Reuters is reporting that many of America's major brands have been quietly tweaking their coffee blends. While most coffee companies consider their blends trade secrets, and are loath to disclose exactly what goes into them, both circumstantial and direct evidence suggests they're now substituting lower-grade Robusta beans for some of their pricier Arabica, and degrading the quality of our coffee.

Oscar Wilde once said, "A cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing."

If he was right, the supermarket aisles of America are probably crowded with coffee-drinking "cynics" right now.

Reuters is reporting that many of America's major brands have been quietly tweaking their coffee blends. While most coffee companies consider their blends trade secrets, and are loath to disclose exactly what goes into them, both circumstantial and direct evidence suggests they're now substituting lower-grade Robusta beans for some of their pricier Arabica, and degrading the quality of our coffee.

At least one coffee roaster has admitted it. In November, Massimo Zanetti USA, which roasts for both Chock full o'Nuts and Hills Bros., publicly confirmed upping its Robusta usage by 25% this year.

Why the switcheroo? Prepare to not be shocked. The answer is: price.

Last year, a shortage of Arabica caused prices of the premium bean to spike as high as $3 a pound -- $2 more than what a pound of Robusta would cost. This compares to a five-year historical trend of Arabica costing closer to 70 cents more than Robusta. In recent weeks, the trend has reversed, with Arabica prices falling to just a 62-cent premium over Robusta.

WE LEOs get free coffee at Starbucks so I don't care too much about the price. To the guy in front of me this morning who gave his change to the cashier to, "buy the officer's coffee," you just gave Starbucks a nice tip! No worries though. I got your tag number on your car and entered you into our get out of jail free database. You next traffic offense is on me!

This news is a relief.

Here I thought the whiskey I put in my coffee was what was tasting funny.

perhaps if you stop sucking coffee from someones ass then things would be better?

BEH Wrote:
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> This news is a relief.
>
> Here I thought the whiskey I put in my coffee was
> what was tasting funny.


well fortunatly i don't think its possible for Old Crow to make its whiskey taste any worse then it already does.

Have you ever watched the latinos at 7/11 fix their coffees? They load a cup of coffee up with 10 creamers and 10 sugars, drink half of it, then put 10 more of each in it.

I'm happy to report my little cans of Starbucks Doubleshot have tasted the same since 2002.

COFFEE DOESNT SMELL NOR TASTE THE SAME.

I DONT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH AGE NOR THE COFFEE MAKER YOU USE.

I DEFINATELY HATE ARABIC BEANS. THEY HAVE AN OFF-SMELL AND TASTE.

THIS CHANGE IN COFFEE HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED ONLY OVER THE LAST 23 YEARS OR SO.

FACE IT, JUST LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE....ITS COST AND COMPANIES TRY TO SAVE MONEY, USE CHEAPER INGRED, FILLERS, ETC, ETC, TO GAIN MORE PROFIT.

Next bourbon. See Maker's Mark lowered their alcohol content.

arlene Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> COFFEE DOESNT SMELL NOR TASTE THE SAME.
>
> I DONT THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH AGE NOR
> THE COFFEE MAKER YOU USE.
>
> I DEFINATELY HATE ARABIC BEANS. THEY HAVE AN
> OFF-SMELL AND TASTE.
>
> THIS CHANGE IN COFFEE HAS PROBABLY HAPPENED ONLY
> OVER THE LAST 23 YEARS OR SO.
>
> FACE IT, JUST LIKE WITH ANYTHING ELSE....ITS COST
> AND COMPANIES TRY TO SAVE MONEY, USE CHEAPER
> INGRED, FILLERS, ETC, ETC, TO GAIN MORE PROFIT.
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I'm happy to report that I don't give a shit, since I don't drink coffee.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

I drink coffee like once a month, usually in emergencies that require me to wake the fuck up when no.other stimulants are around.... Even though I drink it so rarely, I have noticed the taste getting bitterer and bitterer over some time now.

 

like my soul. bitterer and bitterer.

 

> many of America's major brands have been quietly tweaking their coffee blends

Buy and grind your own beans. Problem solved. You'll never want to go back to the "america brands".