# I'm a true coffee addict **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 20, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791 "2004-11-20T03:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/21 "2004-11-20T19:56:55Z")
Ohhhh…AA meetings. I hadn’t thought of that. Although I really did spend a few days considering trying to find a large office that wouldn’t notice me taking a cup off a pot. I mean, theres got to be _someplace_ in town I could get a free cup of coffee. Homeless shelters, bank lobbies…uhhh… I woke up this morning with a big smile on my face, knowing I could have a hot, wonderful cup of only-somewhat-gritty coffee. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/22 "2004-11-20T20:13:35Z")
I’ve asked this here before, and not got an answer so I’ll try again … Don’t Americans drink instant coffee? If not, why not? I drink both ground and instant, and quite honestly there doesn’t seem to be much between them these days. Instant is _much_ better than it used to be! BTW - is a French Press what we in the UK would call a [cafetiere](http://www.direct-cutlery.com/cutlery2/images/accessories_jpegs/large/chrome_finish_cafetiere.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/23 "2004-11-20T20:16:59Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > you dont even need a melitta, pop a filter into a small seive, spoon the grounds into it and pour the water through=). Hell, if you are really desperate, you can actually wrap the grounds into a bundle using a fiilter, drop it into a pot of water and let sit, poke it around a couple times sort of like a coffeebean bouquet garni=) > [@](#): > > Ace309 I wonder if you can dip espresso. Snort! I see **even sven** is among fiends here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/24 "2004-11-20T20:20:38Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > I’ve asked this here before, and not got an answer so I’ll try again … > > Don’t Americans drink instant coffee? If not, why not? > > I drink both ground and instant, and quite honestly there doesn’t seem to be much between them these days. Instant is _much_ better than it used to be! > > BTW - is a French Press what we in the UK would call a [cafetiere](http://www.direct-cutlery.com/cutlery2/images/accessories_jpegs/large/chrome_finish_cafetiere.jpg)? **SHUDDER** \*\* I don’t know about my fellow caffiends here, but I won’t even drink “storebought” unless seriously desperate. I’m guessing though, based on the posts here, that most of the other dopers here buy fresh roasted beens from a coffee shop, and grind, then brew their own at home. Instant coffee…brrrrUUuaaaaaaaggggghhh…someone hold me…whimper 😃 ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/25 "2004-11-20T20:35:16Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > BTW - is a French Press what we in the UK would call a [cafetiere](http://www.direct-cutlery.com/cutlery2/images/accessories_jpegs/large/chrome_finish_cafetiere.jpg)? Yes, that’s a french press. BTW, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen an american thrift store that didn’t have an automatic drip machine for $5 or less… -lv ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/26 "2004-11-20T20:57:58Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > A pinch of espresso grind between your cheek and gum is the way to go! Rich coffee flavor, all the caffiene, and none of that mucking around with calories, digestion, and the gastro-intestinal tract! I’m just about convinced this would work. 😉 It’s worth a try, anyway. > [@](#): > > I wonder if they’ve developed the caffiene patch yet. Bah. Screw the patch. I want to know if it’s possible to freebase the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/27 "2004-11-20T21:03:45Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > I’ve asked this here before, and not got an answer so I’ll try again … We didn’t want to hurt your feelings for insulting us. > [@](#): > > Don’t Americans drink instant coffee? If not, why not? Because it’s horrendous. When you say it’s as good as ground coffee, I assume you mean the pre-ground stuff that comes in a can from Folgers or Maxwell House. If so, many real coffee fiends won’t even drink that crap. As **CanvasShoes** says, we buy whole beans, grind just before brewing, and many of us will debate whether a French Press or ibrik is better. It’s understood that either is better than drip which is better than perc. Instant doesn’t even count as coffee. It’s a coffee flavored drink, I guess. It’s good for giving gravy a nice brown color. ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/28 "2004-11-20T21:13:05Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > I wonder if they’ve developed the caffiene patch yet. Well, after [caffiene soap](http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/accessories/5a65/), I don’t think that’s far behind! ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/29 "2004-11-20T22:20:56Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > When you say it’s as good as ground coffee, I assume you mean the pre-ground stuff Well no … I’m talking about instant versus beans ground just before use - I drink both (in fact, back in the 70s I worked in a shop which sold _many_ different coffee beans, and used to make up blends to the customers’ requirements). Back then there was a huge difference between the two types … but IMO instant has inproved dramatically since then. I wonder if the US market hasn’t seen this improvement in quality, due to instant being less popular there? There seems to be a distinct cultural difference here … walk into the _average_ British home and be offered a coffee - you’ll be given instant and not be offended. Most people save ground coffee for dinner parties / special treats. To use it every day is just too much bloomin’ hassle! ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/30 "2004-11-20T22:56:15Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > Well no … I’m talking about instant versus beans ground just before use - I drink both (in fact, back in the 70s I worked in a shop which sold _many_ different coffee beans, and used to make up blends to the customers’ requirements). Back then there was a huge difference between the two types … but IMO instant has inproved dramatically since then. > > I wonder if the US market hasn’t seen this improvement in quality, due to instant being less popular there? > > There seems to be a distinct cultural difference here … walk into the _average_ British home and be offered a coffee - you’ll be given instant and not be offended. Most people save ground coffee for dinner parties / special treats. To use it every day is just too much bloomin’ hassle! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: As good as fresh roasted Kona estate? Or Sudan Black velvet? I’m sorry, I stand by my shudder, whimper and brrreeeagggh When I said I would drink storebought only in desperation, I didn’t mean just when there is no “real” coffee available, I meant when there is NO OTHER FORM OF CAFFEINE (diet coke, diet mt diew, even regular coke if desperate enough) available. Now, I could be wrong, and I’ll have to withhold judgment til I actually taste some, but I can’t imagine instant ever being as good as real coffee. It’s worse than Folgers even. Although the trademarked instants called “International” coffees are good, but like someone else said, they’re more like coffee flavored drink, not coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/31 "2004-11-20T23:01:09Z")
You can pour your cowboy coffee through a piece of paper towel, or a cloth or something. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/32 "2004-11-20T23:25:20Z")
I don’t consider myself a true coffee addict - I drink it now because I have 8 AM classes, but I’m not picky about it. I buy the Folger’s single serving bags. They’re just like tea bags, and make one cup at a time. Boil some water, leave the bag in for a minute, dunk it for 15 seconds, and there you go. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/33 "2004-11-21T18:17:27Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Rich coffee flavor, all the caffiene, and none of that mucking around with calories, digestion, and the gastro-intestinal tract! > > I wonder if they’ve developed the caffiene patch yet. If I go [under the knife](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2629_v126/ai_19841026), I want **Qadgop** to be my doctor. He understands my needs. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/34 "2004-11-21T18:56:59Z")
> [@Shrinking Violet](#): > > Don’t Americans drink instant coffee? If not, why not? You must have _no_ tastebuds…instant coffee tastes like diseased monkey diarrhea, and the same goes for decaf. Or maybe you have never actually had good real coffee? To me, instant made exactly per instructions on the jar tastes thin, watery, burnt and woody. There is _nothing_ that you can add to it to make it palatable, though the boiling of the water to make it with would make 3d world ditchwater potable…and I suppose the monkyfarts would cover the taste of the iodine tabs used to disinfect the water… Real coffee has a fery full taste to it, though starbucks tastes burnt to me [many people like the darker roast coffees, I prefer a light to medium roast] and a lot of americans make their coffee a touch weaker than I prefer, but there is a great difference between regular drip folgers and instanat folgers. Though I do confess that I have a horded can of kona coffee for the occasional midnight treat…freshly ground kona is practically orgasmic compared to good quality preground coffee that we normally use due to lack of a job for me=( ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/35 "2004-11-21T18:59:18Z")
> [@coffeecat](#): > > If I go [under the knife](http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_n2629_v126/ai_19841026), I want **Qadgop** to be my doctor. He understands my needs. 🙂 Heck, I just want the IV drip caffeine, screw the operation=) ---
**Author:** ![The\_27th\_Evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@The\_27th\_Evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_27th_Evil)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/36 "2004-11-21T19:07:58Z")
I want a caffeine patch! I want cafeine that doesn’t give me heartburn or upset stomach. I want to be able to concentrate again, dammit! I miss coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/37 "2004-11-21T19:09:59Z")
I’ve pretty much given up on coffee. Now I get by on two double espressos a day. I’ve a nice burr grinder at home to make sure the coffee is freshly pulverized, a nice pump espresso maker I’ve gotten pretty skilled at using, and a local roaster who keeps me supplied. Heaven! I’m not bad at making cappucinos for Mrs. Mercotan, but won’t drink them myself. Starbucks espresso is not that great, though. And Gloria Jeans just sucks unbearably! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/38 "2004-11-21T19:11:24Z")
oh, and **the 27th evil**? I get no heartburn, sour stomach, or jitters from espresso. Regular coffee will still give me all 3 of those things. Espresso is different chemically from coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Shrinking\_Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Shrinking\_Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shrinking_Violet)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/39 "2004-11-21T19:12:03Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > You must have _no_ tastebuds > > _\_ > > Or maybe you have never actually had good real coffee? Well … I _am_ a heavy smoker, so you may have something there. When I drink “real” coffee it’s usually Blue Mountain - not sure where it falls on the scale of good \>\> bad, but I’ve loved it ever since I sold a lot of it in the 70s. I still say a good quality freeze-dried instant is an acceptable everyday substitute … Any other Brits gonna chime in and tell me I’m not hopelessly depraved? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791/40 "2004-11-21T19:21:02Z")
oh, and **the 27th evil**? Didn’t we have this conversation before? Is espresso verboten to you also? ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-a-true-coffee-addict/275791.md?page=3)