One of the reasons is that Germans make their coffee much stronger than Americans (or at least I) do: when I watched my father-in-law make coffee for us, I saw that he used just on double the amount of coffee that I do. After he started making a pot just for the German and myself, we started being able to drink it, with the addition of milk and sweetener. But still, we didn't actually like the taste of the coffee and there was no way that I would drink it dark or black. I bought coffee from Dunkin' Donuts (by preference) and sometimes from Starbucks, but it was expensive and required special trips (I don't regularly go to either of those places).
Every now and then someone would offer me coffee that they said was good (and expensive), but I didn't think so.
Finally I have found a coffee that is mild and flavorful and it's not expensive: Movenpick 100% Arabica. Yeah! If you miss American coffee, give it a try. It doesn't replace my Jamaica Blue Mountain (to buy that here I would need to be made of money) but it's a good cuppa Joe.
(added to page of Things I like)
6 comments:
Funny, for us the reverse is true. When we lived in the States we craved shipments of good coffee from Germany, and when we moved here it was like coming to coffee heaven!
Even today when we visit my folks, we always bring an espresso cooker and our own beans, because otherwise all we get is decaffeinated brown water. :-)
What's even more interesting is the automatic machines, like the Nepresso ones. They are set differently here and in the US (I used to audit a company that made one), to the tastes of the countries in which they are sold.
Have you tried just adding a little hot water to standard German coffee? We drink strong coffee, so when my mom comes to stay she always adds hot water to hers. Espresso + hot water is what our Australian friends call a long black.
But I don't want watered down esspresso, and bad esspresso. If I wanted that, I would have a latte macchiato, which is made with esspresso. The problem is not just the strength, it's that I don't like German coffee. Even what I am told is "good" German coffee. I assume I don't like the mix and the way the beans are roasted. Movenpick is Swiss coffee and I think it tastes good. I even make it stronger and drink it light- because the beans taste good, although not like the delight that was my Costco Jamaica Blue beans.
Coffee is like a national pastime here. I am a tea drinker by nature but occasionally I feel like a coffee - I have a jar of instant coffee hidden at the back of the cupboard for those special moments. I quite like Caro coffee - not sure what it is made from, but even the kids drink it. Makes a change.
remind me to bring you some blue mountain when i come over...
Post a Comment