The perfect cup

What makes for the perfect cup of coffee (or similar hot drink)?

1. Rachael said the following on March 13, 2010 at 6:52 am

   Sugar!!! Haha, kidding, sort of…when it comes to coffee shops I only like “dessert coffees” and sweet chai lattes.
2. Phil said the following on March 13, 2010 at 8:11 am

   For coffee always grind your own beans and add some cinnamon to the grounds. After it’s brewed and a little bit of cream or milk to help bring out the natural flavors. This process works well for me.
3. snowbunny said the following on March 13, 2010 at 9:13 am

   I would have to agree with Phil-I like to add cinnamon to the grounds before brewing it. After brewing I add a little cream and sugar. Somedays I replace sugar with pure vanilla powder. I like most hot drinks-chai tea, steamers and a variety of other teas. One tea I’ve been enjoying lately is roiboos. Give it a try.
4. Zeph317 said the following on March 13, 2010 at 9:16 am

   A perfect cup of hot tea/chai/latte/steamer is made when I’m having it with a good friend on a rainy day.
5. Lira said the following on March 13, 2010 at 9:35 am

   Not much of a coffee fan, but I like chai and black tea. If I want something very sweet, I like to mix a packet of hot chocolate, a little bit of cinnamon, a very tiny bit of ground cloves, some half and half creamer, a drop of almond extract and a little chocolate syrup (that last part probably isn’t necessary, but it makes me feel clever and important) then fill up the rest with hot water. If it’s Christmas, I’ll throw in a little chunk of candy cane. Hee hee yum!
6. beccaliz said the following on March 13, 2010 at 9:44 am

   I’m not picky about my coffee, but my Irish and British roots influence the way I drink tea. I’m a fan of full-leaf black tea (made in a kettle, not a microwave) with cream. That’s the way my mom makes it, and it was the way her mom made it, etc.
7. r3fuller said the following on March 13, 2010 at 10:08 am

   Oh this is my kind of question. I take my coffee and tea very seriously.

   Coffee: 2 tablespoons of [freshly ground, not flavored] coffee to 6 ounces of water, with half and half or heavy cream (not milk!).

   Tea: I like loose-leaf teas the best. I don’t put milk or sugar in unless it’s chai. Not a big fan of roiboos.
8. Kristen said the following on March 13, 2010 at 10:39 am

   I don’t drink coffee, but am a huge tea fan. It has to use fresh water that’s boiled on the stove as microwaves tend to leave a film of any minerals in the water (yuck) and quality leaves (no Lipton, please–it’s a very low grad tea that is mostly stems and the worst pickings of a crop). For chai, I make my own with crushed black Kenyan leaves, milk, sugar, and tea masala. Black teas, a spot of milk and sugar. Green teas, plain, but strong. And herbal teas, just a touch of sugar. I also love passion fruit sun tea.

   Does this make anyone else want to go make a cuppa?
9. USALady63 said the following on March 13, 2010 at 9:51 pm

   I like my coffee canned or beans. Half n Half is a must. I like my Mocha from Starbucks with Whipped Cream and a latte too. But mostly mochas:)

   I like hot cocoa too with marshmallows.

   Tea I like too but use a tea kettle. Do not use microwave. I use a little half n half and a little surgar.
10. jwedgirl76 said the following on March 13, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    I love coffee!!! First thing each day I begin my day with a cup of coffee qith cream and sugar. On another note my other fave is sweet tea being from Texas when I was growing up. Other drinks are:Iced Caramel Latte`, Peppermint Tea and Caramel Machiatto. Mmmmmmm
11. donna said the following on March 14, 2010 at 6:54 am

    Yeah I had to go on a bit of a coffee hiatus because I’m such a cream and sugar fan:) Usually the coffee is what I add to my cream and sugar:) I had a cup yesterday actually because I’d wanted some all day Friday and it wasn’t pretty, a non fat no sugar caramel something or other. I had to have the girl add some of the sugared version of the syrup to tolerate it and didn’t finish it.

    I did however get a little sample from Whole Foods to which I added some cream and sugar in the raw. That little sample was soooooo good and was just enough to satisfy my craving.
12. Jen7707 said the following on March 14, 2010 at 8:46 am

    Freshly ground beans, distilled water (a great coffee connoisseur once told me that “great coffee starts with good water.”) Once it’s brewed, I like to add vanilla or caramel syrup and half & half or vanilla creamer.
13. chrisbak3r said the following on March 14, 2010 at 3:04 pm

    Two words: French Press
14. Jenn said the following on March 14, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    For me, temperature is key. I like it HOT! (tea can be a little cooler, but chai and coffee, the hotter the better). This has led to my uncle nicknaming me “asbestos lips”. Hmmm… that is definitely a new one!

    Anyhow, I like my coffee strong and creamy. Sweet, but still tasting like coffee. It’s generally french press, with Nestle vanilla creamer.

    As for tea, Germany has a great variety, so I have lots to choose from and keep quite a stash. My favorite right now is Coconut Thai. mmm… (it’s an american tea)
15. JamieLee said the following on March 14, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    First of all you have to start off with boiling your water in an electric kettle and then put your tea bags in it and let them steep for 5 minutes. This makes really good strong cup of tea, in my humble opinion anyways. I’m a big fan of earl grey tea with milk and a bit of sugar in it, yyuuummmm. Chai tea is another favourite.
16. Rachael said the following on March 14, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    So, what I wanna know is, who wants to get a cup? Haha..ha…heh :/

    Hope that made someone laugh!
17. Carrie said the following on March 14, 2010 at 10:01 pm

    Agreed: French Press
18. Rebekah said the following on March 14, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    I love strong, black coffee. Cream is wasted space where there is no coffee.
    
19. madhatter6475 said the following on March 15, 2010 at 12:54 am

    Lots of cream and lots of sugar
20. AndreaElena said the following on March 17, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    20-ounce Starbucks City mug? Check!

    HOT strong, black coffee; medium to dark roast? Check!

    3 packages Splenda, 2 packages Sweet ‘n’ Low? Check!

    Generous helpings of nondairy creamer? Check!

    Open AE’s mouth; insert coffee. That’s how “ignition” is for me in the morning.
21. decemberchalks said the following on March 19, 2010 at 12:50 am

    mixed blend of arabica and robusta or something like it- without the creamer, the hotter the better if it’s a starbucks, i only go for one kind of coffee: caramel machiatto, sugar free, non fat and extra hot.
22. Amazing_Grace said the following on March 19, 2010 at 11:55 am

    Lots and lots of International Delight Flavored Creamer!!! My dad hates the stuff and when he has reps come to his hospital with lots of International Delight flavored creamers for him and the other Respiratory Therapist he gets annoyed! Lol!!

    Oh, and gotta have Stevia! (Natural sugar substitute!)