the great coffee wars
Woody
thing is never a must, but let's say for argument's sake that it is. The
default place to get one is Starbucks, but now McD's and Dunkin' Donuts are
offering them, too. Are their cheaper versions worth the likely decline in
quality?
Woody
Gary Heston
Since all variations of coffee and such are a matter of individual taste,
your fastest way to resolve your question is to buy one of each and see
how it tastes to you. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
Gary
--
Gary Heston ghe...@hiwaay.net http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/
"Behind every successful woman there is an astonished man"
General of the Army (four stars) Ann Dunwoody
The Real Bev
> Woody <em...@munged.com> wrote:
>>Let's say you absolutely have to have a mocha or latte. I know, that kind of
>>thing is never a must, but let's say for argument's sake that it is. The
>>default place to get one is Starbucks, but now McD's and Dunkin' Donuts are
>>offering them, too. Are their cheaper versions worth the likely decline in
>>quality?
I used to like McD's ordinary coffee, but I haven't had any for decades. I'd
rather spend the calories on donuts than fancy coffee, even ignoring the price.
> Since all variations of coffee and such are a matter of individual taste,
> your fastest way to resolve your question is to buy one of each and see
> how it tastes to you. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
> coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
A friend felt he had to buy some coffee at the Panera place whose wifi we were
using. The coffee tasted just like mine, which is nothing special. Nice place
to hang out, though, and the goodies looked very good and not outrageously
expensive. I still haven't bought anything at a Starbuck's.
I finally found a 1-cup Bialetti espresso maker at a yard sale. It was nothing
special either, and took just as much time to make as the 8-cup Mr. Coffee.
There are no miracles.
--
Cheers, Bev
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
"He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already
earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by
mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."
-- Albert Einstein
clams_casino
>In article <WDthl.165907$se4.1...@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com>,
>Woody <em...@munged.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Let's say you absolutely have to have a mocha or latte. I know, that kind of
>>thing is never a must, but let's say for argument's sake that it is. The
>>default place to get one is Starbucks, but now McD's and Dunkin' Donuts are
>>offering them, too. Are their cheaper versions worth the likely decline in
>>quality?
>>
>>
>
>Since all variations of coffee and such are a matter of individual taste,
>your fastest way to resolve your question is to buy one of each and see
>how it tastes to you. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
>
>
>
>
Or the hot water tap.
Vic Smith
<bashl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>I finally found a 1-cup Bialetti espresso maker at a yard sale. It was nothing
>special either, and took just as much time to make as the 8-cup Mr. Coffee.
>
>There are no miracles.
I think Starbucks has miracle paper cups.
One of my daughters, who is in college, working, and constantly
socializing, uses them.
The way it works is she makes coffee in the morning, pours it in a
Starbucks cup, and takes it with her to school.
I suppose she pays for the Starbucks cup of coffee originally, but
maybe not. Plenty of other ways to get those cups.
I found out about this when she took me to task for tossing an empty
Starbucks cup in the garbage.
"Did you throw away my Starbucks cup?"
"Yeah, it was empty."
"I reuse that cup."
"Oh, sorry. It'll never happen again."
Though one son mocks her for pretense, it doesn't bother her.
Or me.
It is a well designed cup.
What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3 for a cup of coffee,
when she works hard for her money to go to school, pays for her own
car, insurance, etc. She opts for the free coffee here.
Good for her.
--Vic
SMS
She could buy an insulated thermal mug with the Starbucks logo, and
maintain the pretense.
Incidentally, coffee at Starbucks isn't $3. Regular coffee is well under
$2. To me, even that's too much considering I can brew a whole pot of
fresher coffee for about 50¢ with very good beans from Costco.
Starbucks is about the socializing and the pretense. It was never about
the coffee, just as McDonald's was never about the food.
If I do have the urge to spend $4 for an espresso drink, we have two
independent coffee houses within walking distance (as well as one Peet's
and four Starbucks). I keep thinking that $4 can still buy lunch at a
Chinese restaurant.
Vic Smith
wrote:
>
>Incidentally, coffee at Starbucks isn't $3. Regular coffee is well under
>$2. To me, even that's too much considering I can brew a whole pot of
>fresher coffee for about 50¢ with very good beans from Costco.
>
>Starbucks is about the socializing and the pretense. It was never about
>the coffee, just as McDonald's was never about the food.
>
>If I do have the urge to spend $4 for an espresso drink, we have two
>independent coffee houses within walking distance (as well as one Peet's
>and four Starbucks). I keep thinking that $4 can still buy lunch at a
>Chinese restaurant.
When I worked the corp cafeteria had a Starbucks kiosk, and I liked
the "Morning Blend." It was $1.50 for a large cup, but I thought it
was subsidized down, as all the food was.
I see they do a fair morning drive-thru business around here, so some
people probably prefer them to Dunkin Donuts, MacDonalds, etc.
They do have decent coffee, though I prefer my own.
I've actually only been in a Starbucks twice. Once to visit a family
friend who worked at one. He insisted it be on the house, so I never
noticed prices. Another time I promised a fellow I would get myself
an espresso, and I sat down in one for a double shot. It was good.
Too bad about their troubles. At least when the yuppies spend their
money there most of it stays local.
--Vic
hchi...@hotmail.com
wrote:
>Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
Dude, you must have some bad coffee at work. I gave up on McD coffee
years ago. It ALWAYS was served too hot and tasted burned with a
nuance of stainless steel.
Hi thee to Publix and some of their 2/1 Eight O'Clock beans. The
hazelnut is my normal morning drink. If you can find them, look in
the spice section for cardomom seeds. Crack open one or two and pop
them with the shells into the filter basket.
Woody
"Vic Smith" <thismaila...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:h6qdo4pcordto0ej7...@4ax.com...
>
> Though one son mocks her for pretense, it doesn't bother her.
If she pretends that she bought her coffee at Starbucks, then it's pretence.
If she just uses the cup because it's a good-quality cup and doesn't care
about the logo on it, then it's not pretence, just frugality.
> What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3 for a cup of coffee,
> when she works hard for her money to go to school, pays for her own
> car, insurance, etc.
Why would it bother you that a competent adult chooses to spend her lawfully
earned money in a certain way? When she's out late at night does she have to
phone you to "check in" and "let you know she's all right?" Parents! :-p
Woody
<hchi...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d2aeo45vma7rfnkbg...@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:57:49 -0600, ghe...@hiwaay.net (Gary Heston)
> wrote:
>
>>Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
>
> Dude, you must have some bad coffee at work. I gave up on McD coffee
> years ago. It ALWAYS was served too hot and tasted burned with a
> nuance of stainless steel.
It's the truly rotten nature of McD's coffee that led me to make my comment
about "decline in quality." There's no way an espresso made at McD's is
going to measure up to one made at Starbucks. Buying one there is like being
one of those people who dillute half a glass of Coca Cola in half a glass of
water to make their Coke last longer. :-p
Woody
Woody
get the same bang for your buck from instant? (Experience tells me that
cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)
Woody
Dave Garland
> Is it worthwhile to invest in a coffeemaker, or do you
> get the same bang for your buck from instant? (Experience tells me that
> cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)
IME, a cheap and crappy drip coffeemaker will make fine coffee, if you
put good coffee into it (I use a Mr. Coffee I got at a garage sale).
And almost any (even bad) dripped coffee tastes better than instant,
although the very cheapest coffees aren't "good" by any stretch. But
your tastes may be different.
Dave
Rod Speed
> On a different tack: Is it worthwhile to invest in a coffeemaker,
I just drink tap water and beer now.
> or do you get the same bang for your buck from instant?
Nope, real coffee is nothing like instant.
> (Experience tells me that cheap and crappy coffeemaker coffee tastes no better than instant does.)
When I was still drinking coffee, I used one of those cheap espresso things
the italians make that goes on the normal stove. Left instant coffee for dead.
Patricia Martin Steward
<PeterG...@DrunkinClam.com> wrote:
>Gary Heston wrote:
>>
>>Personally, I can't tell the difference between the
>>coffee at McDonalds or the (free) coffee at work.
>
>Or the hot water tap.
BWAH!
I'm reminded of a line from the movie Baghdad Cafe:
"This is not coffee. This is varm brown vater."
--
January 20, 2009
The end of an error
The Real Bev
> Vic Smith wrote:
>>
>> It is a well designed cup. What would bother me is if she actually paid +$3
>> for a cup of coffee, when she works hard for her money to go to school,
>> pays for her own car, insurance, etc. She opts for the free coffee here.
>> Good for her.
>
> She could buy an insulated thermal mug with the Starbucks logo, and maintain
> the pretense.
For $15? That's sick. They didn't have a gasket for the one I bought at a
yard sale so they exchanged it for a brand new one. Cheesy plastic. $15.
> Starbucks is about the socializing and the pretense. It was never about the
> coffee, just as McDonald's was never about the food.
Panera is nicer.
> If I do have the urge to spend $4 for an espresso drink, we have two
> independent coffee houses within walking distance (as well as one Peet's and
> four Starbucks). I keep thinking that $4 can still buy lunch at a Chinese
> restaurant.
--