Places to try coffee for the first time?

Question

Eh, yea, so I'm sixteen and figure i'll start drinking coffee..

ah, but where and/or how should I go about developing my pallete?

what and where should my first cup of joe be of?

(yea, so as you can see, I'm pretty tired as it is right NOW, and thus not making much sense... so, yea, as you can see, I NEED COFFEE...)

alright, i'm done with my eight year old antics now..

but serisouy, any tips for a coffee connesseaur starting out?

Answer 1

Don't go somewhere to try coffee - coffee shops pander to popular tastes. If you're serious about coffee, buy a grinder, a coffee maker (I prefer the French press method), and buy whole bean coffee - only enough to last you about a week at a time.

Make sure that the coffee beans are 100% Arabica beans. Mass produced coffee, such as Folgers, consists of Robusta beans, which have a lower-quality flavor (and more caffeine). Once coffee beans are exposed to air, they start losing flavor, and this happens even faster once they're ground. That's why you should only buy enough for a week and grind your coffee just before preparing it.

Whatever your brewing method (French press, drip - DO NOT use a percolator), use two tablespoons of coffee for every six ounces of water. This will result in the right extraction of flavor and avoid bitterness. If this is too strong for you, add boiling water AFTER brewing. Using less coffee will only result in over-extraction and give you bitter coffee.

Drinking coffee black will help you appreciate the subtleties of different roasts and different regions. Experiment to find what types of beans and what roasts you prefer. I personally enjoy French roasts. If you must add cream, use half-and-half or whole milk. Please don't add sugar. If you're buying quality coffee, it won't be necessary.

Remember that making coffee is cooking, so varying the recipe will vary the results. The recipe I've given you (which I must credit to Food Network's Alton Brown) is the best I've found.

Have fun and enjoy!

Answer 2

Well taste it black at first. It will be bitter. Try it with milk or cream. Try it with sugar. If you go to a small coffee shop (not a Starbucks) most of them will do free refills (at least one) with a mug. This would give you a chance to experiment. In some places if you talk to the people behind the counter they can be very helpful in letting you explore their selections. I would recomend tht you come in after 9 AM when the morning rush has quieted down a bit.

First figure out how you like your coffee and try it with different types. Flavored (like hazelnut and french vanilla or even blueberry) or straight. Dark roast or light roast. Central American, African, or Indonesian. Once you try coffee, you should also try espresso drinks (if coffee were beer, espresso would be whiskey) like cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, etc. But really just experiment. It is an acquired taste, but there is a complex world out there and people can get into it just as much as wine. Different varieties of beans have different brewing and roasting characteristics, just like different grapes produce different wines.

Answer 3

that's about when i started drinking coffee. it's a good age.

many people do not like coffee when they try it for the first time. the bitterness is very much an acquired taste. i would suggest that you start by drinking something that is about 2/3rds milk and sugar to about 1/3rd coffee. If you like it, then try 1/3 milk & sugar to 2/3rd coffee. If you like that, then try it black.

i would not start by drinking starbucks' drip coffee either. that stuff is tasty, but it'll peel the paint off the walls. try something a little weaker first. also, you might consider starting with a light roast then working your way toward a darker (french, italian, or espresso) roast, and seeing what taste best suits you.

Answer 4

Java City is a good place to start. They have a variety of different types of coffee they sell. I read in the paper the other day, that there thinking of having classes to help beginners appreciate good coffee and the sudel differences between them.

Answer 5

Starbucks

Answer 6

Starbucks is really good, but the Nordstorms Cafe is better. If you want to get a first time coffee, try to get it light with only 1 shot. And get something sweet, like a caramel macchiato or a vanilla latte.

Answer 7

i love coffee... i suggest that you go to the store and buy a few different kinds/flavors of coffee and experiment at home at first... starbucks is good, but usually a local coffee house has the best cup of joe at a cheaper price... enjoy

Answer 8

Starbucks cause they really know how to a good cup of coffee for anyone

Answer 9

Don't start. Caffeine is very addictive. If you must- buy Half-Caf coffee at Trader Joe's. Or I think Starbucks has a half-caf.

Answer 10

Coffee didn't taste good to me until I joined the army. I barely drink it now, but I'm addicted to diet coke!