Coffee for people who don't like coffee
Brewing methods & gear
- Many discuss immersion drippers like the Clever Dripper and Hario Switch: steep like a French press, then drain through a filter. Praised for ease of use, cleanup, and handling light roasts; some worry about plastic and seek ceramic or glass/metal versions.
- Alternatives mentioned: French press, Aeropress, pour-over cones (including cheap IKEA metal dripper), Vietnamese phin, moka pot, Chemex, cold-brew pitchers, and fully automatic machines. Tradeoffs are around flavor, cleanup, capacity, and plastic exposure.
- Several people emphasize grind-your-own with burr grinders, fresh beans, and dialing in grind size, temperature (~80–95°C), and brew time. Others prefer very simple “boil water in a pot, stir in grounds, strain through anything” approaches.
Roast level, flavor, and “coffee for people who don’t like coffee”
- A big thread debates light vs medium vs dark roasts:
- Light/specialty roasts are described as fruity, floral, complex, sometimes “tea-like” and appealing to people who dislike burnt bitterness.
- Others experience these as sour, thin, or “IPA of coffee” and prefer traditional darker Italian/Australian-style espresso or medium roasts with chocolate/nut/caramel notes.
- Some argue descriptors like “woodsy/green/grassy” signal roast defects; others push back that flavor language and preference are subjective.
- Multiple people note most mass-market dark roasts (e.g., big chains) taste burnt for consistency and shelf life, which may be why many think they “don’t like coffee.”
- Advice for coffee skeptics: try good light/medium single-origin, cold brew, or iced pour-over rather than scorched espresso or diner pots.
Instant coffee, concentrates, and unusual products
- Some claim instant is “coffee for people who don’t like coffee”: bland but acceptable, with less bitterness; others find all instant “actively bad.”
- Cold brew and concentrates (including a vacuum-extracted product marketed as extremely strong) are pitched as smoother, lower in perceived bitterness and acidity, and good for salvaging mediocre beans.
Caffeine, health, and alternatives
- Several report caffeine-related issues (IBS-like symptoms, palpitations, dissociation, seizures) and move to decaf, cacao, tea, or no caffeine.
- Caffeine pills are discussed: cheaper and calorie-free, but described as feeling different and easier to overdose; some prefer coffee’s non-caffeine health benefits and ritual.
- Alternatives for coffee-dislikers include chai/milk tea, rooibos, unsweetened cacao drinks, guaraná, and simply drinking water.
Taste, snobbery, and enjoyment
- One prominent theme: an “unrefined palate” can be a blessing—being happy with cheap instant or gas-station coffee instead of needing perfection.
- Others enjoy both high-end specialty coffee and “crappy diner coffee” as distinct beverages.
- Some question the premise entirely: if you dislike coffee, it’s fine not to drink it instead of forcing an acquired taste or hiding it under sugar and milk.