Coffee!
I’m sipping my first cup of coffee for the evening… which means I’m going to be up LATTE!
Yeah, I’ve got too much “work” to do before crashing (physically, not Vista-literally). Coffee helps get me through the day. This cup has been brewed at home with a French press (and a grind specific for the French press). I’d much acquire my coffee directly from the local Peet’s store than make it at home. For whatever reason, no matter what I try, I can’t get the same flavor from a homebrewed cup of coffee! Seriously, I’ve done it all - and I’m tired of buying expensive coffee machines only to discover that they can’t come close to helping me match the flavor I always get from a Peet’s barista. I’d rather drive across town for a great cup of coffee than stay at home and make a mediocre one.
So, I take my coffee with heavy cream. What’s your “daily” beverage configuration (caffeinated or not)?
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71 Comments
SubWolf
March 21st, 2007
at 9:50pm
Tea. Black. One sugar.
Started on green tea lately, too.
Justine
March 21st, 2007
at 9:50pm
COFFEE!!!!!!!
cori
March 21st, 2007
at 9:50pm
Natural Lime Flavor Klarbrunn
Corey Denis
March 21st, 2007
at 9:51pm
soy chai
Chris W.
March 21st, 2007
at 9:51pm
Large travel mug of coffee with creamer and Splenda.
Cory O'Brien
March 21st, 2007
at 9:51pm
Actually, I prefer tea. Straight up, and usually of the green variety.
Jim Grey
March 21st, 2007
at 9:51pm
Hot Chocolate in the mornings, diet Coke rest of the day.
Nate True
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
Bland and boring response: Every morning I wake up at 8 am. I don’t eat or drink anything until about 10 am, when I consume a can of Equate non-Slim-Fast-related partially gelatinated weight loss shake-like compound.
My life is exciting.
jason
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
black coffee, no more than three cups though!
tengrrl
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
Usually it’s Caffeine-Free Diet Dr Pepper with lots of crushed ice… but when I can afford it, give me Venti Nonfat Mocha with 6 extra Nutrasweet packets and no whipped cream.
Jon
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
Sweet tea!
Bwana
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
Caffeinated. Black, 2 sugars. Scorching hot.
Chris Doelle
March 21st, 2007
at 9:52pm
It would have to be water… but not just any water… ice-cold water. That sort of cold that only comes seconds before it freezes… now, THAT will wake you up in the morning. Barring that… Dr. Pepper. :)
jdhore
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
for me it’s Bawls…i love me some Bawls…….but that does sound kind of wrong
Bassguy
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
I drink at least one liter of Coca-Cola per day. This magic juice allows me to stay awake during such uplifting lectures as “The Architecture of the Etruscans.” I love you, Coca-Cola.
Roberto
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
Dr. Pepper all the way!
Leu
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
Coffee in the morning, Soda at supper, whatever else I can get a hold of between morning and supper.
Eric Rice
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
Red Bull, duh.
Diego
March 21st, 2007
at 9:53pm
Hey Chris,
If you’ve bought an expensive coffee machine I think what’s needed is some classes on making coffee. I know that locally (for me) there are a couple of coffee shops that hold lessons on how to make a great cup of coffee. Just like a barista. Maybe look for something local to you. I think that’s the only difference between a great cup of coffee and a bad one. You’re half way there with a good coffee machine. The rest is technique.
usrbingeek
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
Iced Venti Green Tea, unsweetened.
Every barista in the area knows what I’m having before I even get up to the counter.
alberto s. lopez
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
An Ice-Cold mocha frapuccino from Starbucks. Nothing Better.
cori
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
Well, aside from coffee. But that’s more a way of life, not a beverage. Death Before Decaf!
My coffee configuration is Eight O’Clock Dark Roast beans ground fresh, and lots of em. I even prefer it to most cooffe house coffees, and *way* cheaper. Black, no sugar.
caleb
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
i’ve recently become a huge fan of chai. if you goto starbucks try a chai tea latte with no water! the water in it dilutes the wonderful sweet chai concentrate.
if you want a more bitter chai late, almost every indie coffee shop uses the more spicy Oregon chai.
… wait, you are in Seattle right?
or just down a double espresso. yum.
Steve Years
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
Starbucks: Venti Black Eye (Large coffee of the day with two shots of espresso in it) - pour out about a 1/4 inch and fill to the top with half-and-half. Goes great with a blueberry scone.
Phillip Molly Malone
March 21st, 2007
at 9:54pm
When I am adding videos to http://www.votethevid.com I drink green tea!
Molly
Eric Rice
March 21st, 2007
at 9:55pm
I mean, 2 Iced Venti Quad Vanilla Lattes, two red bulls, three bottles of water and 2 cups of normal coffee.
That’s what I meant by Duh. Also, red bull works better when activated with water. LIke a science project for my piehole.
Greg
March 21st, 2007
at 9:55pm
double split nonfat vanilla latte
julien
March 21st, 2007
at 9:57pm
caffe latte, usually with soy milk.
christopher carfi
March 21st, 2007
at 9:57pm
daytime: coffee (triple NF latte, applied 2X-3X daily)
nitetime: mojitos. minty, minty goodness…
Paul Short
March 21st, 2007
at 9:57pm
Coffee, cheap grocery store stuff (Nabob) with a little sugar and light 10% cream.
My second choice is Bicardi & coke, 2 icecubes and a lime wedge.
Nicholas Clark
March 21st, 2007
at 9:58pm
Coke, cappuccinos, Coffee - If I want caffeine.
However, I usually start the day off with orange juice, or coffee, depending on how tired I am.
I’ve been consuming a lot of strawberry milkshakes recently as well, apparently I’m good at making them :]
Josh Kenzer
March 21st, 2007
at 9:58pm
Iced Tea/Hot Tea
Christian Burns
March 21st, 2007
at 9:59pm
I get to use a commercial espresso machine at work.
4 shots of espresso
4oz of half and half cold
4oz of hot water
12oz of pure energy goodness
I try to order it at espresso stands but they never make them as good as me
Queco Jones
March 21st, 2007
at 9:59pm
At Starbucks:
- on the way to work: a black eye (regular coffee + two shots of espresso) with caramel (the sauce, not the syrup) and a wee bit of whipped cream.
- on the way home: a red eye (regular coffee + one shot of espresso) with the same as the black eye.
Arek Dreyer
March 21st, 2007
at 10:00pm
Horchata
Dan F.
March 21st, 2007
at 10:00pm
Water. Yep, I know, it’s boring, but it’s my favorite. Cool, clear, water.
Nicholas Clark
March 21st, 2007
at 10:00pm
.Coffee configuration [
coffee: 3/4c; milk: 1/4c;
]
Brandon Paddock
March 21st, 2007
at 10:00pm
My daily routine at work is a non-fat talle latte, usually vanilla. Although some days I mix it up and go for something exotic like coconut =)
Arek Dreyer
March 21st, 2007
at 10:00pm
But Daily? Daily I drink water.
Arek Dreyer
March 21st, 2007
at 10:02pm
How are you going to count multiple replies from the same person? Would you consider a milkshake to be a good beverage? http://urltea.com/lf
Arek Dreyer
March 21st, 2007
at 10:02pm
How are you going to count multiple replies from the same person? Would you consider a milkshake to be a beverage? I really like milkshakes, but don’t consume them too often. http://urltea.com/lf
jason
March 21st, 2007
at 10:03pm
crud - I forgot to mention - when I’m at home, I brew this awesome coffee that I get at costco - our local Costco has a roaster and they do it right there!
however if I’m out and about I prefer Tully’s coffee! to me Starbucks is over-roasted and Peets just doesn’t taste good :)
isabella mori
March 21st, 2007
at 10:04pm
a few months ago, we had a water problem here in vancouver, which prompted us to boil water all the time. i discovered i REALLY like the taste of water that has been boiled, cooled down, and then put through a brita filter.
apart from that, lately i’m out of my starbucks phase again and like to have my daily cup of carnation dark chocolate, topped with a an inch of vanilla soy.
Kevin Gann
March 21st, 2007
at 10:07pm
Water! And Juice. I’ve never had a soda in my entire life… (I hate carbonation)
davey
March 21st, 2007
at 10:07pm
triple tall vanilla latte from the coffee shop recently turned record label
John Bollwitt
March 21st, 2007
at 10:08pm
I like my coffee like I like my men. Hot and black.
Ok, that joke is totally not going to work, especially for a guy like me, but saying that where I used to work would get the whole room to come to a screeching halt. Great ice breaker though.
Up here in Vancouver, we did the Edwards West Coast Dark blend when it comes to store bought, but the Olympia Coffee Roasting Company has a great dark roast as well. If it’s a chain blend, then Tim Horton’s followed by Blenz, avoiding Starbucks as much as possible. Our favorite corner market has a good, little stand as well.
Right now, we just got done with a nice Granville Island Pale Ale, but that’s a whole other brew. ;)
Jacob Stewart
March 21st, 2007
at 10:12pm
I Like Olympia Coffee Roasting Big Truck Blend, that or LaPhroaig Whisky.
drew
March 21st, 2007
at 10:16pm
coffee with irish creamer
blue mountain coffee if possible
MrTopf
March 21st, 2007
at 10:24pm
Preferred is a simple cappuccino with some nice latte art but that’s hard to get here unfortunately (and my skills are not that great yet).
Eddie
March 21st, 2007
at 11:18pm
Lately it’s been that new place that just opened and serves Blue Bottle coffee. An SF treasure.
TheDudeAbides
March 21st, 2007
at 11:24pm
Coffee, strong and black. Milk is for tea…..
Gianni
March 22nd, 2007
at 1:48am
Chris, the only secret for making good coffe from a machine is… using it a lot.
That’s why in the bars the coffe is always better, as in some coffe-addict families.
And bars with good coffe gets many customers, in a avalanche effect.
Gianni from Italy (the land who gave ideas and names to starbucks… oh how I love that sb in La Cienega…)
Bill Naivar
March 22nd, 2007
at 5:10am
Diet Caffine-Free Dr. Pepper
Lloyd
March 22nd, 2007
at 6:48am
Cream and Splenda. You may see the last 1600 or so cups for yourself at my site.
Geoffrey Knobl
March 22nd, 2007
at 7:35am
Well, you’ve probably tried this but get a good grinder - a really good grinder and for me that means a conical steel burr grinder and one that’s quiet and operates at a low speed. Expect to spend at least $90. This may be the least important step as long as you don’t over grind in a chopper, for instance, which can burn the beans a little and alter their flavor.
For me, grind fine. Not powder but still fine - much finer than a typical maxwell house grind. Get a good drip coffee machine that get the water quite hot but not boiling. Some capresso machines do coffee very well but if you want espresso, read epinions and such or check out a coffee review site. If you want really good espresso, you’ll grind finer and spend some serious dinero on the home machine. Regular coffee machines like Mr. Coffee, just won’t do and taste noticeably worse, if not entirely bad, with flavored coffee too.
Next, know your measurements - for me that is typically one scoop for two coffee cups water - that is 6 oz in a coffee cup, not 8, so 12 oz of water. These should be marked on even cheap coffee machines now. The amount that works per scoop may vary per machine but it actually varies mostly by the temperature of the water. And of course, start with the coldest filtered tap you can use which brings me to my next point.
Third, use filtered water. This is perhaps the most important step. USE FILTERED WATER. This gets rid of any metallic taste or worse present in municipal supplies or wells. Of course, some unfiltered water works great with coffee, like the stuff I had in SW Virginia but this is a rare treat. Rare good flavored water can enhance coffee, but otherwise makes it worse. So, since you’re in the city, filter that water. No mineral/spring water.
Now, brew and don’t leave it on the burner. Immediately after it finished brewing, pour your cup and put the rest in a vacuum carafe. This will keep the coffee drinkable for hours instead of turning to carbon, oxidizing or into Waffle House brew (YUCK!).
Now, store those beans in a vacuum tight container and keep them in the freezer. Mostly, though, air tight containers will do most of the preservation work for you.
If you like flavored coffee, use cream (I use a very little heavy whipping cream and I mean a little!) with it; this enhances the flavor and adds an appropriate sweetness. If you like regular coffee, drink it black unless you’re trying to relax - but if that’s the case what are you drinking coffee for anyway?
The beans and the source of the beans matter. I love superbeans.com which gets most of their beens from Hawaii, since the guy use to live there, via Maui Coffee Roasters. If you love Peet’s, make sure the beans you use are the exact ones Peet’s uses when they grind and brew.
Always grind beans immediately before brewing; you’ll notice if you grind then brew the next day there will be less flavor. Don’t buy pre-ground coffee.
I’d say the importance of this information is:
1) filtered water
2) temperature of water when brewing
3) amount of water per scoop
4) bean source
5) storage of coffee after brewing
6) storage of unground beans
With a little experimenting which I hope you can do two or three more times, you should have something approaching if not exceeding most coffee house’s brew. It’s not hard if you follow these steps.
Sam Funk
March 22nd, 2007
at 7:40am
I buy whole bean coffee from a local roaster, and grind it right before I make it. I use a french press to brew the coffee, and could never go back to an automatic machine. I prefer Costa Rica, Guatemala, and other moderate-to-strong varieties.
JDoors
March 22nd, 2007
at 9:03am
100% Columbian Arabica beans, ground fresh, brewed strong, cheap drip coffeemaker (I think it’s around 20 years old by now), cream & sugar or my stomach protests, but not as much as I’d like or my scale protests, close to an entire pot on my days off. At work, Café au lait from a machine. :(
dee
March 22nd, 2007
at 10:22am
Chai Tea..hot or cold, laced with shot of rasberry liquor.
yum
yum
and yum
Jirvin Loh
March 22nd, 2007
at 3:00pm
I love coffee but once I’d take it for much, I’ll feel abnormal at stomach. Well, an alternative choice for having a “quick refresh”, is to go for energy drinks. cheers! ;)
annette
March 22nd, 2007
at 5:17pm
you got me hooked on Peets many years ago. We get our online order once a month via online.
drink of choice til 1 or 2 pm coffee with creamer
after that
Herbal tea the rest of the day.
I used to laugh at my mother when she couldn’t drink coffee after 2, well it’s happened to me. I would never get to sleep.
Sara
March 23rd, 2007
at 11:01am
The post by Geoffrey Knobl says it all. I usually have tea in the morning on workdays and Peet’s coffee on weekends. That’s about all the caffeine I can handle. We use filtered water, freshly ground beans and a drip coffee maker. French presses look cool, but drip machines produce much better coffee. Also, your coffee grinder should be cleaned regularly. We put a couple of tablespoons of white rice in the grinder, turn it on for a few seconds, and “voila!”, clean as can be. And when I’m in the mood for decaf, Peet’s Sumata Decaf is indistinguishable from the “real” thing, except for the caffeine buzz.
Ron
March 23rd, 2007
at 1:18pm
HEH! Sounds just like me! I have a Capresson coffee maker that grinds and brews automatically and it’s not too consistent. Well maybe 3 out of 5 pots of coffee. Don’t know why. Maybe I should clean the thing on a regular basis.
My wife and I found ourselves going to Bucky’s everyday to get our Americano’s until they had their annual sale where we decided to get one of those expensive espresso machines. Well, it’s pretty darn good! It’s very consistent and you have a lot of control over things like grind, temprature, how many shots, etc.
We puchased the Delonghi EAM 4500 which has a one button Cafe Latte or Cappachino mode! Pretty slick. The only problem I’m finding…and I’ve had it almost a week is that I can’t froth my own milk. It doesn’t allow you to froth or create foam manually. We’ve made cappachinos, americanos, mochas and cinnamon dolce lattes! Pretty on par. We still have a little tweaking to do since we really just got the thing.
It normally goes ofr $1800, but we got it for $1150. Not too bad. We figure it will pay for itself in about a year for the amount of times we were going to Bucky’s(that’s how my daughter pronounces it).
Anyways, hope this helps
The Chris Pirillo Show
March 27th, 2007
at 5:26am
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Tom
March 27th, 2007
at 6:21am
My favorite configuration? Two hydrogens and one oxygen.
I have a caffeine intake of virtually zero, so if I need to stay awake, I drink soda or a little bit of coffee, and I’m wired.
Nick Davis
March 27th, 2007
at 6:51am
Perfect cup of Coffee: Home Roasted Sumatra, Dark (almost Chocolatey), French Press. YUMMMMMMMMmmm
John A Thomson
March 27th, 2007
at 9:37am
Chris that is one serious addiction you’ve got! You need to be careful or the next step will be driving across town to meet your crack dealer ;-).
… and oh! My daily addiction is tea with one sugar, sometimes with milk, sometimes black.
Dan
March 28th, 2007
at 6:24am
water
SocioBiblog
June 16th, 2007
at 10:23am
I hope you are doing well and enjoying your new home… Related Content:The Home InspectionAdSense for the SysTrayXP Home Domain Fix (Inbox)House HuntingHome Improvement ToolsHow Not to Recover Data from a Vista BackupHome AliveHome Again, Home AgainCoffee!Thanks, Desmond
Ashish K Arora
October 25th, 2007
at 8:03am
I generally take 6-8 coffee in a day, but all from our office’s coffee machine… really dont like it but cant help myself.
djignacio
January 25th, 2008
at 8:47pm
i drink orange juice every morning on my way to school and i feel great
News from everywhere » News Feed Alerts
January 27th, 2008
at 7:49pm
He left out the Pirillo, which is a cup of coffee with real cream in it. Yes, it’s true - that’s called a Pirillo. Half-and-Half doesn’t count. Related Content: Coffee! Coffee Is Better Than a Woman Kona CoffeeCoffee!Coffee Addiction