I can't help with this question. The smell of coffee makes me nauseous and want to vomit. I stay far away from those places.
Why so many unacceptable espressos?
- Thread starter Pablo
- Start date
HUMOROUS ADDITION:
1st, 2nd and 3rd Wave Coffee Shops....AND to be able to tell the differences? I'm still working on Gen X, Y and whatever!
[insert laugh track here]
PERSONAL:
Mom made good, flavorful coffee and showed me how to.
So many sources served dish water, I abandoned any notion of acceptable coffee out decades ago.
Yes, I know it can be done. Once, in 1984, I got a great cup of coffee in Rockland Co., NY.
RECENT:
Expensive, bitter coffees....ill-maintained milk & Half 'n Half dispensers, soured me to Starbucks instantly.
Seeing cars stacked up 15 deep at a nearby Starbuck's disturbs me.
CURRENT:
In Boonton, NJ, the town plan (?) has resulted in an abundance of restaurants and coffee shops.
Some would call it an overage.
They are so expensive, one has to shop like a youngster avoiding too fancy a bar.
And don't get me wrong, paying for a comfy seat has to be reflected in the price of a bun and a cuppa.
And still, what you get can be so inconsistent.
Whack jobs open bad tattoo parlors, I don't want bored housewives piercing my body in shopping malls and most disinterested high school kids likely can't make coffee well.
Heck, we grouse about garagemen who can't balance tires on this site! Lots of people do not care about what they do.
Flame suit on.
Coffee is indeed complex. Shortcuts (Folgers, weak etc.) and playing with extreme strengths is a losing game in my book.
Honestly, just plain sugar in coffee I'd like, is downright nauseating to me.
1st, 2nd and 3rd Wave Coffee Shops....AND to be able to tell the differences? I'm still working on Gen X, Y and whatever!
[insert laugh track here]
PERSONAL:
Mom made good, flavorful coffee and showed me how to.
So many sources served dish water, I abandoned any notion of acceptable coffee out decades ago.
Yes, I know it can be done. Once, in 1984, I got a great cup of coffee in Rockland Co., NY.
RECENT:
Expensive, bitter coffees....ill-maintained milk & Half 'n Half dispensers, soured me to Starbucks instantly.
Seeing cars stacked up 15 deep at a nearby Starbuck's disturbs me.
CURRENT:
In Boonton, NJ, the town plan (?) has resulted in an abundance of restaurants and coffee shops.
Some would call it an overage.
They are so expensive, one has to shop like a youngster avoiding too fancy a bar.
And don't get me wrong, paying for a comfy seat has to be reflected in the price of a bun and a cuppa.
And still, what you get can be so inconsistent.
Whack jobs open bad tattoo parlors, I don't want bored housewives piercing my body in shopping malls and most disinterested high school kids likely can't make coffee well.
Heck, we grouse about garagemen who can't balance tires on this site! Lots of people do not care about what they do.
Flame suit on.
You're not alone. The thiols (I think) and other compounds are powerful and make coffee brewing a true art.
Coffee is indeed complex. Shortcuts (Folgers, weak etc.) and playing with extreme strengths is a losing game in my book.
Honestly, just plain sugar in coffee I'd like, is downright nauseating to me.
Thanks for that useless input.
Why you felt the need to waste a comment on this thread, I have no idea.
But based on your other posts, I can’t say I’m surprised.
All I know is that everyone I know who doesn't like coffee is super sus, lol.Thanks for that useless input.
Why you felt the need to waste a comment on this thread, I have no idea.
But based on your other posts, I can’t say I’m surprised.
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2021
- Messages
- 4,932
I've ordered a year subscription to the coffee of the month club for you.
My wife will love that. I approve as I will keep me from going into those places. The worst is stale coffee in a customer's car.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Weird ?
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Okay, simple question for you coffee aficionados, I drink one 12oz cup of coffee a day. Black, medium roast ( I guess). I use a single serving pod machine with a reusable pod and little paper filters and distilled water. All I want is a nice cup of black coffee. I was getting Seattle's Best Portside but for some reason can't find it locally any more. What should I try? thanks
Incoming!!! 
Have you tried Great Value instant? 
Wrong thread really this is about straight up espresso.
I thought the Portside a pretty deep medium
Try Peet’s
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Sorry. PM me then. I thought you might have something in mind if your fancy machine broke or your monkey spit beans were lost by Fedex and you had to get by.
My favorite coffee surprise is when my McDonalds black coffee tastes like it did when someone gave a darn. Happened last week. Have never ordered a espresso in a coffee shoppe. My midwestern twang gives me away as a coffee novice.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2024
- Messages
- 1,721
I don't always agree with Larry the Cable Guy, but I stand firm by his "I Believe..." skits with Jeff Foxworthy:
I believe...
...That I SHOULDN'T have to learn a foreign language to order a coffee !!!
As for why so many bad ones at indie shops - the expectation of an indie shop being superior is the sign of our mind shift. We've been conditioned to the supposed evils of standardization and automation, while benefitting all over from it.
I marvel much more at the sight of one hundred identical, complex CNC-machined modules than I do at some artisan one-off with burrs and whatnot. A 2007 Ninja ZX-10R is to me more art than a Morgan (hey, I like Morgans too), as it's the concentration of the work of thousands of smart, passionate people. I don't care that there are a gazillion ZX-10Rs made and they are all identical. Well, they are all perfect. This is the beauty of the world we live in.
All this to say that I won't expect a kid trained and efficient with a $40k coffee machine to do a worse job than an indie with a bazillion reviews written by cute little manicured fingers in cute knit fingerless gloves in August.
Not against bespoke stuff, but coffee ain't it.
I believe...
...That I SHOULDN'T have to learn a foreign language to order a coffee !!!
As for why so many bad ones at indie shops - the expectation of an indie shop being superior is the sign of our mind shift. We've been conditioned to the supposed evils of standardization and automation, while benefitting all over from it.
I marvel much more at the sight of one hundred identical, complex CNC-machined modules than I do at some artisan one-off with burrs and whatnot. A 2007 Ninja ZX-10R is to me more art than a Morgan (hey, I like Morgans too), as it's the concentration of the work of thousands of smart, passionate people. I don't care that there are a gazillion ZX-10Rs made and they are all identical. Well, they are all perfect. This is the beauty of the world we live in.
All this to say that I won't expect a kid trained and efficient with a $40k coffee machine to do a worse job than an indie with a bazillion reviews written by cute little manicured fingers in cute knit fingerless gloves in August.
Not against bespoke stuff, but coffee ain't it.
Last edited:
In MA there are some really good indy coffees shops (we had a Seattle's Best indy that was phenomenal many years ago). But here in NH they are much fewer. Much fewer because there is less appreciation for a good espresso drink or shot. An indy shop has opened up nearby that has a good product and a few fancy sweet drinks, but they are struggling. Lack of staff forces strange hours, and when its open, nobody is in there. Lotta bland tastebud old Yankees here. Things are evolving slowly, but the locals still think Applebee's is fancy dining and Dominos makes a good pie.
Perfect cup
50/50 blend (the decaf is very close to espresso roast)
16 g 30ml
2nd line on grinder (Barattza burr, Encore)
Light press puck screen
50/50 blend (the decaf is very close to espresso roast)
16 g 30ml
2nd line on grinder (Barattza burr, Encore)
Light press puck screen
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2024
- Messages
- 1,721
So is this coffee made from fish???
Oysters.So is this coffee made from fish???
- Joined
- May 12, 2026
- Messages
- 47
Lots of variables at play... taste is highly subjective, over time senses tend to change and most shops tend to stick with what works for most customers. Also for many yrs the 'trend' has gone a bit toward more underdeveloped coffees as in should be considered toasted as some clearly aren't hitting 1st Crack to bring out any real development to highlight the inherent qualities. I personally have yet to be in any shop worth a repeat visit (straight spro) and simply won't waste time/$ outside of my home setup. As well as espresso never settling day-day as in every tiny variable can affect the end result and many just don't wanna dial things in that often. You will also often have shops owned/operated by those that don't even like any form of coffee.
Similar threads
- Locked
