Foam Sweet Foam
My brother called me a coffee snob the other day.
"Coffee snob?" says I. "Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
After we finished this highly erudite and mature conversation, I stopped to think about it. Am I a coffee snob?
I don't use all the fancy words like "cupping" and "floral and bright" to describe my tasting experience. Coffee high mucky mucks can get into the special language trap and that puts people off. I don't do that.
And I don't look down my nose at other people for what they drink. I don't care what they drink or how they fix it. I am very fussy about what *I* drink - ever since I started roasting my own coffee I can't drink much else - but I don't shove it down other people's throats. Heh. So to speak. Except occasionally I play coffee bar for visitors, just so they can see what coffee really ought to taste like.
But I'm not a "purist". I do sometimes drink black espresso shots with no frills. But the fact that I like a latte or cappuccino might make me "less than" in a true coffee snob's eyes. So by way of proof that I'm not a snob, I have to cop to my latest addiction - sweetened froth. omg this is good. I just put a little sugar in the milk before I froth it. The idea here is not to sweeten the coffee, although that happens too, but to sweeten the foam.
I wonder if my brother will accept this argument.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
YOU'RE BACK!!!!
So happy to see you posting again. I really missed you.
Froth! Love it. I've found adding a little liquid Coffeemate creamer to the milk also makes the milk froth better. I'm no purist, either, or I wouldn't use a creamer! Creamer adds a little sugar and extra flavor. Creme Brulee creamer is also quite good mixed with milk. I use 2/3 fat free milk to 1/3 creamer.
Posted by: vicki | February 17, 2008 at 07:41 PM
I too am glad to see you back to blogging.
You are NOT a coffee snob, you just happen to know for sure what you like.
Posted by: keewee | February 18, 2008 at 09:32 AM
This looks magnificent! Gosh, it's good to have you back!
You're not a coffee snob, by the way. I feel the same about coffee -- if I can't have it the way I enjoy it, I'd just as soon not have it at all. :)
Posted by: Nancy Bond | February 26, 2008 at 08:11 AM
I am very impressed with your blog and your integrity in the world of tea.
Posted by: Goldfish Tea | February 26, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Hi,
I see you site is very very good. I read it many times. I like it very much. I want to share my Blog. My blog is at http://tea-and-tea.blogspot.com. I will be pleased if we have links Exchange together.
Thanks so much and good health,
Posted by: Joelcom | February 28, 2008 at 05:03 AM
Thanks so much for your kind comments folx, you warm the cockles of my heart!
Posted by: Christine | February 28, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Heh, I hear what you're talking about. My family's a bit that way too, but some of em have been a bit more receptive to learning about what kind of coffee to drink and how to brew it.
I try to encourage them to learn a bit more about that thing they drink every morning.
Posted by: Andre | March 13, 2008 at 08:50 PM
lol long live the coffee snobs! :)
Eric
http://www.idahoroasting.com
Posted by: Eric | March 14, 2008 at 07:54 AM
You don't sound like a coffee snob to me, just a connoisseur.
Posted by: Flavia Coffee | March 25, 2008 at 12:37 PM
You know more about coffee than I do, but does that make you a snob? Naw. I'm not a very big coffee drinker and when I do drink coffee, it has to be sweet. Does that make me a poser? Hmmm...Your site looks great. You'll see me here more often. :) Thanks for the 'mature' entertainment. :p
Posted by: Katie | April 01, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Good words in there, I sometimes feel that people forget what they are doing. People should focus on tasting and feeling, not concentrate the cups, humidity or color of wallpapers. My opinion "less is more", keep it simple. When you brew it rigth and you have good beans... Just enjoy. By the way, you migth try adding some real vanilla, cardamom or cinnamon to your foam before you froth it... Gives nice taste. :)
Posted by: Teemu Hellman | April 04, 2008 at 01:06 AM
Coffee snobs rock the world!
I'm another coffee snob and I'm proud of it ;)
Posted by: Marko | April 07, 2008 at 05:15 AM
I don't roast my own beans but am super fussy about the bean I purchase and how they're stored. Each morning I make our espresso, usually to enjoy a cappuccino. I love the steamed foam, especially when it's the consistency of melted marshmallows! But, I've never thought of sweeting the milk first. I may try that. Thanks for the tip.
Posted by: Diane | April 13, 2008 at 09:43 AM
Everyone that knows coffee is aware that coffee is the second most traded commodity next to oil. Coffee has been my favorite drink during my business career and leisure time. I have always
tried to make that "perfect cup of coffee". Whenever someone finds that "perfect cup of coffee", it is usually
considered perfect to their taste only and, not necessarily perfect to the coffee drinking community. I would like to suggest a perfect cup (to my taste) and suggest you might give it a go also. Try the Kona blend. I don't mean the 90% whatever to 10% Kona, I mean 50% good Arabica bean and 50% Kona. If you have problems finding this blend, try www.mochamack.com. Happy cupping!
Posted by: Mack Helms | April 19, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Personally - I agree. Roasting your own coffee is the only way to go. Nothing compares to the freshness; the ability to roast it how you like it...its the best.
Never use Kona and Blend in the same phrase. It's taboo!
Posted by: Chip | April 26, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I love this coffee! I got 2 free boxes at www.teandcoffee.com
Posted by: Nancy | June 02, 2008 at 02:28 PM
THE FROTH! The first of the coffee the lips touch!
Very important - great topic. I agree it's important
to have 'the journey' begin with the most important - first 'sip'!
VIRIDIAN COFFEE
Posted by: VIRIDIAN COFFEE | July 02, 2008 at 03:07 PM
So the key is where were you when you had the argument? Starbucks or at Quicktrip? Do you like those Quicktrip chocolate corn syrup coffee drinks you can get as a fake foamed latte - you know the ones that are 25% coffee and 25% creme and 50% sugar? And whats your thought when you see somebody holding one in the morning? Trying to grade your level of snobbishiness to see if we can invite you to our club and send you a special child painted and hand crafted coffee mug - which would fix another blog too.
Thanks
Boake Moore
Mission Grounds
The Coffee helping Children
www.missiongrounds.com
Posted by: boake moore | July 06, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Hello,
I loved your story about "coffee snobs." I, myself, prefer foam over sweetening my coffee. Just out of curiosity, have you ever put foam on an espresso shot? I tend to do that from time to time and get called a pansy for not taking it how it is.
Best,
Barbra Fink
BarbraFink@gmail.com
Posted by: Barbra Fink | July 30, 2008 at 08:34 AM
Respectables,
You know I love foam specially of cappuccino and cafe late. And I love it.
Posted by: tanveer | September 04, 2008 at 01:06 AM
I believe i'm a coffee snob but hey, theres nothing wrong with that!
Posted by: brendan | September 30, 2008 at 08:13 AM