Zagat Votes Starbucks Best Coffee

For all of you Starbucks haters out there --  it appears that you lose again. Zagat, one of the most trusted restaurant rating guides on the planet, has chosen Starbucks as 2010's number one stop for coffee drinkers.  I know that the Dunkin Donuts, McFrappe and Folgers crowd will take this hard, but your coffee just doesn't stack up. Check out the press release below and join me in toasting the Starbuck's dynasty with a grande cappuccino today.

Starbucks Voted Best Coffee by Zagat Survey

Zagat Survey Awards Starbucks Coffee Two First Place Honors Including Best Coffee

 SEATTLE, Aug 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starbucks Coffee Company /quotes/comstock/15*!sbux/quotes/nls/sbux (SBUX 23.94, -0.06, -0.23%) has been voted as No. 1 Best Coffee in the Fast Food and Quick Refreshment categories and as the No. 1 Most Popular Quick Refreshment Chain in Zagat's 2010 Survey of National Chain Restaurants released today. More than 6,500 surveyors participated in Zagat's online survey, and this is the second year surveyors have awarded Starbucks the top honor.

Besides having the best coffee among all quick service chains in the list, including Dunkin' Donuts, McDonald's, Peet's Coffee & Tea, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Starbucks was voted as the Most Popular among the 25 chains included in the Quick Refreshment category.

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Have a Dry Cappuccino Next Time

Yesterday I stopped by my local Starbucks and asked for a dry cappuccino. The basic recipe for a traditional cappuccino is:

• Two shots of espresso
• 1/3 cup of steamed milk
• 1/3 froth from steamed milk

If you ask for it dry, then you add less milk and more froth. If you want it wet, you add more milk and less froth (note: this can sometimes seem very similar to a latte). You should be able to feel the difference in the weight of the drink the minute you are handed the cup. Dry cappuccino's are extremely light and a wet cappuccino feels a lot more like all the other drinks they serve at the Bucks.

I put this post up today because the "barista" at Starbucks yesterday took my order for a dry cappuccino with a knowing nod and then proceeded to give me a wet cappuccino. I had to have her make it again much to her aggravation. I am afraid that baristas at large chains are not always in tune with the nuances of mainline drinks. Mrs. DarkroastedDC adds that it also is possible that some baristas can't believe you will pay full price for that little milk and are worried that you will be upset by the lack of raw liquid in your drink. Interesting thought. Regardless, with a better understanding of cappuccino making you can help them get it right. 

Another Sign That The End is Near

Why must we continue to support the cold coffee lobby in this country. On a day when the weatherman has suggested that the temps will reach well into the 90s you will once again find me drinking coffee as God intended it to be. For those of you scoring at home, that means it will be hot! So imagine my chagrin when I read these statements in the Wall Street Journal yesterday:

"Some 1.2 billion cups of iced coffee were served outside the home in the 12 months that ended in May, a 6% increase over the previous 12 months, according to NPD Group, a Port Washington, N.Y. market-research firm."

 

 AAAccckkk! Stop the madness, the article goes on to state that, "In a nation overrun with frozen latte drinks, shockingly few people know how to make a respectable iced coffee at home."

The reason for this "problem" identified in the article is because there is no such thing as a respectable cup of cold coffee. Read the article for yourself and see what you think. I, for one, will remain firmly planted on my hot coffee soap box... at least until I change my mind. 

Hot Drink on a Hot Day

As the scorching heat continues to bear down on the East Coast this week I thought it would be appropriate to deal with an issue that often pops up for many coffee drinkers during the summer: Hot or Cold.

If you have ever read my posts you know that I think cold coffee is a ridiculous abomination, but I understand how the heat of the day could lead some to stray from coffee perfection. However, I was recently told that drinking hot liquids on a hot day can actually have a cooling effect on the body. This sounded like good science to me. Unfortunately, the posts I have read suggest this is nothing more than an old wives tale.

Here is one example of a post-doc student arguing against the "hot drinks help you keep cool" theory.

Regardless of this "scientific" evidence I implore true coffee purists to celebrate hot coffee today even in the face of 100 degree plus temperatures. It is our duty as the carriers of the coffee flame.

PS: If you have more info about hot drinks on hot day, I would love to hear it.

Asian Starbucks?

A colleague of mine sent this story to me last week concerning a new chain of coffee stores that has made landfall in North America and is looking  to challenge Starbucks as a major retailer.
Called 85C, the stores claim to fame is that it is also a full service bakery. They specialize in coffee and exotic baked goods with an Asian flare.

It's a steep hill to climb, but I feel there is still a lot of room for competition in this industry and it will only make the coffee better. In my opinion, poor baked goods is one place where Starbucks falls flat on its face. So, this may be a legitimate challenge to the dark coffee lord's dominance.

However, I really feel like it is impossible to be all things to all people. If the focus is heavy on the bakery, then the coffee will suffer. I look forward to visiting this one when it expands my way. Check out the story to see what you think. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127474607

A Dunkin' Donuts Confession

Last week I had a meeting in Annapolis that went on for a few hours. Of course, I can't go through a meeting that long without a cup-of-joe in my hand. The gracious hosts of this event noted that they had fresh coffee available and that it was very good. Of course, I was delighted. With a hop in my step I jumped up to partake of this liquid energy. That is the moment when she said:

"It's Dunkin' Donuts."

What? Are you kidding me? I have campaigned against this abomination for months on end. I will not be drawn into the Dunkin vortex or fooled by a place that serves donuts and coffee as if they are equal partners. But, what was I too do? I needed coffee and there was nothing else.

I drank it. There I admitted it. Now the hard part. I liked it. That is right, I said it. It was an accident I am sure. They must have added something to it, because this has never happened before.

So here is my theory. I will not bend in my view that Dunkin' is serving subpar beans. However, when properly brewed, almost any coffee can serve as a passable beverage.

So there it is my Dunkin' Donut fanatics. A small, but measured, mea culpa about a single Dunkin experience that was not horrible.

Review: Cafe Pronto

Ok, the break is over and I am back on the blog. Sorry for the delay in posts, but I needed a break. That said -- on to my latest review.

Three weeks ago, I had a chance to experience Cafe Pronto at the Riva Festival in Annapolis.  This store was one of two locations run locally with a significant wholesale operation as well. Pronto's owners supplies beans to several shops in the region and considers the wholesale business to be their primary focus. The care for coffee on the wholesale side is fully evident at their retail store.

There are no drip coffee makers here. In the morning, all  coffee is french press or micro-steamed for cappuccino/latte-type drinks. Throughout the no-rush portion of the day, you can pick up a fresh cup at the over pour-bar (did I mention no drip).  They also had a Flat White on the menu (find out more about this here). I have never seen one of these at any coffee establishment and I have been wanting to try one ever since I read about them on the jimseven blog.

Unfortunately, the poor barista had to put up with me asking questions about coffee, brewing and beans for about 15 minutes, but what can I say, I loved this place.

If you are in the area, drop by, it will be worth your time.