# Earl Grey... Hot! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176 "2006-09-18T15:05:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/61 "2006-09-18T21:52:28Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] Now, trivia time…how does O’Brien take his coffee? [/QUOTE] Orally, I hope. (Though I have known some coffee enema faddists.) Re: Picard, how do we know that he doesn’t occasionally run wild and gulp down some English Breakfast or even a spicy/fruity holiday blend? I drink tea, and although I usually drink English Breakfast, I play the field, baby! If Jean-Luc’s tastes are equally catholic, maybe it is necessary for him to specify his variety of tea every time. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/62 "2006-09-18T21:59:35Z")
Jean-Luc is French, isn’t he? Shouldn’t he be knocking back a cafe express or an Orangina or something instead? ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/63 "2006-09-18T23:22:22Z")
:eek: I drink mine cold! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/64 "2006-09-19T00:07:28Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] Jean-Luc is French, isn’t he? Shouldn’t he be knocking back a cafe express or an Orangina or something instead? [/QUOTE] The only obviously French thing about him is his name. I always assumed he was descended from French pastry makers in Northern Ireland or something. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/65 "2006-09-19T00:21:20Z")
[QUOTE=scr4] By the way, is Earl Grey good cold? I’ve never tried it but it seems it might be nice. [/QUOTE] Starbucks uses Earl Grey for their black iced tea. It’s really good - it’s the only thing I ever order at a Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/66 "2006-09-19T01:28:28Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] The only obviously French thing about him is his name. I always assumed he was descended from French pastry makers in Northern Ireland or something. [/QUOTE] Is this this accent complaint again? Look, he was BORN and RAISED in Franch, but studied English in ENGLAND, from a really good tutor who managed to obliterate his French accent utterly, and also convinced him that Shakespeare was the history’s greatest poet. And who also took his virginity one rainy night in the Cotswolds. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/67 "2006-09-19T01:41:13Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] And who also took his virginity one rainy night in the Cotswolds. [/QUOTE] I thought he learned Federation Basic from an Englishman. What’s a Cotswold? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/68 "2006-09-19T16:25:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Look, he was BORN and RAISED in Franch, but studied English in ENGLAND, from a really good tutor who managed to obliterate his French accent utterly, and also convinced him that Shakespeare was the history’s greatest poet. Which isn’t all that implausible. I met a French lady once who spoke with a perfect British English accent, for exactly that reason. After all, the Anglophones a French person is most likely to meet are those right across the channel. And while “history’s greatest poet” is, of course, subject to some debate, Shakespeare is certainly a strong contender, even for someone for whom English isn’t a first language. Though it would be nice to hear Picard quoting Victor Hugo occasionally, too. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/69 "2006-09-19T16:50:42Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] The only obviously French thing about him is his name. I always assumed he was descended from French pastry makers in Northern Ireland or something. [/QUOTE] Well, in that show where he returns to Earth to see his older brother at the family vineyard estate, they ain’t in the U.K. anywhere, as far as I know. And that’s not Earl Grey he’s drinking at home, either. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/70 "2006-09-19T18:09:02Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I’ve often wondered what happens to the cups and saucers he gets with every order. When all the closets and crawlspaces are stuffed with dirty dishes and cutlery, do they have to abandon ship? [/QUOTE] This was an issue during the series, but now that they’ve moved on to the movies, they just crash the ship in every other movie, and the insurance money buys new dishes. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/71 "2006-09-19T18:20:44Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] Well, in that show where he returns to Earth to see his older brother at the family vineyard estate, they ain’t in the U.K. anywhere, as far as I know. And that’s not Earl Grey he’s drinking at home, either. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but his brother and nephew both have English accents too. I just figured that sometime before TNG, the UK decided, “Hey, that Hundred Years War wasn’t so bad after all”, and took France over. I don’t think there’s anything in canon that contradicts it, at least. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![2lazy2pee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/4bbf92/32.png) [@2lazy2pee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2lazy2pee)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/72 "2006-09-19T18:27:27Z")
[QUOTE=Anaamika] But he’s the _Captain_. Surely the Captain should be able to have stuff? I know I’d surely want it! [/QUOTE] Damn straight! Hey, he has his own yacht, doesn’t he? Then the replicator ought to know how he likes his tea. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/73 "2006-09-19T19:42:53Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Yeah, but his brother and nephew both have English accents too. I just figured that sometime before TNG, the UK decided, “Hey, that Hundred Years War wasn’t so bad after all”, and took France over. [/QUOTE] Or at least reclaimed lost possessions. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/74 "2006-09-19T20:21:41Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos] **Which isn’t all that implausible**. I met a French lady once who spoke with a perfect British English accent, for exactly that reason. After all, the Anglophones a French person is most likely to meet are those right across the channel. And while “history’s greatest poet” is, of course, subject to some debate, Shakespeare is certainly a strong contender, even for someone for whom English isn’t a first language. Though it would be nice to hear Picard quoting Victor Hugo occasionally, too. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t kidding, 'cept about the losing-his-virginity-in-the-Cotswolds part. It was actually exchanging blowjobs in Tenerife. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/75 "2006-09-19T20:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Rap ta gee no, or however you spell that Klingon coffee. [/QUOTE] [geek]Raktagino. I used to have the Neelix scratch n’ sniff recipe for it.[/geek] And just to torment you all: > **[Picard Song](https://picard.ytmnd.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/76 "2006-09-19T20:30:33Z")
[QUOTE=Antinor01] They are most likely set to not work on things that are alive. As to the evidence disposal, the replicators work partially on transporter technology which keeps a log of what goes through it. So by putting that bloody knife in there, you have not only NOT gotten rid of evidence but have actually now made a readily duplicatable version of it for convenient reproduction. [/QUOTE] Only if one forgets to erase the pattern buffer… As for O’Brien, a funnier punchline would be: “Up the butt, Bob” ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/77 "2006-09-19T20:42:24Z")
Bottm line (to get back to the thread) is that it’s just stupid to require the “hot” portion. The computer knows enough not to serve up the thing a 212 degrees. You can put a man on Ceti Alpha Six, but you can’t program the computer to spit out hot tea without explicit instructions?? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/78 "2006-09-19T20:46:46Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer] I wasn’t kidding, 'cept about the losing-his-virginity-in-the-Cotswolds part. It was actually exchanging blowjobs in Tenerife. [/QUOTE] _snort_ ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/79 "2006-09-19T21:40:13Z")
The proper quote has him saying “tea” first. Like this: **Tea. Earl Grey. Hot.** See how nice that sounds? ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176/80 "2006-09-19T22:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=vivalostwages] [geek]Raktagino. I used to have the Neelix scratch n’ sniff recipe for it.[/geek] And just to torment you all: > **[Picard Song](https://picard.ytmnd.com/)** [/QUOTE] [Raktajino](http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Raktajino), actually. [/geekier] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/earl-grey-hot/373176.md?page=5)