"This is very good, so I'm willing to spend a lot of money on it" does not imply the converse "I spent a lot of money on this, so it must be very good."

Some people want to make very good coffee*; some people want to spend money on toys. They can both go to the same stores and buy the same things.





*"make very good coffee" can be replaced by equivalent terms from photography, audiophilia, lawn care, recreational fishing, motorcycling, and a wide variety of other potentially expensive pursuits.

...any kind of marketing.Even a political one.

+1.5~Richard

Espin wrote:"This is very good, so I'm willing to spend a lot of money on it" does not imply the converse "I spent a lot of money on this, so it must be very good."
Some people want to make very good coffee*; some people want to spend money on toys. They can both go to the same stores and buy the same things.

Same reason people who can't drive buy Ferraris, motorcyclists who can't ride buy Ducati's, and why you see $9000 Pinarello/Colnago/etc. bicycles at a coffee shop ridden there by out of shape cyclists. I don't have anything against this as it's there money and they are free to spend it as they please. Now, whether or not they be able to use the product to its designed potential is another story.

aab1 wrote:What is it with people paying 10 times the price for a machine only to use it with media that gives the same results as a machine costing 10 times less?

Ignorance, preference... Depends on the specific person you're talking about. I doubt there's one answer that fits every situation out there. Seems pointless to get worked up over. People buy all sorts of things that they never use to full potential. There are endless examples that could be posted.

Question is... What is considered cheap coffee?

I purchase 100% Fair Trade Organic coffee that's locally roasted by Peace Coffee (a Minnesota based company) and it costs about $10-12 bucks a pound... Is that considered cheap? My idea of cheap is the Illy in a can. Has anyone tried Maxwell House or Folgers through their espresso machines... would still taste like swill or is there any hope in a pleasant surprise? I dare you to take on the challenge!

Hey, they have fancy LaMarzocco at every Starbucks and they used crappy beans there most don't even attempt to tamp the grinds, not that I ever dared to order espresso drinks there. I grew up with really bitter chinese medicine and the charbux drinks reminds me of my childhood.

LaCrema wrote:Question is... What is considered cheap coffee?

I purchase 100% Fair Trade Organic coffee that's locally roasted by Peace Coffee (a Minnesota based company) and it costs about $10-12 bucks a pound... Is that considered cheap? My idea of cheap is the Illy in a can.

$10 a pound is pretty cheap, yes. I've never had their coffee so I won't comment on it beyond saying that fair-trade and organic are a scam & usually are used to get people to buy bad coffee.

And Illy in a can costs $20 for 1/2lb. It's not cheap, it's just bad

fair-trade and organic are a scam

Harsh words. I believe that some fair trade and organic farmers, coops, retailers, etc., are legitimate. I have no unbiased information as to what percent this might be. But if one wishes to say negative things about what, in theory, is a positive ecological, social, and market force, one should be prepared to support one's statements with unbiased evidence.

My personal belief is that most fair trade and/or organic businesses are legitimate. I've never troubled myself to search for evidence as to what percent this might be. My philosophy is, if half of the money I spend on fair trade or organic products supports legitimate businesses, it's worth the extra cost.

PC