Wednesday, July 9, 2008

What're We Drinking This Morning ?

On a more light-hearted note, there's a hoary old joke about coffee being the "eighth sacrament" of TEC. So is it true ? We all coffee junkies ? :)

Use the comment section and let us all know what you're drinking this morning. I'll start it off with the mug of Yorkshire Gold tea I've got in my hand right now (with sugar and milk, 'natch). Tho' I'm also a big fan of good coffee, my current favorite being the Yemeni Mocha from Sweet Maria's (when I can get it).

42 comments:

Frank Remkiewicz aka “Tree” said...

Currently drinking fair trade dark roast Yuban but I have and serve Bishop's Blend to my friends. Would you all like a cup?

Fr Craig said...

sorry, just folgers - the 'church ladies' here aren't interested in any sissy 'fair trade' stuff, and I'm old enough to know not to piss off my 'LOL's'

Coffee is mandatory - but I suspect that it is and 'age' thing - my daughters don't drink coffee in the AM, but are proud of their gourmet habits later in the day.

Oddly, this is the only church I've been at (been rector 2 years) that doesn't have a 'coffee hour.' Trying to figure out how to change that...

Wormwood's Doxy said...

We all coffee junkies?

Some of us are tea junkies. Can we still hang out here?

fs said...

Peet's French Roast, half caf, half decaf (migraine prevention measure), freshly ground and filtered, though even with these efforts, it never tastes as good as the that thick, dark, rich potion they brew at Peet's.

I often wish I were the more "pure" type who could get by on such "innocent" beverages as green tea or even something without caffeine in the morning, but, alas, my coarse nature prevails.

fs said...

X-post with/Doxy, on whom I now look wistfully. ;-)

Wormwood's Doxy said...

fs---I drink the strongest black tea I can find, with tons of sugar and cream. Coffee tastes bitter to me (no matter how much milk and sugar I put in it), but I HAVE to have my caffeine/sugar hit every morning or I can't function.

It used to be Diet Cokes all day after the tea, but the acid reflux killed that. I miss Diet Cokes with a deep and passionate longing....

fs said...

Yeah, Diet Coke can be addicting. (Umm, just thinking about it brings that little back-of-the-mouth craving...) But I thought you Southerners were all about Dr. Pepper. A former southern friend even served me Dr. Pepper hot with a lemon slice as a Christmas drink once.

Lynn said...

Dark roast Cafe Britt from Costa Rica. Yes, fair trade - and roasted in-country rather than exporting the raw beans for processing.

Wormwood's Doxy said...

That is just wrong, fs.

Southerners are really all about sweet iced tea. That was the best thing about moving to NC from DC---I could get sweet tea in restaurants. That, and good BBQ. (I'm not trying to start the BBQ wars again, I swear!)

Anonymous said...

I don't drink coffee, except for an occasional cappuccino. I drink tea, with milk if it's black tea.

This morning: Stash fusion breakfast (green and black blend with just a hint of macha).

For the heavily caffeinated (Doxy), Stash now makes a double-strength Irish Breakfast tea.

IT

Wormwood's Doxy said...

IT is my new best friend...

David said...

BTW, I usually do the half-caf thing in the morning with our coffee, too. My favorite is a 50/50 blend of Yemeni Mocha or Ethiopian Sidamo beans with Decaf Sumatra or Java Estate ("Mocha-Java," the original coffee blend).

And yeah, whether coffee or tea, cream & sugar is a must :)

BTW, if anyone likes a really stout black tea that stands up to cream & sugar, I still recommend Yorkshire Gold :) Unfortunately, every box of Stash tea I've ever tried has been kind of stale, but maybe they just don't "turn over" fast enough in the stores around here...

Anonymous said...

I'm addicted to diet coke.

Anonymous said...

Well, David, you ARE in TX....

IT

Ann said...

Currently drinking ER-D's Kaldi's Roast - Ethiopian/Sumatran blend

Anonymous said...

In the morning I have a cuppa Earl Grey with Lavendar (real leaves, real lavendar flowers), black, brewed four minutes in water just before the boil.

In the afternoon, Two Leaves and a Bud Assam, a nice malty black Indian tea which just cries out for milk and sugar. This one thrives on the water just coming to the full boil, steeped five minutes. Slight reddish tinge to the color. Oh I can't wait to get home - 3 more hours to tea!

Pam said...

So happy to see this site. Not so happy that I have not had a cup of coffee yet. Could account for the headache. You have inspired me to go make a pot - using French Roast beans from our local Coffee House.

David said...

Mmmm...the Assam sounds good :) This was the variety that my co-workers from India suggested I might like as well.

Ashley said...

Since I'm on a 'diet' for now, I'm doing many diet cokes thru the day. Although before the 'diet' I would love nothing more than a nice, cold, fountain Coke!!

I do drink some water in the form of crystal light flavored water, but at least that's better than no water.

I live in NC too and love my sweet tea. But since I am doing the 'diet' thing, no more of that. Unsweet even with Splenda, isn't worth it. It doesn't hold a candle to the real thing!!

Mike in Texas said...

We usually have Starbuck's Verona or Yukon blends around here.

At the moment, however, we decided to try the Dunkin Doughnuts coffee that's said to be good. It sucks.

Jake said...

Starbucks Verona. Beans kept in freezer and ground fresh each morning. We use an electric percolator. I know, old fashion, but it makes a darn good cup of coffee, much better than drip, although not quite as good as the fancy expresso machines.

Yesterday I ordered 6 pounds of Bishop's Blend Kaldi roast. Looking forward to that!

johnieb said...

Sumatra in a medium dark roast from my local roaster, from a French Press pot, usually without cream or sugar.

Hey, as long as it has that "mild speed lift" George Carlin used to talk about, I'm not close-minded.

And, David, would ya list me on the right hand wall of semi-infamy? I only gots the one.

David G. said...

Christ Jake, you sound like Granny!!

Perked coffee is the best!!

That's her motto for coffee anyway..lol.

I seldom make it, ..because she gets w i l d on it,...as if her normal self wasn't enough, for my loser self.

David said...

And, David, would ya list me on the right hand wall of semi-infamy? I only gots the one.

Oops, sorry. There now :)

Anonymous said...

At my mom's we tried out a Bialetti Mukka stovetop cappuccino maker. This made an excellent cup of cap plus had a certain...excitement to the process.

But at home we drink tea.

IT

David G. said...

Sweet Tea here..a Florida Addiction!!
or it seems,..cause everyone I know ...(other than myself) ...drinks sweet tea,..(and you can tell by their teeth..lol!!

You think English teeth are bad, visit the south, where every other person looks like Meth Mouth.

episcopalifem said...

I usually drink tea..but this morning I had an Iced Latte from Dunkin Donuts...it was gooood!

Anonymous said...

I'm with Doxy on the tea, but without milk/cream or sugar. straight up only.

My morning cup this morning was an organic Heng Ru China Congou. Right now I'm relaxing with Summer Strawberry from Whitard's of Chelsea (caffeine keeps me up at night, so I have to do herbals after dinner)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm.

A friend took me to MacDonald's yesterday - here in Wisconsin. And (incredulous) they have added "Sweet Tea" to their menu!

Is the South creeping North?

My usual is iced green tea with a splash of lemon!

Anonymous said...

Currently, "stash" (I think) double Earl Grey homebrewed iced tea, no sugar, in AM and PM at the effectively air-conditioner-less flat. (Must.Go.To.Home.Depot.Sat.)

Office teas, whatever I have laying about, mostly bags: jasmine (Yamamotoyama), mango black (Trader Joes), Earl Grey (Twining loose), whole-leaf green (Kowa loose), and god forbid I should bring in my "popcorn tea" (green tea with puffed rice - genmai cha).

Heading soon to import store to stock up on the non-caffeinated iced "tea" I like, roast barley (mugi cha - no Camellia sinensis involved). Grainy, like beer without the alcohol and hops.

I like coffee but have been a little lazy recently. Yes, making espresso in one of those Italian hexagonal-cross-section aluminum pressure cooker stovetop coffeepots is a hoot.

Summer weekend afternoons: Ginger beer, or if unavailable, good old Vernor's Ginger Ale.

NancyP

Padre Mickey said...

When I lived in the U.S.A., I drank Ethiopian Harrar and Kenya AA. But since I moved to Panamá, I only drink Panamanian coffee. When I go to California to visit family and friends, I bring lots of Panamanian coffee so I won't have to drink that Colombian swill that the U.S. brands feature.

My favorite Panamanian brand is Del Fino, but when I can't find that I drink Palo Alto. But even the worst Panmanian coffee is better than the the stuff they sell in el supermercados en los estados unidos de america.

Saint Pat said...

I loved the coffee I got in Honduras. It had a rich, hearty flavor, without being acidic. I've been tempted to order it online, but wonder how good it would be, once shipped.

Padre, when we lived in Panama, we used to get the REAL Colombian coffee, and it was so good. Not the stuff you buy in the states.

I also like the Costa Rican coffees. I like a nice French roast.

I'm not a coffee purist - I'll try different brands and different blends. Fair trade and who knows what. Sometimes I'm disappointed of course.

I also love strong hot tea, with milk; sugar optional. A slug of gin is good in it when you have a cold!

I love iced tea, too, on a warm day.

Maybe I'm just a caffeine lover. (Sigh) I gave up Diet Coke - for about a week. I'm weak.

James said...

Postum. LOL Anyone remember taht. Unfortunately I drank nothing until after 2 p.m. I had medical tests this morning and all required taht I fast from 6 p.m. last night.

However, had I had a beverage this morning, it would have been tea. Brewed fresh from loose leaves.

Muthah+ said...

Whatever I can get in the drive thru.

Anonymous said...

Upon unloading my dish drainer Saturday morning, I broke my coffee carafe (of a Black&Decker coffee maker JUST purchased in December, after a careful search: it's "last year's" model, which I liked much better than this year's).

I swear, I let out a squawl like a baby! :-(..

Until I get another carafe, I've been roughing it :-( w/ gas station coffee.

When I'm brewing again, I'll be using a blend of 75% Java Time (the BEST bargain in coffee---$3 for almost 2 pounds of Arabica!---when I can get it at Big Lots) and 25% storebrand decaf (currently "Spartan"). While both come pre-ground, I grind 'em further before brewing.

God, I miss my coffee-maker. Jonesing, jonesing, jonesing! }:-0

Anonymous said...

Trader Joe's Fair Trade Columbian, medium dark roast, brewed in a French press.

My feelings about North Carolina sweet tea and BBQ are exactly the opposite of Doxy's--they were the most unpleasant surprises of my 1.5 years living there, and I carefully avoid them when back on business!

LM in OH

Jr. said...

Newman's Own Organics -- Nell's Breakfast Blend -- Light Roast.

It has become important to me to drink fair trade coffee, in a riff on the "Do one green thing" movement. Drinking fair trade (and paying a lot more for it) is one tiny thing that I can do. I tried the Yuban and didn't like it. (It was pushed off the shelf of my supermarket by the Newman's Own varieties anyway.)

Mid morning I often drink a cup of General Foods International Coffees Dark Mayan Chocolate. I know, it's probably "yuck" to coffee purists. It's a cup of chocolate, not a cup of coffee. I'm trying to train myself to have a relaxation response when I drink it. Something has to calm me down after I read the Anglican blogs.

James said...

David; YORKSHIRE GOLD? Are ye daf' mawn? It's no but PG Tips lad! Yorkshire Gold is nay good for naught buh feedin' ta mah shape. On thawn it mawks thaw wool a fun'y wee cool'er.

PG Tips, mawn!

David said...

I've had PG Tips and like it. The Yorkshire just seems to brew up a bit "stouter" - stands up well to milk & sugar. But I'll certainly buy PG Tips if I can't find the other...

I've also tried "Lifeboat Tea," and it was pleasing stout as well, but a bit too acidic for my taste.

Whatever I choose, I have to bring my own to work. They only have Lipton tea bags in the break room :/

And yes, I'm quite daft, thank you ;)

fs said...

Yeah, I knew about the sweet iced tea thing down South, Doxy. It was your comment about Diet Coke that brought Dr. Pepper to mind. Actually the friend who told me about it is from Missouri, which doesn't look very "southern" on the map, does it? More like mid-west. Oh, and I thought of beautiful North Carolina today when a bookmark from Malaprop's bookstore in Asheville turned up. Nice memories.

Jake, I used to freeze coffee beans until I read on some coffee connoisseur site that you shouldn't freeze them. Now I just buy small quantities and keep them in an airtight rubber seal jar. Thanks for the suggestion of percolating, I might try it. Another way to get really good, strong, raw coffee flavor is from a coffee press. I have one ($12 from IKEA), and use it occasionally, but read somewhere that coffee brewed that way can aggravate high cholesterol conditions. (Sometimes it seems like we suffer from too much information.)

For green tea drinkers, Martha Stewart recommends steeping the tea with cucumber slices and borage, and straining out the latter before refrigerating, for a refreshing iced tea. Green tea is good for pretty much whatever ails you; it's a wonder drink.

Anonymous said...

I found a carafe today at Goodwill! {Happy Dance, Happy Caffeinated Dance!}

Anyone here make "Refrigerator Tea"? (which used to be "Sun Tea", before we were warned---speaking of TMI!---too many bacteria could grow in it out in the sun)

While the specifics for me vary, Refrigerator Tea (made in a 64 oz. bottle) is always 1 bag green tea, 1 bag fruity-herbal tea, and 3 bags black tea. I rarely drink it as straight, instead mixing it w/ various things (water, juices---even beer!) throughout the day. I go through a bottle every few days...

...and then at some point the bottle will last for a couple of weeks, and I'll know that "Refrigerator Tea Season" is over for another year (and I'll dig the teapot out from the back of the cabinet ;-/).

[What someone said: TRY taking "Word Verification" down for a week, and see what happens? If it's Spamorama, 'kay, I give: put it back up. If not...]

Ann said...

Yes - I make sun tea and refrigerator tea but the easiest is to make a very strong cup of tea the regular way and then pour it over ice. Quick and delicious.