Snippet: "Reuters is reporting that many of America's major brands have been quietly tweaking their coffee blends. While most coffee companies consider their blends trade secrets, and are loath to disclose exactly what goes into them, both circumstantial and direct evidence suggests they're now substituting lower-grade Robusta beans for some of their pricier Arabica, and degrading the quality of our coffee."
Interesting article. Doesn't apply to us home roasters, but still it it has industry significance.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,671 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Thu Jun 21, 2012, 5:58am Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
Interesting but not unexpected. Consumer product makers are looking for ways to keep price down and with coffee, move to less expensive beans is the easiest way to do this. I would wager that to someone who loads their coffee up with cream and sugar, they may not notice, just add more stuff to the coffee. Isn't this also why *$ over roasts their beans, to make the flavor the same regardless of where you buy your coffee?
As an interesting side note, I have a book published by Starbucks a long time ago and they say all the same things we say here to get great coffee. It is too bad they have walked away from these basics.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Posted Thu Jun 21, 2012, 9:13am Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
calblacksmith Said:
Interesting but not unexpected. Consumer product makers are looking for ways to keep price down and with coffee, move to less expensive beans is the easiest way to do this. I would wager that to someone who loads their coffee up with cream and sugar, they may not notice, just add more stuff to the coffee. Isn't this also why *$ over roasts their beans, to make the flavor the same regardless of where you buy your coffee?
As an interesting side note, I have a book published by Starbucks a long time ago and they say all the same things we say here to get great coffee. It is too bad they have walked away from these basics.
They say their Pikes Place is what their first coffee tasted like; however I wonder if that really is so. It would be interesting to go back in time to see exactly how they roasted and served their first batch of beans they sold in that store.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
I would. However it would be on my way to the nearest stock brokerage so I could make a killing in futures.
Len
"Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water." ~The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674
Posted Tue Jun 26, 2012, 4:20am Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
If a coffee advertises as "100% Arabica Coffee" then for those blends, it would be a moot point, right? We all know that canned ground coffee is blended with robusta - so for those drinking Maxwell House, Folgers, Sam's Club, etc. - those would be the ones affected.
------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------- Le café doit être noir comme le diable, chaud comme l'enfer, pur comme un ange, et doux comme l'amour.
"There is no right answer with coffee. There is only the elixir in your cup at the moment you partake."
"...I often say that when you can measure what you are speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know something about it; but when you cannot measure it, when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge is of a meagre and unsatisfactory kind;..." - Lord Kelvin RECIPES thread => http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/machines/585708
msboo Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Posts: 107 Location: Kentucky Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Drip: Bonavita
Posted Sun Mar 24, 2013, 6:03pm Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
Just happened upon this thread. Read that article online a month ago, although published last summer. I'm one of those former drinkers of major brand pre-ground coffee sold in cans available at grocery stores. I have always added cream/sugar to my coffee, but not "loaded up". Never was a *$ fan either, too burned and bitter!
November 2012..... couldn't drink my usual coffee, suddenly horrible, yek. Opened a new blue can, no coffee smell. Ran to the store to buy the other major brand in red can, got home, opened that up---same thing.
Went online, found this site and started learning. Brewing in Bonavita 7 days later---lucky to have local roaster here for fresh ground from fresh beans BUT researched grinders and got one.
Those big companies really have been "tweeking" their coffee, no telling what's in those cans now---surely done little by little so not a big change for consumers all at once. Wonder how this will effect those major brands within the next months or year. Some brands stated "100% Arabica Coffee" on the can (of blended whatever), they ALL now say "100% Pure Coffee".
Are others experiencing what I did not so long ago? AND if so what are they doing now?
Now I know most of you guys have been drinking better coffee for a long while. I also know what I used to drink, when it tasted like coffee, wouldn't hold a candle to the good stuff I'm now drinking. Even with a little cream/sugar added, I want to taste good coffee in my cup.
This forum saved my morning coffee, something I cherish. THANKS to all of you here for your experience and patience in helping me with my coffee. Your help was and continues to be greatly appreciated.
Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013, 9:03pm Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
Well (I'm from Nashville), we're glad you found CG. Our members here are 2nd to none when it comes to sharing what we know. After all, for many, it was not that long ago we were right where you were, maybe worse. Glad you're with us!
Posted Tue Mar 26, 2013, 9:06pm Subject: Re: "Why Your Coffee Isn't Tasting as Good Lately"
Rebecca, neighbor (I'm from Nashville), we're glad you found CG. Our members here are 2nd to none when it comes to sharing what we know. After all, for many, it was not that long ago we were right where you were, maybe worse. Glad you're with us!
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 