Why is a good cup of coffee so hard to find?

[hasslefactor]

.... the coffee was like tea - as weak as can get.

Count me among the picky coffee lovers.  [tongue]

The story goes that Abraham Lincoln was served a hot cup of ambiguous brown liquid one day while out on the campaign trail. After a moment's thoughtful consideration, he said to the waitress:

"If this is the coffee, I think I'll have the tea. But if this is the tea, I think I'll have the coffee."
[big grin]

 

[Bob Marino]

My Nana made the best coffee. I don't know what with or how she made it , but it always tasted the greatest and I have never found anything that compared.

It could be the memories of my Nana that help make it that much better in my head.

Nick,

It just may be the memories. When I was a kid - way back when, in the summers, my grandfather made us expresso early am and then took us for a nice walk. Made it the old fashioned way - just brewed it it a simple pot "magenatta" on the stove, with canned/ground Italian expresso and was wonderful.

Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

Hey Bob

Follow this link for the definition of "minging"

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/definition+of/minging

Guy,

Oooooh, I had the feeling, just by the sound of the word, that it wasn't pretty

If you ever had the opportunity to work as a "chippy" on a British site you would increase your colloquial vocabulary and perhaps an appreciation that most of us grafters speak more like Vinnie Jones (Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrells) (Ooops sorry Woodguy, appreciating regional variations and local accents of course) than the assumption that we all speak like Hugh Grant!

Gotcha on the regional variations, just give me a call and tell me that with my Brooklyn accent, you'd confuse me with Gregory Peck! ;D ;D

  Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

.... the coffee was like tea - as weak as can get.

Count me among the picky coffee lovers.  [tongue]

The story goes that Abraham Lincoln was served a hot cup of ambiguous brown liquid one day while out on the campaign trail. After a moment's thoughtful consideration, he said to the waitress:

"If this is the coffee, I think I'll have the tea. But if this is the tea, I think I'll have the coffee."
[big grin]

Good one, Laurie!

Bob

 

[GPowers]

Ever had this coffee http://www.badasscoffee.com/ it was a big deal when they applied for a sign in our city! The owner of the franchise had to prove it was a real brand name. The coffee is not bad ether.

 

[jmbfestool]

Sorry, me too.  Give me a good mug of Tetley any day.  Builders tea  [big grin]

Woodguy.

Good that us Brits stick together on this issue!

Count me in wiv the Brits!  I love my Tea.  Coffee is mingin!

JMB

Hey JMB,

Yep, you guys sure do stick together on this one. Don't know  what "mingin" is but I wouldn't want to drink it [laughing].

Bob

Mingin is what we youths say if something isnt nice either taste or looks

JMB

 

[mouppe]

I used to live in Manhattan and there were one or two places I knew that served a good caffe latte. Pain Quotidien, Grey Dogs in the Village, Sarabeths, and the Italian sandwich place near 59th and 5th. Aroma is also really good.

But then I moved to Montreal and everything changed. Simply put, the coffee up here blows away anything south of the border. The espresso is strong and the milk used is usually 3%. So the latte is rich and thick. Almost everywhere will serve you a good coffee. It's the equivalent of hamburgers in New York. The standard is more often than not excellent.

I'll buy any coffee lover a coffee in Montreal just to see the smile on their face.

Richard.

 

[alanz]

Bob,

I strongly agree with the others who suggest the AeroPress.

It's lightweight, nearly indestructable, packs small... and really does extract flavor without the acid.

Makes for some really smooooothe coffee from your favorite beans.

I can lend you mine if you'd like to test it out.

Enjoy your vacation

 

[butzla]

Bobby,  Wish I had known you were on The Vinyid [sic].  Been going there for years many times over, my folks retired down there in the 80's.  I agree, Black Dog sucks!  Best place for coffee is "Mocha Mott's" on Circuit Ave in Oak Bluffs.  It's a locals fave located near "The Lampost".    Another new haunt in Edgartown is "Espresso Luv" over on Church ST. near the police station.

 

[Bob Marino]

Bob,

I strongly agree with the others who suggest the AeroPress.

It's lightweight, nearly indestructable, packs small... and really does extract flavor without the acid.

Makes for some really smooooothe coffee from your favorite beans.

I can lend you mine if you'd like to test it out.

Enjoy your vacation

Hi Alan,

Looks like a portable French Press, or am I wrong?

Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

Bobby,  Wish I had known you were on The Vinyid [sic].  Been going there for years many times over, my folks retired down there in the 80's.  I agree, Black Dog sucks!  Best place for coffee is "Mocha Mott's" on Circuit Ave in Oak Bluffs.  It's a locals fave located near "The Lampost".    Another new haunt in Edgartown is "Espresso Luv" over on Church ST. near the police station.

Wow, Jim. Wish that I WOULD HAVE KNOWN TOO! Went to Mocha Mott's in Vineyard Haven - nice and strong.

Bob

 

[alanz]

Bob,

It's similar to a french press, but it has a round paper filter at the bottom, and brews one cup at a time.  
Cleanup is easy, you remove the bottom ring and the 'puck' of compressed coffee grounds pops off.
I use a microwave to heat the water in the plunger tube, then pour into the main tube.

Key to the system is that all the grounds steep evenly, and then all the coffee is pressed into a cup at one time.  

The proof is in the drinking... all the flavor, none of the bitterness.  A fine thing.

 

[MarkF]

Bob,

I strongly agree with the others who suggest the AeroPress.

It's lightweight, nearly indestructable, packs small... and really does extract flavor without the acid.

Makes for some really smooooothe coffee from your favorite beans.

I can lend you mine if you'd like to test it out.

Enjoy your vacation

Hi Alan,

Looks like a portable French Press, or am I wrong?

Bob

I'll add to Alan's comment:
Yea and no.  It's more like a big syringe with a filter basket in the bottom.  You end up with a small hockey puck of spent grounds after you push the plunger that can pop right into the compost bin.  Rinse everything off and you're done.  It breaks the "You have to steep the coffee for exactly "X" minutes or you will see one eyed monkeys after you drink it" rule.  Just pour boiling water into it, stir it with the stirrer, and push the extract into your cup.  Top the cup off with hot water and sip.  Not a great Espresso maker but custom made for Americanos.  It's a quick, clean cup and all the coffee snobs gasp because you don't get all the fancy esters and oils and gradue that makes their cup so special.  I do love it and start my day off with a 20 ounce Americano in an old Bruegger's Bagels mug when I can.  Working though a stash of Dota Peaberry we picked up in Costa Rica right now.  Love that stuff!

 

[Bob Marino]

Ok, guys, along similar lines, impressions of those K-cups - Kuerig?

Bob

 

[atomicmike]

Ok, guys, along similar lines, impressions of those K-cups - Kuerig?

Bob

I received one as a gift, and while it's nice for the times when I'm too lazy to make espresso or don't need a full pot of coffee, I haven't found the quality to be as good. There is an accessory basket that allows you to use your own grounds, but I haven't tried that yet.

IMO, for regular drip coffee, nothing beats the Technivorm brewers for home use. They just have the dubious distinction of carrying a Festool-like price tag.  [unsure]

 

[butzla]

Ok, guys, along similar lines, impressions of those K-cups - Kuerig?

Bob

I have a Keurig both at home and at the office.  I like it very much for the laziness factor and the fact that you get a fresh brewed cup everytime you pour.  I recommend the Green Mountain extra bold: "10% Kona Coffee Blend" highly.  Strong enough yet won't grow hair on your chest.
PS I didn't know there was a Mocha Motts in VH. 

 

[bonesbr549]

Ok, guys, along similar lines, impressions of those K-cups - Kuerig?

Bob

They are great for that single shot!  When the wife and I both are working (she works in hospitals) so a whole pot does not make sense they perfect.  I like Newman's own, and Emeril's coffee.  The attachment that you add your own grounds to is cool.  The wife likes that one but I don't want to clean it.    I do the newman's own the most its got a good strong taste.  And as a positive BJ's or Sams club one carries the 70 count box resonablly.  If its a week-end and I'm going to be dringing a bit, I still throw the beans in and make a whole pot. 

 

[Bob Marino]

We have the Kuerig, but I wanted to see how others liked theirs. Agree, not a bad cup and very convenient for sure.

Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

PS I didn't know there was a Mocha Motts in VH. 
[/quote]

Yep, right on Main St., a few doors down from The Mansion House.

 

[butzla]

PS I didn't know there was a Mocha Motts in VH. 

Yep, right on Main St., a few doors down from The Mansion House.

[/quote]

Of course my wife reminded me (like she always does) "you knew there's a Motts in VH, we've been there many times!"  ??? :  Thanks for the reminder!