Subscribe to my RSS feed or follow me on Twitter.
Yep.. I consider myself a coffee addict. Do you? You may be ready for the day; showered, hair done, dressed, and perhaps out the door on your way to work. But wait.. without that cup of coffee you may ‘ready’ for the day, but you might as well still be in bed snoring. I never would consider that I’m “ready to go” without my morning cup of coffee. My morning consists of a cup at then house before I leave for work, a cup when I get to work. Then my afternoon consists of a cup after lunch, a cup with my afternoon snack, and of course a cup before I leave work. Not to many right?…
When I was pregnant I tried to avoid the caffeine, as the doctor recommended. I decided to try the decaf. Yuck. Let me tell you that it just didn’t do the trick for me… The first thing I wanted when I gave birth was a plate of sushi and yep, you know it a cup of coffee… real coffee. I think I ended up getting the hospital coffee, which probably isn’t the best out there…. well, it tasted like gold to me. I mean think about it… 9 months without a real cup of coffee.. I was definitely over due.
When I want to get coffee from somewhere other than my home coffee pot, I go to Starbucks, McDonalds; which by the way you should try the new Mc Cafe, and Giant Eagle for the Market District brand. Now I’m not one of people who says it’s not coffee unless it’s just black with no frills. I think that coffee was meant to be enjoyed 101 different ways. I always try to go for something new.
For those of you who finally admit you have an addiction to that black stuff… here are two websites I have found that I enjoy browsing:
Check them out…
So, as always now I have a question for you all… Do you have a favorite coffee flavor, coffee drink, coffee shop/hot spot? Let me know what it is, what it tastes like and where it is. I’m always up for visiting and trying new things!
Some other posts you might enjoy:
January 15th, 2009 at 9:51 am
oh gosh, where to begin……
i do love starbucks. an iced latte with skim, sugar free vanilla and an extra shot of espresso is my summer fav. in the winter it’s a (hot) latte with skim, sugar free cinnamon dolce, and an extra shot of espresso.
for a good cup of plain coffee, mcdonald’s is my favorite. i add all kinds of cream and splenda. i tried the new starbucks-knock-off drinks at the “mc cafe” and was not impressed. but for a plain cup of joe, they are the best.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I like Folger’s Black Silk. Just make it in the regular drip machine or for a real treat, I make it in a vaccum pot. Its smooth and dark. Very smooth.
For coffee shops? Savor the Moment on Rocky River Drive in Westpark (Cleveland) makes a traditional, real cappuccino that is out of this world. No foam art here, folks, just good coffee and friendly service.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Having lived in Austria for a year and Germany for six I can’t drink American coffee anymore unless it is a cappuccino or cafe au lait (i.e., doctored up espresso). If you want to try a good coffee in your own home go to Hansa Import Haus on Lorain (across from the Touch Supper Club) and buy any of their ground German coffees. I myself prefer Jacobs Krönung in any of its variations, but Dallmeyer is also a good choice – or illy. They aren’t as bitter as the ground coffee you get here.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:56 am
No offense, people, but you are drinking some pretty bad coffee. McDonald’s, Starbucks, Giant Eagle? Folger’s?!? Ugh. At the very least, go to Caribou. They are the best of the big chains. Ideally, buy beans from them and grind them at home. Ground coffee beans lose their essential oils around 20 minutes after grinding, so if you are buying pre-ground coffee the best taste is already gone.
Even better, roast beans yourself or get them from a local roaster. You can also buy beans from online stores that are a million times better than what you are drinking.
Also use a french press (or aeropress), not a drip coffee maker. Drip coffee allows the water to pass through the grounds and doesn’t give any time for extracting the oils and taste. French press allows the grounds to steep in the water (like tea).
Of course, this is for regular coffee, not latte’s or cappuccino’s or whatever
Not only is the big chain coffee bad tasting, they are bad for the environment and exploit coffee workers.
I’m in no way affiliated with this site, but it’s a very good read:
http://www.coffeehabitat.com/
January 15th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Possibly the best coffee beans I’ve ever had were the Puerto Rican Jauco Selecto I used to get in college. I couldn’t get it anymore after the guy that owned the shop died of a heart attack in his 40s. Maybe I dodged a bullet there.
Funny thing is, later I had a Puerto Rican coworker whose family farmed coffee back home. I always wondered if I had her to thank for that wonderful stuff.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I hear you and agree. Almost as many ways to enjoy coffee as there are beans
l heading over to check out the sites you’ve shared. thanks
January 15th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
@Menorikey – You neglected to mention that Caribou Coffee is owned in large part by ARCAPITA, an Islamic investment bank, that sends its money back to Bahrain. Ignoring the anti-semetic and anti-feminine views of Islam for the moment, I’d rather have my money stay in the US.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I am addicted to the white chocolate mochas at Starbucks. I don’t know why, but when I’m outside long enough for my insides to freeze (which is about 10 minutes here in Cleveland), only a grande white mocha can save the day.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
I avoid the big chain coffee places like the plague. The worst is Starbucks. Overpriced and over-roasted. Gag.
Head to Stow for Rico Latte, right off Route 8 on Steels Corners. Organic and fair trade, it’s the best I’ve found locally.
For home brew, I buy Cafe Bustelo. You can find it at Giant Eagle in the Hispanic/Mexican foods section. It’s an espresso coffee, but if you halve the quantity you would use for a regular pot, it makes a fabulous drip coffee.
If you travel to the Cincinnati area, hit up one of the Kidd Coffee locations. Their Highlander Grogg is worth the trip alone. And if you are ever in Annapolis, MD, you have to check out Caffe Pronto and City Dock. I don’t like most of the Pronto blends but my husband does so we always stop for him. I prefer the goods at City Dock.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:02 am
@Mark – I’m cool with ARCAPITA
January 16th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I am a HUGE fan of Dewey’s coffee. Any time I’m in Chagrin Falls or Shaker Square, I grab a bag to take home.
And Stacy, after I gave birth to Amara, the nurses asked if I wanted a sandwich. I said no, just coffee. Black. And enjoyed two cups off the bat.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Well, Menorikey, to each his own I guess. I always say I’m a coffee “coni-sewer” with the emphasis on sewer. I’m not into the whole where-it-came-from thing or how it was roasted. I just like a nice cuppa joe that doesn’t cost an arm or a leg. If that makes you all think less of me–so what? lol. I’m at a place in life where I like what I like, I’m still willing to try new things and I don’t care much what everyone else thinks. So, I’m off to pour an afternoon cup of coffee from my inferior drip pot….
January 16th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
@KatherineB – I do think less of you
January 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
>cheesy grin< Do I look like it bothers me?