The office coffee

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Why why why is it so bad?????

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Because it's cheaper that way. Lock thread.

― Kenan (kenan), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Office coffee's awful but
Donuts and coffee fill your gut
Till pants you bought so loosely cut
Strain to contain your office butt.

― Paul Eater (eater), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Is it from a machine? At our office we have huge tubs of freeze-dried nescafe. The first two or three cups are ok but then the rest of the granules oxidise cos the tub's open and it tastes like i-don't-know-what.

― beanz (beanz), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

We have a machine that makes coffee out of these little cups you insert. There are different flavors in different cups. It makes the whole process fun but not that much more tasty.

― Dan Quisenberry (deangulberry), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:13 (twenty-one years ago)

There is a Tim Horton's in the PATH 3 buildings away. That's the office coffee as far as I'm concerned.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:14 (twenty-one years ago)

we have starbucks coffee. but it is still made in some nasty 50's era machine. people leave it in the carafes on the hot burners for up to seven hours until it vaporises and turns to a hard syrupy stiny tar like consistency.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

It is from a really expensive-looking machine but yet it is so bad!

The best coffee in SF, to my mind, is available a block away at Chatz but it is costing me $$$$$!

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

This is why I keep a stash of beans and a grinder here at all times. This is why I am the afternoon 'truck-driver coffee' hero of my coworkers.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

No-one here but me seems to have any idea what a reasonable amount of coffee is to put in the filter. The filter inevitably weighs about three pounds and you can't even water it down. I don't understand - it's just coffee grounds and water -> there is FAR too much coffee for the amount of water -> I add more and more water -> it tastes like fossil fuel.

― Pangolino di cui le ossa sono forti con caffè, Friday, 5 November 2004 18:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Our coffee is theoretically good since we have our own blend made by a local company, but it's made in these giant wall-attached coffee makers that no one cleans. Thus, it's always weak, not to mention stale because people don't close the huge plastic containers that the grounds are in.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Our staff is small enough and coffee-snobbish enough that we pushed for a new coffee maker. We now take turns buying agreed-upon Starbucks grinds. It's working out so far, and we've been doing it for over six months now.

― Tantrum The Cat (Tantrum The Cat), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:25 (twenty-one years ago)

My last office was awful but it was right next door to a coffee factory. :(

― adam... (nordicskilla), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I keep wanting the pre-ground office coffee grounds that come in these vaccuum sealed bags to be at least slightly yummy, considering the company who processes the beans/grounds etc is only about a mile and a half from here. In the end, I always ended up disappointed when I'm reminded how much it tastes exactly of wet dead cardboard.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 5 November 2004 18:29 (twenty-one years ago)

There's only three coffee drinkers in my area, and we've Balkanized to the extent of each of us having his own machine. The other two two guys make theirs in their cubes, and I make mine at the "common food area" but no one else drinks it.

― nickn (nickn), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:00 (twenty-one years ago)

adam aren't you like half a block from peets?

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

am i?

― adam... (nordicskilla), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

We have a Flavia (as seen in Alan Partridge's static caravan "would you like a machine coffee"). It's actually pretty good. Lots of options. I only use it to make espresso shots though.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

God am I sick of Peet's coffee! *Ducks*

― Michael White (Hereward), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Does the Flavia do foam? That would be awesome. You'd have to take 10-minute breaks just to get the milk hot. And you could scald yourself accidentally for comp time.

xpost it is terrible, and so is Starbucks, and so is Timothy's Coffees of the World.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Illy!!!!!

― Michael White (Hereward), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Does the Flavia do foam?

It does, but I've never tried that. I will right now and get back to you.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Saturday, 6 November 2004 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope Spencer hasn't scalded himself.

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Saturday, 6 November 2004 02:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not sure of the answer to this one, but I definitely agree with you here. I'm sure cost has something to do with it, but even the supposed gourmet shit that I've had at a couple of higher-paying gigs has been shit. But something tells me that if they all got rid of all this apparent fancy stuff, and went back to the Barney Miller-style 70s big pots with the orange handles, it would be just as bad as it is now, and maybe even worse, because the only good cup of coffee is a fresh cup of coffee, and that old shit could be sitting around all day and you would never know it, until you poured yourself a cup and added some cream and sugar and put it up to your lips and inhale and sip and realize damn, this is some bad coffee.

― 57 7th (calstars), Saturday, 6 November 2004 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm sick of Peet's too, to be honest. I hate to admit that lately I have been drinking soy lattes from Starbucks. This is part of my complete and utter transformation into a boring yuppie. But they are SO good and they also have this gingerbread cake thing I have to now eat daily.

There was a peet's on Montgomery in the first or second block when I worked down there.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 6 November 2004 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

oh for fuck's SAKE.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

No one else in my office drinks coffee regularly, so I have taken to drinking my morning cup at home. We have a shitty Mr. Coffee and some old Starbucks coffee here in the kitchen that I use in the case of emergencies. The first time I made coffee here I put way too much grounds in and the coffee was really really strong. Since then, EVERY TIME I make coffee, my boss reminds me of the proper proportions.

― n/a (Nick A.), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:33 (twenty-one years ago)

we have a choice between:

Instant babykillafé

Instant Caffeine Direct

Filter coffee out of a machine

so, crap coffee then coz it's instant or crap coffee coz it vcomes thru a machine with furry tubes.

― MarkH (MarkH), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I just got a coffee machine and an espresso pot(?) so I'm hoping that the office coffee is a thing of the past.

― jushinthunderliger (deangulberry), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

for fuck's sake what?

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I hope Spencer hasn't scalded himself.

Whoops forgot to repost. Actually, I never did the foam part on the Flavia. I looked at the ingredients on the foam packet and decided it was gross. Still the espresso shots are good.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 8 November 2004 22:03 (twenty-one years ago)

for fuck's sake what?

Is this direct at me?

― jushinthunderliger (deangulberry), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

DIRECTER ARGH CANNOT TYPE NEED COFFEE AND BRAIN

― jushinthunderliger (deangulberry), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

DIRECTED ARGH STILL NEED COFFEE AND BRAIN

― jushinthunderliger (deangulberry), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

no, it was to me.

― adam... (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

ARGH CANNOT READ UPTHREAD ARGH NEED ESPRESSO

― jushinthunderliger (deangulberry), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 00:08 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i have to say that this is advantage #3,921 of working in chelsea market (well, except when i have to work past 8, which i guess is fairly often)

― maura (maura), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 02:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm not allowed to make coffee at work.

― peepee (peepee), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Office coffee is usually bad for two reasons (other than just terrible quality) -- 1) It is left on the burner way too long, and 2) The machine probably doesn't get a proper cleaning.

Filtered water might also help. If even mediocre coffee is made with decent water, in the right proportions, in a clean coffee maker, and is fresh, it shouldn't be so bad.

― Hurting (Hurting), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 04:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Not about office coffee per se, but: My home coffee maker has died, and I need to replace it quickly, before I overly suffer from caffeine deprivation. Are there any particular coffeemakers that people recommend, or any special features that you find handy that I should look for?

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 11 November 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

weve got KLIX machines and theryre SH!T£

― willdabeast, Thursday, 11 November 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Ours is called 'Keurig'

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 11 November 2004 17:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone have a coffee maker with a clock that actually uses it? (ie: to have it make your coffee automatically every morning at the right time)

Also, does anyone have a coffee maker that grinds fresh beans to brew? Is it worth the extra cost?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I have all this and more at work. I love working in a restaurant. Course, it's stretching the idea of "office coffee" a little

― Matt (Matt), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

yes and yes!

I have this:

http://cuisinart.com/product_img/DGB-600BC_b.jpg

(see this page). It was ridiculously expensive, but for half the price I've bought half a dozen coffee makers that break in a year, so I figured it was worth it to get the good stuff. The only thing I don't like about it is that the grinder is so loud it sounds like a rocket is taking off in my kitchen, and I think it grinds the beans a bit too much. You have to clean the grinder out often I discovered because otherwise it plugs up (the last one I had that was similar to this never did this). Also, the thermal carafe works really well, the machine doesn't stay on all day burning your coffee, it comes out hot and stays in the thermos hot for hours.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:37 (twenty-one years ago)

When I remember, I set my Krups maker to brew one to-go cup at exactly 7:37am. Thanks to daylight savings time, though, I need to reset the clock on it, otherwise it'll brew either an hour early or an hour late.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

I have a seperate little grinder for my beans but lately I've just been using the preground illy in a can, it seems to keep very well.

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Sarah -

I got the Cuisenart all-in-one Grind 'n' Brew with the timer and the thermal carafe and the shoe-shine attachment and gave it away after a week or two.

Firstly, the tinny grinding sound is an ungodly way to wake up: it sounds like the machine is severely unhealthy. Secondly, any labor saved by the combo mechanism is promptly spent again on cleaning the various parts; for some reason it's designed so that steam gets into the grinder and gums it all up. Thirdly, the grind is a little too coarse for my taste, so the coffee winds up weaker than I want it. This can't be adjusted. Fourthly, it would be a huge selling point if you could fill the grinder with a week's worth of beans and just let it measure out the right amount automatically and do its thing without intervention, but no, you have to clean and fill it afresh every time you want coffee.

The non-grinding timer model avoids most of these flaws, but if I'm going to grind and measure and fill and set at night, I don't really mind pressing the on button myself in the morning. I like to think I can do at least that much before my first cup.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:55 (twenty-one years ago)

My office is moving this weekend. At the new place, we have these areas where multiple workstations are in the same room, and my new roomies are springing for a new coffee/espresso machine to put in my wee little cubby, so we can keep my truckdriver coffee all to ourselves.

I fear for the idea of having an ESPRESSO machine within ARM'S REACH 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Not so much for myself as EVERYONE ELSE IN THE WORLD.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for the info, Paul. That's very useful.

― n/a (Nick A.), Thursday, 11 November 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

what about a french press? i think it makes the best coffee & it makes it easier to add little fun things like cardamom & cinnamon.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:01 (twenty-one years ago)

French presses are very good for not-completely-impatient people.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Strangely I am still drawn in whenever I see the Grind 'n' Brew's sexy stainless curves. I spent a few minutes staring at it in Macy's the other day ("They've raised the price to $170. Maybe it really is good!"). I guess it makes a good countertop status symbol for that reason.

As I've posted somewhere, I'm now primarily using this method, which does taste just a little mellower, "like coffee for kids," but that seems to suit me and the ease can't be beat.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been drinking a lot of mate (accent over the "e")

― kelsey (kelstarry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, holy shit Paul! Thanks for the link! How have I never even HEARD of cold-brewing?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

interesting article paul!

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Bonus (not that I'm trying to push these things): here's a deal where you get the brewer, a handsome mug, and a starter can of coffee all for $24.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

does it stay hot enough?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Mmm, good question. Because it starts with 1 part cold concentrate to 2-3 parts boiling water, you might want to preheat the mug if you like it piping hot.

― Paul Eater (eater), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

paul do not make me hate my sexy coffee machine!

all the things he says about it are true though, the grinder does get gummed up.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 11 November 2004 20:53 (twenty-one years ago)

(Nick, you should find out what kind your parents have because I love that coffee)

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Thursday, 11 November 2004 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

three years pass...

I'm still adjusting to how some folks in this office, mostly sales people, get all bright and kindly and offer to pour coffee for everyone.

Like, the pot will be filling up and there'll be a dude standing in front of me, getting his cream and packets of Splenda together. He'll take the carafe after it's filled, pour some into his cup, and then turn 180 degrees and offer to fill mine.

It's a nice gesture, but A) I haven't had the chance to pretty my cup up first either, B.) It's not a level of awkwardness I can't handle, but I'd just as soon not have scalding hot coffee poured into my cup as I'm holding it five feet in the air above my shoes, and C.) I can't help but sense some passive-aggressiveness from the salesperson, possibly a subtle retaliation for me standing behind him, putting him on the spot for making me wait by making a fresh cup.

It's not the biggest thing in the world, but I've never dealt with this anywhere else.

― ☑ (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 17 October 2008 15:25 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

There's a digital coffee maker back there today set up for spec as our office decides to make the switch from glass carafes to pump machine. It dispenses cappuccino, espresso, lattes, and normal coffee at the push of a button. I'm on my fourth cup and I'd say I've written about 3000 words today. God I hope we get this because I can't go back to those shitty carafes of Folgers.

― ☑ (Pleasant Plains), Friday, 31 October 2008 16:05 (seventeen years ago)

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