A Good Cup of Coffee

1 lurker | 78 watchers

larkim Feb 2021 10:27am, 9 Feb 2021 13,467 posts	0 larkim I'd hang fire RS until I've proven I can get it all back together again!
Hanneke Feb 2021 8:14pm, 9 Feb 2021 70,678 posts	0 Hanneke And larkim? RS I have never like sweetener in my coffee. When I was first served som, back in the netherlands as a kid, they put milk and sugar in it and I hated it... I didn't start drinking coffee when years later I accepted a cup of espresso, made over an open fire in a mountain hut high up on a mountain in Italy. I took it out of politeness towards the hosts. Sipped and was pleasantly surprised I actually like this strong, properly brewed, unadulterated drink.
larkim Feb 2021 9:12pm, 9 Feb 2021 13,477 posts	0 larkim Waiting on parts still. More things to take apart; I've learned how a solenoid 3 way valve works, and adjusted the OPV to closer to 9 bar (apparently) so that I will get a better espresso All good fun, I'm not really an afficianado at this stuff, but if I get a nice coffee at the end of it I'll report back!! I gave up sugar and milk in (nasty horrible instant) coffee when I went to Uni - I could be bothered to keep milk in the fridge and one day I ran out of sugar and couldn't be bothered to restock - now the thought of either in coffee turns my stomach, and on the occasion when someone has generously bought me a coffee with milk in it I drink it but it's not a pleasant experience (for me).
Red Squirrel Feb 2021 2:37pm, 10 Feb 2021 21,724 posts	0 Red Squirrel I'm getting there with unadulterated. Haven't had sugar or similar in my coffee for over 5 years now. Also had a few espressos along the way; including some in Rome which made me buzz so much I was dizzy! I can do Greek coffee (black obvs); but still working my way towards being 100% espresso; no milk.
Heinzster Feb 2021 6:31pm, 11 Feb 2021 1,706 posts	0 Heinzster Milk and sweetener don't belong in coffee.
Red Squirrel Feb 2021 10:00am, 12 Feb 2021 21,730 posts	0 Red Squirrel I know. I've had a couple of baristas look down their nose at me when I've asked for milk.
larkim Feb 2021 10:04am, 12 Feb 2021 13,500 posts	0 larkim I have a pet theory that the difference between instant and "proper" coffee becomes less noticeable when milk in particular is added, hence the reason why lots of people tolerate instant coffee. Whereas apart from Starbucks Via sachets, I've not found an instant that tastes remotely like actual coffee.
SteveC NordRunner Feb 2021 2:55pm, 12 Feb 2021 465 posts	0 SteveC NordRunner Anyone remember coffee bags? Not sure you can still get them. At the time I thought they were pretty decent. In hindsight they're a bit like doing a pour over a bouquet garni.
Velociraptor Feb 2021 3:08pm, 12 Feb 2021 51,465 posts	0 Velociraptor Coffee bags are still available. One of my colleagues dumped a box of them in the kitchen at work a few weeks ago. They made weak and watery coffee when used in a normal sized mug, but I'm quite happy to drink weak coffee so they all got used.
sallykate Feb 2021 4:01pm, 12 Feb 2021 7,597 posts	0 sallykate Coffee bags were truly awful when my mum embraced them in the 80s. The coffee always tasted stale. I'm sure I saw an advert recently for them which seemed to position them as something innovative. I struggle with unadulterated coffee. It's either cappuccino or black + a touch of sugar for me.