Why the heck does America still use outdated measurement and date units?

[ericwn]

I drink Belgium beer.

Easy win in that contest!

 

[it wasnt me]

Indeed. A friend of mine lives in Belgium and Germany. I can't beat him in Untappd.

 

[Cram]

US Pint or UK Pint? That's an important distinction, because of good beer I'd rather have a UK pint, whereas of British beer I'd rather have a US pint...

To which British beer do you refer?

 

[it wasnt me]

I spent a week in London three years ago, and I had to check my notes: there was roughly one good beer (Adnams Ghost Ship) between many mediocre ones. A matter of taste, I guess.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I spent a week in London three years ago, and I had to check my notes: there was roughly one good beer (Adnams Ghost Ship) between many mediocre ones. A matter of taste, I guess.

Considering there are literally thousands of British beers and ales, I’d say you tried a very small sample indeed. Britain, Belgium, Germany and Holland are probably the best beer producers in the world and have been for many hundreds of years.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Considering there are literally thousands of British beers and ales, I’d say you tried a very small sample indeed. Britain, Belgium, Germany and Holland are probably the best beer producers in the world and have been for many hundreds of years.

Agreed. And America is one of the worst.
Budweiser? I’d rather have water.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I drink Belgium beer.

As do I.

And, sometimes, German beer, especially in summer.

Considering there are literally thousands of British beers and ales, I’d say you tried a very small sample indeed.

Agreed.

Some of the small, artisan breweries in the UK produce wonderful beers.

Innis & Gunn?

Buxton?

These are just two of the breweries in the UK that brew excellent beers that come to mind.

Britain, Belgium, Germany and Holland are probably the best beer producers in the world and have been for many hundreds of years.

To that list, I would add the Czech Republic; they produce some excellent beers.

Agreed. And America is one of the worst.
Budweiser? I’d rather have water.

Amen to that.

I, too, would rather have water than try American Budweiser (the Czech ancestor, Budvar, is far better).

 

[eyoungren]

Agreed. And America is one of the worst.
Budweiser? I’d rather have water.

I, too, would rather have water than try American Budweiser (the Czech ancestor, Budvar, is far better).

You cannot expect much from the American palate.

This is the same America whose most popular coffee brand is Folgers. A company that decided in the early 1900s that the robusta bean would be best (because it's cheaper, why else?!). And America drank it. And still does.

I don't drink beer/alcohol really, but I have tasted Bud because it was offered and I was being polite. I regret it all.

I'd offer my alternative beer brand but I'm afraid it would reveal my American ignorance with beer.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

You cannot expect much from the American palate.

This is the same America whose most popular coffee brand is Folgers. A company that decided in the early 1900s that the robusta bean would be best (because it's cheaper, why else?!). And America drank it. And still does.

Poor beer is one thing, but, in a country which launched its independence movement with the "Boston Tea Party" - boycotting tea as a consequence for some time - I cannot understand (reasons of cost and profit aside) why the coffee in the country is not a lot better.

I don't drink beer/alcohol really, but I have tasted Bud because it was offered and I was being polite. I regret it all.

Agree completely.

I'd offer my alternative beer brand but I'm afraid it would reveal my American ignorance with beer.

Founders is an excellent American brewery; they produce a number of excellent, and some superlative, beers.

 

[eyoungren]

…I cannot understand (reasons of cost and profit aside) why the coffee in the country is not a lot better.

For that you have to understand the American psyche/work ethic.

You get up and it's 'go time'. Most Americans hit the ground running and the caffeine hit gives us the jump start we need. Very few are awake enough to recognize the bad taste and even if they did it's all about the caffeine anyway. As long as you can get it down…

Later in the day is different. You want the hit to keep going, but by this point enough work has been shoved out the door that you can afford to appreciate the taste a bit. And that is why Starbucks and other coffee vendors/brands are now as popular as they are.

Energy drinks as well (they have lots of caffeine).

 

[compwiz1202]

For that you have to understand the American psyche/work ethic.

You get up and it's 'go time'. Most Americans hit the ground running and the caffeine hit gives us the jump start we need. Very few are awake enough to recognize the bad taste and even if they did it's all about the caffeine anyway. As long as you can get it down…

Later in the day is different. You want the hit to keep going, but by this point enough work has been shoved out the door that you can afford to appreciate the taste a bit. And that is why Starbucks and other coffee vendors/brands are now as popular as they are.

Energy drinks as well (they have lots of caffeine).

The other thing is that's the only thing most of have, so we like it. Same with chocolate. If we always had the more expensive, better stuff, we would hate our stuff eventually.

 

[Huntn]

You cannot expect much from the American palate.

This is the same America whose most popular coffee brand is Folgers. A company that decided in the early 1900s that the robusta bean would be best (because it's cheaper, why else?!). And America drank it. And still does.

I don't drink beer/alcohol really, but I have tasted Bud because it was offered and I was being polite. I regret it all.

I'd offer my alternative beer brand but I'm afraid it would reveal my American ignorance with beer.

When I was grinding coffee, there were many good selections at the grocery store. Now not disputing, just discussing, I’ve never seen a label like “robusta” in the coffee section. Would it be called that if you could find it there or would it have another label like Colombian?

Now as many of you know, I‘m mostly now drinking instant coffee these days which disqualifies me as a coffee connoisseur because I am lazy and the taste is good enough. I still remember the amazing cup of coffee I had decades ago at a hotel, and the waiter had no clue what it was, deep, rich, smooth, flavorful, such an aroma, sigh…

Now Budweiser The King of Beers, Ha-Ha…ha-ha-HA! marketing at it’s most brilliant, to a bunch of (but not all, hopefully not most) people with bankrupt pallets. It’s a sad road the country went down, with the roots of current day popularity starting with prohibition 90ish years ago.

As a teen who sampled Bud at a party (1970ish), even with an inexperienced pallet, I knew it was rank stuff, only palatable when drunk icy cold. I remember trying craft beers when they started appearing in the 70s as I recall, plus my trips to Europe that opened mine eyes to just how amazing beer is, and seemingly an unlimited variable flavors were possible, so there was no going back to glorified horse piss.

One of my favorite discoveries was at Hahn Air base I deployed to in the good-ole Cold War days near Lautzenhausen in the Hunsrück mountains of western Germany (turned over to Germany in the 1990s) was a Lowenbrau Lowen Weisse Hefe-Weissbier, gosh it was good, brought back a case of it.

 

[satcomer]

I, too, would rather have water than try American Budweiser (the Czech ancestor, Budvar, is far better).

In America now you would be hard left person to drink that swill after the recent news!

 

[Huntn]

The other thing is that's the only thing most of have, so we like it. Same with chocolate. If we always had the more expensive, better stuff, we would hate our stuff eventually.

Hmm, that’s a maybe, it’s hard to beat a Hershey Chocolate bar with almonds and both the wife and I are hooked on a variety box of See’s candy.

 

[Huntn]

In America now you would be hard left person to drink that swill after the recent news!

Danger Will Robinson! Come now, you know that liberals have more refined pallets. Don’t comment, just like…

 

[eyoungren]

When I was grinding coffee, there were many good selections at the grocery store. Now not disputing, just discussing, I’ve never seen a label like “robusta” in the coffee section. Would it be called that if you could find it there or would it have another label like Colombian?

Now as many of you know, I‘m mostly now drinking instant coffee these days which disqualifies me as a coffee connoisseur because I am lazy and the taste is good enough. I still remember the amazing cup of coffee I had decades ago at a hotel, and the waiter had no clue what it was, deep, rich, smooth, flavorful, such an aroma, sigh…

There are two types of beans used for coffee. Arabica beans and robusta beans.

Arabica is less bitter and more flavorful. But less of it is produced and it's more expensive to import. Robusta is cheaper to import because its much more common. But robusta tends to be a more bitter bean.

Columbian simply refers to the region producing both types of beans.

Before the early 1900s America was importing arabica and that was the primary beans used for coffee. But with the industrial revolution and corporations trying to make money, it made sense to Folgers to use a cheaper (but more bitter) bean (robusta).

Americans never noticed.

Now a lot of that has changed, particularly since the 1970s. Starbucks and other brands have become massively popular. Even Folgers has changed.

But there is still that part of America that can't stand this whole coffee revolution and wonders what happened. Why can't people just drink the basic danged coffee that everybody's had for decades? They can't taste the difference. My former boss was exactly like that. For them, coffee is simply a means to get going, nothing more.

And those are the people Folgers was targeting way back when.

 

[it wasnt me]

Starbucks and other brands have become massively popular.

Has anyone ever tried to get a simple black coffee in these hipster shops?

 

[eyoungren]

Has anyone ever tried to get a simple black coffee in these hipster shops?

Yeah. You'd get the Pike Place roast, which is the standard drip coffee roast they make every day.

Made from arabica beans.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

When I was grinding coffee, there were many good selections at the grocery store. Now not disputing, just discussing, I’ve never seen a label like “robusta” in the coffee section. Would it be called that if you could find it there or would it have another label like Colombian?

Now as many of you know, I‘m mostly now drinking instant coffee these days which disqualifies me as a coffee connoisseur because I am lazy and the taste is good enough. I still remember the amazing cup of coffee I had decades ago at a hotel, and the waiter had no clue what it was, deep, rich, smooth, flavorful, such an aroma, sigh…

As @eyoungren, quoted below, explains, "robusta" is a type of coffee bean. The other main type of coffee bean is Arabica.

Colombia is simply the region - the country - where this bean was grown in the coffee you consumed.

Anyway, it - that is, the robusta bean - is more hardy, more robust, more plentiful, easier (and cheaper) to grow (and harvest) than the other type of bean, Arabica, which is more difficult (and demanding) but, which is also, considered to be the better quality (and hence, more expensive) bean of the two.

Some blended Italian espresso makers will use a percentage of Robusta beans in their blend, as it is stronger and more bitter in flavour, which works well with espresso.

One of my favorite discoveries was at Hahn Air base I deployed to in the good-ole Cold War days near Lautzenhausen in the Hunsrück mountains of western Germany (turned over to Germany in the 1990s) was a Lowenbrau Lowen Weisse Hefe-Weissbier, gosh it was good, brought back a case of it.

That sounds excellent.

There are two types of beans used for coffee. Arabica beans and robusta beans.

Arabica is less bitter and more flavorful. But less of it is produced and it's more expensive to import. Robusta is cheaper to import because its much more common. But robusta tends to be a more bitter bean.

Columbian simply refers to the region producing both types of beans.

Before the early 1900s America was importing arabica and that was the primary beans used for coffee. But with the industrial revolution and corporations trying to make money, it made sense to Folgers to use a cheaper (but more bitter) bean (robusta).

Americans never noticed.

Now a lot of that has changed, particularly since the 1970s. Starbucks and other brands have become massively popular. Even Folgers has changed.

But there is still that part of America that can't stand this whole coffee revolution and wonders what happened. Why can't people just drink the basic danged coffee that everybody's had for decades? They can't taste the difference. My former boss was exactly like that. For them, coffee is simply a means to get going, nothing more.

And those are the people Folgers was targeting way back when.

An excellent explanation, and you beat me to it, as I had planned to return to this thread and reply to @Huntn's post.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I, too, would rather have water than try American Budweiser (the Czech ancestor, Budvar, is far better).

I have tasted some rather nice British inspired pale ales coming out of the US recently though. Sierra Nevada is well worth a try and Ship Yard which is becoming quite common over here is tasty. I am sure there are plenty more as the craft ale movement is picking up with our American friends. I have drank Blue Moon a few times when out with friends but it’s quite a weak attempt at a wheat beer in my opinion. Not the best by a long chalk.

 

[eyoungren]

An excellent explanation, and you beat me to it, as I had planned to return to this thread and reply to @Huntn's post.

My wife got me started on coffee when we started dating. The introduction to cream and sugar in my coffee was an otherwise unknown experience for me. My dad drank Sanka, which in comparison to Folgers makes Folgers look like high quality Italian espresso. Of course now I am full-circle and drinking my coffee black.

But, it's no wonder then, why I was never interested in coffee at home. My father was the perfect example of the type that cannot taste the difference.

But like anything with me, if I get into something, I have to dive all in. So began my learning. As it turns out, my wife discovered at some point that I brew better coffee than she does. As did the employees in my former job. In both instances I was voted the designated coffee maker (I wasn't allowed to vote or decline). So, I make the coffee.

So, this sorry note in history explained a few things to me about why Folgers is the way it is and how brands like MGB can even come to be sold. It's something I always remember, which is why I was so quick in posting it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have tasted some rather nice British inspired pale ales coming out of the US recently though. Sierra Nevada is well worth a try and Ship Yard which is becoming quite common over here is tasty. I am sure there are plenty more as the craft ale movement is picking up with our American friends. I have drank Blue Moon a few times when out with friends but it’s quite a weak attempt at a wheat beer in my opinion. Not the best by a long chalk.

Have you tried any of the beers brewed by Founders?

They are excellent (some of their beers are superlative), and - to my mind, at least - their beers are far better than those brewed by Sierra Nevada (which can be obtained This Side of The Pond).

Founders beers are more difficult to lay hands on here.

However, a very good off licence, one that prides itself on stocking some of the really good stuff, may stock some of their beers.

 

[ericwn]

Hmm, that’s a maybe, it’s hard to beat a Hershey Chocolate bar with almonds and both the wife and I are hooked on a variety box of See’s candy.

Hershey is about as bad as choc can be to me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hershey is about as bad as choc can be to me.

A heartfelt and profound amen to that.

Hershey is......not nice.

Belgium "gets" chocolate, as, indeed, does Switzerland.

And, once upon a distant time, the old UK (Quaker) chocolate companies, such as Terry's of York, Rowntrees, Fry's, and, of course, the original Cadbury's, - used to produce pretty decent chocolate.

 

[Huntn]

There are two types of beans used for coffee. Arabica beans and robusta beans.

Arabica is less bitter and more flavorful. But less of it is produced and it's more expensive to import. Robusta is cheaper to import because its much more common. But robusta tends to be a more bitter bean.

Columbian simply refers to the region producing both types of beans.

Before the early 1900s America was importing arabica and that was the primary beans used for coffee. But with the industrial revolution and corporations trying to make money, it made sense to Folgers to use a cheaper (but more bitter) bean (robusta).

Americans never noticed.

Now a lot of that has changed, particularly since the 1970s. Starbucks and other brands have become massively popular. Even Folgers has changed.

But there is still that part of America that can't stand this whole coffee revolution and wonders what happened. Why can't people just drink the basic danged coffee that everybody's had for decades? They can't taste the difference. My former boss was exactly like that. For them, coffee is simply a means to get going, nothing more.

And those are the people Folgers was targeting way back when.

Thanks for the info! Now that you mention it, I do see Aribica labeling on coffee as a selling point.