Great Coffee
 

<BR>What has been your best coffee experience while in Europe? For me the top honor goes to the Rome Cavalieri Hilton...David

Demel's in Vienna

I've never had bad coffee in Europe. <BR>Even in Ireland, a nation of tea drinkers, the "white coffee" was terrific! Easier to answer, "where's the worst coffee?" For me that would be right here in America. In so many places the coffee here is weak and tasteless. Other than starbucks and special coffeehouses, an ordinary coffee in an American coffee shop or diner is like dishwater.

Like Ess, I've never had bad coffee in Europe. However, my best cup of coffee (admittedly it may have had something to do with the view) was at Cafe Florian in Piazza San Marco in Venice. <BR>BC

Starbuck's coffee is garbage. They use below average beans and then BURN them, which explains the nasty bitter taste. <BR> <BR>Ess-I don't know where you've been hanging out, but typically diners have great coffee. Of course, you like Starbucks, so you obviously don't know good coffee. Believe it or not, Dunkin Donuts has really good coffee. But the best coffee I've ever had, US or Europe, is at Revolution, a coffee house in Herndon, Virginia. No other reason to go to Herndon. <BR> <BR>Coffee in Ireland hit and miss. Usually, you get instant, but when you do get brewed, it's usually pretty darn good.

Quiet little place, I think called Cafe del Tazzo, in the central piazza in the old section of Bergamo, Italy. Second best was actually Cafe Express in Evanston, Illinois.

I love Greek Ice Coffee. Never found it the same anywhere else. They shake it in a martini shaker and it comes out good and foamy.

The best coffee we've had in Brussels has been at Atelier de la Truffe, on the corner of Ave. Louise and rue Vleurgat. In general, we look for places that serve Illy brand coffee--it's one of the better brands in Europe. However, a few places have been advertising Illy and using inferior brands. <BR>In the U.S., La Colombe in Philly has great coffee. Several fine restaurants and hotels use their coffee, including the Four Seasons in Philly and also, I believe, Le Bernardin in NYC. <BR>FYI, Ann, I don't think it's necessary to insult someone just because they happen to like Starbucks. I drink Starbucks lattes when I'm in the states; I have no complaints, and yes, I DO know good coffee! OTOH, I have been disppointed several times by coffee in French cafes, although I've very fond of the coffee at Royal Mozart on Avenue Mozart in the 16th near the Jasmin metro stop. <BR>BTilke

The Greek coffee with the foamy head was probably Nescafe, but I have to admit, I love this coffee too, even though it is instant. And you can get it anywhere in Greece.

Hey Ann! I didn't say I LIKED starbucks. I've never had their coffee, actually. But I thought they were supposed to be so great! Aren't they? I think you must be right about Dunkin' Donuts, though - I have a friend who can't make it through the day without his dunkin donuts coffee to go to drink while he's driving. I don't drink much coffee, but when I do want some I make it myself.

P.S. Ann, in the area of Long Island where I "hang out" the diner coffee really does suck.

without a doubt the best coffee in the world- Rome- Sant'Eustachio, near the Pantheon. even thinking about it gives me a buzz. <BR> <BR>And their granita di caffe is just the best!

Ann & Ess, <BR>Since you mentioned Dunkin' Donuts coffee .... there are 2 Dunkin' Donuts in my town; 1 of them has much better coffee than the other. I am really hooked on their coffee! I've tried buying their coffee and making it at home, but something about it is just not the same .... <BR> <BR>(And Ann, I too HATE Starbucks

Well, I'm determined to try some starbucks now!

Ess, <BR>Let us know what you think about Starbucks!

I will! I'll just order it black, so the flavor can't be disguised.

A little outdoor cafe in the Borghese Gardens in Rome had the best cafe I can remember. It was on a misty morning and we took time out from strolling around looking at the statues in the chill air. <BR>An experience I will never forget.

Ess, you don't have to order Starbuck's coffee black. I've asked for their mildest coffee, dumped sugar and lots of milk in it and, believe me, that bitterness still can't be disguised. <BR> <BR>In Europe, I didn't care for the little cups of mud they serve in Greece.

Sorry but nothing in Europe compares to Kona coffee in Hawaii! <BR> <BR>JMO

It also depends on the way cofee is prepared. It's either italian expresso style, brewed like in average cofee machines in US, almost-boiled on open flame, almost-boiled on sand (turkish). <BR> <BR>For various reasons Brazilian, Turkish, Arabic, Vieanna-style, and Italian cofees are great.

The best coffee, without a doubt was in a small hotel in Rome. I got my own silver pitcher of hot, black coffee--enough for me so that I didn't have to ask for more. The coffee was accompanied my own silver pitcher of fresh, rich cream--warmed slightly. Brown sugar was already on the table. I don't remember any Italian from that trip, but I do remember the "cafee" (or however you spell it).

I love the coffee you get on American Airlines' flights. Don't ask me why it tastes so much better than anywhere else, it just does. <BR>

This sounds stupid I know but one of the best cups of coffee I remember having was at at a youth hostel in Dublin some 10 years ago. It was Bewley's medium roast. Maybe it was that I came in on the red eye but I was stunned at how delicious it was. <BR> <BR>I should tell you I have been all over Europe and pretty much make annual trips but that was my best coffee ever. Dadump dump!!!!

I have had all the great coffees in Europe and someone mentioned Kona, well I love coffee so much and liked hanging out in the cafes in Europe I had to open my own "Vintage Joe's" Scottsdale Arizona. I have the best!!!!! and not a bad place to hang out either!

As a black-coffee drinker, this is a subject close to my heart. Italy for espresso, but if I want a longer drink, I'm not so keen on the "americano". For a great, longer black coffee the dutch are fantastic. I don't know what they do, but it tastes really creamy and smooth (even tho it's black). <BR> <BR>The worst? Greece, greece, greece. I swear it's not coffee, it's soil.

Let's face it, in Europe it's the ambiance, not the coffee. If you don't believe me, try a cappucino at the Caffe Florian on Piazza San Marco in Venice after a nice meal in a local restaurant.

I disagree that its the ambience not the coffee in Europe. I think its both, and the coffee is certainly good (better). And, Starbucks coffee is bad tasting, except for the cold coffee sold in bottles (Frappuchino)which is quite nice, albeit milky. Italian coffee is really the best. I have found an Italian chain called Cova that sells here in HongKong, which is very good.

Capuccino in Italy is drunk only at breakfast , after that it's espresso. You will be immeadiately labeled a tourist and someone who knows nothing about coffee. so drink up early!You can get it but they think you are weird.