Too Much Coffee

Quite a subjective question I know, but is there a general consensus regarding where it's done best? I'm referring to the whole package... Roasting, blends, extraction, milk?

I don't think that's easy to define. If we define as best city the city where on average the coffee is good it's not fair to the big cities with a billion satrbucks and neros dragging the average down. Then again why would is matter is there are billion starbucks, what is essential is that when you want coffee you can find it. Also what if a city has a lot of above average cafes but no truly exceptional ones. Personally I'd rather have 1 exceptional cafe rather than 50 above average ones, because I can choose where to go for coffee.
At any rate I have no idea which city is the best coffee city but I'm sure it's not in Cyprus!

I reckon New York has more cafes serving good coffee, than any other city.

I reckon the city with the greatest number of good cafes is Melbourne.

Where it's done best? In my kitchen.

PORTLAND
MOTHER
FUCKING
OREGON

i'll be more specific. the coffee culture in portland is incredible, i don't really know exactly the history of portland in terms of coffee but i'm sure stumptown have had some large role to play. i think stumptown itself has about 6 stores in portland. they also have the annex which kind of acts as a retail store that use to (i'm not sure if it still does) do daily cuppings as well. i good majority of the stores in portland use stumptown coffee anything but there are still a couple of other roasters one being 'Portland Coffee Roasters', i'm pretty sure barista and fresh cup are both based in portland as well.

the best thing i think portland demonstrates is that an american city can fill its incredible thirst for coffee in an sustainable, ethical and most importantly TASTY way. there are coffee shops everywhere and a really large majority pour awesome coffee, as oppose to the minority. i could definitely talk about portland forever, and i think it probably helps that the city as a whole is absolutely fucking awesome - i couldn't recommend it enough for a holiday and there is no doubt in my mind that i'll one day retire there.

here's james blog about when him and anette visited
http://www.jimseven.com/2007/06/15/the- ... -portland/

I wonder if Mutty would throw a NZ city or two into the hat? I wonder about Vancouver too as a contender

I have to agree with Jason, that Melbourne has a good number of great cafes. I still feel most (not all) of them are serving average espresso (with well textured milk)...

New York is on the 'to do' list, and Ross' aggression excites me... about Portland!

I think Bruces kitchen is nearest to me then

Aadje wrote:I think Bruces kitchen is nearest to me then

Open for business.

Auckland is OK, lots of places selling Good coffee. (60 different Roasters according to latest Info)

Hamilton, lots of places selling good coffee, possibly half a dozen or so that serves great coffee:

Espresso Workshop (Weka Coffee Monsson Malabar Blend)
Ozone
Rocket (Undisputed Kings of Speciality coffee for me)
Essenza (Several outlets including garden centres and Mitre 10)
Metropolis (Serving Roasted Addiqtion)
French Tart (La Roma Blends)
La Roma (House Blends)
Momento (Serves Rockets Organic Roast)
Urge (Small outlet serving Urge Coffee and selling Fine Teas and Equipment)
Hopin Stopin Cafe (Serves Origin - Single Origin from Malawi roasted in Otorohanga)

At the end of the day, it depends on what you like and how you rate your coffee. What it lacks here I have realised in something cutting edge, innovative and totally stand alone. Lots of scope for it though.

espressomattic wrote:Rocket (Undisputed Kings of Speciality coffee for me)

um... in New Zealand?

I'm disputing that. What about 49th Parallel?

Otautahi! (Christchurch)

Perhaps I'm biased.
But I find the overall average quality of coffee here is higher than any other city I've been to. There are great individual places in other cities, but Christchurch I can name a really solid coffee shop on pretty much every block in the central city.
Also, Christchurch has produced most of NZ's top competition baristas.

Melbourne has some standouts; BBB, St. Ali etc. But if you go walking in the city, and try to find a decent coffee shop without prior knowledge of the place, you'll really struggle.

Haven't been to the US since I was 11, so I can't judge over there.

Jasonscheltus wrote:

espressomattic wrote:Rocket (Undisputed Kings of Speciality coffee for me)

um... in New Zealand?

I'm disputing that. What about 49th Parallel?

I think I should have added the footnote: In NZ...

I take it you mean 49th in Canada?

mrkyle, looks like I need to get to the Mainland then!

Different city every year, at least for a few days at a time... wherever WBC is held