Why I Love Cheap Coffee

It's funny reading this take, because I went through a fancy coffee de-conversion myself about a year ago. I have a burr grinder which can produce the appropriate grind for the brewing method. I have a dedicated coffee canister with a one-way air valve for storage. Both have been relegated to storage. I buy cheap cans of pre-ground coffee and make them in the french press, which I decide is done steeping after some indifferently measured while.

This blog articulates some of the reasons well. Many people claim the "ritual" of brewing coffee correctly is calming or grounding or something. I myself realized that the rigamarole was born of a sort of neurotic desire to live up to a stupid social expectation to have the correct tastes. In fact, I like the taste of cheap coffee - thin, vaguely burnt... yum (due to nostalgia? Maybe, who cares). In fact, I often dislike the lighter roast and terroir and whatever of "good" coffee - my wife and I often joke that it tastes like vegetable soup. I take my coffee with cream anyway, which I imagine blows out the subtle tasting notes anyway. It's how I like it!

Saving money is great. Though I'm still very much afflicted by the nagging worry that the cheap stuff, not being organic, shade-grown, fair trade, etc. is brought to me by African slaves toiling in a cloud of nasty herbicides. I hope not though!

For a few years I've been drinking some pretty cheap regular joe coffee from a cheap drip coffee maker. I drink it black, brewed with a lot of grounds so it's thick.

I've had good espresso, but I don't think I will ever shake this habit. Something about a big cup of joe, drinking silently in bed before the sun and my family is up.

"I just enjoy not trying to always be well curated, or careful with every detail of my life."

I agree with the author. I like to keep my tastes somewhat "peasant" so that I never have to fuss to enjoy my coffee (or food, etc.). I love watching James Hoffmann videos, but the number of steps he needs to take to make a simple cup of coffee would probably negate any extra joy from the improved flavor.

Sorry, I beg to differ. A pourover is quick and easy if you wing it on the measurements, timing, etc. As long as the beans are decent and freshly ground, the result is still miles better than the cheap stuff even when I flub the temperature or timing.

Yeah, I do drink cheap coffee but only to remind me what decent coffee isn't.

Honestly, a Moka Pot (which the author uses) might well be at the optimum point of effort vs quality for home coffeemaking.