Another Week, Another Top Coffee List. With Bonus Pizza Analogy

The 21 Best Cups of Coffee in America.  Intelligentsia is #2 on this list. 

As with all "best" lists, one can find things with which they agree and disagree.  We've been fortunate to have the opportunity to visit and/or try coffees from many of the places listed.  And we've been even more fortunate to have tasted even better cups from places not listed.

Opinions on what's a good cup of coffee are subjective.  And arguments about what's best cannot be won, much like arguing for/against light beer, beans in chili or perhaps the most contentious example - pizza. 

It would be hard to argue that there's anyone who knows more about making traditional Neapolitan pizza in the city than Ron at Il Pizzaiolo.  He's been a student of pizza forever.  Get his cheeses shipped from Italy.  Obtained a rare DOC certification for his margherita pie.

But people still flock to Vincents or Betos because they like that style of pizza.  Some people like a particular pizza because it's what they grew up with - pizza comfort food if you will. Others don't care about the taste as much as free delivery. Still others see pizza as simply a delivery device for toppings. They want buffalo chicken and ranch dressing, or extra mounds of commercial cheese or cold industrial toppings.  Regardless what style of pizza people enjoy, they think their style of preferred pie is the best (and what's wrong with you if you disagree with them?). 

And they'll argue for their preference in the face of facts (Il Piz's better ingredients, oven, training, DOC certification, fresh ingredients, etc. vs. canned mushrooms, frozen pie shells, bags of cornmeal-coated pre-shredded domestic imitation provolone, etc.)

Drawing the parallel to coffee, there are many who choose convenience or price over quality. Others who will add sugar or flavor syrup or milk without ever tasting the actual coffee. And others who simply see coffee as a caffeine delivery device. The numbers of people who truly seek out quality coffee and savor it in all its black gloriousness are indeed few compared to the masses.

So while we're happy our roaster is on this list, all that really achieves is preaching to the choir who've already noted that Intelligentsia's green coffee buying is superior in many regards to most other roasters, ensuring a better quality of ingredient to work with.  And that their roasting equipment, roaster training, barista training and overall coffee knowledge ensure that the best flavors that can be extracted from the beans show up in your cup.  Much the same can also be said for coffees from Jake's Java. 

Whether you like the coffee we serve is really up to you.  We simply hope you'll give it a chance.  Preferably black.

Comments

[Sunil]

I for one like both Il Pizzaiolo and Vincent's! I think we're lucky to be living in a city that has both to offer.

[phil]

Beans in chili. There is no debate.

[richard Westerfield]

votes from vegetarians on chili don't count ;-)

[Luke]

I had a customer today take a $7 cup of Esmeralda off the Clover in a paper cup and put cream in it. No commentary, just wanted to share this experience.

[rich]

Luke,
It could've been worse. They could've asked for a shot of Macadamia Nut flavor.

[wiggles]

for the record, lucky's in cleveland makes a banging brunch, but their coffee leaves a lot to be desired.

[rich]

WIGGLES!

We never did get up to Cleveland. We did get a visit from another big roaster up your way. Sampled a couple of their espressos. One was pretty good, a lot like LaPrima's Miscela.

But we do need a Cleveland trip before the MARBCs.

[Larry]

Once you have a cup of properly brewed coffee, drinking it black is no problem!