Home again.

Many years ago, there were three grocers` shops in our main street, who roast and ground their own coffee! As they were pretty evenly spaced out, you could practically walk from one end of the street to the other breathing in that wonderful smell. I think I almost prefer the smell to the taste!

Pat

The only coffee I've ever drunk sweetened is Turkish coffee, which is usually half honey and half coffee grounds! Mad, but devine! ;) I had a Turkish bloke on one of my courses at college back in the 70's that used to make it for me occasionally, as a swap for his other passion - a shot of my duty free Laphraig! :D

I never have liked cream in coffee. It's best like the Laproaig - unadulterated. These days I have to bow to the IBS and the gall bladder hangover, and drink the coffee with a splash or three of skimmed or semi skimmed milk, and the Laughin' Giggin' Water as a very occasional treat! :(

We keep whole beans (currently a mild roast Columbian, some Celebes Kolossi, and some Chiapas) in the freezer. I think my favourite is the very seasonal Elephant ear. DH had a mill and grinds to order... We're getting through 2 large 12 cup filter jugs per day at present, on the days he works from home! The rest of the time I try to stick to weak Earl Grey tea! I don't think we've made anything but filter coffee since we got married, 25 years ago, and most of that time we have ground it ourselves. I got used to such lovely coffee when my aunt lived in Nairobi that...

OK, I'm a coffee snob! :D :D I don't like coffee well enough to drink bad coffee, so we always have Whittards best efforts! :D

After that smell the taste of even the best coffee is a slight disappointment...

I totally understand. Where I grew up, the big discount place in FL was Zayre's - which was from Massachusetts, and we did plenty of shopping there. Or at Jefferson's - which IIRC went out in the late 60s. Then there was Jackson-Byron's - which was more like Target . My grandmother loved that place for bargains. And of course, in NY we had EJ Korvette's.

Now with the big warehouse clubs, and the proliferation of dollar stores, and Target, and Wal-Mart - I guess the smaller chains are gone. In one small area here we have the Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, Lowe's, and a discount type strip, and within about a mile or two, Costco & Super Target. And then Kohl's.

The poor labor practices are just a sad thing. So, I just do what I can, but that doesn't mean it's really accurate.

Ellice

My aunt had a cat, one of the many "Smokies" (they had a bunch of cats over the years, but only one name), that was wild for the smell of a freshly opened can of coffee. He was so persistent that she finally brewed him a cup, added a little milk to cool it and set it on the floor. He took one tentative lick and fled the kitchen, clearly believing that she was trying to poison him.

And my border collies love the smell of oranges being peeled, but can hardly gag down the actual fruit itself. They usually take their orange segments and hide them behind the toilet so the JRT, who actually does like oranges, can't get them. It's so funny to watch Zane, a dog who can pop a tennis ball with a single chomp, carrying off his orange segments with the greatest delicacy - bite too hard and you get orange juice in your mouth. He looks like he's carrying C-4.

Exactly. Hence, I'm happy with a nice cappucino or latte. My big indulgence - the occasional biscotti.

Congratulations to you. I've been not so good the last couple of weeks - not gaining, not losing. But, DH pretty steadily loses. The biggest thing for us was cutting out late night meals. We are out quite late, often (hockey and theatre things) - so by not eating a late dinner, or just something really light that has helped.

Maybe you'll inspire me to get back on track! That and the clothes I'd like to see on me instead of on hangers in the spare closet!

ellice

When I was a kid, I always remember my grandmother with a constant pot of coffee. She had the old-fashioned double boiler in the house, and then later, the Farberware "good" electric percolater - which didn't seem to scorch the coffee and stayed hot for a couple of hours.

But, to the point - my DM drank coffee with just a little milk, DGM black. My dad - drank everything with 2 tsp of sugar. So, the rule was when we wanted to start drinking coffee, it wasn't candy, and we could use a little milk, but no sugar. My mom always teased dad about the sweet coffee he drank - but for us - no sugar. So, my DB and I drink it just with a little milk, or black. And since I turned DH into a coffee addict, he drinks it the same way. When we first were spending "time" together - and I realized he had no coffee pot - we brought over a French press - I couldn't have none at all. And my little grinder. Now, he's hooked. But, he will drink sweet kind of iced lattes at times.

ellice

Yup, the best part of morning coffee - the fresh ground beans. We vary around, and one of our friends and us are trying to buy only fair-trade certified coffee. She's ordering some that we get in 10# sacks, or we buy from Caribou, and another local roaster here (that we can get in Costco for a good price). This week it's been some really nice Costa Rican coffee. Great in the heat.

Yum.

Ellice

LOL - great analogy. Or any good single malt. I kind of like Dalwhinnie as well. The best sweetened coffee - in India, at Brindhaven Gardens for the evening late show - we sat on a terrace of the hotel that overlooks the gardens, and ordered iced coffee (it was hot, late afternoon, early evening). What I got - a huge and delicious coffee with ice-cream in it. And probably some sweet milk as well. Yummy. Likely a million calories.

ellice

Now I'm really LOL. We could be friends. I'm a coffee snob as well. But, will drink it in restaurants when it's not always the best. But, even expensive coffee isn't so bad when you figure it out on the per cup cost - for the house.

ellice

I love the smell, hate the taste. But the coffee is great for "clearing" the nostrils for people with chemical "allergies" -- those who get headaches from certain smells, like lilies, roses, herbal shampoos, etc. After a smell enters the nostrils, it sort of lingers there, but sniffing at coffee grounds or even coffee can clear the senses. A useful thing to know. Fortunately at the supermarket, the coffee aisle is just one over from the fabric freshener aisle! I've occasionally had to pay a visit to the coffee aisle just to lift the lid of the bin and breathe deeply.

Sue

ELLICE!! YOU ARE STILL CROSS-POSTING. I ASKED YOU (NICELY) NOT TO.

Other people on the board are complaining.

Olwyn Mary.

I'm VERY SORRY - BUT I didn't START the cross-posting, and on the header showing to me, I only saw RCTN....not the other lists.

ellice

Sorry to all for the cross-posting. The header on my RCTN reader didn't show the other groups when I replied.

So, again, sorry for the inconvenience and boredom and breach of netiquette.

Ellice - normally only lurking on RCTY and sweing.

Isn`t it strange? Our Cavalier (Maggie) loves any fruit, especially oranges. When John takes her for their morning walk, he sits under a tree, peels an orange and shares it with her!

He just did it in time today though - we`ve had thunderstorms, torrential rainshowers and really bad squalls ever since he got back! I had to dash out between squalls and lash my scooter cover down before it sailed away, it blew so hard, and it was as much as I could do to shut the front door again. Brilliant sunshine at the moment, but you should see the black clouds all around. I love this kind of weather, apart from the fact that it gives me a headache.

Pat

That's a flash from the past! Zayre's! I remember them well. Also Jefferson's and Jackson-Byron, but especially Zayre's. Now, I understand Burdine's and Jordan Marsh are gone. I remember when J-M came to Miami and we were so excited! Later, I worked there for a while. Store detective. Had some adventures.

Burdines is Macy's now. Both Burdines's and Macy's were owned by the same conglomerate, Federated Department Stores, and the merchandise was pretty much the same, down to the house brands.

Lucille

I can fully understand! I haven't been able to figure out how to

*not* cross post either. My header only shows the group I want to read but if I respond to something from someone who is already cross posting, MY post is cross posted......... When I see something is cross posted and I REALLY want to join the discussion, I usually just start another thread with the same title! Only way I have found that actually works!!! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at