[Gigachad]

Can anyone talk more to the point about coffee? I’m in Melbourne and I just don’t get how people describe Italian coffee as good. Most cafes in Melbourne serve coffee roasted here and it’s really good. Sweet and acidic without bitterness. But every time I try an Italian brand of coffee here it’s always like drinking burnt dirt. Is the coffee sold in Italy better than the Italian branded stuff sold overseas?

As for Japanese coffee, my only experience has been the canned stuff which was awful.

[xanderlewis]

It’s like tea in Britain. Almost everyone drinks it — it’s truly a national obsession and we’re proud of it — but the average quality is awful. Even moving from teabags to loose leaf is a vast improvement and yet is still considered a bit too posh/hipster for most.

As you say, same with coffee in Italy. People conflate widespread popularity with deep knowledge.

[lamp_book]

I don’t get the love for Japanese coffee either - I found one good coffee place in Kyoto and everywhere else was mediocre at best.

[InCityDreams]

Italian coffee...in Italy, though? Similar with food: i believe a large part of the 'excellent taste' of anysomewhere is the water used to prepare food and drink.