Best Coffee Chain

[Quirt]

Within walking distance from my office I have at least 4 major coffee houses to select from. Each client seems quite loyal to their own preference, so I always let them choose.

My personal fave is Starbucks. Love the pretentions of European quality, plus that great bitter coffee taste. Probably also has the best Mocha anywhere.

Who sells your fave cup-a-joe?

 

[kooley]

I like second cup

maybe you should do a poll

 

[drlove]

Tim's is the best

 

[MrEasy]

Tim Hortons

Tim's no doubt. Great tasting coffee and fresh.

Starbuck's tends to be too over-fired, gives me acid.
Second Cup; nothing good or bad.

 

[calloway]

When I need a real cup of coffee, and not piddle like Timmy's, Starbucks is the only choice!

 

[luv4lust]

lol omg tim hortons coffee could be used for road tar lol jk

my fave is coffee time

 

[FLT]

I didn't like Starbucks at first but now I do. It's an acquired taste.

 

[bigdik]

lol omg tim hortons coffee could be used for road tar lol jk

my fave is coffee time

Timmy's road tar? There's barely enough coffee in timmy's to color the water. Coffee time is transparent. Pour black Coffee Time coffee in a glass cup sometime. It looks like tea. Of course if you put enogh cream/sugar in you'll never know what the coffee tastes like, so just go for what's cheap. If you actually like coffee, drink it black. The only choice from the chains is Starbucks

 

[Neverenuff$]

Tims is consistant from store to store always the same....and thats not a bad thing

Starbucks... instant heartburn!!!

so to keep with the actual topic:

Tim's

 

[Dement Ed]

Tim Horton's is a coffee that only tastes good one way. double double.

Timothy's tends to be rather good though quality seems inconstant from location to location. Perhaps they brew according to the taste of their local market?
Starbucks is good for the european espresso-based drinks.
Country Style has a good quality blend, and seems constant from store to store.
Second Cup is high quality for both brewed coffees, and espresso-based coffee drinks.
So, I suppose for best all around in both quality and variety, Second Cup is my choice.

 

[bigdik]

The key to quality coffee is portion control, ie. proper grind and exact quantity of ground coffee. Some franchisees tend to try to squeeze an extra pot or two from a bag of coffee. That is the only explanation for inconsistency. Second Cup has stringent QC, Starbucks are all company stores, and Timmy's owners are making so f@#%$ng much money they don't need to cheat. Timothy's is less consistent. There are two within 1/2 block of my office, 1 great and 1 terrible. Coffee Time will sell a franchise next to a franchise, so those poor bastards need to cheat to survive.

 

[Quirt]

I didn't like Starbucks at first but now I do. It's an acquired taste. [/QUOTE

Yes, as with fine wines, special cheeses, scotch...vaginal juices

 

[thunder0702]

Tims

Tim's!! I buy the tins and brew at home. And Besides it helped start a beautiful relationship!

 

[bigmoe69er]

I'm Tired of Bad Mochas!

It never ceases to amaze me just how many Starbucks' employees in the U.S. do not and/or cannot correctly make a Cafe Mocha. It's disgusting! ---Dr. Moe

 

[bigmoe69er]

I Need A Good Mocha!

Some don't operate the machine at all, Peelcowboy. They just pour pre-made goop into the cup, add whipped cream, and call it a mocha. It often tastes like how you would imagine chocolate flavored toilet water to taste.
---Dr. Moe

 

[WhOiSyOdAdDy?]

I forgot to mention that the Mocca Red Eye at Second Cup is also very good

 

[SoldierBoy]

Tim's. No other, ever.
SB

 

[Magus]

... apples and oranges?

Tim makes the best cup of good old fashioned coffee, hands down, (just like Mom used to make).

BUT ... for the european drinks (espresso, latte etc.) you really can't beat Starbucks for quality and consistency.

 

[Dement Ed]

With european coffees the grinding of the bean makes a big difference in the quality and taste of the coffee. I have an machine at home without a grinder... so I've learned from my local merchant that the optimal grind for each machine is slightly different. Between 1 3/4 and 2 setting is the ideal for my machine. Two level scoops tightly pressed makes the best tasting espresso with the right amount of scuma (italian word meaning that caramel-colored creamy froth of the coffee).

 

[groo39]

Second Cup "Emperor's Blend", fresh milled no less than twice a week, and made one 16-oz mug at a time with filtered water. 2.5-3.0 heaping teaspoons of coffee for that one mug, extra fine, not quite espresso grind.

Oh, and only buy the 4 lb. bags so you can vac-seal it in convenient 1-cup packages and store them in a cool, dark place like the crisper in the fridge. The stuff you buy off the shelf at Second Cup could have been there 2-3 days, losing it's fragrant oils to the air.

2.5 teaspoons of pure unfiltered, unprocessed Jamaican can sugar, complete with occasional rocks or bug bits.

100% pure cream. If all you've got is petroleum distillate byproduct (creamers), I'll take it black, thanks.

No, I'm not a coffee snob! I've never placed a 20-30 lb. coffee order and had it shipped to the states via FedEx....