I like brewing my own coffee fresh - as readers of Three Months (still available via Amazon) and 65 My Life So Far (only through Kindle) will know. I take ground Jamaican Blue Mountain beans wherever I go.

But they cost a fortune (literally ten times other coffees) and, I've decided, taste exactly the same. So I now buy other, more normal types.

Is it an age thing? Do our taste buds lose their ability to discern differences as we get older? Do you think virtually all coffees taste the same? Answers please!

I have found that it's never a terribly good idea to judge coffee by the cost. I used to describe myself as "snob rather than connoisseur", but I'm getting better. Cost, of course, has to come into the equation somewhere, but the differential in terms of expenditure is by no means reflective of the differential in terms of taste. I was recently introduced {very kindly} by a friend to Caffe Vergnano 1882. It's superb, but would break me financially if I actually attempted to live on it. So I'll continue to use Belarom, which I buy from Lidl. It's not as good as Vergnano. But, by Christ, it's better than almost anything else I can get from any of the other supermarkets, and produces a consistently good result from either Moka or 15-bar espresso machine.

Just got back from Bakewell, where the local shops are organising a "keep Costa out" petition.

Not a massive fan of Costa anyway, but Bakewell has always seemed to me to be collective of self-interest groups keen to promote and defend their own little establishments and keep prices artifically high. The local coffee houses (none particularly good) are probably the organisers of this petition.

The venue that Costa wants to use is 2000 sq ft, and is just off the main square and has been empty now for four years.

of course your taste buds alter but not with age (or Michael Winner would have given up his lavish dinners years ago).

they become dulled because of your diet...so I recommend a good vegetable juice only diet for ten days..or longer if possible.

Then you will discover the joys of taste all over again as your taste buds revert to normal. You will find everything tastes amazingly delicious !!

trust me, I'm a doctor (with no credentials).

In The Know wrote:
Just got back from Bakewell, where the local shops are organising a "keep Costa out" petition.

Not a massive fan of Costa anyway, but Bakewell has always seemed to me to be collective of self-interest groups keen to promote and defend their own little establishments and keep prices artifically high. The local coffee houses (none particularly good) are probably the organisers of this petition.

The venue that Costa wants to use is 2000 sq ft, and is just off the main square and has been empty now for four years.

If you're typing about the lovely Bakewell, near Darwin (Australia) - I can tell you that Costa do not want to open there!

Plenty of coffee shops in Darwin - though no Costa.

JK2006 wrote:
I like brewing my own coffee fresh - as readers of Three Months (still available via Amazon) and 65 My Life So Far (only through Kindle) will know. I take ground Jamaican Blue Mountain beans wherever I go.

But they cost a fortune (literally ten times other coffees) and, I've decided, taste exactly the same. So I now buy other, more normal types.

Is it an age thing? Do our taste buds lose their ability to discern differences as we get older? Do you think virtually all coffees taste the same? Answers please!

Sue swears by Taylor's of Harrogate "Lazy Suday" blend, (currently on offer in Sainsbury's, but generally available), or Farrars No.1 blend, only available online or from their shop in Kendal. www.farrerscoffee.co.uk

The own brand variety of bean at Costco is my tip for a non-expensive brew.

Ben 9 wrote:
In The Know wrote:
Just got back from Bakewell, where the local shops are organising a "keep Costa out" petition.

Not a massive fan of Costa anyway, but Bakewell has always seemed to me to be collective of self-interest groups keen to promote and defend their own little establishments and keep prices artifically high. The local coffee houses (none particularly good) are probably the organisers of this petition.

The venue that Costa wants to use is 2000 sq ft, and is just off the main square and has been empty now for four years.

If you're typing about the lovely Bakewell, near Darwin (Australia) - I can tell you that Costa do not want to open there!

Plenty of coffee shops in Darwin - though no Costa.
I take it he's in Bakewell UK, rather than the lovely Oz!

go on that 10 day fast...not only lose weight and look gorgeous, you will think a Greggs sausage roll is an entree to paradise.

I quit smoking over Christmas, mainly due to an awful chest infection but also because for some reason it didn't 'taste' the same in recovery.
A month later, my taste buds seem much more excitable and drinking coffee excites them even more.