why is German coffee so good?
 

Just returned from a trip to Germany, and my husband and I both noticed how good their coffee was. (We both drink it with cream, but no sugar) Everywhere we went, it had the same rich delicious taste, strong but very smooth, with no bitterness at all. Also, it was consistently the same taste everywhere we went. We have never had coffee that tasted that way anywhere else. Does anyone know what exactly makes it that way? Is it the type of coffee beans that are used, the type of brewing machine, or something else? We would love to duplicate the same taste at home (we live in the US).

I think it's essentially those steam brewers (essentially espresso machines). I've never thought of German coffee as particularly better than French or Italian - - but all so much better than American.<BR><BR>And the bread.<BR><BR>And the wine.<BR><BR>And...<BR><BR>Don't get me wrong, This is not America-bashing. Our US is the best country in which anyone could live. Except at a lot of meal times.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

The reason they have the richest coffe is because they import it from Zimbabwe. Germany is the only European country that imports/exports with Zim. There is a ban in all other Eur. countries.

Skye, you are full of S@*t. Everyone knows that the Germans get their coffee from Uzbekistan. They do indeed produce the best beans--far superior to <BR>Zimbabwe (or Zim as you like to call it). Get a clue, and then, a life.

Paul,<BR>How dare you suggest I don't now what Im talking about. I was just in the city of Germany yesterday and had the best cup o joe. The owner told me he got his beans from Zim.

What color is the 'Skye' in your world? Are you injecting airplane glue? Germany is a province, not a city. And they most certainly do not call coffee 'cup of joe'. It is 'Java' and only java. However, if it makes you sleep at night to think your erroneous thoughts, well then--be my guest. Ta ta.

You think I'm an idiot, Germany is a country not a provence. If you knew more about Germany you would know there's a city called Germany, you know like Kansas City, and it's about 60km from Munchen.

Paul,<BR>It's OK to disagree and have a diff. view, but why are you so rude ??????

rising like cream, to the top, above these lowly elements in the gene pool.<BR>

I've taken German coffee home more than once (live in Belgium), various brands. It tasted just like my own coffee.<BR>My conclusion is that it is their water. Water in Germany is very soft with low alkaline and very little chlorine. Water in Belgium is hard and has a totally different taste. I never drink tap water in Belgium, I do drink it in Germany.<BR>

I think it is the packaged cream they use that makes the coffee so delicious. I, too, have purchased coffee beans in Germany and then brewed them at home and the coffee tastes just like Folgers then. But the last time I went, I bought a package of their cream (*doesn't have to be refrigerated until opened) that I saw at every hotel I stayed at, and THAT made the difference, even in Folgers. I think it is in a (mainly) blue box and it is in every grocery store I went in over there.

Hi,<BR>if one can believe what they tell you in the commercials the beans of the most popular brand are from South America...<BR>Hank- you are referring to B&auml;renmarke Dosenmilch. It`s called "Dosenmilch", because it used to be sold in tins~Dosen.<BR><BR>Miriam

Do any of you folks really know anything about coffee, or do you really care? The primary flavor in most coffees, regardless of the source of the beans, is the way they are roasted and then ground up and dripped/steamed. As Rex said, most coffee makers in Europe are for espresso coffee. When I order coffee in Germany, I ask for "milchkaffee" which is the regular coffee served with a side pitcher or cup of HOT milk. Then I dilute the rather strong espresso-type coffee to my own liking. The other element that affects flavor is the water, and as stated already it is soft in most parts of Germany. I am from Louisiana, where making coffee is an art, and I can tell you that we take our coffee very seriously---so much so, in fact, that there are special coffee factories in Louisiana that are just now beginning to send their products out of the state. Try coffee in the French Quarter some time.

Wayne, I have very soft water and, as I said, German coffee still tastes like Folgers when I brew it at home.

I agree with Rex, it's how it's brewed. A few months ago, we invested in a vacumn coffee maker. It's almost as good as an espresso-type machine, without the balkiness (we HAD an espresso machine, they're too much trouble to be your only coffee maker).

Wow, so many different responses! I expected as much though. Thanks to everyone for their input. (Could have done without the tirade between Skye and Paul tho) Actually, my husband and I are true appreciators of coffee, albeit novices, so we do own an expresso machine (we only use for expresso tho, not our regular coffee - that we brew with a regular drip machine), we grind our beans fresh every morning (don't roast yet, but thinking about it), and we have tried different type beans from all over the world. And there are a lot of different coffees that we enjoy - we love the coffee in New Orleans, and in France and Italy. However, the coffee in Germany is distinctly different - at least where we were staying, in the Heidelberg area. Like I said, it had a very rich yet smooth taste, with absolutely no bitterness to it, with a very subtle but distinct unique taste that I have not tasted anywhere else. I guess we will have to experiment around to get that same taste. Will try the German creamer first - does anyone know if it can be ordered online? If that doesn't do it, then we may invest in the type of vacuum brewing machine they use there - again, anybody know if it can be ordered online? Also, may need to try the beans from Zimbabwe or Uzbekistan (???). It may very well be a combination of different things also. If it turns out to be the water, and plain distilled water doesn't do the trick, then I guess we'll just have to wait until our next trip to Germany to get that same taste!

<BR>JG, Plain distilled water doesn't do the trick! Tried that as well.<BR>Can't be the creamer in my case 'cause I drink black coffee.

And I thought that French coffee was so much better than any I had ever had at home. Is German really even that much better?<BR>

I think the question of why coffee is so much better in Europe than the US is a mystery, just like the reasons why the French can each rich foods and be so thin. The answer seems to be many reasons, and is not easily explained. I did notice that some French call American coffee "jus de chaussettes" (sp?), which translates to "sock juice". On my return flights to the States I've met many a French person that can't wait to return to France for a good cup of coffee. <BR>

Being german myself i can tell, that Germans put alot of emphasize on how to make coffe and especially which sort they buy. You will have noticed that there are plenty of shops "Tchibo" or "Eduscho" where you can get a huge variety of coffee... There is also a Tchibo or Eduscho depot in nearly every supermarket...<BR>Also popular is "Melitta" and "Onko".<BR>Aldi coffee is horrible (Markus coffee).<BR><BR>Check out www.tchibo.de and you will find out that Germany does not import coffee from Zimbabwe or any of those other countries mentionend above....;)<BR><BR>Have fun....