I can't stand this thing because it's coffee. It's like artisanal heroin. Coffee, in my mind, is meant to wake me up and get me going. It's purely a functional thing. A good cup of coffee is just a not bad cup of coffee. How did this complication about coffee happen? I see the same thing happening with headphones. People listening to Diplo on $1500 Sennheiser headphones; for why? What tones and notes are you trying to get out of that? The same question could almost be asked of coffee. The human tongue, I'm sure, can only process so many taste combinations. What are we trying to get out of coffee?
That's like saying I can't stand people who make good cocktails because in my mind, alcohol is supposed to get me drunk.
Some people just like coffee and the coffee we've had for such a long time in America has been either burnt, tasteless, or mixed with a bunch of flavors such that we've forgotten that a well brewed coffee doesn't need to taste bitter.
We've also discovered that coffee acquires flavor not just from roasting but also from it's provenance (just like wine, the terroir matters) so now you can taste for coffees that have caramel notes, coffees that have bright cherry notes, etc.
Another reason that I think it matters is that the difference between shitty coffee and good coffee is so clear. We're not talking about trying to discern a slight difference. I've been drinking lattes in the Midwest while traveling and they are the worst thing ever. It's like the heated water, milk, and a touch of coffee. A great latte (like at Ritual Coffee Roasters) retains the taste of coffee (espresso) with a creamy blend of frothed milk.
Some people just like the experience of drinking coffee: the hot liquid that slowly cools, the bitter taste, and of course the caffeine. I started trying to cut out caffeine and I actually still drink de-caf, and enjoy it.
