The old java bean...

[thelordharry]

Any coffee enthusiasts here? Anyone put a bit more effort into making a cup of coffee than that god-awful instant stuff? What equipment do you have?

[Mikey]

One of my favorite subjects... I consider myself a bit of a coffee common-sewer.

Instant coffee: I don't touch the stuff. I'm not necessarily a snob about coffee methodology, but instant coffe has a noticeable off-taste.

Equipment: a simple programmable auto-drip machine. I've toyed with the idea of a French press for some time, but modern drip makers are good enough that the press just seems like an extra step of work for little real advantage. Besides, I can wake up to a freshly brewed pot with a programmable drip maker. Purified (NOT spring) water and unbleached filters only, of course. I tried those "permanent" filters before, but the gold plating starts to erode and the coffee can take on a metallic taste.

I also keep a Senseo-type Black and Decker single-cup maker for decaf in the evenings, and a simple automatic espresso machine with steam spout.

Poison of choice: I like medium-roast coffees - too light, and they don't have enough body for me; too dark and the best flavor (and caffeine) gets roasted out. I prefer earthy, full-bodied coffees like East African and Indonesians - especially Mocca Harar (not "Mocha,") Kenya AA, Javanese, and Mocca Java blend. I also enjoy Antiguan coffee, and some of the Central American peaberry coffees, but many Latin American coffees have an acidity that's enough to overwhelm the flavors. I also refuse to pay the unholy prices of Jamaican Blue Mountain and pure Kona.

[Deepcrush]

I drink whatever is around. I live for my coffee and that I know of I'm still the only person at work who carries their drink with them while on duty. In fact even the bosses don't bother with me about it but I watched them tell a teacher to "keep her drink somewhere that the kids can't get to it".

Coffee, $1.06

Mug, $6

Look on her face, priceless.

For somethings in life theres money, for other things... the weird looking guy in combat boots in the teachers break room.

[Reliant121]

I drink machine made soppy coffee like cappucino etc. But I dont drink any others.

[Captain Seafort]

Instant coffee: I don't touch the stuff.

Me neither. Or any other variety for that matter.

[Mikey]

Instant coffee: I don't touch the stuff.

Me neither. Or any other variety for that matter.

Yes, we know. Part of the definition of coffee is "not tea."

[Captain Seafort]

Yes, we know. Part of the definition of coffee is "not tea."

Really

[Mikey]

It's no more obvious than you stating that you don't drink coffee.

I'm not sure what the British fixation with tea over coffee is, though. I understand tea being so popular from the days when tea production centers were part of the British Empire, but as part of that same timeframe coffee trading was also integral to England - the stock exchanges first came about as a bunch of London merchants sitting in coffeehouses, after all.

[kostmayer]

No fixation in my case. I like tea and I don't like coffee.

I only really like PG Tips too, though can get buy with other brands.

[Reliant121]

I like the flavour of coffee, but it tends to give me horrible indigestion unless its no longer coffee and its simply milk with an essence of coffee. And I find tea a much gentler flavour. -shrug-

[Angharrad]

I only really like PG Tips too, though can get buy with other brands.

I drink PG Tips, its my favorite.

[Reliant121]

I drink Punjana or Yorkshire tea.

[Mikey]

I like the flavour of coffee, but it tends to give me horrible indigestion unless its no longer coffee and its simply milk with an essence of coffee. And I find tea a much gentler flavour. -shrug-

A few things might help. Darker roasts tend to have less of the essential oils which cause stomach upset, as well as less caffeine. The varietal known as Indian Malabar naturally has about half the caffeine of most other coffees, so that might help without giving you the "decaf" taste. Finally, though I've never tried it, radio host Don Imus has among his branded merchandise a "stomach-friendly" coffee. I'm led to believe that his coffee is a pretty good roast, but I've no idea if it's anywhere near available in the UKoGBaNI.

[Mikey]

BTW: I'm not too picky about brands of tea, though I find Gevalia offers good ones (that's where I subscribe for my coffee.) Twinnings makes a passable Irish Breakfast and Earl Grey as well.

[mwhittington]

COFFEECOFFEECOFFEECOFFEE!!!!!
In case you didn't know, I happen to love coffee. As far as equipment, all I have is a coffee grinder and a programmable Mr. Coffee coffee maker with a charcoal water filter insert and permanent basket style coffee filter. As for coffee, I love Kona when I can afford it, and a friend of mine whose parents live in Columbia occasionally gives me some awesome Columbian beans when his parents come to the States to visit him. I consider myself blessed, although I would like to get my hands on Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_luwak Yeah, the process is a bit gross, but I have an open mind about foods.