-2007 @1:40PM Karen Threatt said... My only indulgence in life is having Community Coffee of Baton Rouge ship their Medium Roast coffee to me.
I love it!! My son-in-law introduced me to it a couple of years ago. It gives me the lift I need to go out and face the world.
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