Life or death in the USA- Decent Coffee

[DC3]

Starbucks ...Tall, Grande and Vente or whatever ...........

You certainly know your Starbucks cup sizes, Ausbt.

 

[sjd]

When the girl had to pull out the instruction sheet to work the coffee machine I knew exactly what was coming :shock:

Reminds me of the time I ordered what I expected to be an espresso coffee in a Victorian country town and was asked if I wanted "Cuppacino (sic) or Jarrah?". Shudder.

 

[Spongbob]

I once asked for coffee without milk. I was told they have no milk, so would I like coffee without cream.

 

[anat0l]

Life or death, eh? Have you made a will?


Seriously speaking, there seem to be a bunch of more hip cafes popping up in some of the more cosmopolitan districts of the major cities in the USA. They usually have at least an espresso robot-barista to make decent quality espresso based beverages for sometimes equivalent-number prices to Australia (sometimes in a larger cup or a bowl, though). I found a nice cafe just by walking around Dallas, they served a mean breakfast with espresso coffee (and a nice flat white).

I was going to suggest perhaps some cafes or bars based in good hotels, though that is likely an expensive prospect. Depends on how desperate you are for a fix, though.

I can't recommend too much for the chains. Starbucks is the same as it is in Australia (not weaker or stronger), so it is a (*clears throat*) "dependable" option, but Starbucks is Starbucks and espresso drinkers know it. If you are a strong coffee drinker, try asking for an extra shot.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Life or death, eh? Have you made a will?


Seriously speaking, there seem to be a bunch of more hip cafes popping up in some of the more cosmopolitan districts of the major cities in the USA. They usually have at least an espresso robot-barista to make decent quality espresso based beverages for sometimes equivalent-number prices to Australia (sometimes in a larger cup or a bowl, though). I found a nice cafe just by walking around Dallas, they served a mean breakfast with espresso coffee (and a nice flat white).

I was going to suggest perhaps some cafes or bars based in good hotels, though that is likely an expensive prospect. Depends on how desperate you are for a fix, though.

I can't recommend too much for the chains. Starbucks is the same as it is in Australia (not weaker or stronger), so it is a (*clears throat*) "dependable" option, but Starbucks is Starbucks and espresso drinkers know it. If you are a strong coffee drinker, try asking for an extra shot.

Yes there are hip cafés everywhere and they serve cr*p coffee. Some can get close but never found one that's actually enjoyable as Australian coffee is. Mostly it seems they over heat the grounds and extract too much, or it's so just mild that it's dishwater. YMMV

 

[anat0l]

Yes there are hip cafés everywhere and they serve cr*p coffee. Some can get close but never found one that's actually enjoyable as Australian coffee is. Mostly it seems they over heat the grounds and extract too much, or it's so just mild that it's dishwater. YMMV

Hey, in Australia it is much the same (although admittedly with a lower standard deviation).

Most of the ones with robots shouldn't really have this problem, as long as the barista knows how to use the robot (and they use good beans and a good robot).

 

[Julesmac]

Look for Spanish/Cuban places, they know how to make decent coffee.

(imo most Melbourne coffee is pretty average anyway so Starbucks is probably fine if that's what you like

I immediately thought 'Opusman's a Sydneysider". Then I looked at your avatar. I can't believe you wrote Melbourne coffee, cough, and Starbucks in the same sentence, shame on you. ....have you had your first coffee yet?

 

[justful]

SFO and NYC/ brooklyn has plenty of options no ideas on the others but if I could get a decent flat white in Vermont you should be able to in the other cities- certainly as good as Port Macquarie!!
SFO-Blue Bottle and Cafe Trieste (just for the all round experience)- NYC no problems finding decent coffee
Nothing as good as my dual boiler- but the bagels made up for it.

 

[opusman]

You have to be a Melbournite to appreciate how overrated most Melbourne coffee is

 

[clazman]

You have to be a Melbournite to appreciate how overrated most Melbourne coffee is

Oh i thought you had to be a Melbournite to appreciate how overrated Melbourne is

 

[waimate01]

CoffeeSnobs.com.au -- and you know it's good, because it's got the ".au"

 

[irv]

CoffeeSnobs.com.au -- and you know it's good, because it's got the ".au"

Yes I am one of those, and proud of it

 

[theyallexist]

After a recent visit to LA, thought I would share some of the coffee locations I found 'decent'.

Paradocs Coffee and Tea
1032 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90019


The Refinery
413 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401


Stumptown (also in New York)
806 S Santa Fe Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90021


M Street Coffee
13251 Moorpark St
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
United States


Balconi Coffee Company
11301 W Olympic Blvd
Ste 124
Los Angeles, CA 90064

 

[slc767338]

QF lounges are bad enough for me.. I Can't stand Vittoria coffee!
Does that sort of attitude make me appear snobbish enough?

 

[irv]

After a recent visit to LA, thought I would share some of the coffee locations I found 'decent'.

Paradocs Coffee and Tea
1032 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90019


The Refinery
413 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401


Stumptown (also in New York)
806 S Santa Fe Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90021


M Street Coffee
13251 Moorpark St
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
United States


Balconi Coffee Company
11301 W Olympic Blvd
Ste 124
Los Angeles, CA 90064

Thanks will keep a note of these

 

[irv]

QF lounges are bad enough for me.. I Can't stand Vittoria coffee!
Does that sort of attitude make me appear snobbish enough?

Your also meant to praise some expensive brand no one has ever heard of, need to uplift the snob factor

 

[Spongbob]

Your also meant to praise some expensive brand no one has ever heard of, need to uplift the snob factor

And note the altitude at which the coffee is grown, and if the plantation is on the East or West side of the mountain.

 

[opusman]

LA also - Urth Caffee (multiple locations, we went to the one in Santa Monica) have nice coffee.

 

[Milboo]

My most recent trip to NYC in Feb was centred around locating a good cup of coffee every day and then going from there in the neighbourhood of choice!

Visited the following:
- Cafe Grumpy (found it a bit weaker) - a few around, I went to W20th
- Third Rail - Sullivan St just down from Washington Square Park in Greenwich
- Little Collins - this was my best one. Made better by the awesome owner Leon who opened the door and made us a coffee even though he was closed (it was the morning after Snowmaggedon!) - Lexington around E56th
- Happy Bones - Broome St, Little Italy
- Intelligentsia - in Urban Outfitters in Herald Square
- Oslo - UES but also Brooklyn - these have been my go to near my friends for 4 years now.
- Bluestone Lane - tucked off 6th/ Avenue of Americas near Bryant Park
- Stumptown - in lobby/ beside it in Ace Hotel - around W29th I think.

Generally had a good (not great) coffee from Eric Kaiser on the UES too.

Honestly did not have a bad coffee amongst them all - some were stronger, especially the true Aussie run places.

 

[irv]

My most recent trip to NYC in Feb was centred around locating a good cup of coffee every day and then going from there in the neighbourhood of choice!

Visited the following:
- Cafe Grumpy (found it a bit weaker) - a few around, I went to W20th
- Third Rail - Sullivan St just down from Washington Square Park in Greenwich
- Little Collins - this was my best one. Made better by the awesome owner Leon who opened the door and made us a coffee even though he was closed (it was the morning after Snowmaggedon!) - Lexington around E56th
- Happy Bones - Broome St, Little Italy
- Intelligentsia - in Urban Outfitters in Herald Square
- Oslo - UES but also Brooklyn - these have been my go to near my friends for 4 years now.
- Bluestone Lane - tucked off 6th/ Avenue of Americas near Bryant Park
- Stumptown - in lobby/ beside it in Ace Hotel - around W29th I think.

Generally had a good (not great) coffee from Eric Kaiser on the UES too.

Honestly did not have a bad coffee amongst them all - some were stronger, especially the true Aussie run places.

Thanks, your recommendations are noted, don't think we will have a problem in the cities, some of our stops on Cape Breton Island Canada maybe a bit more problematical. Might have to swap my poison at Glenora Distillery