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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
i watched a food special this week and one of the things they did was run a blind taste test of about 5 different coffees. The taste testers were all like me, swore they knew good coffee when they tasted it. They were very opinionated in the best and worst brands.
you know this is coming...they pretty much all guessed coffees they said they didn't like, etc. Folgers is the number one selling coffee in the usa yet it came in dead last in the test. starbucks was the no. 1 selection. Instant coffee i think was #3?
dunkin' donuts offers ground coffee you can make at home...yummmmm. trying new types is great...any suggestions of your favorites?
Posted by Angela2 on April 27, 2005, at 21:51:49
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I do get frappucinos at Starbucks from time to time.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 27, 2005, at 22:08:35
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
Nothing
NOTHING
Compares to a good brought coffee.
Not just because things taste better when other people make 'em for you - but also because good coffee makers have years of practice which is why they are good coffee makers.You have to hunt a bit to find one...
I go on cafe hunts.
There is a terrific cafe in town with this italian guy who makes terrific coffee.
There are a couple of guys who make terrific coffee on campus - but sometimes one of the newly hired staff make it instead and it isn't as good. They also have trouble getting the order right :-(
Starbucks is usually pretty decent.
But (IMO) you need a double shot of coffee in it.
I think (in all seriousness) it is because Starbucks is an american chain and you guys don't like your coffee as strong...Gone off plunger coffee a bit.
We used to make it in the office.
Well, to be fair xxx one of the lecturers used to make it for us :-)
But the plunger got cleaned fairly rarely
(It needs to be cleaned properly to get rid of the coffee oils that build up and make the coffee bitter)
And once we discovered the remninants going mouldy (after the holidays) that put me off plunger coffee and it has never tasted the same since :-(But my favourite was Robert Harris toffee-rum.
And they also had a toffee-chocolate that was quite good.Favourite instant is Moccona (freeze dried 'temptations').
Very fond of Latte's (sp?) and like the syrup shots (caramel / vanilla).
Mmm.
Coffee.Hey...
When you are making instant coffee do you put the milk in first or last???
Some people say you should put it in first to stop the hot water scalding the coffee (which is bad and makes it bitter)
And other people say you should put it in last so the hot water scalds the coffee (which is good because it releases the flavour)
???
Also - a trick I learned.
Ice cream.
Just a little dollop.
In instant coffee.
Put it in before the hot water and when you add the hot water stir like crazy.
(You will probably want to add a little milk too)
It goes kind of like a latte
And if you use vanilla or french vanilla ice cream
Then it flavours it slightly of vanilla as well.
Mmm.
Posted by alesta on April 27, 2005, at 22:23:26
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
huh! instant coffee came in third, ahead of folgers? holy sh&t. interesting, ana!
i don't really have a favorite, but a friend in college used to brew these flavored coffees, and it was the best coffee i ever had. it was like cherry flavored or something. or maybe strawberry or raspberry..can't remember. that sh*t was gooooood...(sorry for not naming any specific brands..:)) i'm just so much help here. :)
i'm curious to know what brand of instant coffee was in the taste test, if it was mentioned..:)
amy :-)
Posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:06:12
In reply to Re: Mmm - coffee :-) » anastasia56, posted by alexandra_k on April 27, 2005, at 22:08:35
hi alex,
i agree, there is something about the coffee you buy at the coffee houses...as you say, that's their thing and they are good at it.there was a study done on some coffees (yet another study) and it showed that starbucks had like upteen times more caffeine than other coffees so people subconsciously liked it best because of the jolt. i would think they would use the same beans over by you so if you're ordering a double shot you must really like your coffee! It is funny to think new zealanders like their coffee stronger than americans. I guess i have never really thought about it. We are so dependant on our coffee over here. I can't even get my dogs in to be groomed because there is a starbucks in the parking lot and it's got a drive in window line as long as my christmas list.
what is plunger coffee? is that like percolated? or drip? yuck on the moldy.
I'll have to look up your robert harris coffee on the net. the great thing about the internet is ordering coffee from around the world. that toffee flavor sounds really good.
I haven't found a good instant but imagine it would be good to have around in a pinch. It would seem one would need hot water to release the flavors. I have heard the bitter thing in relation to tea tho. The ice cream trick sounds too good...just what i need, another caloric taste treat!
p.s. go work on your thesis
ana
Posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:09:48
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by alesta on April 27, 2005, at 22:23:26
hi amy,
i know, isn't that the strangest? instant coffee? i feel like of the brands of instant i've tried i would know instant taste from a mile away. and these people all were of the mindset that instant would be the worst. what a surprise. no, i don't think they mentioned the brand but it does make you curious.
ana
Posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:14:57
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » anastasia56, posted by Angela2 on April 27, 2005, at 21:51:49
ah yes, frappachinos (or however they are spelled)...aren't those the ones that are really high in calories? and then starbucks released some chocolate chocolate chocolate drink with even more calories. what's a girl to do?
Posted by alexandra_k on April 28, 2005, at 0:54:06
In reply to Re: Mmm - coffee :-) » alexandra_k, posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:06:12
> It is funny to think new zealanders like their coffee stronger than americans.
Hmm. I thought Europeans liked theirs stronger too. Not the British - dare I say *p*ms* ;-) because they are more into their tea, but other europeans. Someone at work was saying that you guys call your different varieties of coffee (latte, flat white, short black etc etc) by different names. Or rather, that you guys mean different things when you use those names. She spent 5 or 6 years in the US. She said she couldn't remember what the equivalent of our latte was - but that it didn't have a standard name. She just remembered that she had to ask for a double (sometimes even a triple) shot to get the NZ equivalent.
So yeah, I guess we do like our coffee.
Though that being said, I don't know many people who like it as much as me ;-)See... A latte is basically a short black (they force just enough hot water through to get the coffee out) and then all the rest is milk that is frothed not extra frothy - but just to a thickened cream consistency. Usually they are served in a tall glass but I prefer a paper cup. And latte's are supposed to be double shots. Whereas a flat white is made with more water and less frothed milk and is typically a single shot of coffee served in a cup. But a lot of places don't do the glass vs cup thing or the double vs single shot thing and so in a lot of places there really is no difference between a latte and a flat white. But there should be... And the milk shouldn't be too frothy (that is important). Well.. It is to me anyways ;-)
>I can't even get my dogs in to be groomed because there is a starbucks in the parking lot and it's got a drive in window line as long as my christmas list.
Drive through Starbucks! OMG! We don't have the drive through variety over here. Are they allowed to serve it HOT via drivethrough? Just wondering after MacDonalds was forced to serve their 'hot' beverages lukewarm after some lady sat it between her legs and it spilt and she got 3rd degree burns and she sued (only in America!).
!!!
> what is plunger coffee? is that like percolated? or drip? yuck on the moldy.Well... You get coffee beans. And you grind them up (or buy them pre-ground). And you put them in the plunger and you pour the hot water into the plunger. Then after a couple of minutes you push the plunger (a sieve, basically) down and it pushes the grinds to the bottom so you can pour the coffee off the top. You guys don't have plungers??? They are good for straining magic mushrooms too, which is how mine gets used these days ;-)
> I haven't found a good instant but imagine it would be good to have around in a pinch.Freeze dried. Freeze dried is the key. You pay more for it but when you taste it you will know where that money went.
>It would seem one would need hot water to release the flavors.
Hmm. Yeah. Though some people say that the hot water on it directly scalds it and scalding coffee is what makes it taste bitter.
I don't know. I think I agree with you.
I scald it myself, but some people feel differently.
Posted by Angela2 on April 28, 2005, at 7:57:03
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » Angela2, posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:14:57
I have no clue if they are high in calories. That would be a good thing to find out though!
:-O
Posted by PM80 on April 28, 2005, at 9:22:56
In reply to Re: Mmm - coffee :-) » alexandra_k, posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 0:06:12
Posted by medhed on April 28, 2005, at 9:41:01
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee...I'm a coffee snob, sorry. I'm telling you, you can afford it if you stop buying that expensive corner store coffee sludge and put that money towards a quality bean you can grind at home. If you keep your consumption down to 1-2 cups a day a pound can last you a month easily. Spend $2+ a day at 'Dreadful Donuts' or 'Starmuck' for a cup joe is expensive, buy a $30/lb. coffee at your local coffee roaster makes alot of sense once you taste the difference and you start to enjoy the ritual of making and drinking truly good coffee.
I kid you not, if you're going to do drugs remember quality is important.
Posted by Phil on April 28, 2005, at 10:01:14
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » anastasia56, posted by medhed on April 28, 2005, at 9:41:01
Jamaican Blue Mountain is as good as it gets. I like Kenya AA. Rarely buy it these days.
Usually get Folgers or Chock Full of Nuts due to budget constraints, the falling dollar, the deepening deficit, and gas prices.
Thanks a lot W.
Posted by TamaraJ on April 28, 2005, at 11:16:27
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
Don't really have a favorite. Just started drinking coffee again. Had given it up over 8 years ago at a time when I was drinking about 12 or more cups a day. I used to really like a nice double espresso though.
Posted by Damos on April 28, 2005, at 16:57:18
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
That'd be Vittoria or Lavazza in a double espresso. There are a few other common ones like Illy and Zegfreddo used around Sydney and you can also get most of them at the supermarket. You can smell and taste the difference between them. Like Alex I found Starbucks required a double shot - bit then again I have been know to have it so strong the spoon'll stand up in it. They actually have awards for the best Barista and coffee in Sydney each year.
Posted by alexandra_k on April 28, 2005, at 19:29:17
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » anastasia56, posted by Angela2 on April 28, 2005, at 7:57:03
> I have no clue if they are high in calories. That would be a good thing to find out though!
> :-O
A hint. When they ask 'do you want cream on that' - say no! Thats where most of the calories are I think. The whipped cream they put on top. They actually taste better without it anyways.I quite like the Rhumba one. With ground up oreo cookies :-)
Posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 22:33:36
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » anastasia56, posted by Damos on April 28, 2005, at 16:57:18
so you're another strong coffee drinker. i'm going to have to look into the two brands you mentioned. geez i love trying new stuff...the phrase 'brand loyalty' is lost on me.
ana
Posted by TofuEmmy on April 28, 2005, at 23:12:30
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
In the US we call that a French Press. The plunger is what we unclog toilets with...um...ucky and NOT to be used for making coffee.
If you can't get good coffee locally, try this website:
http://www.theroastedbean.com/
It's not cheap, but it's great coffee, and really fast shipping.
I want my coffee politically correct, organic*, grown and picked by people getting decent wages, and roasted right before I buy it. French roast only -- also called Dark Roast. Four shots with whipped creme....heaven.
*"The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole."
emsky - totally addicted
Posted by medhed on April 29, 2005, at 1:04:58
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee? » Damos, posted by anastasia56 on April 28, 2005, at 22:33:36
I use french press also, the part you push down is called the plunger (thas some good sh*t! yuk.). The beans for the french press method should not be ground in the grinder for more than 10 seconds.
Check out Raven's Brew at ravensbrew.com, a company in Alaska that has brilliant marketing strategies. The coffee is very good and it is organically grown. I own two of their t-shirts, Deadman's Reach and Ressurection Blend. If you buy the coffee you can peel the sticker off the bag and you have a nice decoration for your fridge. Don't you like the graphics? They have a great sense of humor too, don't they?
Posted by rainbowbrite on April 29, 2005, at 13:35:25
In reply to what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by anastasia56 on April 27, 2005, at 21:23:22
Posted by Gu-Su-Cho on August 3, 2006, at 19:20:23
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by alesta on April 27, 2005, at 22:23:26
My favorite coffee is Javaberry. I love it for its strong nice taste and for imperceptible tinge. Aftertaste is very noble.
Posted by Buublik on August 20, 2006, at 4:08:02
In reply to Re: what is your favorite brand of coffee?, posted by Gu-Su-Cho on August 3, 2006, at 19:20:23
Javaberry is the discovery of the century. When I had seen beans for the first time and had felt theirs aroma I had a wish to chew them. Very appetizing. Coffee is perfect.
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