coffee 'sensitivity'

emmama

I very, very rarely go to new coffee shops now, and whenever I travel I always look online to find out what the best cafes are beforehand... I'm not sure it's healthy to have that much of a coffee obsession but it's worth it  ;D

admin

Hi guys - just thought I'd refresh this one for comment - it was one i raised a couple of years ago, but equally relevant today! comments? A

hazchem

on 1191476117:

To me it is all about context. If I have a meeting at a cafe, I grin and bear it and order a milk based coffee.

Over time, my customers have become conditioned to just agree when I suggest a meeting in a cafe somewhere. They know I have a problem with coffee, so at least they're assured I'm calling the meeting somewhere decent! I find though that my choices are limited. There's maybe 10 places at most in Sydney where I'll drink coffee. When I travel interstate for business, I select my hotel based mainly on proximity to a good brew. If I see coffee from a roaster I respect in a restaurant, I will give it a try. That's still yet to pay off though! In terms of finding new places to try I'm still very wary. I have found though that getting involved with AASCA and attending the events they've had this year, in particular the Big Wednesdays has introduced me to more cafe owners and ones who's approach makes me want to visit their establishment. Not quite walking in off the street, but hell, I get to find out about their approach to coffee before I even walk into their cafe!

admin

Hi Hazchem - am assuming from your username that you're in some way involved with the chemicals industry [or at least chemicals!] ... we all know about rancid oils from stale coffee etc, but just wondered if you've had any time to analyse what it means from a 'chemical' point of view what we are putting into our bodies when we drink stale coffee [as we still get from too many cafes]? thanks A

Dry_bean.

on 1191030149:

Hi guys - this one's been on my mind for a while... I find when you appreciate good coffee, you get really fussy about what average cafes serve up... it's got to the stage where I really find it hard to walk into any old cafe and make an order, because I'm so fussy about what I'm going to 'take in' to my system. Anyone else experience the same angst??? -A

I certainly do, as someone else commented if I'm cornered into going into an unknown venue by SWMBO I'll order a Cappa, usually they're drinkable. My big beef is restaurants, even the better Italian places seem to be sadly lacking in the coffee dept, every thing goes well throughout the evening, service, wine and food all well above average, then comes the coffee, what a let down, you drink it and remain silent for fear of being branded a grumpy old man, then head for home where you can enjoy a Scotch and soda and a decent double ristretto.

hazchem

on 1281654689:

Hi Hazchem - am assuming from your username that you're in some way involved with the chemicals industry [or at least chemicals!] ... we all know about rancid oils from stale coffee etc, but just wondered if you've had any time to analyse what it means from a 'chemical' point of view what we are putting into our bodies when we drink stale coffee [as we still get from too many cafes]? thanks A

LOL, no, I don't work with chemicals. In the late 90's I ran and DJ'd at some clubs in Sydney and used hazchem as my DJ name. Certainly at the time it was meant to infer something about hazardous chemicals .... I also started using IRC around the same time and used it as my nick there too and its been what I've used online ever since. So no sorry I haven't run that kind of analysis in regards to stale coffee and what it means on a chemical or molecular level when we consume it. I have to say that's a good idea though and I'd be keen to see the results too! Just FYI - i'm a sales manager for a large electronics company. hazchem is what I use on twitter and other forums too 

admin

no worries... perhaps the only other point to make, is that that is exactly the point of Bestcafes.com.au - ie it's only by you guys making ratings that we can build up an accurate picture of the cafes that do a good job, and those that don't - coffeewise!

DoubleRistretto

fair point!

admin

yes, agree AM, but I guess I'm thinking from a health perspective as well. Obviously i don't like drinking coffee made from stale beans and I'm presuming most others don't either, but I'm really interested to know if there's a health difference ... for example, would you eat rancid butter? Probably not, and while it's presumably mainly from a taste perspective, I would guess that there have probably been some studies done about what rancid butter does to your insides... so what about stale coffee?

Dry_bean.

(So true and even swap the Scotch for a Lemonchilo to make a true Italian evening..) Bit sweet for my taste, lets settle on Grappa, cant get more Italian than that.

admin

Hi guys - have just got back from a few days away, and have to stay I struggled to find a decent coffee - just thought I'd re-surrect this one for the Easter break! A

askthecoffeeguy

I actually have an allergy to rancid foods where if it's bad enough I'll physically eject what I'm eating - and rancid coffee leaves me feeling decidedly unwell - but I'm an excellent barometer for friends when we go out!

RichardM

on 1281769992:

So true and even swap the Scotch for a Lemonchilo to make a true Italian evening..

I hate you, AM....after this post, I got a real hankering for Limoncello, and decided to make some....only to find out that to make it properly, one requires 150-180 proof grain spirit - which is apparently illegal in Australia Edit: Just realised how old that post was :P

Dry_bean.

on 1303598319:

only to find out that to make it properly, one requires 150-180 proof grain spirit - which is apparently illegal in Australia Edit: Just realised how old that post was :P

Makes mental note, set up still down in shed. ::)

RichardM

on 1303603423:

on 1303598319:

only to find out that to make it properly, one requires 150-180 proof grain spirit - which is apparently illegal in Australia Edit: Just realised how old that post was :P

Makes mental note, set up still down in shed. ::)

Already made that mental note. That's illegal too though even for personal consumption.....but that hasn't stopped countless other people doing it.

RichardM

on 1303627969:

Dan Murphy sells 500ml of 95% proof sprits. Depending on your mix etc  you can have a strong brew.  I tend to aim for about 30%.

Is that 95%, or 95 proof (47.5%)???? Either way, as long as it's flavour neutral and not Vodka, that's good to know. I might make some up then - I couldn't find it on their website.

WotB

In the U.S. it's called Everclear.  95% (190 proof) pure grain alcohol.

RichardM

on 1303630761:

on 1303630021:

on 1303627969:

Dan Murphy sells 500ml of 95% proof sprits. Depending on your mix etc  you can have a strong brew.  I tend to aim for about 30%.

Is that 95%, or 95 proof (47.5%)???? Either way, as long as it's flavour neutral and not Vodka, that's good to know. I might make some up then - I couldn't find it on their website.

Its just called Spiritious ????  Can't remember and I went blind after drinking it.  Ya think I was like this all teh time  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Right, due to the stupid spelling, it took a while to find. Unfortunately I went to Dan Murphy's BEFORE I found this on their website: http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_905095/pure-polish-spirit-95-500ml It is 95%, and I wouldn't want to drink, let alone inhale it straight. Website says my local has 7 bottles, but they fobbed me off when I went there. Will ring them later, and go down with a printout from the website.

RichardM

on 1303705754:

Right, due to the stupid spelling, it took a while to find. Unfortunately I went to Dan Murphy's BEFORE I found this on their website: http://danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_905095/pure-polish-spirit-95-500ml It is 95%, and I wouldn't want to drink, let alone inhale it straight. Website says my local has 7 bottles, but they fobbed me off when I went there. Will ring them later, and go down with a printout from the website.

Got a 500mL bottle of Spirytous today. Have lemon zest soaking in it as we speak. Will be turning it into Limoncello in about 14 days

admin

Note to self... remember not to drink 95% alcohol from park bench that AM has been sitting on... can we get this one back on topic pls  :'(

admin

on 1191030149:

Hi guys - this one's been on my mind for a while... I find when you appreciate good coffee, you get really fussy about what average cafes serve up... it's got to the stage where I really find it hard to walk into any old cafe and make an order, because I'm so fussy about what I'm going to 'take in' to my system. Anyone else experience the same angst??? -A

now that we've got so many new members, just thought i'd raise this one for comment - it's one that's particularly close to my heart!! A 8)

Muscles

I was never fussy about coffee, not until I came back from a trip to Europe with a week in Italy. hmmm the memories  ::) After a week of being back the wife and I bought an espresso machine for home. It took a little while to master and we haven't looked back. The only downside over the past 10 years has bean the sensitivity you mention... high expectations when out and about that are very rarely met. For this reason the wife sticks to Chai/Teas in Cafes and I have water/juice unless of course we "know" the coffee is good. I think exposure did this to us, but, at least we don't go to coffee tastings and appreciation courses - well not yet anyway... Any Cafes around where they have a spit bucket next to the register? J