4 ms·

TBH I've always found European coffee to be somewhat lacking - even from European importers in the states. Sure there is decent espresso in Europe but I've alwa

TBH I've always found European coffee to be somewhat lacking - even from European importers in the states. Sure there is decent espresso in Europe but I've always found I enjoy coffee from local roasters in my area of the US more. IDK if this is because Europe style coffee is all dark roast but that has been my experience.

Tao3300 4y ago
While my European travels are neither recent nor exhaustive, only in Germany could I get a decent cup of drip coffee. Everywhere else the "cup of coffee" was a really bad Americano.
- ehnto 4y ago
  I doubt many places had a drip machine, most of Europe does espresso coffee. It does really depend but in most places a "cup of coffee" is going to be a bit ambiguous, what kind of coffee? Just a cup of espresso coffee would be pretty full on!
  - Tao3300 4y ago
    Yes, believe it or not, you understand the core of the issue! That ambiguity was the problem. I'd be in a cafe where the menu said "coffee" and I'd order it with no way of knowing what I was actually going to get until it was in front of me. More often than not in my anecdata, it was a bad Americano. And not a good Americano. A bad one.
    - jb1991 4y ago
      I rarely see people order Americanos in Europe, and when they do, they are usually Americans (and actually, the invention and name of the Americano is indeed to please American soldiers who were not used to espresso). Most cafes won't really know what a good Americano is supposed to be because it's unusual to order one and the baristas themselves probably never drink it. A typical customer either wants a tiny cup of pure espresso, or a milk-based drink like a cappuccino.
  - tpm 4y ago
    In at least some modern (European) places it's called batch brew. If they don't have that either, your next best option will be a v60.
- sleepydog 4y ago
  The German chain (I think?) Espresso house has always served me a decent Americano, and they're pretty widespread in Europe. The worst espresso (machiatto) I ever had was from Fabrique in Stockholm. It tasted like straight vinegar.

Tao3300 4y ago

While my European travels are neither recent nor exhaustive, only in Germany could I get a decent cup of drip coffee. Everywhere else the "cup of coffee" was a really bad Americano.

ehnto 4y ago
I doubt many places had a drip machine, most of Europe does espresso coffee. It does really depend but in most places a "cup of coffee" is going to be a bit ambiguous, what kind of coffee? Just a cup of espresso coffee would be pretty full on!
- Tao3300 4y ago
  Yes, believe it or not, you understand the core of the issue! That ambiguity was the problem. I'd be in a cafe where the menu said "coffee" and I'd order it with no way of knowing what I was actually going to get until it was in front of me. More often than not in my anecdata, it was a bad Americano. And not a good Americano. A bad one.
  - jb1991 4y ago
    I rarely see people order Americanos in Europe, and when they do, they are usually Americans (and actually, the invention and name of the Americano is indeed to please American soldiers who were not used to espresso). Most cafes won't really know what a good Americano is supposed to be because it's unusual to order one and the baristas themselves probably never drink it. A typical customer either wants a tiny cup of pure espresso, or a milk-based drink like a cappuccino.
- tpm 4y ago
  In at least some modern (European) places it's called batch brew. If they don't have that either, your next best option will be a v60.
sleepydog 4y ago
The German chain (I think?) Espresso house has always served me a decent Americano, and they're pretty widespread in Europe. The worst espresso (machiatto) I ever had was from Fabrique in Stockholm. It tasted like straight vinegar.