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In which European country have you experienced the best tasting coffee?

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Oct 14th, 2003 | 02:34 AM
  #1  
I am a coffee fiend and am interested in hearing your opinion on which country made the best cappacinos, expressos, lattes etc etc. I assume it would be Italy, but never having been there myself, I cannot vouch for it.

Look forward to hearing your views
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 02:41 AM
  #2  
Italy. We normally drink tea at home but became so addicted to the coffee in Italy, we bought a coffee maker when we got home and made coffee the way we had been served it in our hotel in Venice - hot coffee in one pot and hot milk in a jug. Somehow it doesn't taste the same at home!
Kay
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 03:05 AM
  #3  
You obviously can't go wrong in Ita;y, but as a black coffee drinker, I like The Netherlands best. Espresso isn't a long enough drink and Americano is a little watery for my tastes, but they seemed to have perfected the art of creamy, frothy rich black coffe in The Netherlands. And they always give you a biccie as well
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 03:17 AM
  #4  
I agree Kate. I have had lovely coffee in Amsterdam, which also brings to mind a coffee I had in Bruges and, come to think of it, Berlin. Perhaps it's the setting, I don't know. There's something about being bundled up against the cold but still being able to sit outside because of the space heaters. I love the free biccie too, especially the sort of nutmeg-y ones!
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 03:48 AM
  #5  
I enjoy Latte Macchiato in Italy.

Note: Macchiato is an espresso with a dash (literal translation = stain) of milk. Latte Macchiato is a glass of hot milk with a dash of espresso. VERY weak and milky and only served for breakfast.

But it seems that only some areas of Italy refer to it that way - others have not come across the term Latte Macchiato.

Other than that I'm not a big coffee drinker.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:02 AM
  #6  
Italy of course. Although they can't make american coffee. But, who would want to drink american coffee in italy?
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:18 AM
  #7  
I like the coffee in France, especially the Cafe Au Lait. Any sidewalk cafe will do. Although, one of the best cups of coffee I've had was in Portugal. If you order of Cafe De Gallon, you'll get a large coffee with a nicely proportioned mix of coffee and milk.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:20 AM
  #8  
From a caffeine junkie, this is a really hard decision. But through all the wonderful lattes, espressos, and cafe au laits, I'd have to say a fresh cup of "plain" coffee in Vienna with just a touch of fresh cream is the best for me!
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:43 AM
  #9  
Italy. Second place: France.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:48 AM
  #10  
I don't drink straight espresso, just too strong for me. But my top 10 cappuccinos (in no particular order)

1. Victor Cafe, Copenhagen
2. Hofwirt Hotel, Seckau, Austria
3. Scossa cafe and bistro, Place de Victor Hugo, Paris, Place (technically, this was a cafe creme, but it's moot because sadly Scossa has closed)
4. Il Salotto (in the glass covered galeria), Milan, Italy
5. Fumare/Non Fumare, Basel, Switzerland
6. Atelier de la Truffe, Brussels
7. Brasseries Georges, Brussels
8. Luedinghausen Gasthaus, Luedinghausen, Germany
9. Genval les Bains, Genval, Belgium
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 05:56 AM
  #11  

Another vote for Italy, but Spain isn't too shabby either.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 06:00 AM
  #12  
Germany. No particular gasthaus, or pub, or anything, just in general. I particularly like Jakobs Cafe (the brand) with a little sugar and cream - it just has good flavor, and is a little strong, but not bitter (my roots are Seattle, so I am picky about my coffee!). I have also had good cups of joe in sidewalk cafes in Paris and a few good cups of espresso in Italy, but for the overall, just good old coffee in a mug you can't go wrong with Jakobs!
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 06:00 AM
  #13  
Hi

I think it was Italy, or maybe France, or it could have been Austria or Germany, or perhaps it was Holland, maybe Denmark, Czech Republic, or was that the atmosphere?
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 06:35 AM
  #14  
Definitely Italy.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 07:07 AM
  #15  
italy. nothing like a cappucino in the morning.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 07:20 AM
  #16  
The little cafes near Mariahilferstrasse in Vienna, Austria. Something about the little cups & brown sugar, just loved that stuff; it's the best I've had in Europe
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 08:08 AM
  #17  
Before we went to Italy last month, I was obsessing about getting my cup of coffee just the way I liked it (french roast, big mug, little bit of milk). Well let me eat my words! Or should I say drink?

Best coffee I ever had was in Italy. Expresso with two spoonsful of sugar. I fell in love with it so much that I carried home two different sized expresso pots and two packages of coffee, and four little expresso cups. Who'd have thought?
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 08:47 AM
  #18  
Finland has excellent coffee. In fact, Finns drink more coffee per capita than any country in the world.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 09:16 AM
  #19  
I'd have to say Italy, although I've had marvelous coffee elsewhere as well.
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Oct 14th, 2003 | 11:23 AM
  #20  
I ingest, enjoy, observe coffee and keep a running inner critique going on it wherever I travel. I think I'll copy you, bunnygirl, and call myself a fiend now instead of an addict!

I think the Dutch make excellent coffee. It's like a long-pull espresso, almost but not quite like strong brewed drip coffee. And of course the speculaas or sugar cookie which comes with every cup is a plus!

I love the whimsy and variety of the Viennese coffee drinks. The einspanners, the brauners (both kleiner und grosser), pharisaers and capuziners - love 'em all.

For drip coffee, I honestly think the cups I have had in the "kissaten", or coffee cafes, of Japan have been the best - particularly in Kobe and Yokohama, where coffee blending and roasting have been practiced since learning from Westerners in the 19th century.

I rarely drink cafe au lait, since it's not strong enough for me, but I will if it's at the Cafe Danton near the Odeon Metro station in Paris. The waiter would bring two steaming pitchers and I think he knew just from looking at me that I preferred it with more coffee - it was perfect every time.

On every trip I've taken, stopping for coffee is a great pleasure. It creates a time and space where I can sit, reflect, and be grateful for being in the moment.

Sorry to ramble, but it's a favorite subject of mine!

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