Attn: coffee loversFollow

So, a while back I was ******** about how disappointed I was that my favorite coffee joint had been bought out and closed down by Starbucks, and the consensus around here seemed to be that Starbucks coffee is too bitter, burnt and/or acidic for the taste of most coffee lovers here in the Asylum. I believe the most memorable quote came from 'Flea:



Well, this week up at Black Butte Ranch, I had a coffee revelation. Mr. Ambrya forgot to bring our beans, so we had to get some from the general store, and the coffee he got came from the Sisters Coffee Company located in Sisters, OR a few miles from the ranch. They served, hands down, the best mocha I've ever had, and possibly the best plain coffee I've ever had (it's neck-and-neck on that one, the other possibility being some after-dinner coffee I had once at a restaurant in Vancouver, B.C.)

The blend we got was Black Butte Gold and it was marvelous. Rich, not at all acidic, it was so smooth that cream was almost redundant. I was so impressed I had to give this little outfit a public shout-out. If you're willing to mail-order your beans, I would highly recommend them to any coffee connoisseur.

I'm so lazy when it comes to brewing. Do they make instant?

Starbuck's coffee isn't bitter at all. Acidic, maybe, but that's usually not a bad thing.

I'm still happy with my Keurig. Lots of choices depending on time of day and my mood. I find I need to have two cups of dark roast in the morning. I'm digging Gloria Jeans Black Gold

If you're a real coffee snob, you can always go the boca java route.

Nexa

I'll have to keep this in mind. Hubby's been looking for a good coffee. I'm more partial to tea myself.

Eight O'clock is what I buy when I'm feeling poor. Best cheap coffee out there.

I'll drink it over a cup of gas station coffee anyday, but don't buy their beans.

I just run water thru mine. I spose vinegar might help if you have hard water or something?? The important thing it to clean off the spray/spout, or whatever your machine has that shoots the water onto the coffee, as well the pot and filter holder...regularly....like every pot.

Guess it's a matter of taste. They certainly brew it stronger than many places....the acidity does get to me if I'm forced to drink too much. I'm no Starbucks Corp fan, but they consistantly make a decent cup of coffee. If they didnt' they wouldn't be as successful as they are. There's really no way around that.

Gas station coffee holds a dear spot in my heart. Specifically, late-night, stale, glass-pot, run-down hicksville gas station coffee. Comes from spending a good amount of time on the road at all hours. Sometimes a really nasty cup of coffee is the best thing in the world to wake you up, like a slap in the face. Interstate highway rest area instant-machine coffee is a great example of this. I can remember several incidents, caught up in the Poconos on I-80 waiting out late-night blizzards in a rest area, swilling sugary mud water that makes your eyes pop and jaw grind.

If this theory were true, 7-Eleven and other convenience stores would never have bothered selling coffee. Caffeine is a drug. People are addicted to it. They will drink just about any swill to get their fix, no matter how noxious.

This theory ignores three extremely pertinent facts. First, Starbucks is easily the most recognized brand-name in the coffee culture ("premium" coffee, that is, ignoring fast-food and convenience store coffee) with locations which are easily accessible. Second, the average consumer hasn't educated his or her palate enough to know there's a difference between Starbucks and other brands of coffee. Third, most consumers aren't willing to forego the most convenient coffee in favor of the best tasting coffee.

People drink Starbucks because it's readily available and because they don't realize that, comparatively, it's bad. Mr. Ambrya and I are somewhat uncommon in that we would rather go out of our way for something that tastes better, by-passing two or three more conveniently situated Starbucks in the process.

Edited, Aug 6th 2007 9:19pm by Ambrya

Eh, why complicate your life with another "thing?"

Or weren't raised in New England, apparently.