I'm pretty sure percolators are coming back. Not sure if it's a new kind of percolating or what, but after never hearing about them for most of my life, a friend registered for one last year.

I have a septic system so I can't just rinse them down the drain.

Oh, ick. I see.

if I want good coffee, I go to Dunkies now that they've opened two within a couple of miles of my house.

My surprise at this leads to my next question: which chain is brewing the best coffee out there? I mean, when you're not (just) using coffee as a drug? I'm surprised at the idea that Dunkin Donuts serves anything good, but I don't think I've ever bought an un-foofy cup of joe.

(((CaBil and MsHavisham)))

I am so sorry for your loss.

Dana-- WTF?!?! Scary

I use a Mr. Coffee Espresso maker, and then dilute the coffee with a lot of cream. Prior to that, I made it double strength in a regular Mr. Coffee. I loved the French Press, but the grounds thing was a HUGE PITA.

I am listening to internet radio and Afternoon Delight came on. Was it here that someone mentioned that when they were a child, they thought that "Afternoon Delight" was ice crea? That makes me giggle every time I hear the song. Also, 2 songs later was Jessie's Girl, so a very buffista-remindery radio station.

I use a cone, but I only drink one cup a day.

You know what? I've never bought coffee in the US that I've really considered adequate. But I just drown it in cream and drink it really fast while I wonder why I bothered.

I personally think that Dunkin Donuts has the best coffee coffee (non-foofy) of any chain. Of course all I really have hear is Starbucks, Atlanta Bread Company, Tim Hortons (hears a who) and Brueggers Bagel bakery.

I actually actively dislike Starbucks coffee plain.

I didn't drink coffee at the time, but my grandparents used a percolator. I loved the sounds it made. Bloopbloophissss. And

Yeah, as a kid they fascinated me. At first I was confuses as to how they worked, becaue water/coffee was being forced up the aluminum tube, but there's no moving parts.

I believe Dunkin coffee is different outside of the northeast, where it is the best coffee for sure.

I am listening to internet radio and Afternoon Delight came on. Was it here that someone mentioned that when they were a child, they thought that "Afternoon Delight" was ice crea? That makes me giggle every time I hear the song.

Also, 2 songs later was Jessie's Girl, so a very buffista-remindery radio station.

ALL ME!!

I'm surprised at the idea that Dunkin Donuts serves anything good, but I don't think I've ever bought an un-foofy cup of joe.

I prefer Dunkin Donuts drip coffee to Starbucks, and I say that as a former Starbucks employee. Starbucks drip coffee can be good, but the blends that appear most usually as the Coffee of the Day are nasty overroasted light-bodied acidic things like House Blend.

But honestly, I can't remember the last time I got coffee from a chain. When I buy a cup instead of getting the free stuff at work (or making my own at home), it's from a cart or a bodega.

boutique--BOWtique or BOOtique?

I knew a woman from Tampa who said it "bow", and she's the only person I'd ever heard that out of. Sounded weird, to me, but she'd never heard it "boo".

Speaking of pronuniciation, I used to work with a woman from Pennsylvania who said "perkyewlator". I mean, I pronounce it with a bit of a Y between the "perk" and the "ulator", but she really made sure of that EW in the middle.

which chain is brewing the best coffee out there?

I find Starbucks too strong/sour (I like their cafe au lait fine); McDonald's coffee is an oilslick; and Dunkies depends on time of day. (Earlier is better.) Usually, the mom & pop places, like delis and my job cafeteria, make coffee extremely weak rather than strong, and since what I'm really looking for is a sugar/cream delivery device, I go with the cheapest local weak option.

I loathe Starbuck's reg decaf, but the decaf at Dunkins in not great either. Or maybe it just sits there longer because fewer people drink it and it gets bitter.