Ok. Showered. Now I should do dishes.

I want to procrastinate. But, I'm all caught up online, and there is nothing on tv except for the forbidden Regis and Kelly. So, it looks like dishes is my only option.

I have not been able to make a good cup of coffee for the last three weeks. It's a little frustrating--I don't know if the grounds are just stronger than the ones before this newer bag of coffee, or my coffeemaker's fucked up, or what. I just need my cup in the mornings! Why can't I get it right?!

Is this an automatic drip coffee maker?

If so, have you cleaned out the works, lately? In theory, I clean mine once a month. You fill up the reservoir with white vinegar (to whatever the largest capacity of your coffee maker is: e.g. 12 cups), then run it. When about half of the vinegar has run through the system, shut it off for a little while, and let it sit like that. Then turn it back on, and let it run the rest of the way. Dump the pot full of vinegar down your sink (which will help freshen your drain a little, too). Then, rinse out the pot well, and fill up the reservoir with water, to rinse the vinegar out of the works. I usually run 3 or 4 cycles with just plain water, but 1 or 2 would probably suffice.

Yep. I cleaned it out at the beginning of March (or maybe late February?) but not since then. I dig the vineagar method, but all the folks on my floor get all pissy about the smell.

I think it's the grounds, really. I've been using weaker coffees, one with a little bit of added flavor, and this is like colombian supremo, which is apparently stronger. But that's weird, because I totally rocked the Starbuck's bold Sumatra blend a few weeks ago and used the same amount of grounds as I am now, and it was the best coffee ever.

I dig the vineagar method, but all the folks on my floor get all pissy about the smell.

I think it's the grounds, really. I've been using weaker coffees, one with a little bit of added flavor, and this is like colombian supremo, which is apparently stronger. But that's weird, because I totally rocked the Starbuck's bold Sumatra blend a few weeks ago and used the same amount of grounds as I am now, and it was the best coffee ever.

Do you grind it yourself at the grocery? I know sometimes, when we've done that, there's been a stray flavored bean or two in the works, and it's tainted the coffee for me (which I realize probably isn't your issue, but I felt compelled to share).

Nope. This is pre-ground, because grinding it myself implies that I'm actually awake in fifteen minutes I stumble to the coffeemaker and make the drug before I run to work.

At work, most work areas on my floor have a community coffee maker. When it's time for cleaning, someone has to take the machine home and perform the vinegar method there. We started doing this after the great What Is That Fucking Smell? riot back in 2003.

There was a committee and a vote and everything.

Nope. This is pre-ground, because grinding it myself implies that I'm actually awake in fifteen minutes I stumble to the coffeemaker and make the drug before I run to work.

No, I meant ground at the grocery store. There are some stores around here where you can buy the beans, and grind and bag them in the store, but I was just sharing as opposed to speculating at that point, anyhow.

At work, most work areas on my floor have a community coffee maker. When it's time for cleaning, someone has to take the machine home and perform the vinegar method there. We started doing this after the great What Is That Fucking Smell? riot back in 2003.

Can I mock, or were you one of the smell objectors? I mean, I know the vinegar has an overpowering smell, but it fades fast enough, and it's not like a dirty rotten smell, like garbage, or other, grosser stuff.

grinding it myself implies that I'm actually awake in fifteen minutes I stumble to the coffeemaker and make the drug before I run to work.

This is why I've trained myself to drink the free coffee at work.

(And yet, I'm still contemplating waking up an hour early so I can go to the gym in the mornings. Am I crazy?)

ION, Mr. Breakfast.com! This is the greatest website EVAR.

I wasn't one of the big objectors (I grew up with alcoholics and older siblings - I got used to nasty smells at an early age), so mock away, by all means. I do remember that it was an AWFUL smell, but no one died. I don't think.

The main problem was that it had been years since anyone had thought to clean the coffee makers and on top of that, someone (NOT ME) had the bright idea of cleaning three or four of the machines at once. And does vinegar go bad? 'Cause if it does, that has to be what they found in the cafeteria.

The other problem was that we don't have a way to open any of the windows up here on the 4th floor, so a couple of people had to go home because of resulting headaches, nausea, etc.

It was a whole Big Deal and we almost had to give up our community coffee. Which would've sucked ass because the cafeteria tastes like paint.

OMG! Over-peppy woman on The Today Show.