Non-alcoholic Drinks

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm still disappointed that they killed Caribou Coffee in the DC area.  Caribou had many outstanding medium roasts, gone now. 

Also, it's shocking how much $ was spent first on the buildout of Caribou stores, with all the exposed beams and northern camp lodge theme, only to be gutted and rebuilt to Peet's chocolate/coffee colors inside.  What a waste.  Good work for the builders though.

I'm not as heavy a coffee drinker as a tea drinker, but Caribou had the best coffee (mind you, I still like Dunkins more, but that is totally out of loyalty to NE tradition).  There's still a Caribou mail order available as a separate label.  I hope it is the same stuff.  Peets is apparently renovating all their stores, not just converting the Caribous, according to a friend who works in an old Boston-area store.  Honestly, I thought the new look was an awful lot like the Caribous, except maybe a darker stain on the wood and a smoother surface.  The old Peets had more granite counter tops and tile floors.

I like Peets dark roasts better than Starbucks, but I can't get much beyond knowing I like Sumatran coffee the best of what I've tried. 

[OldChelsea]

Meanwhile, coffee mediocrity marches on: the first-ever Starbucks in Arlington's Columbia Pike is due to open any day now, right across the street from our neighbourhood Rappahannock Coffee.

[Natsinpwc]

Enjoying some Kona Chocolate Macadamia coffee this morning from the French Press. Brand is Hawaiian Isles. Good stuff. The in laws mailed to us a while back. I also enjoy Lion brand coffee that they send.

[tomterp]

Meanwhile, coffee mediocrity marches on: the first-ever Starbucks in Arlington's Columbia Pike is due to open any day now, right across the street from our neighbourhood Rappahannock Coffee.

In fairness to Starbucks however, they almost single handedly created the gourmet coffee industry and sparked demand for quality.  And consider that if Starbucks is mediocre now, think how much higher the mediocre bar is now than say 1977.  In that era you might say 7/11 was mediocre and Dunkin' Donuts was great.

[GburgNatsFan]

Even 7/11 coffee has improved dramatically.

In fairness to Starbucks however, they almost single handedly created the gourmet coffee industry and sparked demand for quality.  And consider that if Starbucks is mediocre now, think how much higher the mediocre bar is now than say 1977.  In that era you might say 7/11 was mediocre and Dunkin' Donuts was great.

[tomterp]

Even 7/11 coffee has improved dramatically.

And Dunkin, and McD's.  Everyone had to raise their game to competed.  Maybe somebody else would have come along to awaken this sleeping giant but all the little mom and pop coffee shops owe their very existence to Starbucks, who created their market for them.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Dunkin' has always been sublime. 

This cold brew crap really gets my hackles up though...like makes me want to go all Bomber Harris.  If it ain't hot, it ain't coffee. 

(to prove my bad-taste cred, I have a microwave and have on occasion been known to eat Chipotle and drink Bud).

[tomterp]

Dunkin' has always been sublime. 

This cold brew crap really gets my hackles up though...like makes me want to go all Bomber Harris.  If it ain't hot, it ain't coffee. 

(to prove my bad-taste cred, I have a microwave and have on occasion been known to eat Chipotle and drink Bud).

you forgot the 

[HalfSmokes]

I'm utterly convinced Starbucks introduced their new drip coffee to make it unpalatable enough that people would just order espresso drinks

[mitlen]

Dunkin' has always been sublime. 

This cold brew crap really gets my hackles up though...like makes me want to go all Bomber Harris.  If it ain't hot, it ain't coffee. 

(to prove my bad-taste cred, I have a microwave and have on occasion been known to eat Chipotle and drink Bud).

you forgot the 

Real old guys never had cold brew coffee and don't know what Chipolte is.     

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I stay away from DD cold brew, but their Iced Coffees are on an IV drip into anyone from the Northeast during the summer. Heck, when I go to the DD near my brother's house (ok, there's at least 5 within a 10 minute drive), and I order a medium during the winter, they still ask "hot or iced?" because folks up there drink it year-round.

[Natsinpwc]

I stay away from DD cold brew, but their Iced Coffees are on an IV drip into anyone from the Northeast during the summer. Heck, when I go to the DD near my brother's house (ok, there's at least 5 within a 10 minute drive), and I order a medium during the winter, they still ask "hot or iced?" because folks up there drink it year-round.

Yea. I tried the cold brew and it's not good and certainly not worth the money. Their regular iced coffee is fine. The best place I have found for cold brew is a coffee shop here in Cincy. $11 for a growler bottle of concentrate. Not bad.

[Natsinpwc]

Real old guys never had cold brew coffee and don't know what Chipolte is.     

I drink it to stay young. 😄

[GburgNatsFan]

I guarantee you've had cold brew, even if you didn't know it. It's really popular in the food service industry. Burger King sells (hot) cold brew. Anywhere with one of those machines that chugs out coffee where you can't see where the reservoir is. Brewing it cold is just a way of making coffee concentrate. Machine coffee that isn't instant.

Real old guys never had cold brew coffee and don't know what Chipolte is.     

[mitlen]

I guarantee you've had cold brew, even if you didn't know it. It's really popular in the food service industry. Burger King sells (hot) cold brew. Anywhere with one of those machines that chugs out coffee where you can't see where the reservoir is. Brewing it cold is just a way of making coffee concentrate. Machine coffee that isn't instant.

I don't drink a lot of coffee.    Mostly when I ride the MC in cold weather.    Don't think I've ever been to Burger King.    Is Dunkin Donuts cold brew?     I had a cup there one time when I was at the HD dealer in Dumfries.     When I drink coffee at home, I use Folger individual serve baggies with a packet of Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate.     Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm     However, if I had known coffee had such a kick, I could have saved a lot of money on drugs.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

You'd think the cartels would buy up the coffee plantations and uproot everything.  Maybe dump agent orange.   

However, if I had known coffee had such a kick, I could have saved a lot of money on drugs.

[mitlen]

You'd think the cartels would buy up the coffee plantations and uproot everything.  Maybe dump agent orange.   

The odd thing is I never drank coffee in the Army or any other of the places young folks started back in the day ...  studying (of course I never studied), workin', etc.    In fact, my coffee experience probably began in my mid-50s.    I was just amazed at the buzz from a lil ol cup 'o Joe.

[tomterp]

The odd thing is I never drank coffee in the Army or any other of the places young folks started back in the day ...  studying (of course I never studied), workin', etc.    In fact, my coffee experience probably began in my mid-50s.    I was just amazed at the buzz from a lil ol cup 'o Joe.

Kind of like that first beer buzz.  It takes quite a few more than 1 now.

[mitlen]

Kind of like that first beer buzz.  It takes quite a few more than 1 now.

Indeed.    I don't even mess with just one.     

[tomterp]

Indeed.    I don't even mess with just one.     

Go straight to #3.

[GburgNatsFan]

Dunkin's standard coffee is not cold brew.

You'll know cold brew because it smells *exactly* like you think coffee should taste. And it tastes nothing like that. Cold brew is very much lower in acid than hot water brewed coffee.

I don't drink a lot of coffee.    Mostly when I ride the MC in cold weather.    Don't think I've ever been to Burger King.    Is Dunkin Donuts cold brew?     I had a cup there one time when I was at the HD dealer in Dumfries.     When I drink coffee at home, I use Folger individual serve baggies with a packet of Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate.     Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm     However, if I had known coffee had such a kick, I could have saved a lot of money on drugs.

[mitlen]

Dunkin's standard coffee is not cold brew.

You'll know cold brew because it smells *exactly* like you think coffee should taste. And it tastes nothing like that. Cold brew is very much lower in acid than hot water brewed coffee.

Can I specifically ask for it?    I'd like to try it for a comparison.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Can I specifically ask for it?    I'd like to try it for a comparison.

yes, they have both now.  If you are just trying it, don't try the salt and sweet version they've just added.  You want to figure out the basic flavor before you get super-foofoo.

[mitlen]

yes, they have both now.  If you are just trying it, don't try the salt and sweet version they've just added.  You want to figure out the basic flavor before you get super-foofoo.

Where do I get it?   

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Where do I get it?   

any dunkins.