The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon!
Today’s question:
Since today’s “National Coffee Day”, let’s talk about coffee!
Over 60% of all Americans drink coffee at least once a day. Where do you go to get your coffee, and in your opinion, what brand is the best?
Talk about it….
{ 87 comments }
I drink very little coffee (hot coffee will put me to sleep – my brother and I both react backward to caffeine). But on the occasions I want a fancy-shmancy drink, I like Peet’s and Panama Red.
I don’t like coffee. But my husband likes Peet’s best, and I enjoy going to Peet’s the best, too…nice atmosphere.
I prefer Starbucks over any others. To me they have the right combination of coffee, sweetner, and milk.
Kirkland Signature from Costco . Great Coffee ! Great Price !
Of all places, my hotel in Paris last month.
Actually, it wasn’t Paris, it was Versailles, about 20 miles from Paris.
Finally a good subject…I love coffee, drink at least a pot a day and sometimes more. Best if you grind your own, and do it just right, not too course or too fine and use filtered water, never tap water the clorine content is too high and makes it bitter. I really like the SF Coffee Company Beans not really the best, but good for the price. I used to go to Gloria Jean’s Coffee in Newpark Mall and get beans from there when I worked in that mall, but not sure where to go anymore. Starbucks is kiddie coffee or should fast food coffee, ok when you are in a hurry or out of town and need a cup, or if you are a teenager and learning how to drink coffee. Can’t stand Peete’s coffee, they ruin it. Never had a good cup of coffee from Peetes…
We buy Peets Coffee, and our favorite of their blends is Major Dickason’s. Their “Holiday Blend” is always so fabulous that we buy a lot and freeze it…..save it for a special treat when we have house guests. Peet’s Coffee is available at supermarkets, but I try to purchase it from one of their two coffee shops in Concord (Todos Santos Plaza and Clayton Valley Shopping Center). That way I get the freshest grind and can enjoy a complimentary cup before ambling down to Half Price Books.
I like Cup-o-Joes down in Clayton. On the rare occasion we get coffee, we try to go here. Their Chai tea lattes are way better than Starbucks, and don’t rot your stomach
Ooops I meant Peet’s I guess I spelled it wrong. But that actually makes sense now since their coffee tastes like peet moss…oh wait that is peat moss…either way it actually tastes like bog water…or is that bong water…ah nevermind I am going to have another cup of coffee!
I buy my coffee only when it’s on sale. It doesn’t matter what kind because I put a lot of sugar and creamer in it. I don’t go to the yuppie places to buy coffee because I think it’s a waste of money.
Kerig (sp?)
I like the Darkest I can find. Add some Trader Joes Stevia + ‘So Delicious’ Coconut creamer and it’s all good.
Stopped going to Starbucks because of their inconsistency, they’re always pimping designer or flavored aka watered down coffee, that’s all fine and good, but why did you forget your customer base?
Need to offer French Roast ALL THE TIME.
Believe it or not, I am considerably over 40, and I have never had a cup of coffee in my long life!!! And….that’s the truth. I can’t stand the stuff, although the best smell in the world is that of coffee!
Safeway … (Folger’s, and General Foods International — the Cafe Francais stuff.) It makes for a good, inexpensive 1 X per day blend for me. I’m not into the Starbucks stuff …
Panama red in toto santos. Great coffee and a great environment, plus open-mic nights on Saturdays.
Starbucks! I just prefer the taste over the others like *cough*peets*cough.
I agree with Antler on this one, though I do enjoy a cup of coffee from Panama Red now and then. Good coffee at both places!
coffee is bad for you, i implore the counsel to immediately BAN IT from downtown!
Hands down Peet’s! Starbucks used to be good before they automated everything. Okay for just a plain cup of coffee, but they over do it on carmel sauce, chocolate sauce, and syrups on their espresso bar beverages. Peet’s seems to provide their employees with much better training, they pull their own shots and understand timing unlike Starbucks (automated). My favorite are their latte’s, they make the BEST foam every time from every Peet’s I’ve ever visited. It should be creamy and thick, not full of large air bubbles (Starbucks).
For every day coffee I Love my Keurig…the Barista Prima Italian Roast is the best. I drink my coffee black and this coffee is a perfect smooth dark roast.
However, if I feel like a mocha it has to be Caffino (Starbucks and Pete’s mochas make my stomach hurt!) I do like Starbucks around the holidays as they have the best pumpkin spice and eggnog lattes.
For coffee and tea, I got to Peet’s for a treat. Normally, I just make my own tea. On weekends, I will drink most of my boyfriend’s mochas — Mochas are soooooo goood!
Kona coffee from Hawaii is my favorite.
I can’t stand the taste of anything coffee-flavored…drinks, candy, cake, ice cream…the smell is okay, but the taste is horrid! I haven’t had one whole gulp of it, ever. If I taste something contaminated with coffee, I spit it out!
From Kat, simply the finest.
Keurig – either
Timothy’s® Midnight Magic Extra Bold
or
Green Mountain Coffee® Dark Magic® Extra Bold
Prior to Keurig, Safeway’s French Roast or Sumatra.
I usually buy whats on sale..But prefer Peets over Starbucks..I bring it home and put it in my coffee press!! MMMMM!!! Now thats a good cup of joe!!
Saw this on a bumper sticker once..
Friends dont let friends drink Starbucks!!
I like Peets but it’s too acidic for me to drink straight up. Trader Joes dark roasts make a good every-day coffee.
I was roasting my own beans for awhile, beans came from “Maria’s”. That was cool but burned out on it. Peets or Panama were my spots for a cup. That Peets is strong “Christian Crank ” is what a couple of buddys call it.
Starbucks when I go out and Folgers at home. Used to do Starbucks every work day, but $$$$. Switched to bringing my own (Folgers) from home it’s just as good and saves a lot of money. My FAVS at Starbucks are their Christmas Blend coffee, gingerbread lattes during the holidays and iced caramel lattes during the summer. Don’t like Peets – agree with Anon2You – tastes like mud or bong water!
but the smell is wonderful! I’ll brew up a pot sometimes on weekends just for the aroma…..
I don’t drink Coffee. Can’t even stand the smell of it.
Luckily for me, my wife is the same.
Believe it or not – 7-11. They actually have great coffee…
Not a fan of Peet’s for political reasons, and Starbucks is ok…but for my buck, 7-11′s is best.
La Scala in Walnut Creek on the corner of N. Main and Civic. It puts Starbucks to shame, they’re coffee is nasty and watered down.
La Scala coffee is rich and smooth with no funky after taste. I only drink coffee to study but crave their coffee some times. Not only that but it’s a lot stronger than Starbucks. A double at La Scala is equivalent to a triple at starbucks.
The best cup of coffe is Peet’s french roast brewed at my house. For getting a quick cup on the road or to enjoy lounging at the coffee shop, it’s Peet’s. However, the best brewed cup at a restaurant has to be from Sunrise Bistro in Walnut Creek.
Remember when all coffee at a restaurant was brewed through a Bun-O-Matic?
Then came along Starbucks…and almost one on every corner. Great success story, the American dream.
But lately, Starbucks coffee has gotten very bad. I actually had my best cup of coffee last week in Alamo, at the Peet’s (had their house 101 brew). It was wonderful. Peet’s is where the old Yellow Wood was.
But lately, we’ve been having coffee via our Tamasso brewer, and believe it or not, the Maxwell house T-Cup is great!!
Starbucks all the way.
Posting this from Panama Red’s, across from Todos Santos Plaza. Good coffee, nice to be able to enjoy a cuppa and check Claycord at the same time, using the FREE wifi at Panama. Not the best coffee I’ve ever had, but good, nevertheless.
Trader Joe’s French roast, freshly ground, with a shot of French vanilla cream.
It’s so good you could serve it to Winston Wolf!
I like coffee, but if I have a couple of days in a row, it makes me irritable
Been a Peetnik since the 60′s when there was only one store. As a friend of mine once put it, Peet’s isn’t a cup of coffee, it’s a meal. And don’t forget that Mr. Peet taught the Starbuck’s folks all they know about good coffee. Also, Peet’s is roasted locally, giving lots of folks jobs.
Another great local coffee is Peerless, been in the family for several generations. You used to be able to get it at Food Maxx, but I wouldn’t go in there if I were starving anymore. Anyway, a great coffee. Buy local!
My name is David and I’m addicted to… Starbucks!
Coffee coffee coffee I love it!
Steeltown Coffee in downtown Pittsburg. The city is really trying to bring new life to the area with new mom-and-pop owned businesses, and Steeltown has great coffee drinks and espresso.
Capricorn Coffee in San Francisco. The best I’ve ever had! Their sumatra is incredible, but the house blends are great, too.
Did you mean to ask around here? Because I purposely drive to either Blue Bottle roastery in Oakland, or to one of the restaurants in Berkeley that carry Blue Bottle beans, about 2 x per month. I buy 2 bags, grind it at home, put it in my moka pot espresso maker, and wa-la! Perfection. Top my espresso drink with a shot of whip cream (espresso con panna) and that is what I drink every morning. I may try different types of BB beans, but no more Fivebucks or Peets for me. As everyone said, $tarbucks sold out, and Peets has always tasted bitter and burnt. I’ve also tried Four Barrel beans, and Ritual beans, both in SF, but they do a light roast on their beans, which leaves them tasting sour to me. I know I”m not the only one who’s noticed this effect on those beans. So Blue Bottle it is. the best. the end.
At home – Yuban.
Out and about:
Caffino – Been my “go-to” for years.
Dutch Bros. DB is actually my favorite, but the closest one is in Woodland.
Starbucks – Mocha’s pretty much taste like milk flirting with a drop of chocolate. Gross.
Peets – Every single different type of drink I’ve ever tried has had the same results. Upset stomach.
Oh, and the only place this side of the tunnel to buy Blue Bottle beans, or an espresso drink using BB beans, is Sideboard in Danville. Worth the drive folks!
Peet’s. I usually buy the beans and make it at home. Usually, French Roast or Italian Roast, but sometimes the House Blend or Blend 101.
The few times I had Starbuck’s, I didn’t like the taste.
Caffino for Iced Coffee, if you like it strong – they do it right.
I was a Peets fanatic until about a year ago. Now I buy CostCo whole bean. I have never liked Starbucks but they make a good milkshake. Even so I don’t like to down that much sugar and fat in one sitting.
Lately I have been craving Peets, so I will probably splurge and buy some coffee and enjoy a complementary cup while I am at it. I have yet to try Panama Red. I should branch out now that I have broken the Peets chain.
CoCo Old……..yep the original Peets @ Shattuck Square. Use to go there when I worked at Jim Doten Honda back in the 80′s. And to this day I still love Peets
@ James – HOW SWEET!!!
I work at Starbucks, and I like the coffee they offer.. and the fact I get a free pound every week is a plus. But I’m also a fan of Peet’s. & a lot of the coffees for the Keurig are pretty good, to be honest
was just having this talk with Edi ….I never drink anything hot, only unsweeten iced tea…..Starbucks is ok …when I go with GoGo…we live in the drive thru. but my favorite iced tea is Jack In the Box!!!!
And I’m 59 and have never tasted coffee either, but it does smell good.
I don’t even drink hot tea….I let that cool down….drinking something hot doesn’t do anything for my thirst. Of course, I have Sjogren’s Disease, which means my mouth and eyes are always very dry.
Archer Farms Kona blend from Target or Dunkin Doughnuts when I’m home on the road Cafino Mocha.
I am always looking for a good mocha! I have found that McDonalds makes a good carmel mocha that saves a couple bucks by not having to go to the coffee shops. I do enjoy the occasional Starbucks (not to happy with their owner though). Pumpkin Spice and Eggnog are back for a while!
I like the green tea, Unsweetened. Trader Joe’s if I can get it, Lipton if I can’t.
I usually buy at Starbucks because it’s closer, but I prefer Caffino.
Peerless most definitely! I used to get it at the store in Oakland myself when we lived on that side of the tunnel. Now my husband picks it up for me after work. I highly recommend it.
Peet’s is a bit over-roasted for my taste. And having lived in the vicinity of each roastery at some point over the last 20 years, I have to say I’d take the smell of Peerless over the smell of Peet’s roasting their beans any day!
They also have a tremendous selection of loose tea and spices by the pound/oz. They have a good website and mail-order too! I’ve bought a couple of their cool burlap bean bags for pretty cheap too and sewed some cute tote bags out of them. : )
panama red, pacific bay in w.c, coffee bean and tea leaf, philz….Starbucks is crap coffee….avoid the green meanie!
Just out of curiosity, do any of you actually get in your cars and make a special trip to buy one cup of coffee at any of the coffee places? (I don’t……but just wondering….)
Actually I work at Burger King and I think we have some of the best iced coffee I have ever tasted. If you are looking for a tasty treat in your coffee that’s the best. Otherwise I like my Kurig Newman’s own blend for my hot coffee.
CAFFINO!!!!!!
I’ve moved recently but I’m always on the go, so for me it was and always will be Caffino. convenient and fresh and incredibly friendly. They never make me wait in line and then wait for my drink. They remember my order and always are happy to serve me and my family.
The mochas are killer and surpass Starbucks and peets.
They even gave away free mochas at the treat blvd Cadfino last Monday! And in the past they did 60 seconds or it’s FREE…who else even offers that!? Did I say anything about them roasting their own coffee instead of buying it though other companies?
They appreciate everyone of their customers and the taste is terrific and consistent which is way more then I can say when I go to Panama Bay or LaScala.
I like the people that work there and the product they sever with a smile. To me, they are amazingly quick, friendly, and tasty!
Blue Bottle is amazing in the city or Oakland. The beans are roasted within 48 hours of being roasted and they use top notch beans.
Locally, PacBay over by Kaiser in Walnut Creek is very good too.
Peets is the best
Trader Joe’s, grind it myself and brew it in a French press. Definitely the way to go, unless you have a fancy-schmancy espresso machine at home. I definitely prefer Peet’s or Caffino to Starbucks – actually McDonald’s coffee frequently beats Starbuck’s in blind taste tests, and I believe it. They just overroast it as Starbuck’s to hide the low quality of the beans, and call it sophisticated. It all tastes like charcoal and there are none of the natural oils left on the beans. You can just compare the visual appearance of the beans from, say, Trader Joe’s and Starbucks – the former are glistening and slightly oily, the latter are dull blackish with a dry texture. People get used to it, just like people get used to Diet Coke (puke!). That doesn’t change the fact that it’s bad.
Best coffee–New Orleans. Must be the chicory, or the muddy Mississippi water, but, mmm, mmm, mmm! Burger King has good coffee, better than Starbucks or Peets (too strong, smells funny).
Hand roasted coffee made in my french press is about as good as it gets. Locally: Panama Red is my first choice. Blue Bottle in SF, Yo el Rey in Calistoga or Goat Hill Coffee in Santa Rosa are some of the best small batch hand roasted coffee beans you can get. Peet’s and Specialties are always good and reliable for espresso drinks.
Wow, and I thought wine snobs were insufferable!
My fave is from the Civet Cat. Just the idea of coffee beans cured by feline gastric acid… what else can you ask for? Actually it is worth the expense for the adventure.
I don’t drink coffee daily but love me a latte. I used to do a tall latte everyday at starbucks but decided peets is much better after a while. l bought me a nespresso machine and started making my own lattes at home each morning. Saves $$ and is soo good! Now I hardly buys lattes outside unless I’m out of milk and need a pick me up in the mornings.
@ Tie Rod: A peace offering,… Fresh ground dark roast; brewed in a French press; with foo-foo cream, and, just for you, a shot of Jameson’s! Peace, Bro!
My kitchen. Especially when my husband makes it.
I buy Folger’s Black Silk and it’s smooth just like they say.
Where do I get my coffee? Out of the freezer in the kitchen. I grind Peet’s House Blend beans which I get at Safeway. When I worked in Berkeley, I used to buy different blends of beans at their store there. But, the house blend is rIch, dark and deep with some chocolate notes. It will do nicely.
Peets always gives me a headache and upset tummy and I don’t care for Starbucks so I use Dunkin Doughnuts brand at home. Love it!!
Caffino is my standby. Stronger than Starbucks, which in my opinion is the McDonalds of coffee. Best local coffee is Peets. IMHO anyway. When in Napa, Napa Valley Roasting Company tops everyone. I only go to Starbucks as a last resort. I remember driving through Washington State (which some kalifornians look down upon…) some 20 or so years ago, and seeing a drive through espresso joint. I was dumbfounded. Hicks in the middle of nowhere, were more sophisticated than us! There was no such thing here. Only higher end places like Palmer’s in St. Helena, and The Espresso Bar in Pasadena. Sit down joints with brie, fruit and bread. And maybe some Thelonius Monk, or the Cramps playing…. Ahh the memories. And let us all take a moment of silence and respect for Cafe Trieste.
I just eat Folgers crystals in the morning… So I’m screwy. Too bad. I have a friend who has property in the Phillipines. He’s growing coffee, and harvesting that which the civets have “processed.” Beats the Jamaica Blue Mountain, or so I’ve heard. Jamaica Blue Mountain gets an overall 7-8 in my book, mainly based on cost.
I started drinking real coffee at peet’s on Vine St. in Berkeley in 1969. They had lines out in the sidewalk and into the street sometimes. Still prefer it wether I buy it at Peet’s or buy it at Safeway. Goes great with an evening J. I’m forced to drink decaf now but it still is good. The Cheese Board was just steps away and very small in those days.
Gosh, I tried a caffino (Momument in the Safeway Parking lot) and thought is was ghastly (10 or more years ago). Maybe I went to the wrong one.
I don’t buy coffee from the coffee shoppes due to the price but if I need a cup, I do like the regular brew at 7-Eleven stores. As long as it is fresh!
We make our coffee at home and I love fresh brewed Dunkin’ Donuts original blend. Since the price for a small bag is more than twice that of a large can of Yuban, we save the Dunkin’ Donuts for the weekend or when company is over.
ratstalker: I have some genuine cat poop I will sell you if that is your bag. I can’t guarantee they eat coffee beans but it is the real deal. I might have to reconsider my inconsiderate neighbors if I can sell that crap…
And if that isn’t to your liking I have some fresh raccoon poop for cheap. It may even be opposum poop. Who knows?
@mom 59
I agree that Peerless smells better than Peet’s when roasting as my office used to be right next to Peerless in Oakland, now we are in Alameda and have Peet’s right behind us…I just can’t seem to get away from the coffee roasters
Italian Roast in the French Press at home with splenda and whipping cream. Makes my morning every single day…..love my fiance for taking the time to make it!
THANK YOU!!!!
I can’t believe it took that long for someone to post a nod to Blue Bottle and the Sideboard!!!!
Blue Bottle ROCKS!!
Coffee Snob: Jameson’s? You got yourself a deal! Have a good one!
I drink coffee everyday and I’m not a one-brand coffee drinker, but I want to say I enjoy Seattle’s Best…I like to buy it at the supermarket when it’s on sale (and hopefully I have a coupon) to drink at home on the weekends. I’m having some right now…:-)
Another wonderful coffee is available at http://www.ryancoffee.com You might have seen their bottle of Victorian House liquid concentrate high up on the supermarket shelves (It’s a small company which can’t afford shelf “payola”). I like the French Roast best. They ship in cartons of 6 bottles for $30, and s&h is included in that price. Those of you who have digestive problems due to the high acidity of certain coffee varieties will be glad to learn that Ryan Coffee uses the Peruvian cold drip way of processing. Also, the company uses no lye in processing their decaffeinated coffee. This concentrate has a freshly-brewed taste when either boiling water is added or when used to make an iced drink.
Re perceived bitterness in ANY coffee house’s beans: If you open a new bag and the first cup is bitter/burnt, take the remainder of the bag back to the coffee shop and discuss the problem with the barista. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. Also, specifically ask which of their coffee bean varieties has the lowest acidity level.
Mr. Mayor, I am especially loving this Water Cooler coffee thread. This Peetnik has learned so much and will be trying some of the other recommended brands. Thanks, everybody!
Nobody,s mentioned Tully’s; understandable, since they have no outlets east of Oakland; but for all you fellow Giant fans, next time you’re at AT&T look for the Tully’s guy, walkin’ around dispensing coffee from a thermo-pack. It’s high quality stuff!
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