|
|
|
|
Pop round a friends or neighbors house in the UK for a coffee and the chances are very high that you will be served a mug of bland instant coffee. This doesn't happen in the US.
The reason may be due to past unavailability, but this is no longer the case. In the past, most offices and places of work in the UK had little or no provision for real coffee - instant coffee was the only option to a thirsty worker via a vending machine or jar and kettle. This has never been an issue in the US, where it seems fresh coffee has always been the preferred choice. Just watch any old cop show going back in time as far as you like - there always seemed to be a pot brewing in the background at the station.
Let's be honest here. Instant coffee, made by adding hot water to powder or granules is not very nice when compared to the real thing. It bears little or no resemblance to the proper stuff. Real coffee has that amazing complicated aroma, intense taste and real personality. Coffee made from instant granules has little smell, a bland taste and absolutely no personality whatsoever!
Slick instant coffee TV commercials continue to infest TV in the UK. This may have tricked the general public into putting up with such a lousy beverage? There are two or three very large commercial brands that have captured most of the market and have no intension of letting their sales slip.
Thank goodess for the invasion of US coffee shops into the UK high street. These have really taken root over the last 10-15 years and this has slowly been educating the public that real coffee is best. Indeed, it's almost impossible to walk anywhere in central London without having at least two coffee shops in view at any one time. Thanks heavens.
It appears that things have been changing and now freshly brewed coffee is available almost anywhere. Most office drinks machines now produce an acceptable freshly brewed coffee. Now most business dealing with the public offer freshly made coffee as standard.
In the home however the situation hasn't changed. Only a small percentage of Britons regularly offer fresh coffee to their guests. The majority still stick with instant coffee even if they have a coffee maker for convenience. Yes, it takes longer to brew a proper cup, and there is more mess to clear up. Fresh coffee needs to be looked after properly and stored well. The final drink however is divine and beyond comparison.
|
|
