Coffee Ordering tips?

[jlam83]

hey, anyone wanna help post a brief guide to the various coffee selections at the local starbucks/second cups?

i feel lost looking at the fancy names.

[Headhunter]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but a guide to Tim Hortons (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191574) is available.

[NDman]

If you have no idea what those are, just ask them. They usually just go from light, to dark (flavour) etc. There's no need to get intimidated by the names

[Headhunter]

Also, I'd recommend trying the basics first; don't try to start off at Second Cup with the $7 Mexican blends, like I did... :razz:

[go leafs]

I feel the same way whenever I go there... just ask the staff, they are very friendly and knowledgeable!

[milk]

Here's a Starbucks primer:

Drip ("Regular" or "Normal") Coffee:
- This is offered in mild, bold and decaf. Decaf is available in maybe 1/3 of their available mild and bold beans and means "with most caffeine removed." It doesn't mean "no caffeine" as that's not going to happen with any process. The mild coffee is light bodied, good for light drinkers and tends to come from the Latin America region. The bold coffee tends to be for someone who appreciates coffee or just wants something stronger. Coming in the Fall however, Starbucks will be moving to I think 4 different types like mild, medium, bold and extra bold. Yea, it's getting to be a bit much, but that's what happens when customers want more variety.

Frappuccinos:
- These are their cold, ice-blended drinks (think Tim Horton's "Ice Cappuccino") in a variety of flavours. It's pretty much coffee-base concentrate + syrup + ice and then blended. I think Second Cup's version is called the Chillate.

Caramel Macchiato:
- I have no idea why people love this drink because it's just a vanilla latte with caramel sauce. Okay, if you don't stir the drink then it tastes different, but you do need to stir them or else all the espresso stays at the top and all the vanilla syrup stays at the bottom.

Why do Starbucks' coffee cost $4?!?!
- They don't. The lattes are $3-5 but then that's not regular coffee anymore and also, that's what it costs pretty much everywhere. Starbucks' "tall" (small) size is actually what most stores sell as their medium or large size.

[Emancipated]

Also, I'd recommend trying the basics first; don't try to start off at Second Cup with the $7 Mexican blends, like I did... :razz:


Wow.

/And here I thought Starbucks' prices were outrageous. $7 for a cup of java; that damn cup of coffee better be top notch.

[Emancipated]

Here's a Starbucks primer:

Drip ("Regular" or "Normal") Coffee:
- This is offered in mild, bold and decaf. Decaf is available in maybe 1/3 of their available mild and bold beans and means "with most caffeine removed." It doesn't mean "no caffeine" as that's not going to happen with any process. The mild coffee is light bodied, good for light drinkers and tends to come from the Latin America region. The bold coffee tends to be for someone who appreciates coffee or just wants something stronger. Coming in the Fall however, Starbucks will be moving to I think 4 different types like mild, medium, bold and extra bold. Yea, it's getting to be a bit much, but that's what happens when customers want more variety.

Frappuccinos:
- These are their cold, ice-blended drinks (think Tim Horton's "Ice Cappuccino") in a variety of flavours. It's pretty much coffee-base concentrate + syrup + ice and then blended. I think Second Cup's version is called the Chillate.

Caramel Macchiato:
- I have no idea why people love this drink because it's just a vanilla latte with caramel sauce. Okay, if you don't stir the drink then it tastes different, but you do need to stir them or else all the espresso stays at the top and all the vanilla syrup stays at the bottom.

Why do Starbucks' coffee cost $4?!?!
- They don't. The lattes are $3-5 but then that's not regular coffee anymore and also, that's what it costs pretty much everywhere. Starbucks' "tall" (small) size is actually what most stores sell as their medium or large size.


Nice.

Now I can go into Starbucks and order with confidence (while scoping out the sweet honies who think they are cool beatnick hippies without the hippie thing) :D

[int]

Here's a page with explanations of the kind of drinks you'll find at Starbucks
Starbucks simplified (http://www.quicksilverweb.net/sbucks/sbcharts.htm)

[Headhunter]

And here I thought Starbucks' prices were outrageous. $7 for a cup of java; that damn cup of coffee better be top notch.
It was a bit spicy; let's just say, I don't buy that one anymore.

It's like the Doctor Pepper of coffee...

[jlam83]

Here's a Starbucks primer:

Drip ("Regular" or "Normal") Coffee:
- This is offered in mild, bold and decaf. Decaf is available in maybe 1/3 of their available mild and bold beans and means "with most caffeine removed." It doesn't mean "no caffeine" as that's not going to happen with any process. The mild coffee is light bodied, good for light drinkers and tends to come from the Latin America region. The bold coffee tends to be for someone who appreciates coffee or just wants something stronger. Coming in the Fall however, Starbucks will be moving to I think 4 different types like mild, medium, bold and extra bold. Yea, it's getting to be a bit much, but that's what happens when customers want more variety.

Frappuccinos:
- These are their cold, ice-blended drinks (think Tim Horton's "Ice Cappuccino") in a variety of flavours. It's pretty much coffee-base concentrate + syrup + ice and then blended. I think Second Cup's version is called the Chillate.

Caramel Macchiato:
- I have no idea why people love this drink because it's just a vanilla latte with caramel sauce. Okay, if you don't stir the drink then it tastes different, but you do need to stir them or else all the espresso stays at the top and all the vanilla syrup stays at the bottom.

Why do Starbucks' coffee cost $4?!?!
- They don't. The lattes are $3-5 but then that's not regular coffee anymore and also, that's what it costs pretty much everywhere. Starbucks' "tall" (small) size is actually what most stores sell as their medium or large size.

thanks milk! exactly the kinda info iwanted to get out of my question.

seems like i'm more of the 'mild' coffee drinker. all the tim hortons coffee giving me acid indigestion.

[ttt]

Here's a page with explanations of the kind of drinks you'll find at Starbucks
Starbucks simplified (http://www.quicksilverweb.net/sbucks/sbcharts.htm)

nice guide..

whenever i go to starbuck, i usually order the drink that i haven't tried before..

[duckdown]

Why does coffee taste like crap IMO

How can I acquire a taste for it

I hear it helps with hangovers

[KrispyFive]

Why does coffee taste like crap IMO

How can I acquire a taste for it

I hear it helps with hangovers

I guess you could start off with a weak, heavily creamed & heavily sugared coffee. Like a triple triple from Tim Hortons and eventually you'll probably start to aquire a taste for it. When I started drinking coffee it was double doubles from Tim Hortons & Coffee Time. Eventually I made the switch to Starbucks which is far superior IMO. This summer at the cottage my father bought us all coffee at Tim Hortons (it's either TH or McD there), I drank it because it would be rude not to. I was surprised at how much it tasted like water compared to what I drink now.

As for the hang overs, I couldn't give you the answer for that. My hang over cure is vodka & orange juice. Works like a charm.

[Raggie]

I like to order my Tim Horton's coffee - large, 3 creams, 1 sugar. It always has to be this size because the coffee/cream/sugar ratio is perfect.

[milk]

Tim Hortons gets their coffee from several different suppliers which is supposed to be kept secret though some of the companies have let out that they're the suppliers of the largest coffee chain in Canada.

How come Tim Hortons puts in the cream and sugar for people? I don't like how I don't know what's going into it and how I can't control the portions. Sometimes I want milk, sometimes cream, sometimes sugar and sometimes honey.