Title pretty much says it all - I don't drink coffee and never have but I'd like to try it (mainly for the social aspect than anything else, but who knows maybe I'll like it).

With so many types of coffee - light roast, medium, dark, extra dark - and all the fru fru coffees/lattes/capa-whatevers, where does one start?

I'd like something simple but not bitter. Something with a pleasing taste and preferably aroma as well. I hate the taste of anything burned or charred (or "blackened" if that's what you call something burned to a crisp). I don't want to have to add a lot of extra to it either. I've often wondered if coffee is so good why is everyone adding 3 to 10 different things to it to make it drinkable?

Rather than try dozens of types and waste time and money, I turn to the Sig Forum brain trust for recommendations. So - where should a noob begin?

Start with the right beans. Arabica beans are my favorite.

Buy a coffee grinder and grind your own. This is the only way to really experience the joys of coffee.

Next, try out different brew methods. Believe it or not, Mr. Coffee drip coffee makers are capable of producing good coffee on the cheap. There are more methods to choose from than there are trees in the woods, though.

If you hate the taste of burnt coffee as I do, you will stay away from Starbucks. Their stuff tastes burnt to me.

I would start with black coffee and work my way forward from there. A medium dark roast is probably a good place to start.

You can experiment with different additives from there. I recommend you try cream or half and half, not milk. Sugar would be the next step. Finally, flavored coffee, or flavored half and half, is always fun to try.

H&K-Guy

I have been drinking Black Rifle Coffee Just Black roast for a while.

My wife who never drank coffee seems to like this one as well.

There are tons of different combinations, roasts and varieties out there. I think you have to figure out what works for you.

With a cup with coffee in it (sorry for the smart A## comment).

Start with a light to medium roast, some milk, and sugar in it. I have always been a purist and consumed black coffee, but you may want to start with additives.

Hit one of the bigger gas stations, we have QT and Racetrac here. They will have a few different coffees available. I prefer dark with a lot of flavor, not too bitter

Oh yeah, bring your own mug, much cheaper

I’m surely others will have some interesting input, but my first thought: stop at your local McDonalds and order a small coffee, black with cream on the side.

Taste it. See what you think. Add a little cream, taste and see what you think.

If you like it, go to a local (independent) coffee shop, talk to their baristas and start exploring the different roasts. (I would avoid Starbucks because in my experience too many of their people dont know squat about coffee.)

quote:

Originally posted by H&K-Guy:
Start with the right beans. Arabica beans are my favorite. ...

Definitely stay with 100% Arabica beans. The cheaper robusta bean is bitter and acidic.



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Send a message to our own Rainman64. He roasts excellent coffees, and will be able to set you up with something very nice.

I agree with avoiding Starbucks. They overroast every coffee and it all tastes somewhat burnt.

A french press is an inexpensive way to make coffee, and makes very good good coffee.

Why start on something that will make your mornings miserable if you don't have it?

I would recommend starting with either Kona or a good Columbian. Light to medium roast.

For home, I'd recommend Green Mountain Breakfast Blend, it's light and a good starter coffee.



I've never been a fan of sugar in my coffee, to me it ruins it, just a good shot of half and half or some kind of liquid creamer.

For getting it on the road, I'd recommend McDonald's or DD regular coffee with cream, Starbucks is way too over-roasted and strong for me. They've recognized that a lot of people don't like their burnt-tasting coffee and came out with Blonde Roast a few years ago which is decent.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:
Why start on something that will make your mornings miserable if you don't have it?

By all means, avoid overpriced Starbucks coffee.

#1 drink in the world

everyone drinks it

even little kids in Mexico drink coffee

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I'd suggest a basic drip machine like Mr. Coffee 10 cup, filters and a small bag of 8 O'clock beans. 8 O'clock has been around for decades and they are still roasted to be tasteful. A small bean grinder is in order. You can get all this at your local W Mart and its not to expensive. A small coffee scoop is handy. Each scoop is 2 cups of Joe. Heaping scoops as we aren't making colored water. 5 Big scoops for 10 cups. Seal closed the bag of beans so they dont dry out. Plastic or glass container will keep them fresh. Hit the grinder button and dump the fresh ground into your filter. In it not at it or you'll be drinking grounds. Add a little sugar and creamer if you like. Powdered Carnation Coffee Mate or liquid Half & Half creamer are good. Just dont bury the coffee flavor too hevily. Enjoy.

I'd start with either quality drip coffee with a bunch of milk or cream added, or a latte from a local coffeeshop. (A latte is a little espresso with a lot of warm milk.) If you like sweet things, you could also add sugar or other sweeteners to it, or get one of the flavored sugary syrups added at the shop.

That's how I got started... Really milky coffee. Now I drink it either black or with a splash of milk. No sweeteners for me, but then I don't really like ultra sweet things.

Start with plain Maxwell House.

I quit coffee after drinking too much for many years.
I drank all kinds, but one that I miss when I was on the go was Dunkin Donuts. It's a pretty simple 100% Arabica bean coffee. A shot of cream and 1 sugar, I was happy.
For home I liked a French press of whatever.

IMO of the readily available places, Dunkin’ and Burger King have the best regular coffee. Panera is also good.
BTW when I brew my own at home, I mix half and half regular and decaf, so I can have more coffee taste with half the buzz. Two cups of ethyl is too much for me.

I'm pretty new to the coffee scene myself. I just started having a little here or there, but mostly at work in the mornings.

I've had a drip coffee maker at home for years for company. I picked up some Kirkland pre-ground and it's way better than my work coffee.

My son brought home some Vera Cruz beans, so of course I had to purchase a grinder. Yes fresh brewed with fresh beans is the best so far.

Good luck & cheers~