Coffee questions

[mj1]

My grandmother told me a few years ago that there was a type of coffee that was somewhat addictive. Is that true? If so, what type is it? Whatever kind she was talking about wasn't a common coffee and I think it's expensive.

Since we're talking about coffee, can anyone tell me what their opinions are on arabica coffee? I received some Starbucks arabica coffee as a gift and I think it's the most horrendus coffee I've ever had. It says to use 2 tbsp. per 6 oz. cup, and that is way too strong. I had a cup earlier today and for 2 hrs I felt like I was bouncing off the walls. I couldn't stay focused at all, my thoughts were all over the place. I find that interesting because I read that arabica coffee doesn't have much caffeine in it. Then after 2 hrs I felt like I was brain dead. I wonder what I'll feel like later.

I normally use Kirkland (Costco's) colombian coffee and use 1 1/2 tbsp. with 24 oz. of water. I don't know how much that makes though.

[GB]

I think we would need more info to answer your first question. Assuming it is not decaf, all coffee could be considered addictive.

[Bigjim68]

Originally Posted by mj1

My grandmother told me a few years ago that there was a type of coffee that was somewhat addictive. Is that true? If so, what type is it? Whatever kind she was talking about wasn't a common coffee and I think it's expensive.

Since we're talking about coffee, can anyone tell me what their opinions are on arabica coffee? I received some Starbucks arabica coffee as a gift and I think it's the most horrendus coffee I've ever had. It says to use 2 tbsp. per 6 oz. cup, and that is way too strong. I had a cup earlier today and for 2 hrs I felt like I was bouncing off the walls. I couldn't stay focused at all, my thoughts were all over the place. I find that interesting because I read that arabica coffee doesn't have much caffeine in it. Then after 2 hrs I felt like I was brain dead. I wonder what I'll feel like later.

I normally use Kirkland (Costco's) colombian coffee and use 1 1/2 tbsp. with 24 oz. of water. I don't know how much that makes though.

24 ounces of water makes 2 12 oz cups. Most anything can be addictive.

I've never been a fan of Starbucks coffees. I too use, among others, Costco Columbia Supremo coffee. If the recommended proportions are too strong for you, try using less. Starbucks has many coffees ranging from relatively mild to very dark roast.

[nikki]

Originally Posted by mj1

My grandmother told me a few years ago that there was a type of coffee that was somewhat addictive. Is that true? If so, what type is it? Whatever kind she was talking about wasn't a common coffee and I think it's expensive.

Since we're talking about coffee, can anyone tell me what their opinions are on arabica coffee? I received some Starbucks arabica coffee as a gift and I think it's the most horrendus coffee I've ever had. It says to use 2 tbsp. per 6 oz. cup, and that is way too strong. I had a cup earlier today and for 2 hrs I felt like I was bouncing off the walls. I couldn't stay focused at all, my thoughts were all over the place. I find that interesting because I read that arabica coffee doesn't have much caffeine in it. Then after 2 hrs I felt like I was brain dead. I wonder what I'll feel like later.

I normally use Kirkland (Costco's) colombian coffee and use 1 1/2 tbsp. with 24 oz. of water. I don't know how much that makes though.

Hmm... I've only found that I really enjoy the espresso blends at Starbucks (the ones they add to all of their snooty beverages ), or the Christmas blend that came around this year for Christmas '09... That was a wonderful spicy blend that suited my tastes...

As for coffee being addictive, all products containing caffeine can become addictive. It's a physical addiction in what it does to your blood vessels and all that jazz, also with perking you up, then you "crash"... Much like a drug. (But it's oh so wonderful hahahah)

With arabica and columbian, there is a huge taste difference. It comes with the acidity levels of each type of bean though... So you could have one arabica coffee bean that is slightly more bitter than another one... It just really depends on what you buy. I've always prefered columbian over arabica myself, but have found a few different brands that have arabica that I really enjoy... So it all comes down to trial and error with that I find... I have found that Starbucks is really just good at the whole "fancy coffee beverage" area, and isn't as great when it comes to just plain "coffee".
One coffee that I LOVE is Kicking Horse coffee... (Specific ones: "Kick A$$", and there's another one, 464 Horsepower --or something like that--...) It's an organic fair trade coffee, and has such great flavour in every cup brewed... <3

[Andy M.]

Almost all coffee, including coffee from Colombia, is made with arabica beans. The difference is in how it's roasted.

If your accustomed to using 1 1/2 tablespoons for 24 ounces of water, then using 2 tablespoons for 6 ounces will certainly taste way too strong. That works out to 8 tablespoons for 24 ounces of water!

Use the Starbucks coffee in the same amount as you usually do and then compare.

[Selkie]

Originally Posted by Andy M.

Almost all coffee, including coffee from Colombia, is made with arabica beans. The difference is in how it's roasted....

Actually most of the older brands (Hills Bros., Maxwell House, Community Coffee, etc.) use robusto or robusto arabica blend coffee. Robusto is the cheaper, more bitter coffee that America fell in love with during its first 150 years. Pure Arabica was considered too difficult (production-wise) and too expensive to use by itself even though it was a fuller flavor and smooth tasting coffee until it became featured by specialty or "gourmet" shops such as Starbucks. It broke the "50 cents for a cup of coffee standard" that we had become used to, and jumped to $3.50 a cup of Latte because the yuppies could afford it. It now accounts for about 75% of the worlds production of coffee, up from 15% at the beginning of the 20th century. There are also 24 other types of coffee produced, but in very small quantities.

And as for production, Brazil and Vietnam out produce Columbia by 6:1, followed by Indonesia, Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Uganda, etc. for 39 more countries.

[babetoo]

yes,it is addictive and raises your blood pressure. i love folgers breakfast blend.

[DaveSoMD]

I like Starbucks Christmas Blend and Winter Blend. They are my seasonal weekend coffees. I usually drink what ever is on sale.. Maxwell House or Folgers, although I prefer Chock-full-o-Nuts but that never seems to bee on sale.

FYI - the darker the roast of coffee the less caffine it has. So a dark french roast, although stronger in taste, has less caffine than say a light roast "breakfast blend"

[Bigjim68]

Originally Posted by DaveSoMD

I like Starbucks Christmas Blend and Winter Blend. They are my seasonal weekend coffees. I usually drink what ever is on sale.. Maxwell House or Folgers, although I prefer Chock-full-o-Nuts but that never seems to bee on sale.

FYI - the darker the roast of coffee the less caffine it has. So a dark french roast, although stronger in taste, has less caffine than say a light roast "breakfast blend"

I think that when coffee is weighed, dark roasted has slightly more caffeine due to the beans losing more of their moisture. By volume, light has more caffeine. Beans expand when roasted. Dark more than lighter roasts. Most commercial per serving packages are weighed, home cooks usually scoop. You are actually using less coffee. Roasting does not change caffeine content, only volume and weight.

[Andy M.]

I usually buy Dunkin Donuts coffees ($6.00 a pound on sale or at Costco). The two types I have on hand now are 100% Arabica beans. I don't consider them to be gourmet coffees but they are good. I especially like their newer Dark Roast.