# I HATE American French Roast Coffee#$%@&\* **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 12, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198 "2001-05-12T12:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/1 "2001-05-12T12:05:09Z")
I decided that I was tired of paying premium prices for proper French Roast Coffee - so I have been on the hunt for a good buy. I’ve gone thru several so called gourmet shops without success. This morning was my third buy to find a decently priced coffee and WTF did I brew? The absolute worst of the lot of American style French Roast, ie: 1. I could actually see thru the brewed coffee as it sat in the glass carafe. [yeah, that’s my unhappy face you see thru the glass.] 2. I could barely smell the freshly brewed coffee aroma. 3. Even tho I am pissed as hell, I am about to fall back to sleep because the f\*&$^#@g coffee has little, if any, caffeine [however that is spelled - oh god, I can’t even spell! Where is that Jolt Cola when I need it?]. This cup of coffee is like American beer from Oakland CA: there is absolutely not a smigeon of any there there. It is weak as if someone just waved a bag of coffee over a steaming bowl of hot water. There is no satisfactory wake up call from sipping wonderful FRENCH ROAST COFFEE. Sigh, I guess I must go back to that high priced shop for my coffee. What a bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/2 "2001-05-12T12:06:33Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by kiffa \* > \*\* > 3. Even tho I am pissed as hell, I am about to fall back to sleep because the f_&$^#@g coffee has little, if any, caffeine [however that is spelled - oh god, I can’t even spell! Where is that Jolt Cola when I need it?]. > \*\* You can order Jolt from the manufacturer at [http://www.joltcola.com](http://www.joltcola.com) ---
**Author:** ![waxteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@waxteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waxteeth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/3 "2001-05-12T13:24:31Z")
I am not familiar with the terms, “Proper French roast” or “American French roast” If I had to guess I would say that proper French roast would fall in the area of a dark brown to very dark brown, past second crack when the bean surface is a good bit shiny. American French roast is harder to guess at because the terms seem to contradict each other. I would guess it’s just a lighter roast of “French” but still past second crack. Total lack of acidity, body, complexity, and depth will happen to any bean when the internal bean temperature reaches around 480C. That roast is normally called Spanish. Spanish roast is not a normal roast used in America so “American French” does not seem like it could be mistaken for Spanish roast. I also don’t know why you are paying “premium prices” based on the degree of roast. The origin of the bean should dictate the price. How are you brewing your coffee? What type of beans are you using? I don’t understand your post. ---
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/4 "2001-05-12T14:01:21Z")
Sorry for the confusion, waxteeth. I was referring to American commercially made French Roast coffees. French roast is supposed to be dark and when the coffee bean has an oily look to it as you pointed out. Coffee made from French roast beans will have a fuller body, richer taste to it compared to the light or medium roast. Not so with American brands. I now realize that most American manufacturers will roast only to light or medium half-city roast [which keeps weight loss to a minimum and thus, does not cut into their profits]. I am assuming that a full city roast is really an American manufacturers version of French roast. I am not familiar with Spanish roast. This isn’t so unusual given that the industry doesn’t really have any airtight standards to it. You are also right that the type of bean to be roasted is important. I prefer a 80/20 mix of arabica and robusto. I love coffee from CAR and Congo, but they are not exported as such so they usually end up in a mix blend. I love Ethiopian Harrar and Guatemalan coffees for the intense flavors, but most of what is available in the US is not the true, unadulterated stuff. I’m tired of paying “gourmet” prices for coffees which aren’t the real thing. That’s why I started looking at the roast more than the bean itself. Oh well, it looks like I’m going to have to settle for “gourmet” coffees at a higher price just to get that good cup of morning coffee. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/5 "2001-05-12T14:14:57Z")
A tip: Not only are fair trade coffees more socially responsible, I’ve found they also taste better, especially the brand we buy in my household. ---
**Author:** ![kiffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/d78d45/32.png) [@kiffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiffa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/6 "2001-05-12T14:21:22Z")
Fair trade coffees??? ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/7 "2001-05-12T16:59:11Z")
Try **Community Coffee** of Baton Rouge, for my money the best readily available bean on the market. I get mine at the local Krogers but see [http://www.communitycoffee.com](http://www.communitycoffee.com) or call 1-800-525-5583. ---
**Author:** ![waxteeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@waxteeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waxteeth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hate-american-french-roast-coffee/65198/8 "2001-05-12T17:28:21Z")
OK Kiffa, now I understand and feel your pain.