I just read that article he really did not like any espresso here maybe we are all crazy here and we don't know what espresso is. Illy is like willy wonka all kinds of sorting gizmos and such perfect roast every time.
The coffee is stale when we get it and at its best boring to me. Whatever America is progressive.

One thing I can say is I agree and never got on board with the single origin. Movement call me crazy or old school I guess Maybe we have just gotten focused on drip coffee to much who knows.
Interesting read none the less

Damn, Michael -- you had me right up until . . .

michaelbenis wrote:And I'll carry on drinking retsina, too

(OK, well, someone outside Greece has to drink it!)

shadowfax wrote:So, I don't get it. Why do you seem surprised by my word choice?

It wasn't the choice of words that surprised me, it was the choice to automatically assume that this guy was motivated by greed, ignorance, and malice, without supposing that his cultural point of view might be an innocent set of red-white-and-green coloured glasses.
I simply pointed out that we're taking the writer's (I'm hesitant to go as far as journalist) words as Giorgio's, and Giorgio's opinion about the coffee's as a condemnation of 'Murrikens ever-whar.
My point wasn't that a Gruyere and arugula sammich with grilled beef isn't really a good thing, but would be, considered by some, something other than a 'real American-styled' cheeseburger. And I cannot tell you how many have returned from Europe to explain to me just how stupid the Dutch, or the Belgians, or the French are because the have no idea what you're 'supposed' to put on fries.
And that I understand his point-of-view, even if I may not agree with it.

michaelbenis wrote:Well, not everyone likes bright espressos....
...

A good Italian espresso is a fantastic drink and I still believe no one does it like the Italians. But I love a single origin, updosed ristretto, too. And no one is going to make me choose between them.

And I'll carry on drinking retsina, too

+1

I'll see your retsina and raise you a Fernet Branca

(Well, I'd rather the Fernet Branca than the Retsina . . . )