Espresso News and Reviews – TheShot.coffeeratings.com

The mainstream media barely understand that qualitative differences exist between really good coffee, good coffee, and average coffee — let alone that some of the differences might be worth shelling out a few extra bucks on. CNN is one of the more recent outlets to ponder the differences: $13 coffee worth the brew-haha? – CNN.com. [...]

Tags: Barista, coffee_prices, coffee_quality, jay_caragay, kopi_luwak, media, nespresso, panama_esmeralda, portafilter.net, restaurant_espresso, spro

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Because it is patently uncool for legitimate coffee professionals to gush over gag novelties for coffee tourists — i.e., kopi luwak — the media needs an alternative outlet to feed its overly simplistic “since it’s the most expensive, it must be the best” obsession. This is what we once called the nouveau riche stereotype: knowing [...]

Tags: coffeeratings, coffee_cupping, coffee_growers, colombia_coffee, media, panama_coffee, panama_esmeralda

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Saveur is one among many “gourmet” food, wine, and travel magazines (as much as we hate that hackneyed 80′s word) — but with a specific focus on international cuisines. “Saveur” being French for “flavor”. Now whether “Saveur Sav” would be a clock-and-beret-wearing member of France’s answer to Public Enemy is still up for debate. (Oui, [...]

Tags: 49th_parallel, counter_culture_coffee, gimme_coffee, intelligentsia, metropolis_coffee, panama_esmeralda, peets_coffee, sant_eustachio, stumptown, third_wave, wine_analogy

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In the “unclear on the concept” department, this weekend’s Toronto Star published an article that, in its opening paragraph, mentioned “coffee’s elevated status as the new wine.” However, it then proceeded to discuss coffee-pod-based home espresso machines in the same context: TheStar.com | living | Specialty coffees become the new wine. This is as incongruous [...]

Tags: coffee_freshness, coffee_pods, home_espresso, keurig, nespresso, panama_esmeralda, paper_cups, single_serving_coffee, wine_analogy

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The post title is the question of the day. If I may paraphrase an old quote from a previous post — where we asked, “How does the fool who knows nothing about wine impress his guests?” — the answer is: by buying the most expensive coffee they can find — along with a good story [...]

Tags: equator_estate, french_laundry, kopi_luwak, panama_esmeralda, restaurant_coffee, wine_analogy

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Walking in to a Peet’s Coffee & Tea last week, I noticed they are once again offering their supply of Panama Esmeralda Geisha as a roast-dated “Reserve” coffee. We wrote about this coffee varietal last month (and also in 2006). It has consistently sold at record auction prices, and it has won numerous awards for [...]

Tags: coffee_beans, coffee_prices, coffee_roasting, panama_coffee, panama_esmeralda, peets_coffee, vac_pot

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