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The Best Instant (yes, a serious question!)

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  • Studel
    replied
    Originally posted by Gavisconi007 View Post
    Uhmmmm.........such as?
    Couldn't agree more... as a regular traveller I take pride in finding a decent place in a new country. Trust me, most of my time is in China in the last 3 years. Mind you, you think the US is bad. Starbucks is heaven compared to the shite traded there as coffee in most places.

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  • Gavisconi007
    replied
    Originally posted by Jonathon View Post
    Indeed, on more than one occasion in the US I've found myself standing in a very long line for a coffee thinking to myself what the hell am I doing wasting 20 minutes of my holiday for something that's no better than any cafe in Australia can bash out in 2 mins.

    Someone needs to invent "Caffobate" patches......

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  • Jonathon
    replied
    Indeed, on more than one occasion in the US I've found myself standing in a very long line for a coffee thinking to myself what the hell am I doing wasting 20 minutes of my holiday for something that's no better than any cafe in Australia can bash out in 2 mins.

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Easy answer- same as the best contraceptive: Abstinence

    Leave a comment:


  • TOK
    replied
    Serious answer.

    When not working, I am an avid sight see-er when o/s, and for me, that doesnt include seeing the inside of cafe's when I could be seeing the inside of a some kind of cultural icon, landmark etc.

    Coffee needs to be easily sourced and available. Effectively, once you leave the safety of your hotel room and the good filter coffee you should have been able to make yourself (in the US), any further coffee had during the day needs to be...directly and conveniently in front of you. If it isnt in front of you, or if it is but isnt very good, you dont (need) go out of your way to find something. And of course, the world doesnt (have to) revolve around espresso / milk espressos and / cafes. I enjoy a good filter coffee.

    But that's just my philosophy. I think there are many more people that take that philospohy but are intimidated to say such in forums like this.

    hope that helps

    Leave a comment:


  • Gavisconi007
    replied
    Originally posted by TOK View Post
    ..... wont go hunting for cafes in strange cities in strange countries. Life's too short and there are better things to do with my time...
    Uhmmmm.........such as?

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  • TOK
    replied
    I gave up putting coffee paraphenalia in my shoes in the bag long time ago. Not going to be that hard up for a coffee, & wont go hunting for cafes in strange cities in strange countries. Life's too short and there are better things to do with my time...

    Wont pay for mediocre or bad coffee anywhere, including Australia. This is not restricted to other countries.

    But Ive never had a bad beer anywhere o/s. Unfortunately there have been mediocre red wines, but the beer is always good. Suggest not to get too hung up on the "concept of coffee".


    hope that helps.
    Last edited by TOK; 7 August 2015, 09:06 PM.

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  • Gavisconi007
    replied
    2 weeks in Atlanta last year, I packed my Bacchi stove-top and my Lido, and a kg of freshly roasted beans. 2 colleagues would stop by my room in the morning for their daily fix. I think we all survived because of it. The coffee in the office was "Jasper"- I had one swig and it ended up in the sink. Atlanta- good for Gumbo and Friday Happy Hours, but forget about coffee!

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  • blend52
    replied
    Originally posted by Javaphile View Post
    The specialty coffee industry in the US is a far cry from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago.
    +1^^
    there is no shortage of good coffee bars in Boston or SF.
    they may not be as obvious as Starbucks etc but they are there and in numbers.
    A little research will pay off, and it will also make your time there more interesting searching them out.
    dont forget to report back and update the forum .
    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/notau/3481...on-coffee.html
    some ideas for SF..
    http://en.ilovecoffee.jp/posts/view/164

    Leave a comment:


  • Javaphile
    replied
    The specialty coffee industry in the US is a far cry from what it was 20 or even 10 years ago.

    Sheumack, while few things will match a fresh home roasted coffee prepared in ones usual/favored brewer good coffee is not all that hard to find in any major city in the US. For example many cafes now offer take-home bottles of their own cold drip/brew. You can also find cold drip in most larger grocery stores from a variety of sources. If you don't feel like chasing some down in cafes head over to the local coop where you will typically find higher end cold drip available.


    Java "Enjoy your trip" phile

    Leave a comment:


  • Vinitasse
    replied
    Originally posted by TampIt View Post
    G'day Matt

    If you like SO dark roasts, you will be off the usual "dark to charcoal blends" which is mainstream US coffee. Having lived there for 18 months, you will have to hunt long and hard for any decent SO's - especially if you prefer medium roasts.

    Having said that, plenty of San Fran & Boston places were OK for medicinal purposes. SC would be a worry, unless it also has a maverick 'round town. For example, Montrose CO (blink you miss it) had by far the best over the counter SO I found there - an Irish guy had set up his own roaster there as a last resort mainly to service his own need.

    I only found the better coffees over there by looking for long queues when it was bitterly cold / raining / snowing in winter. Victor's in Redmond WA (another Irish roaster at the time) had over two large city blocks of desperate addicts awaiting their fix (ironically, just down the road from the first Starbucks - which was damn near empty on the same day). The Montrose one had one block of queuing desperados. Shows some Americans have taste in coffee when they encounter a good one.
    Enjoy your trip.
    TampIt
    I lived in North America (both the US and Canada) for 22 years and regardless of the doom and gloom spread around it's actually not too hard to find good, even amazing coffee if you are willing to make a bit of an effort. Beanhunter, or similar, will prove useful.

    Leave a comment:


  • TampIt
    replied
    Originally posted by Sheumack View Post
    As part of the on-boarding for a new job, I have a three week jaunt in the US of A coming up, covering suburban Boston, Columbia SC and San Francisco. Most of it will be in corporate offices and hotels, and I'm dreading the stale drip-filter muck and charcoal Starbucks that inevitably are served as "coffee".

    So I'm thinking about chucking a jar of instant into the suitcase to survive the period.

    I've previously taken the Robert Timms bags, but even these are a pretty poor substitute for my home-roasted freshly ground single origins pushed through my beloved Presso. (Enjoying the Bolivian BTW)

    Any ideas?

    Matt
    G'day Matt

    If you like SO dark roasts, you will be off the usual "dark to charcoal blends" which is mainstream US coffee. Having lived there for 18 months, you will have to hunt long and hard for any decent SO's - especially if you prefer medium roasts.

    Having said that, plenty of San Fran & Boston places were OK for medicinal purposes. SC would be a worry, unless it also has a maverick 'round town. For example, Montrose CO (blink you miss it) had by far the best over the counter SO I found there - an Irish guy had set up his own roaster there as a last resort mainly to service his own need.

    I only found the better coffees over there by looking for long queues when it was bitterly cold / raining / snowing in winter. Victor's in Redmond WA (another Irish roaster at the time) had over two large city blocks of desperate addicts awaiting their fix (ironically, just down the road from the first Starbucks - which was damn near empty on the same day). The Montrose one had one block of queuing desperados. Shows some Americans have taste in coffee when they encounter a good one.

    Enjoy your trip.



    TampIt

    Leave a comment:


  • Vinitasse
    replied
    Keep in mind that the US pretty much invented the specialty coffee scene that now influences the finer cafe precincts around the world... including ours. With a population of 300,000,000 there are more than a few people over there capable of brewing you a fine cuppa so I think it would be foolish of you to head over there with your eyes and mind anything other than wide open.

    Leave a comment:


  • Barry O'Speedwagon
    replied
    Originally posted by speleomike View Post
    "... but for shorter trips I often take a flask of my cold brew concentrate with me. Dilute it with some hot water and you have a wonderful "instant" coffee."

    That won't be allowed on an international flight :-)
    It will if he puts in his checked luggage or packs it in 100ml bottles.


    But, if one was going to be bouncing round cities, I'd just do a bit of research and give some local places a go. Nothing wrong with good quality, fresh filter coffee if it comes to that. SF shouldn't be a problem.

    When I'm OS for a few months I live on the Aeropress/Porlex combo.

    Leave a comment:


  • speleomike
    replied
    "... but for shorter trips I often take a flask of my cold brew concentrate with me. Dilute it with some hot water and you have a wonderful "instant" coffee."

    That won't be allowed on an international flight :-)

    Leave a comment:

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