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Let’s talk coffee

#862
friskinator said:
Here's a question for all you coffee people:

I do a fair amount of airline traveling for work and personal trips. As we all know, there's nothing more crucial than that morning cup of coffee at the gate for those early flights. Or that afternoon cup when you're jet lagged.

Here's where the problem starts. Me and my wife are both black coffee drinkers. However, we still have to stand in the 30 minute line while we wait for all the people to order their specialty drinks to their exact standards. Our transaction takes 20 seconds once we get to the register. It's annoying.

I've been kicking around this idea for a kiosk at the airport that only serves quality drip coffee. No espresso, no lattes, no frozen drinks, no food, no BS. Just brewed drip coffee from a good supplier. One size, one price. You'd grab your cup, fill it, pay the attendant, then go about your day. There would be cream and sweetener available, but that's it.

Is this something that would be used by the masses? I'd personally love it, but would it be a sustainable business?
Click to expand...
Personally, I rarely buy coffee - I'm the right guy for your business, though. Sometimes you just need a cup of something the same approximate colour as motor oil and so thick the spoon stands up in the mug. That's another thing - real mugs.

Most businesses make big bucks on upselling those beverages, though, the same amount of coffee with another... Maybe dollar in cream, sugar, syrups, and sprinkles nets then another five or six bucks in each sale. It's not hard to see why they do that stuff.

Could you make it work? Maybe with a cornered market like an airport.
 
#863
buldog5151bass said:
Remember, most people say do NOT get your Java on the plane. Among other things gs, the water will be stale, if not worse.

My one other thought. A number of companies is sell iced coffee in bottles and cans. Might be an option if you are in a rush.
Click to expand...
you mean like these?

images.jpg
coffee.jpg
 
#864
friskinator said:
Here's a question for all you coffee people:

I do a fair amount of airline traveling for work and personal trips. As we all know, there's nothing more crucial than that morning cup of coffee at the gate for those early flights. Or that afternoon cup when you're jet lagged.

Here's where the problem starts. Me and my wife are both black coffee drinkers. However, we still have to stand in the 30 minute line while we wait for all the people to order their specialty drinks to their exact standards. Our transaction takes 20 seconds once we get to the register. It's annoying.

I've been kicking around this idea for a kiosk at the airport that only serves quality drip coffee. No espresso, no lattes, no frozen drinks, no food, no BS. Just brewed drip coffee from a good supplier. One size, one price. You'd grab your cup, fill it, pay the attendant, then go about your day. There would be cream and sweetener available, but that's it.

Is this something that would be used by the masses? I'd personally love it, but would it be a sustainable business?
Click to expand...
Zero chance I'd buy a cup of coffee in an airport.
I too drink my coffee black. My standards are way too high to trust someone in an airport to make my coffee.
Then again, I am not that hooked/addicted to caffeine that I need a cup to start my day or keep it going.
If I was that desperate, I would use the mobile app to order from Starbucks or Dunkin so it was ready when I got there. Plan ahead.

-Mike
 
#865
friskinator said:
Here's a question for all you coffee people:

I do a fair amount of airline traveling for work and personal trips. As we all know, there's nothing more crucial than that morning cup of coffee at the gate for those early flights. Or that afternoon cup when you're jet lagged.

Here's where the problem starts. Me and my wife are both black coffee drinkers. However, we still have to stand in the 30 minute line while we wait for all the people to order their specialty drinks to their exact standards. Our transaction takes 20 seconds once we get to the register. It's annoying.

I've been kicking around this idea for a kiosk at the airport that only serves quality drip coffee. No espresso, no lattes, no frozen drinks, no food, no BS. Just brewed drip coffee from a good supplier. One size, one price. You'd grab your cup, fill it, pay the attendant, then go about your day. There would be cream and sweetener available, but that's it.

Is this something that would be used by the masses? I'd personally love it, but would it be a sustainable business?
Click to expand...
I think that's a fantastic idea. I pretty much only drink black coffee, so I'm a bit biased, but still. Also I wouldn't discount economies of scale in a situation like this - there are probably enough people out there who just want a simple cup of coffee for such an idea to be sustainable, if not profitable.
 
#866
Life is easier and you’re more likely to be happy if you drink your coffee black and your whiskey neat. That said, I like a little cream in my coffee and an ice cube in my whiskey.

I long ago trained myself to drink any coffee anyone poured in my cup and enjoy it. My best coffee is made in a French press and steeps for 6 minutes.
 
#868
friskinator said:
Here's a question for all you coffee people:

I do a fair amount of airline traveling for work and personal trips. As we all know, there's nothing more crucial than that morning cup of coffee at the gate for those early flights. Or that afternoon cup when you're jet lagged.

Here's where the problem starts. Me and my wife are both black coffee drinkers. However, we still have to stand in the 30 minute line while we wait for all the people to order their specialty drinks to their exact standards. Our transaction takes 20 seconds once we get to the register. It's annoying.

I've been kicking around this idea for a kiosk at the airport that only serves quality drip coffee. No espresso, no lattes, no frozen drinks, no food, no BS. Just brewed drip coffee from a good supplier. One size, one price. You'd grab your cup, fill it, pay the attendant, then go about your day. There would be cream and sweetener available, but that's it.

Is this something that would be used by the masses? I'd personally love it, but would it be a sustainable business?
Click to expand...
Yes, I would hit that kiosk. Especially in locations other than west coast USA, where there are generally good airport options besides Starbucks.
 
#869
MJ5150 said:
Zero chance I'd buy a cup of coffee in an airport.
I too drink my coffee black. My standards are way too high to trust someone in an airport to make my coffee.
Then again, I am not that hooked/addicted to caffeine that I need a cup to start my day or keep it going.
If I was that desperate, I would use the mobile app to order from Starbucks or Dunkin so it was ready when I got there. Plan ahead.

-Mike
Click to expand...
This wouldn't be for coffee aficionados. Quality coffee from a local roaster would be ideal, with a decent brewing system. I'm just curious to know if there would be an actual market for this. I wonder if there are even enough regular coffee drinkers left to support it.
 
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#872
I’ve roasted about a dozen 1/4 lb batches with my Poppo air popper. My favorite feature is the fast roast time; I’m done in 5-7 minutes. The trade off is a less forgiving process. The sweet spot is brief and it’s easy to under/overdo it. I like roasting a couple different batches quickly to learn new coffees. Here’s a medium/light nutty Brazilian. Roast time was about 5.5 minutes
3574D08C-7109-4DA0-912F-64196EA685D2.jpeg
 
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#873
Ha, yep. You can get done quickly. but you are definitely right about the timing. I used to ask my wife when I roasted on mine not to try and talk to me while I had a batch roasting. I couldn't afford any distractions. The one thing that did help me was adding the eight inch aluminum tube and roasting in the sifter I'd set on top of the tube so I had some more control of the heat.

-Mike
 
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#874
pisces_bass said:
I’ve roasted about a dozen 1/4 lb batches with my Poppo air popper. My favorite feature is the fast roast time; I’m done in 5-7 minutes. The trade off is a less forgiving process. The sweet spot is brief and it’s easy to under/overdo it. I like roasting a couple different batches quickly to learn new coffees. Here’s a medium/light nutty Brazilian. Roast time was about 5.5 minutes View attachment 7074696
Click to expand...
If you have to do so many small batches, I can see the appeal of short roast times. I roast 900g green batches, so I don’t have that problem, but I find that I like a first crack time of around 8 - 9 minutes. I find that the acidity can be a bit much with shorter times to first crack in my usual med light roasts. Mine are usually 10 - 12 minutes in total.

I’m curious: how long is your time to first crack, and how long are you developing the roast?
 
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#875
walking_line said:
If you have to do so many small batches, I can see the appeal of short roast times. I roast 900g green batches, so I don’t have that problem, but I find that I like a first crack time of around 8 - 9 minutes. I find that the acidity can be a bit much with shorter times to first crack in my usual med light roasts. Mine are usually 10 - 12 minutes in total.

I’m curious: how long is your time to first crack, and how long are you developing the roast?
Click to expand...
I’m only making coffee for myself, so two batches a week. My last air popper was much slower and the roast times were similar to your example. The current unit gets to first crack ~4min. If I end up with highly acidic coffee my solution is to use it for cold brew.
 
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