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Official Coffee Thread

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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
NS. What do you do to make the best cup of coffee. We all know there is no right answer here (although plenty of wrong answers).

Discuss beans, grinders, machines, etc...

go!
Mar 6 2012 1:40PM
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[hamnuts]
Posts: 2356 - Karma: 439
Just got a job at Starbucks so I will probably become pretty well versed on this stuff in the future
Sep 23 2012 8:05PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
I general Starbucks is pretty bad in the world of coffee.
They use bloody automatics.
Sep 23 2012 8:10PM
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[hamnuts]
Posts: 2356 - Karma: 439
as far as fast coffee chain goes its not terrible and they have a lot of good teas
Sep 23 2012 8:18PM
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razors-chaz
Posts: 2255 - Karma: 1,250
Im not going to say much more than starbucks sucks massive dick. Their coffee is so bitter an overroasted. They also are the epitomy of the bastardisation of coffee. Theres a reason why there is no/hardly any starbucks in italy.
Sep 23 2012 8:28PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11986 - Karma: 12,239
i probably have 2 of these every morning.

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xl double double
Sep 23 2012 8:38PM
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geteducated
Posts: 6410 - Karma: 86
those cups are huge. i don't know how anyone can drink so much that fast, before it gets cold.
Sep 23 2012 8:54PM
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[hamnuts]
Posts: 2356 - Karma: 439
Yes, but I don't live in Italy, I live in Canada. When your other options for coffee are Tims or Second Cup, Starbucks seems pretty great. At least there you can customize your drinks and get good food, and because I have employee discount its the same price as going to a cheap place for a quick coffee in the morning.
Sep 23 2012 9:04PM
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pink_squid
Posts: 1188 - Karma: 368
Get on my level.

http://blog.makezine.com/2010/02/03/flashback-the-florence-siphon-arabi/
Sep 23 2012 9:13PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Starbucks is the Walmart of coffee shops, get over it.
Sep 23 2012 9:15PM
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GingLife
Posts: 170 - Karma: 67
Love me some DD coffee. I just bought some local coffee that is roasted somewhere near Columbus. I forget the name but its a nice medium roast. I just need to invest in something that can brew better than an extremely cheap wal-mart coffee maker
Sep 23 2012 9:25PM
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[hamnuts]
Posts: 2356 - Karma: 439
Uhm no.
Sep 23 2012 9:27PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Also- I'm the son of a coffee shop owner and have worked in a coffee shop for 2 years now, feel free to shoot me any questions I've PM (not that there are all that many questions out there about coffee??)
Sep 23 2012 9:27PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Uhm yes.

Even though they use Italian words to describe their coffees what is served is unmistakably American, from the taste of the coffee itself to the consistency of the foam of steamed milk.

It's actually incredibly mediocre.
Sep 23 2012 9:33PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Haha it really is! They open stores all over the nation selling I've roasted coffees and over sweetened bullshit drinks, market it to high school girls, and then put REAL coffee shops out of business.
Sep 23 2012 9:35PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Over roasted coffees, rather
Sep 23 2012 9:36PM
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[hamnuts]
Posts: 2356 - Karma: 439
Yes, Starbucks is not Cafe Greco by any means. But compared to a lot of places its pretty good. In my first post I didn't jump up and down about how good the coffee at Starbucks is, instead I just said that because I will be working in an environment where I will be exposed to coffee on the reg I can safely assume that I will acquire some sort of knowledge about coffee as a whole.
Sep 23 2012 9:40PM
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PlaygroundRapist
Posts: 1307 - Karma: 26
Starbucks is the anal wart of coffee, thats why you don't see them in Italy.

Coffee isn't a 20 ounce cup filled with 80% milk, sugar and syrup and then 20% of over roasted poor quality beans.

Sep 23 2012 9:40PM
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Dr.Gonzo
Posts: 2552 - Karma: 87
Anybody? it's the greatest.

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Also, anyone who doesn't drink black doesn't really drink coffee, and thats my honest opinion.
Sep 23 2012 9:44PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Aaaaand it is still the Walmart of coffee shops
Sep 23 2012 9:47PM
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Brown_Bag
Posts: 273 - Karma: 677
some great knowledge in here, threads
Sep 23 2012 9:59PM
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SelfTitled
Posts: 39 - Karma: 11
Sometimes, I enjoy an overpriced drink from starbucks, which I think most people only like because of the topping...
If you're ever on your way to Whistler, I highly recommend stopping at Galileo Coffee in Britania Beach. They roast their own coffee in the building, and they have very reasonably priced, and very good tasting drinks! I recommend the canadiano. It's an americano with maple syrup.
Sep 23 2012 10:03PM
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Backyard.Skier
Posts: 5397 - Karma: 1,497
Tim Horton's for sure for everyday coffee but if I want a specialty coffee then Starbucks for sure, but they are so damn expensive.
Sep 23 2012 10:08PM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
This. All you nancies talking about your specialty little fru fru coffee drinks sound like you belong on queer eye for the straight guy.
Sep 24 2012 9:51AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
I can't drink my coffee black... I guess this means I'm gay...







Mom, I have something to tell you
Sep 24 2012 10:12AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
How I drink my coffee:

90% espresso, and in the morning cappuccino, preferably cornetto cappuccino e quotidiano (croissant, cappuccino and a newspaper)"which makes a perfect breakfast”

Sometimes I opt for a latte machiatto, and when I'm feeling really adventurous I go for a Moccachino.
Rarely anything milk based after 11, and after a meal it's espresso only.
Sep 24 2012 10:16AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
A well made cappuccino is a breakfast just by itself! You have good taste.
Sep 24 2012 10:23AM
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SkierX
Posts: 16253 - Karma: 538
I'm usually going with Green Mountain Coffee, Rain Forest Nut whole bean specifically, on the weekends. Ground and drip brewed using a (Gasp!) automatic coffeemaker. The increased convenience are worth the concessions to me.

With the Rain Forest Nut coffee, I'll give it a quick splash of hazelnut flavored creamer and a dash of cinnamon sugar on top. Makes for a tasty way to wake up on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

For the weekdays, I am usually looking at coffee a bit differently as I am drinking it on the go instead of enjoying it. The taste becomes of lesser importance, meaning that an inexpensive previously ground coffee is selected.
Sep 24 2012 10:41AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
lol, oh you're soooo hard core because you drink your coffee black. you must be a real man! you do realize that this makes you sound like an elitist douche bag, right? (not singling you out...this is directed at everyone with the "Oh, I'm a better coffee drinker than everyone who like cream and sugar" attitude.)


Sep 24 2012 11:06AM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
whoa whoa whoa I know very little about coffee and I sure as hell am not an elitist..I only drink a fairly standard dark roast

I'm just not a fan of walking by these coffee shops and seeing these full grown men sitting at a tiny table drinking from these eensy weensy little coffee cups that look like they were stolen from a 10 year old girls tea set

I also dont understand the people I see at dunkin donuts that walk out with large coffee that are whiter than the driven snow because of all teh shit they put into it

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Sep 24 2012 11:18AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
You will not like Italy then.



And an Espresso has about 3/4 times as much caffeine as a normal cup of drip coffee.
It's also the best way to drink coffee in terms of flavour.
Sep 24 2012 11:23AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Damn mobile: meant to say per ounce.
Sep 24 2012 11:24AM
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applejuice.
Posts: 5506 - Karma: 1,512
HEART ROASTERS!!
Sep 24 2012 11:25AM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
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Costco coffee ftw. Can't beat the price for the quality.
Sep 24 2012 11:27AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Those full grown guys sitting at little tables probably have better taste in coffee you... Just saying
Sep 24 2012 11:27AM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
haha its funny you say that because I live in the north end of boston which has a very heavy italian influence so there are tons of little cafes throughout the neighborhood..i can only imagine it is a micro view of Italy as a whole

Also didnt know espresso had that much caffeine (seriously not an elitist..i dont know shit) but I don't really drink coffee for the kick, I enjoy the taste in the morning and a nice dark roast tastes amazing with my daily breakfast sandwich
Sep 24 2012 11:31AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
sorry, like I said it wasn't a personal attack at you. i just get sick of people who are like, "I'm a better coffee drinker because I drink it black!"

I'll agree with you in that I don't understand when people load drinks down with SOOOO much cream/milk that it's not even recognizable as a cup of coffee. but hey, whatever trips their trigger I guess. if that's how they like it, who am I to tell them otherwise.
Sep 24 2012 11:33AM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
Yeah seriously..I feel like I get diabetes just from looking at some of the coffee's that people walk out of DD with
Sep 24 2012 11:35AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
there's a fairtrade shop right outside my where i stay at college and during my last exams i needed coffee so i went there and bought a pack but mistakingly bought whole beans so ended up having to dish out an old manual cofffee grinder and my old but trusty espresso maker, and godddamn i do not regret it !

still drink it fresh like this and it's so much better than anything i've produced myself !
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oxfam espresso beans

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my little espressomaker which before my discovery, i only used on camping trips

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and my grandma's old wooden coffee grinder
Sep 24 2012 11:38AM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
*espressomaker and coffee grinder just look like the ones in the pictures, i have no idea wether they're the same ones .....
Sep 24 2012 11:38AM
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GavinW
Posts: 574 - Karma: 89
caribou coffe is great but i really have started to like stumptown coffe better. Its from portland I believe and it is so smooth and bold. so much flavor. I love it

Sep 24 2012 11:39AM
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PlaygroundRapist
Posts: 1307 - Karma: 26
The downside of manual grinders is that they are too slow, the coffee loses a lot of aroma after just minutes.
Sep 26 2012 4:23AM
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Stainr
Posts: 1186 - Karma: -1,150
Straight black, keepn it real
Sep 26 2012 6:32AM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
I'm poor so I've just been settling for that cheap Maxwell House shit. Whenever I go to my dad's house though he always has some nice Cuban, Jamaican or Colombian coffee and that stuff is sooo good.
Sep 26 2012 8:20AM
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DopeNZ
Posts: 131 - Karma: 123
+1 from NZ.

Dear USA. You drink fucking trim soy macciato shit with sprinkles, and 4 Litres at a time. That is not coffee. And its generally not from an espresso machine, just push a button and "coffee" comes out.

Couldnt get a flat white in the US, so i made one myself on a guys machine in a pizza place, The owner was the mellowest and was all about it, so that cheered me up.


Sep 26 2012 8:37AM
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rudager
Posts: 11332 - Karma: 4,597
French Press every morning!
Sep 26 2012 8:49AM
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applejuice.
Posts: 5506 - Karma: 1,512
The best is when a crap coffee shop offers shots of espresso and you watch them just pump syrup into your cup. Lul wut? I'm no coffee expert, especially because I just drink it black but I was so angry and refused my order.
Sep 26 2012 9:06AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
If I ever saw that I'd vault across the counter and stick their hand in a coffee grinder.


Okay maybe that's a little over the top.
Sep 26 2012 9:41AM
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rudager
Posts: 11332 - Karma: 4,597
I had some pretty good coffee while I was in Auckland. The best I've had in a while actually. Both at shops, and from a French press. I can't remember the brand, but the flavour/roast was called Blizzard. Came in a white and light blue bag
Sep 26 2012 9:50AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
*BUMP*


Also coffee should be consumed with a good book:

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Oct 20 2012 11:56AM
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Stainr
Posts: 1186 - Karma: -1,150
Dunkin donuts is mint.
Oct 20 2012 12:01PM
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