[CatoRenasci]

Well, what do you expect from the people who have ruined coffee in the United States, buying cheap quality beans, roasting them very dark to disguise the low quality, and emphasizing espresso drinks that can tolerate the cheap quality coffee.

The whole rise of espresso and similar very dark roasts in Italy and France was a result of the simple fact that the average citizen couldn't afford decent quality coffee beans. Low quality beans are lousy when medium roasted to the point where high quality beans have the greatest flavor and aroma.

[Focault's Pendulum]

It reimbursed the ambulance company in Brooklyn.

Interesting to note. But did they then distribute the bottled water afterwards?

[savedbygrace]

RE: #3

I didn't know any of the stuff you wrote in #3, but I concur on your conclusion. We grind our own and we recently ran out of our fav beans. Our replacement order won't arrive for a week or two, so in the meantime we bought a pound of Starbucks French Roast.

It is exactly as you say. Lousy beans blackened by over-roasting. When brewed, it actually foams like Maxwell House instant coffee, and tastes like . . . well, I'd better not say. What a joke. I cover mine with tons of sugar and cream., and pretend it's an expensive dessert treat. But I'm not fooled.

[Leto]

First the water should have been given to the firemen period, whoever the manager was screwed up big time. Very suprised the company hasn't attempted to make it right. Beyond that however $40 /case for water is obscene. I but it at the local warehouse outlet for $8/case. Never will I give a dime to Starbucks. If this gets wide play it'd be a good time to short their stock.

[Critter]

Medium roasted Hawaian Kona! Nothing else even comes close!

I thought I was the only one to think that dark roasting only covers up the real coffee taste. I was begining to think I was crazy for wishing to have a custom roaster nearby, once again. Had one til about 5 years ago.

[RobbyS]

Any cafe in Rome makes better expresso than Starbucks, and for half the price.

[VRWCmember]

I sure could go for a nice rich cup of Kona right now. Unfortunately, I'll have to settle for a cup of Foldger's "Special Blend".

[George Smiley]

Our tastes are similar.

I actually got to *expense* JBM in a former job-

I was responsible for OS and app upgrades on a minicomputer system-

We'd start up system backups about 6:30 PM on Friday and fire up a pot.

We'd work as late Saturday AM as we could stand, go home and crash (or stare at the ceiling, depending upon the amount consumed), and go back at it later that day.

[riley1992]

Jamaican Blue Mountain is wonderful. I only had Starbuck's coffee one time in an airport this summer and it was pure swill.