The first time we came back to England when I was 9 years old I remember my Canadian father lamenting the fact that one couldn't get a decent cup of coffee here. We came back on 2 other occasions and he again commented on the very good cup of tea but appalling coffee. Of course there were exceptions. A good French or Italian resturant might serve a decent coffee. Even a decent hotel like the Savoy etc. I do remember coffee bars with their noisy Gaggia coffee machines where one could have a capuccino or frothy coffee.[If you lived in a small village or town these weren't available]. When I was twelve years old a friend and I were allowed to go for a coffee on Friday nights,home by eight of course. We used to have two coffees and one rumbaba and two forks please. This being a matter of huge amusement to my wonderful grandfather. On my birthday he treated us to two rumbabas - but it wasn't so much fun. Most resturants and cafes served up instant coffee and this apparently was awful - my father said that we couldn't even serve up a decent instant coffee!! I do remember the shop on the high street that served up deli type meats and 'foreign' food. They also had a drum of coffee roasting away in the window giving the high street a glorious smell. Now even the most ordinary cafe will have a coffee machine. However, the downside in a serve-yourself will have long queues due to the fact that your coffee is being made. But I love this coffee culture, you can pop in on your own with a book or a paper and spend ages over your Americano or latte. Friends meet up for long conversations and arguements, or you can grab a take-away latte if you prefer. I like tea but I -love- coffee.Dad would have loved it.

Hello * dorset*
Please let me know where there is , anywhere at all, you can buy a real coffee!
I agree with your father who said we can't even serve up a decent instant coffee.
I do not know how long ago that was, but things have not changed much.

And don't start me on coffee/tea served on our Airlines. They both taste the same: Dishwater! Whatever class you fly in.

hi Johanna actually I was talking about the 1950/60's - but things have improved a bit since then - our instant is still pretty dire though there is a brand called Millicano by Kenco which is getting there. Nothing like the real thing - trouble with the capacinnos and lattes is that they are 90% hot milk. As for the sirlines - I either stick to the hard stuff or a diet coke. I'm very suspicious about the source of their coffees!!!

Hello again dorset

I also stick to the hard stuff on airlines, but would it not be wonderful to have proper coffee in stead?
My OH, then a mere teenager used to work in El Sorrano in London in the 1950/1960 period.
Don't know if I spelled it correctly.

Anyway, how do you make your coffee at home?
I hope it is not the instant method?

No way!
BTW has any body tried the much vaunted blue mountain? I find it very bland!

Yes, tried Blue Mountain many years ago, and it's tasteless. Also, Peabury (sp?) which was lovely, but these coffees are ridiculously expensive now.

I like an Italian or French strong, slightly bitter brew?

Hey, jeni
Yes i have tried the blue mountain, and agree with you.
Please go to Dr. Google and find all about coffee.
You will need a rainy day........... it will take ages.
On the other hand it is fascinating.

I love South American coffee - am using Sainsbury's Colombian at the moment (have a mug next to me now) and I think that it, and Guatemalan, are my favourites. I will not touch instant coffee!

I make a small pot of filter coffee at breakfast every morning. When I go to these coffee shops while visiting the UK I find the coffee rather weak. Freetrade Guatemalan for me.

I thought I liked Blue Mountain coffee but I've changed my mind.

I'm definitely part of the coffee culture; I'm always meeting friends for a chat over a capaccinno. I don't really like coffee much but I like the ritual and you've got to drink something if you go to Costa or wherever.

Sitting with my coffee & brandy and people watching for a couple of hours is the only thing that I miss from our years of living abroad I could go out to the local shops or postoffice locally and mr.glamma knew that I would not be back for a while as I undoubtably met someone and we would sit and chat over coffee and cake for a good couple of hours.

In the last 40 years, I have had almost every possible kind of lovely proper coffee while living in several countries, plus used several types of coffee machines. In Italy and Switzerland, I don't think you can get a bad coffee. The UK has definitely improved during the last 30 years. However, I find coffee upsets my stomach now so am back to a bit of hot water/milk with a few grains of instant thrown in!! like when I was a teenager. I was bought yet another coffee machine last Christmas by someone who felt sorry for me because I don't have one! I'm afraid it had to go back!

I love good strong coffee and buy French roast Columbian which I grind in small doses but I have to be careful of the quantities I drink and the time of day etc. as it can play havoc with my digestive system and Gaviscon is required. I too love the culture of sitting with a coffee having a chat.
Do you remember the coffee bars of the sixties- go in one for hours have a coffee and money in the juke box - great places for students - I had my first apple strudel in a coffee bar (L'Auberge) in Richmond - the Surrey one.

I always think of 'instant' as completely different drink from coffee! There a a few good independent cafes nearby where decent coffee is served. I only have a coffee occasionally as like Bez it has to have a gaviscon chaser!

I too buy Colombian beans and grind them as required - coffee is made in a filter machine - I drink three mugs a day, black with sweeteners.

Instant? NO! Too many memories of all-night music writing for a deadline next day, kept going by Maxwell House and Gauloise cigarettes... no more, my friends, no more!

I used to drink coffee by the bucketful, until I spent two days in hospital, so now I'm a tea drinker a is the only thing for me.

I tend to only have one coffee a day unless I go out to eat. I have a small cup of decaffinated coffee. Black no sugar. In the restaurants/cafes here in France even decaf tends to be strong. I prefer a herbal tea. Green tea, Rooibos, Vervaine, Camomile and Mint.

Like BurgundyGran I tend to go for the herbal teas ...love the smell of coffee but it never seems to match the taste

I agree it never really matches the smell. I drink it, really, for the caffeine boost.

Greek or Turkish coffee for me or the Israeli version spiced with cardamom. I usually order a double expresso in this country, at least it's strong.

Sorry to be pedantic but think coffee with cardamom is Palestinian rather than Israeli. Was my (Palestinain) father's fave drink.

Instant coffee is taboo has to be the freshly brewed kind. Didn't drink tea for years but now love Rooibos tea but the family laugh at me because I can never pronounce it properly!

Johanna I use filter coffee - have taken a leaf from my son and his wife and have started to grind my own. I tend to try various types - I do like Columbian and or Kenyan at the moment. I am not human in the morning until my first cup of coffee