Black Coffee?

RebelliousRibbons

I'm considering learning to like black coffee. Any thoughts/tips/advice?

Any of you converted?

LesterBlackstone

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

missjewl

I use to drink double double for years... I cut cold turkey.. been drinking straight up black no sugar for almost 2 yrs! The first cup or 2 takes a bit a work but once you make it through 3-4 days of just black you got it nixed. The more coffee you drink the faster you get over the taste. I cant even put a drop of Bailey's in my coffee now, not that that's a bad thing, but once in a while doesnt hurt

robot_potato

It's great when done right. Get good quality beans, not grounds. You want a french press or a single shot brewer, mine grinds&brews single cups and shots for my lazy behind. It tastes a bajillion times better when it is fresh ground.

sarah3333

I went to black coffee a few years ago and you really will get used to it pretty quickly. Once in a while I want a little no cal sweetener with it but I have no desire for cream anymore.

Athena413

LOVE black coffee! I'm pretty sure I drink it almost every day of my life!

IAMDDAY

I have started black coffee only and it is not bad. I started with a medium roast and now work up to some flavored coffee. I like the ones that smell really good but are not over powering on the taste

glenr79

spark is the best energy drink ever!! no sugar, no crash... 10x the energy as red bull, 5 hour energy, or coffee with no crash

kokaneesailor

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

Yep, that's how I roll.

xoFlo

Bump. Would love to be inspired to leave out the milk/fat free half & half and splenda/stevia.

slowturtle1

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:


or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

^^^Could not agree more! I've been drinking it black now for over 5 years. At one time, back in the day, I couldn't drink it all unless it was loaded with sugar and milk/cream. Now the thought of that grosses me out. I tapered off the sugar slowly and went to just cream, then from cream to whole milk, then low fat milk, then skim milk (which to me might as well have not even been there), and finally to plain black coffee. You can't beat quality coffee from a french press.

beachcomber72

HI ! You are my first post, whoo hoo! I decided to cut sugar, and find that coffee with a touch of milk is better then black, but hoping to endure blackm asap. ...then saw your message and was happy to not be the only one doing this!! HEE HEE

beachloe

I tried it and couldn't do it. I switched to tea instead.

wackyfunster

Buy good coffee. Starbucks is not good coffee (except maybe ther blonde roast).
Get a decent grinder (baratza encore is the cheapest decent one out there IMO)
Get a good coffee making device. If you want a drip machine, the Bonavita is awesome and reasonably priced compared to the comparable Technivorm.
If that is too expensive, I recommend a chemex or French press. Water temp is extremely important with those.
Use 7-9g of coffee per 6 oz "cup" depending on how strong you want it.

If you like iced coffee, get a Toddy... They are awesome.

Black coffee should be very enjoyable if made properly!

wackyfunster

Buy good coffee. Starbucks is not good coffee (except maybe ther blonde roast).
Get a decent grinder (baratza encore is the cheapest decent one out there IMO)
Get a good coffee making device. If you want a drip machine, the Bonavita is awesome and reasonably priced compared to the comparable Technivorm.
If that is too expensive, I recommend a chemex or French press. Water temp is extremely important with those.
Use 7-9g of coffee per 6 oz "cup" depending on how strong you want it.

If you like iced coffee, get a Toddy... They are awesome.

Black coffee should be very enjoyable if made properly!

dvisser1

I agree with the french press if you're going to switch to all black coffee, it gives a much richer taste and a softer feel to the cup of coffee.

I've worked down from 1/3 cup of half n half and about 8 sugar packets in my morning 16 oz cup of strong drip coffee, down to 1/4 cup of skim milk and 3 sugar packets. Dropped the half n half for first 2% milk and then skim. Cut the sugar in half to 4 packets years ago. Since starting on MFP in January, cut the skim milk volume down to about 1/4 cup and sugar to 3 packets.

AkronsBrit

Phase the milk/creamer/everything else you put in your coffee gradually and you won't even notice the difference after a while!

iLoveMyPitbull1225

I agree like everyone else with the quality coffee, and I wouldnt start out with something very bold because it tends to be more bitter in my opinion. Wein yourself gently off the creamers/sugar.

cerveau

A great way to make the transition is to start with cold brewed coffee. All of the acidity and bitterness is that cream and sugar typically mask are virtually absent in a good cold brew. A single type of bean will make a radically different when cold brewed than, say, in a stovetop espresso machine. Generally the result is a super smooth coffee with far more discernible flavors of chocolate or fruit or whatever underlying notes there are to the bean and roast. It's mild enough that you could literally guzzle it. Sometimes I do. And, of course, start with a great coffee and grind it fresh.

Generally cold brews are served on ice, but I've been to a few restaurants that cold brewed their coffee, and then served it hot, and the awesomely smooth, non-acidic flavor is just as great. I've actually done side-by-side comparisons on the same coffee bean, hot brewed and cold brewed, and the difference is like night and day. Cold brew - delicious and soothing. Hot brew - painfully sharp and bitter.

Here's a good guide to get started: http://www.americastestkitchenfeed.com/do-it-yourself/2011/08/how-to-make-cold-brew-coffee

This is just for making a single glass, but you can also make big batches and store it in a glass beverage dispenser in the fridge and just pour yourself a glass each morning. So easy. If I had unlimited funds I'd keep my coffee in this thing: http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-serve/20841896.jsp. So beautiful!

meg7399

I need 1 sugar cube and a dallop of skim milk still. I like it better iced though.

Onesnap

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

LOVE my French press.

kaotik26

I took out the creamer not too long ago, still do sugar though. 2 cups is only 64 calories compare to 120 with the cream. Maybe I can wean my way off that sugar too!

mkgrayson

Definately a Black Coffee drinker. I have been a BCD since college. If it is not good quality stuff (gas station / mickey D's) I add several pieces of ice to cut it a bit and make it drinkable. I also like to blend coffees. So for instance I will blend a dark and a hazlenut. I also like 7-11 blueberry coffee (not with the syrup though).

Test some blends out, you will probably fiind some that you like.

For home I like to buy the flavored beans, especially around the holidays when there is all kinds of crazy flavors coming out.

supermom2002

I used to be a double double girl forever...then the International Delight French Vanilla. Then along came MFP and i realized how many calories i was drinking every morning.
Switched to black--cold turkey. Every now and then i'll splurge and add some French Vanilla but I find it so sweet I can barely finish my cup.
I can only drink it lukewarm though. Strange.
And the bottom of the pot makes great coffee ice cubes to throw in my protein shakes

pedraz

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

The Bialetti moka pot is great. Use a good Italian roast and fresh water. Throw out the first 2-3 pots of coffee. Then the pot will be primed and ready. Never ever ever use soap to clean this pot. It will turn brown and grey and all colors. This is a good thing. Just rinse and let drain. The best coffee ever?
http://www.avioselezione.it/selezionearticoli.asp?lang=UNDEFINED&INVIA SELEZIONE=NUOVA SELEZIONE&categoria=CAF&raggruppamento=&aggregazione=&stagione=
Scroll down to the one in gold AVIO SPECIALITA' It's too good to ruin with sugar or milk. This is the real thing. Hard to find though. Enjoy!

ahamm002

Coffee purists will probably flame me for this, but just go buy a Keurig. They're incredibley convenient.

suzikay12

I used to put so much stuff in my coffee that it was probably closer to caramel than coffee. I started drinking it black out of convenience because it took 1 second to pour a cup of black coffee and head out the door and I needed to cut my morning routine down. It really didn't take me long until I was used to drinking it black. Now I prefer it that way.

You could try out some of the flavored coffee that is available, that might make your transition easier.

I agree with everyone above who says that starbucks is NOT good coffee.

runfatmanrun

I drink it every day. Buy good quality coffee beans and grind them yourself. I still use a drip coffee maker, some use french presses but it's a preference.

Shannon2714

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

^^^^YES!

now_or_never12

I used to drink coffee with cream and sugar. I slowly cut things out. Started with drinking it with cream and sweetener. Than switched to sweetener and milk. Cut out the sweetener and lowered the milk. Ended up drinking it black. Sometimes I will have some milk in it.

I buy the flavoured coffee now (french vanilla, hazelnut, etc) and it makes it so good that you don't need anything. I love my Tassimo (although still wish it had the selection that the Kuerig has but their selection is getting better).

My treat to myself is a little fat free creamer now.

mrsdizzyd84

1. Buy quality coffee.
2. Ditch the drip pot. Get one of these:



or one of these



(I prefer the latter, but the former is probably easier).

or one of these (aeropress) which is better than both of those: