Espresso

[fuji]

Better than American coffee? Higher quality? More sophisticated? Higher class?

Personally I like a long espresso, which is where you draw a full cup of water through the espresso grounds to produce an espresso flavour but with the strength of American coffee.

I used to brew a regular pot of coffee in a drip filter, then when my coffee maker broke I picked up a combination drip/espresso coffee maker, a pretty good one. I tried the espresso on a lark but now I'm hooked--I can't go back to the inferior taste of American coffee.

 

[FOOTSNIFFER]

Better than American coffee? Higher quality? More sophisticated? Higher class?

Personally I like a long espresso, which is where you draw a full cup of water through the espresso grounds to produce an espresso flavour but with the strength of American coffee.

I used to brew a regular pot of coffee in a drip filter, then when my coffee maker broke I picked up a combination drip/espresso coffee maker, a pretty good one. I tried the espresso on a lark but now I'm hooked--I can't go back to the inferior taste of American coffee.

Of course it's better than american-style coffee. And if you really want to have your tastebuds literally blown out of the water by grrreat coffee, I suggest that you make your way to Naples, Italy. It's so good, that having a cup of it in the morning almost levitates you a few feet off the ground. How the same elements of arabica coffee grounds and hot water can combine to produce such differing results I guess could only be explained by chemists, because otherwise it makes no sense to me.

It's one of the few things I miss about living in the ol' boot.

 

[papasmerf]

Americans and Canadians drink coffee that is at best awful

 

[Hammerstein]

Yeah espresso does taste great but I kinda require a bigger cup. The liitle kid tea party cups don't do it for me.

 

[Medman52]

And if you really want to have your tastebuds literally blown out of the water by grrreat coffee, I suggest that you make your way to Naples, Italy.

Now this is a person that TOTALLY understands coffee!!!

The BEST espresso in the world is made in Napoli, it's supposed to be because the water is filtered naturally through all the lava underground ( and they don't mess with good coffee by morphing it into, mocacinno, fruitacinno,crapacinno, etc) just GOOD small amount of pure espresso!!

 

[Medman52]

I got my little espresso maker, 2 cups of freshly ground beans gets me going everyday, can't stand the flavourless Canadian coffee

Lisa as my Nonna taught me...NEVER wash the pot with soap, only rinse with water...the coffee has to soak into the metal..the coffee gets better as the pot gets older..enjoy
I have a pot that was being thrown away by a cousin after his 97 yr old mom passed away. It had broken handle and must have been over 40 years old. I scooped it up, use it to this day (handle still broken) but the espresso that comes out is EXQUISITE!!

The coffee doesn't have to be the "fancy" stuff either, a $3.49 pack of Lavazza is just fine.

 

[DGrohl]

I can attest to how good Naples espresso is. The best espresso I've had anywhere.

Of course it's better than american-style coffee. And if you really want to have your tastebuds literally blown out of the water by grrreat coffee, I suggest that you make your way to Naples, Italy. It's so good, that having a cup of it in the morning almost levitates you a few feet off the ground. How the same elements of arabica coffee grounds and hot water can combine to produce such differing results I guess could only be explained by chemists, because otherwise it makes no sense to me.

It's one of the few things I miss about living in the ol' boot.

 

[aldershot]

20 years ago I bought a La Pavoni europicola, I havn't looked back since. Illy grounds and filtered water, everyone who drinks my coffee loves it, including me. How people can drink Tim Horton's etc. baffles me.

Call me a snob....its ok.

 

[freespirit]

20 years ago I bought a La Pavoni europicola, I havn't looked back since. Illy grounds and filtered water, everyone who drinks my coffee loves it, including me. How people can drink Tim Horton's etc. baffles me.

Call me a snob....its ok.

You're a snob. LOL j/k!

I'm going to pop my espresso cherry tomorrow.......so excited! LOL!

I know, I know, it doesn't take much these days ok?

 

[Hangman]

You guys should try that cat-shit coffee...

 

[Brill]

You can use any kind of bean, even a "Canadian" one for making espresso. It's the way the coffee is brewed using steam which extracts more flavour and more caffeine from the same bean.
A basic moka like Lisa's is all you need, no fancy expensive gadgets.

 

[5hummer]

Americans and Canadians drink coffee that is at best awful

Agree. Starbucks & Timmies are awful.

But, luckily, living in Toronto, there are plenty of independent cafes.
Like tasting wine(s) from different regions, each cafe's coffee has it's own identity.

See:
http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_cafes_in_toronto_west_side/
http://www.blogto.com/toronto/the_best_cafes_in_toronto_east_side/

 

[Iconic One]

Agree. Starbucks & Timmies are awful.

Dude, really? Starbucks too? I grind SB French Roast every morning (burr grinder only) and I think it tastes decent if it is extra strong. Am I such a neophyte? Damn, I better get out there and expand my horizons.

Best coffee for me? Thick Greek (Turkish really) coffee on Santorini.

 

[5hummer]

Best coffee for me? Thick Greek (Turkish really) coffee on Santorini.

I'll have to check out Santorini.

There are so many great places in Toronto (see links above) for coffee. I feel blessed. Especially going to places in the States, where Starbucks is the only thing available.

 

[Iconic One]

I was in the States for 2 weeks with nothing but Starbucks available. In three instances I asked for an Americano, and I got brewed coffee with water. Absolutely horrible, and the actual Americanos weren't much better.

American Starbucks is weaker than Canadian SB. Their bold is weaker than our mild. Just like their beer.

 

[W3bster]

Buzzkiller

I don't think "espresso" from a moka pot is technically espresso due to the lack of crema and a lower pressure used in making it than that of a machine--it is closer to strong coffee.

I will never refuse it though, I've been drinking caffe lattes with moka pot "espresso" since I was probably 3/4 years old, lol (way before you started hearing it douchily pronounced in SBs across N.A....or is that...pronounced by douches across N.A.). I sometimes can't believe I'm paying $4+ for them when I can make a basic one at home for "pennies" with my eyes closed. But in Italy, they treat the bar (coffee house) like an institution and people close their eyes to that one euro+ plus that they pay for an espresso.

In Italy I think seeing a family with an espresso machine is very rare (at least the areas I go to, lol). And the taste of moka pot espresso where I've had it, a couple hours south of Naples, is absolutely no different than what anyone makes here.

SB espresso is very consistent but I can never recall it having 100% of the taste, body, and crema of a normal espresso (not in a bad way but not outstanding either--just that small percentage aroma/taste unique to SB).

 

[lurkerjoe]

I can attest to how good Naples espresso is. The best espresso I've had anywhere.

Coffee in Florence is heavenly. Nespresso is almost as good, almost but not quite.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Espresso & coffee no big deal.
I prefer tea.

 

[The Bandit]

Espresso & coffee no big deal.
I prefer tea.

Wimp...

 

[WoodPeckr]

Wimp...

LOL!
Too much coffee upsets my tummy.....