Coffee Notes

Still looking for just the right (and right price) espresso machine.  Thanks for those of you who sent notes and recommendations, I appreciate it muchly.  It's hard making this kind of decision on a limited budget.  Not as difficult as buying a car, but then, I'm not as fussy about my mobile tin can as I am about my coffee.  I'm hoping to convince the hubs that this is an essential item and a good Christmas gift for the "house".  He keeps saying "it's just coffee".  GASP!  Shock!  And after 15 years, I thought I knew him.

The other day he asked me to get him some coffee at the grocery store, just something, anything, because he ran out and doesn't like to have to grind beans and all that.  After the "it's just coffee" comment, I didn't offer to grind for him or use the French Press.  I love him, but, well, you know.  Pearls before swine and all that.  Heh.

The store selection was limited - something in a Peets, some generic looking brand in bins, and a fat row of Starbucks in bags, some ground, some whole bean.  There were rows and rows of coffee in cans, of course, but - even though he might not notice the difference - I couldn't do that to him. So I grabbed two bags of Starbucks, one called House Blend, one called Breakfast Blend. 

Just for grins, I tried the Breakfast Blend this morning, I'm sitting here with a cup in front of me, hoping each sip will get better.  Thinking maybe it's because I just brushed my teeth, and toothpaste afterburn is hanging on my taste buds.  Or maybe just being half-awake and fog-brainy, I can't process tastes yet.  I'll have to try again later in the day for a comparison test, but right now ... this is just awful.  I don't like it at all, not even for rocket fuel.

I went to BCCY's coffee tasting glossary to try to find some words to describe this flavor.  I guess buttery would apply.  And maybe nutty.  But maybe also stale.  Maybe it's better unground and fresher.  I dunno, I don't have enough experience of the other terms on the list to really do a good comparison. 

All I know is this cup is going down the sink.  I don't know if I'm brave enough to try the House Blend.  Maybe later.

Comments

[Christine]

Sometimes I wish I lived near the end of the world... less city-stuff to deal with. But I also like having city-supplies handy. Gevalia, huh? I don't think I've tried that brand. I like to order off the net, you can get some wild and wooley stuff from all corners.

[David]

Don't brave the House Blend today. Save it for a day when you can steel your nerves for the onslaught.

I bought some bagged Starbucks once. It was the whole bean, but still... something from a can woulda been better.

We don't have a Starbucks in our area (TWC? It's not the end of the world but you can see it from here. heh), so I couldn't make any conmparison to their in-store stuff.

I know I have lousy taste buds, but I have grown accustomed to the Gevalia we get. Nice, reliable. And around here, where would we go for better?

Still, another reason to give thanks for my blogroll: clicking on over to MC&AT made me reach for my coffee cup again and realize--I need a refill!!