☕ What's your definition of "good" coffee?

[Mattg]

This thread is inspired by some recent discussion on another thread about the Rex lounges. Some AFF members were saying they liked the pod coffee offered there. Others were saying that they much prefer barista coffee, while some don't mind instant coffee.

What's your personal definition of a "good" coffee, particularly in the context of an airport lounge? Does it need to be from a barista? And do you drop your standards/expectations when on a plane or travelling overseas?

 

[Himeno]

The best coffee is hot chocolate.

 

[Cloud9]

The best coffee is hot chocolate.

My wife would certainly agree with that.

I dunno. I used to drink instant in the UK: albeit, never overly willingly. After moving to Melbourne, I can't even stand "barista" brewed Costa back in the UK whenever I'm sadly forced to set foot there.

So, for me, in the lounge, it has to be a proper barista. The pods aren't diabolical - but I really just don't take too well to machine coffees. In the air, unless I'm sat in a J/F seat where I know they've got a "quasi-reasonable" coffee offering, I just stick to the alcohol until landing.

Edited to include: My standards don't drop... but I do go local when it comes to being in Singapore / on the peninsula and having kopi with my kaya toast in the morning. I see it as my duty to indulge in local culture. Serve me kopi in Australia and I'll probably start invoking the vernacular...

 

[jrfsp]

Generally coffee in the air is revolting - only good coffee was on QR

 

[Big John]

So, for me, in the lounge, it has to be a proper barista.

Agree that good coffee is barista coffee.

Just for context, my definition of bad coffee, in order of "yuckyness" is -

1. American coffee
2. International Roast
3. American coffee
4. Nescafe Blend 43
5. American coffee

 

[dajop]

I thought discussion of religion was against AFF rules ?

 

[Human]

I know that many, many people have said this, but in my experience (and the experience of others I’ve spoken to) it’s true: the best coffee in the world nowadays is found in Australia and New Zealand.

I will drink pod coffee and machine coffee relatively happily (though I no longer drink instant coffee unless I’m desperate — totally desperate — for caffeine, and even then I’ll take a Coke or Pepsi over instant if I can).

But barista coffee in Australia and NZ is definitely much more “hit” than “miss”. There is great coffee to be found elsewhere in the world, but it’s more “miss” than “hit”.

I first became fully aware of how much Australians are totally obsessed with coffee in 2015 when I was driving around the Kimberly in north-west WA. I hadn’t seen another human being in four hours of driving. I was surrounded by parched desert. But eventually I came across a roadhouse & petrol station. It was the epitome of the Aussie outback roadhouse. But there was one, and only one, sign out the front, hand-painted onto a piece of old wood.

The sign read: “Barista coffee inside”.

 

[bashworth]

The best 'lounge coffee' that I have had recently was made by the Barista in the Brisbane Domestic Qantas lounge. . . I told her she should apply for a transfer to Melbourne, my local airport.

Life is too short to waste it drinking instant coffee or drinking from a takeaway cup.

 

[justinbrett]

Simple. Beans ground on demand and a skilled barista.

I’m open to technology for automated machines but I don’t think we’re quite there yet. The closest I’ve seen is the Breville Oracle which requires a human to move the portafilter from the grinder/tamper to the brewhead. Everything else is automated. The milk jug has to be filled each time and manually poured but is not held by the human when steaming (it senses temperature).

I’ve never found a machine that does this all without humans that makes good coffee. Passable perhaps but not good.

Pods are ground at the factory many months before and in my opinion are never strong enough. I need at least two pods to equal one normal coffee.

 

[Daver6]

I thought discussion of religion was against AFF rules ?

I saw this thread title and came to post the exact same thing lol

 

[Lynda2475]

I only drink barista made coffee from beans ground on demand and only if it's well made. If it tastes burnt it doesn't get consumed.

Instant coffee and drip/filter or stove top coffee = undrinkable.

Pod or machine made coffee is a minor improvement over instant but I'd never choose to consume those either.

No coffee served on a airplane is drinkable. Also I dont drink tea on planes the water isnt properly boiled (and never use a kettle in a hotel room, people put icky things in them and they are never cleaned).

If I'm travelling somewhere without a barista coffee culture I give up coffee whilst there.

I remember a stop over in Auckland after spending 5 weeks in Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador and so happy to get a Campos coffee from the barista cart before boarding my SYD flight.

 

[Cloud9]

The best 'lounge coffee' that I have had recently was made by the Barista in the Brisbane Domestic Qantas lounge. . . I told her she should apply for a transfer to Melbourne, my local airport.

Life is too short to waste it drinking instant coffee or drinking from a takeaway cup.

Oh! Oh! Is that the lovely Vietnamese lady who is often on in the late mornings through arvo? She makes a blinding cuppa, totally agree.

She also has some great tips on out of the way places to eat in Singapura, for what it's worth!

 

[elanshin]

So if im in the espresso mood, then definitely barista. But there are times im in the pour over or cold brew.

I sometimes wish airlines would take cold brew on board. You have a solid coffee for those that are ok with black coffees.

I've discovered that for pods it's awesome for making a quick ice latte at home. Its quick, its ok tasting and you're diluting with a lot of milk and ice anyways.

 

[CaptJCool]

Flavoursome and on the stronger side (means 2 shots in coffee with milk like cappys and lattes unless it’s a smaller cup)

Some good froth
Barista made

Pod coffee is best served black IMHO and at least the machine doesn’t burn the bean

 

[Daver6]

So if im in the espresso mood, then definitely barista. But there are times im in the pour over or cold brew.

I sometimes wish airlines would take cold brew on board. You have a solid coffee for those that are ok with black coffees.

I've discovered that for pods it's awesome for making a quick ice latte at home. Its quick, its ok tasting and you're diluting with a lot of milk and ice anyways.

OMG. That's a brilliant idea! Cold brew on board! They couldn't possibly mess that up.

 

[Quickstatus]

$1 7-Eleven Coffee.

For those who think the $2 cup gives twice as much coffee - NO. 2x$1 cups gives more coffee because the grind is the same for both sizes and the volume is more than 1x$2 cup. The $2 cups get relatively more water or milk not more coffee

Just sayin....

 

[Forg]

Pod coffee is best served black IMHO and at least the machine doesn’t burn the bean

I’d never claim a properly-made pod coffee was better than a properly-made barista coffee … but I’ve had plenty of pod coffees made by people trying to make it as well as it can be done which were better than what’s made by a hamfisted barista.

I mean … do airport lounges even hire circa-30 blokes with big beards & man-buns? I’ve not seen it, but I’ve not travelled that frequently …

On the pod topic, the new Nespresso design with the big spinny UFO-pod do a much better job than the old style! But like the old style, they’re pre-programmed to push too much water through each pod, and I think a lot of pod-users aren’t aware they can (or should) reprogram the machines not to push water through way past the point of bitterness … the proper way to do it is just put a shot through the pod (noting that different pods have a different optimal shot size) and fill the rest of your coffee-cup with hot water & that dash of milk.
If your pod coffee hasn’t got a crema you’ve stuffed it up (or it’s a coughper-than-normal pod - generic brand maybe?).

Oh, and a lot of pods are only packed to do half a coffee; you need two to it properly (although this isn’t necessarily true of the newer Nespresso spinny UFO ones). I think this might be part of why people push too much water through them.

I’ve never found a machine that does this all without humans that makes good coffee. Passable perhaps but not good.

A machine to actually do it properly is going to need cleaning-out so often that it’s no less labour-intensive than just doing it all manually, IMHO.

 

[VPS]

The best coffee is hot chocolate.

But not powdered hot chocolate. It has to be made with dark chocolate beads

 

[Himeno]

But not powdered hot chocolate. It has to be made with dark chocolate beads

Doesn't matter. As long as it isn't caffine (or carbonated or alcohol).

 

[justinbrett]

Doesn't matter. As long as it isn't caffine (or carbonated or alcohol).

You are aware chocolate contains caffeine right?