Comments on: In Praise of Cheap Coffee

By: Harold

Harold — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:20:58 +0000

My favorite cheap coffee is the coffee that they frequently have available for sampling at Whole Foods Market, for free. Next best is the free coffee sampling at Publix Greenwise Market.

BTW, I checked out the illyusa offer. The “commitment to buy a few cases of espresso” comes out to over $600 worth of espresso. But it is still a great deal if you are serious about your espresso.

I also have a stovetop espresso maker, and it is not bad, but no comparison to what you get with a quality machine. I bought a used Saeco Vienna for $120, and have not touched my stovetop espresso maker since.

By: Mrs. Riggs

Mrs. Riggs — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:29:08 +0000

MY GOD!

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:17:46 +0000

I’ve tried the Wall Drug coffee, and at a nickel, you get what you pay for. The joe at Al’s Oasis isn’t too bad though. I’m driving by there tomorrow; maybe that’s where I’ll stop for lunch — Best Buffalo Burger anywhere! Tom #21: I remember the D&E in Pierre from a junior high civics class trip. I didn’t drink the coffee, but I remember spending less than $2 and walking out a very full 14 year old. That’s saying something.

I like a good stiff cup of coffee, but the stuff that my coworkers brew at work is more like tea. I’ve become sorta hooked on Taster’s Choice Dark Blend; it’s got a really good flavor, you can adjust how strong you want it, and it works out to cost about 25 cents a cup.

I recently bought some coffee concentrate packets from http://www.javajuiceextract.com/ and that’s kinda ok as long as your mug isn’t too big, but a little spendy.

By: Tomas

Tomas — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:58:58 +0000

I grew up near The Hat in Alhambra (there are a few, but the Alhambra site is the original) and I’ve eaten there quite a bit. I’ve never noticed their coffee prices, but I have enjoyed some of the best pastrami ever. Those fries are bit over stuffed, but not too far off the mark–portions are pretty large at The Hat.

By: Jess

Jess — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:42:06 +0000

What blew my mind about the pastrami chili fries was the number of food-handling regulations that were being broken.

By: northofnorth

northofnorth — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 22:01:17 +0000

woa. a-mazing! Those pastrami chili fries just blew my mind! you think he made it bigger since he was being filmed?

wait. who cares. shove.it.in.my.belly

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:14:53 +0000

The I-90 corridor in South Dakota has another unique waterhole with nickel coffee: Al’s Oasis in Oacoma. They once had monster pies there too, but I haven’t stopped there lately.

The D&E restaurant in Pierre, SD used to get 15 cents for coffee but it was included in the $3.27 for a 5 course club steak meal including a dollop of ice cream. The place was a mecca for cross country bicyclists, but a 40 year accumulation of grease made for a pretty spectacular explosion and fire.

By: 5263

5263 — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:14:50 +0000

Oh, Ransom, can you return it? You can get it through illyusa.com for $150, with a commitment to buy a few cases of espresso, which you will run through so quickly.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:37:38 +0000

What is this presumably anti-Starbucks propaganda I keep seeing about 5- and 6-dollar cups of coffee?

> With prices for a simple cup of coffee approaching $4.00 at some national coffee-tailers

WHERE are you buying a $4 cup of coffee? The biggest coffee at Starbucks in Manhattan is still below $2.50, I’m quite sure. It’s no $3 or $4 anyway. If you’re buying something that costs $4 or more, it’s not coffee. It’s an espresso drink.

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:06:01 +0000

Isn’t cheap coffee sometimes a loss-leader though? Not at a coffee shop, bu at a restaurant, where the primary product is food? I think that’s more probably the explanation for 10-cent coffee more often than not.