Favorite Coffees
I was not really sure if this should be called favorite coffee, favorite coffees, top ten coffees or just what. I am going to give a list of some of my favorite coffees in order of how I actually like them in this post. However, I also felt it was important to designate those coffees that are either the bean or grounds to take home and make a pot (or a cup – but why bother with just a cup at that point) versus those locations where you can a cup of some of my favorites to enjoy right then and there. In addition to my favorites in each category, there are just a few coffee types that no matter what the situation I just really do not care for all that much. I full intend to list those in this post as well. So, without a clear title and no further to do about what I a posting, here we go…
Whole or Ground Coffee for Home
- Highlander Creme – This is my all time favorite coffee and has been for over twenty years now. Back in my early college days I tried pretty much every coffee available in Lexington but kept coming back to this one. It is only available (in this format at least) at Lexington Coffee and Tea (they roast and flavor at the shop). This particular flavor (it is a flavored coffee – I know – odd of me) is a blend of hundred different flavors. It has gone up in price over the years and I tend to reserve it for special occasions or just to treat myself with these days.
- Bluegrass Breakfast – Another coffee from Lexington Coffee & Tea. This is not flavored, but rather a good smooth medium body coffee aimed at breakfast. Though, I personally find it good at all times of day to be honest. It is a bit less cost than the Highlander Creme, but then when I head to LC&T I am usually going to hit the Highlander anyway – so I tend to not get this one all that often.
- Maxwell House French Roast – This is my favorite from the traditional grocery store varieties that are not specialty coffees. It comes in about half the cost of the Highlander and that combined with its rich tasted without being over the top makes it perfect for day-to-day usage. Of course, my wonderful wife is not overly fond of this one, so we tend toward not having it as much as if I were single.
- Maxwell House Breakfast Blend – (I think I got that name right) Interestingly enough, my wife was more fond of Folgers when we got married. It take some time to find something we both liked and could settle on – as I have been much more fond of Maxwell House since it would seem forever.
- Kentucky Bourbon – This is one that LC&T does, but so do several other coffee roasters around Kentucky. It is NOT an everyday coffee for me, but I do like it on occasion – especially late of an evening. This one is also available at a few places around the area ready brewed on some occasions, though mileage of finding it may vary.
Coffee by the Cup or Ready to Go
- Speedway’s House Blend – Not so bold that it will bowl you over but not so week that you can’t enjoy the cups taste. Pretty much the perfect cup of coffee out somewhere. Bonus that they keep pretty good tabs on what is started to become less than fresh and make more. During the late evening/early morning hours they will (usually) make a pot of whatever you would like if you just hang on for it. You can mix the coffees too, a bit of the bolder brews can add an extra bit of flavor.
- McDonald’s Coffee – Okay, I almost hate to admit this, but since they re-did the coffee a few years back they have actually have a decent brew these days. Bonus is that also, they tend toward keeping it freshly made, unlike about 3/4 of the rival fast food establishments that competes with them.
- Any Coffee Times/The Hub/Maple & Main varieties – Several options, but in this case it is just as much the coffee as the environment. I can go there and hang out, drink coffee, and usually get an amazing amount of stuff done without interruption. The coffees are generally fair trade options and it is pretty good stuff, though I admit one or two of their dark roasts are a little strong – especially if you go for black coffee like I do.
What I Do Not Care For
- Starbucks – I know, supposedly America’s favorite coffee. Here is my theory though. Most people drink Starbucks with plenty of cream and sugar, if not made into a super duper extra creamy and sweet concoction of some sort outright. I think there are generally few people who would actually get a taste of their typically coffees and not think the beans were over roasted and often time even to point of being a slight burnt taste. I did say, a few people probably do like it, but just a few. Most folks have so much stuff in it they can not really taste the coffee. And come out, what the heck is up with tall, grande, and venti – just go for the regular small, medium, large. Or do you feel you must have those weird labels to make up for the $5.00 coffee that cost $3.00 everywhere else? Now, having said that, I will occasionally have their stuff – just because it is handy to my location when I have a hankering, but I go through periods where I do avoid strictly and I think I am to come onto one of those.
- McDonald’s Vanilla Coffee – Okay, not normally my thing, but my wife kind of got me hooked on them during the summer. But then McDonald’s thankfully helped me wean myself by putting so much syrup and such in them that it was more like vanilla sugar-water then coffee – honestly I had one I could not tell had coffee in it.
- In general, fu-fu coffee drinks. I mean I occasionally like the mocha latte cappuccino the peppermint something during holidays – but even when I do, I prefer to get an extra shot of cappuccino to bring up the coffee taste in it without it getting lost in all the cream and such. Bottom line is I do not know why I go that way on sometimes, as me personally, I just love the taste of coffee. Adding all that stuff increases the cost and my waist line.
- Same thing for especially chocolate flavored coffees. I am not sure why, but generally a coffee with some chocolate is a good thing. Flavor the beans some sort of chocolate based flavor and it just ends up being disgusting.
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