How you like your coffee

[HopeHoops]

Poll question: How you like your coffee

[Lyric]

1. Don't like or drink coffee.

Now tea and hot chocolate, I'm totally cool with.

:hi:

[motely36]

2. Blech

Don't like coffee or tea

[googleismyfrenemy]

56. You just haven't had good coffee...plus added cream and sugar

It's amazing how much weak-ass, stale coffee the public will swill.

My grandma had a tiny farm in the Caribbean and grew her own coffee beans! She dried them in the sun and the freshness was pure heaven. But I couldn't drink coffee without the cream and sugar!

[pokerfan]

62. my next step is to roast my own beans

As it is, I get my beans once a week from a local roaster and grind them just prior to brewing in a French press. A French press is a must. It does several things that a drip maker can't:

• Provides a control over the brewing time. The time the water is in contact with the grounds in a drip maker is completely at the mercy of gravity.
  
• Provides control over the water temperature. Most drip makers don't really get the water to a hot enough temperature for optimum brewing. Ideally the water should just be a few degrees off boil.
  
• Paper filters block a lot of the oils that contribute to the flavor of a decent cup.

Best of all, french presses are inexpensive, so there's really no excuse.

[MorningGlow]

3. Cream and sugar (well, stevia these days--moo)

My motto: If it doesn't taste like candy, it ain't coffee.

[HopeHoops]

5. Fresh stevia is the best - it is easy to grow (see stevia.net)

edit: spelling

[MorningGlow]

14. I am considering that

After reading the stevia thread a few days back. I have an herb garden and a vegetable garden--not big, either of them, but they're enough for my household--so I've got room. The info on stevia.net makes it sound pretty simple! I'll have to talk to a friend of mine who owns a seasonal herb shop--he might be able to get me some starter plants.

Thanks, HopeHoops! :hi:

[HopeHoops]

16. I bought a "sugar plant" or something - grew it in a 10" or 12" container - great plant!

As with all of our herbs, we clip stems periodically and hang them to dry. The simplest way we've found is to use binder clips to clamp the stems together and one of those hangers you get from K-Mart with the hooks on the top edge for bras to hold the binder clips, two per side. We slip a piece of paper into the binder clip with the name of the herb if it is similar in appearance to something else. We are graced with a simple chandelier in the dining room that has eight extensions for bulbs. That's eight hangers with two herbs - sixteen spots to dry herbs. No we don't entertain much.

Anyway, the thing grew into a small bush in that container pot and even when it dried out it would come back into full glory after a few days of watering. The leaves are wonderful fresh, especially with sun-warmed cherry tomatoes. When it is dried, watch out - you need WAY less than you think you will. Potent stuff.

Apparently Stevia as a food source is caught in a political power struggle with the FDA and the sweetener monopolies. It is so easy to grow, safe for diabetics, and so far hasn't been associated with any of the negative things the artificial sweeteners have. Of course, pot is only illegal because the cotton industry had more influence than the hemp industry back in the 30's. Refer Madness (while funny) was made strictly for political purposes. All of the ropes, sails, sacks, and pretty much anything that had to be exposed to salt water on the ships that won the Revolution were made of hemp. And the irony, is that industrial hemp isn't something anyone would want to smoke. Stevia is going through the same battle right now. Frankly, as long as they don't make it illegal, I say grow your own stevia. And that's my rant for the day.

[MorningGlow]

20. Most excellent rant

:applause:

I agree with all your points.

I see the FDA battle over stevia as an ownership issue, for sure. It's just like my thyroid medication. I take Armour Thyroid. It's completely natural, made from pig thyroids (the very same Armour as the bacon), and therefore contains all the hormones that humans have--or, in the case of thyroid patients, need. Those are labeled T1, T2, T3, and T4. Medical research has determined that humans need the proper amounts of T3 and T4 to thrive, but the jury is still out on the purpose of T1 and T2, so they are dismissed as "unnecessary", although we don't know for sure.

However, the most popular thyroid medications are, of course, synthetic (and only contain synthetic recreations of T3 and T4). The most popular is Synthroid. More doctors prescribe Synthroid for their thyroid patients than any other medication. Armour is prescribed the least. In fact, some doctors and pharmacists I've talked to have never even heard of Armour, and those that have criticize it no end. Why? Because the pharmaceutical company that makes Synthroid has the money and the reps to go to the doctors and tell them how great Synthroid is and how awful Armour is. Namely, that Synthroid has the most accurate dose every time, and the longest shelf life. Well, guess what? GOPland isn't the only upsidedown world. In fact, it's Armour that has the most accurate dose and the longest shelf life, and Synthroid is the most inaccurate and most unstable. Plus, I personally know quite a few thyroid patients IRL and more online in discussion forums who have had no end of trouble with Synthroid, or they find out that it doesn't do diddly squat for them, and they still feel awful (and yet most of them keep taking it, on their doctor's insistence).

So why is Armour demonized? Because nobody owns the patent--it expired decades ago. Ugh. There are only three sure things in this world: death, taxes, and corrupt corporations.

And that is MY rant for the day! :D

P.S.: I screwed a couple of cup holders into the wall in my kitchen, about 2 ft. apart, and tied a string between them. Then I tie my herb bundles to that. Easy access for cooking all winter long! :)

[kentauros]

4. You left off a choice:

Still on the bush :P

[HopeHoops]

6. There are only 10 slots!!!

[kentauros]

13. Sounds like Bob & Doug McKenzie driving up to a Tim Horton's:

Oh, there's like ten tables and only three spots! :P

[ogneopasno]

7. Black and drinking temperature. That'll do.

[auntAgonist]

8. CRISP!

I like my coffee crisp. (A candy bar available in Canada)

[MrCoffee]

9. If you wanted a cup of cream and sugar, why'd you order coffee?

[BOSSHOG]

10. BLACK, unless its cafe au lait in the Quarter

Piping hot Chicory Coffee mixed with piping hot milk makes for a great start to a day in the quarter.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. chicory

:D :hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

29. 'Dat's the secret ingredient in Ersatz Brothers Coffee, ya!

Look here! A blend of the finest Brazilian soya beans, Chilean chicory nuts and Spanish fly! Here, take this can home with you, Katie."


The next morning...


*squeaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueaksqueak...*


"More coffee, Warden?"

"No... I think I've had enough!"



Ersatz Brothers Coffee! The Real One! Look for the can in the plain brown can!

[fizzgig]

24. mmmmm....chicory

:9

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. black and strong

made in my french press with fresh ground beans

[KansDem]

12. I like mine with a shot of Irish whiskey and a dash of cream...

...but without the cream or coffee. :D

[no name no slogan]

17. Black, like my men

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/airplane-i-take-it-black/1023354205/?icid=VIDURVENT09

[MajorChode]

18. Fresh roasted, freshly ground, freshly prepared

The coffee I buy always has a roast date on it and I never use it more than 1 month out of roast (it never lasts that long anyway). I always grind immediately before preparation.

Espresso is my favorite method of preparation. I have an espresso machine I bought used many years ago and restored myself. My grinder was bought used also and lived its previous life in a Starbucks.

I also like several other methods of preparation. French press, Aeropress, Chemex, vac pot, just to name a few.

I drink espresso with just a hint of vanilla sugar or straight depending on the particular beans I'm using. Occasionally I will make a cappa in the morning (no sugar). For brewed coffee I take just a bit of real cream (no sugar). In the summer when it gets really hot I will sometimes make coffee Vietnamese style with condensed milk, stirred, and then over ice.

[Chan790]

22. As a certified coffeemaster, I applaud your dedication to coffee.

Coffee is love.

[WinkyDink]

19. NOTA.

[Iggo]

21. Like I like my women...

Cold and bitter.

[Bryan]

23. Drinking temperature. That's very important.

I have no time for the ludicrous blow, sip, blow, sip ritual of too-hot coffee.

[fizzgig]

25. strong enough to put hair on my chest

with plenty of honey and cream.

[av8rdave]

26. As hot as Danica Patrick and black as Dick Cheney's soul

[Heidi]

27. Lungo with a tiny sprinkle of sugar and a splash of lactose-free/fat free milk.

Two a day is my limit, but my two coffees are among the highlights of my day. :hi:

[PVnRT]

28. I do not understand people who want coffee hot enough to cause deep-tissue burns

You can't even fucking taste it at that point.

[yellowdogintexas]

43. totally agree. nt

[Blue_Tires]

30. half and half, with sugar, a little cinnamon and nutmeg

[mike_c]

31. I am a coffee snob....

I buy only green coffee beans, usually from Central American single estate fincas, occasionally some African coffees-- but always high quality, and I ALWAYS read the cupping notes. I buy 10-20 lbs at a time, and I go through it shockingly fast.

I roast my own coffee-- choosing the best roast for a given bean is where the cupping notes are really helpful.

I grind the beans freshly before brewing. I use a "$200 machine" just to grind my beans the way I like them.

I brew with a french press, an aeropress, or an espresso machine. I make it STRONG and drink it black, because it's such good coffee that there are no bad flavors accompanying the strength.

Life is too short to drink mediocre coffee!

[Shardik]

32. I like my coffee like I like my women...

Any way I can get it.

Mmmmmm... Coffee!

[Sky Masterson]

33. Brewed with freshly ground beans, and fresh water.

And a little bit of sugar in my cup.
I hate flavored coffees. They never taste as good as they smell.
I do enjoy Coffee w/chicory in it sometimes.

[old mark]

34. Half & half, sugar, not scalding, fresh & cheap (like my first wife.) nt

[hobbit709]

35. I am a caffeine-based lifeform.

[HopeHoops]

39. Yeah, it sucks to have too much blood in your caffeine stream

[underpants]

36. Like I like my women-on my lap and making me SCREAM!!

:bounce:

[HopeHoops]

40. And this applies to coffee just HOW?

[Arkansas Granny]

37. I've always enjoyed mine with cream and sugar.

[EndersDame]

38. I enjoy coffee black and as dark as my soul

[Drunken Girlfriend]

41. Coffee

I don't drink coffee all that often,but adding some Bailey's Irish Cream
to it would certainly kick start your day,and be tasty to boot!

[yellowdogintexas]

42. light, as they say in Boston. The coffee nomenclature is:

black
sugar (sugar only)
regular (sugar and cream)
light (cream only)
half. (extra cream)

[bigwillq]

44. Light with milk and sweet

:)

[Flaxbee]

45. very hot, with some chocolate or coffee flavored soy milk

in it. don't need sugar that way, it's not loaded with chemicals like the Coffee Mate crap, and it doesn't f*ck with my lactose intolerance. Perfect.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

46. Black.

The occasional sugar, but black mostly.

[Robeson]

47. French press.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

48. Just as a friend

:toast:

[lightningandsnow]

49. Coffee gives me really bad heartburn.

It's odd, because it's the only food/drink that gives me heartburn.

I can drink the Starbucks stuff with tons of milk and sugar, but not really any real coffee.

Tea for the win!

[MajorChode]

50. How many can remember the old Victor coffee mugs?

Back in the day you could find them in coffee shops and diners all over. I remember the little cafe that my dad always took me served coffee in nothing but a Victor mug. They were heavy enough to seriously brain someone with.

I have a couple of them that I still enjoy using, but I like HOT coffee, not the lukewarm stuff that people gulp from 32oz paper cups.

[mvd]

51. Black coffee

That's what the mocha frappachinos I like are made of.

[Kali]

52. drinking temp, sugar and fake powder "creamer"

Needs to be hot enough to desolve the powder but then I let it sit until I can pretty much chug the wole cup.

I have NO class or taste whatsoever when it comes to coffee. I just drink it in the morning for the buzz and calories - 2 cups is my standard first meal. Then I eat some actual food around 10 or so.

[googleismyfrenemy]

57. Why do you use that fake crap instead of half-and-half? It's a bunch of chemicals

including transfats!:scared:

They market it as if it's 'healthier' but that is a crock!

[Strong Atheist]

53. Only during work. nt.

[AlCzervik]

54. round the clock. Coffee flavored Coffee.

[blogslut]

55. I buy a cheap espresso

I use a French press and have lately been using a spoonful of sweetened condensed milk in place of cream and sugar. I like it just shy of hot. Burned tongues are ouchy.

[Deja Q]

58. Like my men: With sugar and cream

:spray:

[barb162]

59. black or with cream. As long as it awakens me.

[Lady Effingbroke]

60. black, with a generous shot of whiskey.

nothing else.

[Bake]

61. Hot, black and sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

:hi:

Bake

[crimsonblue]

63. I like my coffee like I like my women

cold and bitter.