Life or death in the USA- Decent Coffee

[irv]

We fly into SFO on 10 August 2015 and then around the USA and parts of Canada. My research to date has me worried, the last time we were in North America (actually Canada) we found a chain called Second Cup, actually not bad, full Expresso so we could survive.

In the USA we are in LA, San Francisco, Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Las Vegas, my online research shows a few places in New York run by Aussies delivering that type of Coffee, the other places have me worried, drip filter and pour over the top is not coffee in my opinion. Can anyone recommend where I should go to obtain a coffee that reflects what we drink here, NYC appears covered. Don't want headlines AFF subscriber arrested for coffee rage

 

[Deleted member]

I'm feeling your pain.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Intelligentsia (mainly Chicago but also other stores) is my go to place for coffee in the US.

 

[clazman]

tim hortons is the best of the bunch

 

[Boris spatsky]

tim hortons is the best of the bunch

I disagree - it's just like Hudsons here. Nothing special.

 

[DC3]

If you are just after a flat white, then go to Starbucks. They have Flat White now and it's similar to our flat white.

Even if Starbucks is not your thing, you may wish to at least try it. It may be the closest that you will get to finding a coffee that is acceptable. It tastes nothing like the usual US brewed coffee.

Not espresso of course.

 

[sjd]

Unfortunately Starbucks is the only option in most places, unless you can find the Aussies. One trick I learnt was to ask for a small strong (double shot) latte (I'd ask for the flat white now that they do it). In some Starbucks they would not even have the small size on the menu, but they would do it. Was less unacceptable than most other places. The filter stuff is almost always awful, but it is still coffee.

I actually got a half-way decent coffee at the bakery in Main Street, Disneyland using this technique, much to my delight.

 

[NM]

With most places in the USA, they are more focused on size than flavour. So even at places like Starbucks (if you really can't find an alternative) then I go for their smallest size and add at least one extra shot. They generally use a single shot in their "tall" size, which is actually larger than my normal morning coffee at home where I take a double shot. While the actual flavour and extraction of their coffee is ok, the weakness of their standard servings makes it undrinkable. So a "Tall Latte with an extra shot" is generally drinkable. This applies to most coffee establishments in the USA, not just Starbucks.

Try Peet's Coffee and Tea if you can find them. Originally in California, they can now be found in many states/cities. A nice alternative to Starbucks and a consistent product for a chain.

Store List | Peet's Coffee

 

[irv]

Thanks for the response, I don't know if you can describe Tim Hortons or Starbucks as coffee, will look out for Peets, think it is going to feel like a long holiday.

 

[clazman]

Try asking for a tea... Is like asking for a kidney

It will be served as iced or herbal

 

[RooFlyer]

Unfortunately Starbucks is the only option in most places, unless you can find the Aussies. One trick I learnt was to ask for a small strong (double shot) latte (I'd ask for the flat white now that they do it). In some Starbucks they would not even have the small size on the menu, but they would do it. Was less unacceptable than most other places. The filter stuff is almost always awful, but it is still coffee.

I actually got a half-way decent coffee at the bakery in Main Street, Disneyland using this technique, much to my delight.

+1 for the "double shot short latte" at Starbucks. Its not a bad espresso coffee in the absence of a professional barista.

But Tim Horton's coffee!!! Sorry clazman, you must be kidding (and I mean that in the nicest possible way! ) Either straight drippalator or machine produced sweet flavoured goo.


There are a number of good coffee shops I've found in western Canada, but they are rare. Will think about it and submit the list.

 

[Per_Travels]

Intelligentsia (mainly Chicago but also other stores) is my go to place for coffee in the US.

+1 for Intelligentsia - there's one in Old Pasadena (North East LA) that I always go to when in town.

 

[get me outta here]

I have a great one in The Lower East Side in NYC called, Berkli, almost next door to the Tennament Museum - trained by an Aussie, great flat whites. I agree re Starbucks, get the flat white, but in the smaller cup that they often don't have on show and it tastes quite good most of the time.

 

[BVT]

Try "Yelp" - download the app, if you don't have it already. It has never steered me wrong, at least as far as coffee is concerned.

Also see: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/d...ive-serving-breakfast.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

I have found good coffee in the most unlikely places in the LOTFAP, thanks largely to Yelp.

Good luck!

 

[opusman]

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

 

[Homer]

There's an iOS app called BeanHunter run by Aussies that rates coffee shops in the US. That might be helpful. As others have said, though, often Starbucks is the only nearby option. I drink a double macchiato and some coffee shops in Australia make that long or add more than a smear of milk and stuff that up but I have found that if you explain to a US Starbucks operator that you want them to load up a double-shot, press the double-shot button and then drop a teaspoon of foam in the top they will get reasonably close (i.e. it will look about right, though in the wrong cup size).

 

[irv]

I have both Yelp and Beanhunter on my phone, which is better?

 

[irv]

If you are just after a flat white, then go to Starbucks. They have Flat White now and it's similar to our flat white.

Even if Starbucks is not your thing, you may wish to at least try it. It may be the closest that you will get to finding a coffee that is acceptable. It tastes nothing like the usual US brewed coffee.

Not espresso of course.

There is flat white and there is Flat White My wife and I are those people who prefer a cup of Coffee before anything else. I remember staying in Edmonton, there was a Mac Cafe round the corner, thought firstly I would do the right thing and provide my wife with a coffee before any thing else. I supposed I hoped it might be like home, not good but it would do. When the girl had to pull out the instruction sheet to work the coffee machine I knew exactly what was coming :shock:

 

[Ausbt]

Starbucks ...Tall, Grande and Vente or whatever. I mean come on people! On the rare occasion I'm forced to submit, I simply state 'middle-sized please'. You can shove your jumbo, maxi, elephantine guzzle-guts-size back up the espresso pump, as far as I'm concerned. Same goes for 'piccolo'. And as far as milk goes, huh? Black. Long black. Two shots and water. And another thing: lids. Don't put a lid on it - destroys the crema. Stews the coffee. Awful.

Anyway, back OT: Oslo coffee in Brooklyn. Sure, might be a detour from your itinerary but otherwise you may struggle.

 

[clazman]

dont forget to ask for a medium coffee in a grande cup....