Commuting - Starbucks and cycling

I'm just wondering...do any of you stop for morning coffee on your bike? This is a habit I had when I rode in my car and now I'm just wondering if there is a way I can still stop for coffee? I'm not gifted enough to drive one handed.

Buy a non-handled travel mug to fit in your water bottle cage.

I drink espressos. I can toss down 3 double espressos in less than 5 minutes before my ride and I'm good for the day in short order. It's roughly the equivalent amount of caffeine as 6 small coffees. I do it at home on my own machine though. You can get an espresso at *$, but it would be about the same as trying to get a steak at McDonalds. *$ is better suited for their overpriced double Venti Latte Foo-Foo Mocha Capiquinos or whatever they're calling them now.

When u talk bikes and coffee this is what come to my mind

http://bicyclecoffeesystems.com/

I like the cup holder that kinda looks like an oil filter wrench.

Starbucks? Nah, not me. I like coffee.

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I'm just wondering...do any of you stop for morning coffee on your bike? This is a habit I had when I rode in my car and now I'm just wondering if there is a way I can still stop for coffee? I'm not gifted enough to drive one handed.

You need to move to Anchorage where there's a "drive-through" espresso stand on every corner. (I'm not kidding) Then get/make a handlebar-mounted cup holder, a travel mug, and sip your coffee out of a loooong stiff straw stuck through the sipping hole. Kind of like the triathalon drink systems.

Well, not Starbucks, but I used to stop by a locally-owned coffee shop and have my small, stainless-steel thermos filled up.

Was still plenty hot when I arrived at work.

My current commute doesn't take me by a coffee shop, so I only really drink coffee on the weekends.

-Trevor

I drink espressos. I can toss down 3 double espressos in less than 5 minutes before my ride and I'm good for the day in short order. It's roughly the equivalent amount of caffeine as 6 small coffees.

A double shot of espresso has between 40 and 60mg of caffeine.

A 12oz cup of brewed coffee has about 200 mg of caffeine.

mb

I love coffee. I usually take some in a water bottle for the ride. I make mine fairly strong. It's great in the winter.

However, since you mentioned it, there is a new coffee shop on my way to work. It looks like an Italian theme. I should stop and check it out!

Speaking as a reforming Starbucks (or as I call it, Fourbucks) addict, my intake of caffeine has dropped dramatically since I began commuting via bike. The ride in to work wakes me up plenty, and I have more energy throughout the day as a result. I might have my first cup in the late afternoon if I have one at all. I've also found that I crave healthier foods and am eating much less junk food. This biking stuff really does wonders!

I drink espressos. I can toss down 3 double espressos in less than 5 minutes before my ride and I'm good for the day in short order. It's roughly the equivalent amount of caffeine as 6 small coffees. I do it at home on my own machine though. You can get an espresso at *$, but it would be about the same as trying to get a steak at McDonalds. *$ is better suited for their overpriced double Venti Latte Foo-Foo Mocha Capiquinos or whatever they're calling them now.

Hmmm everyone thinks Espressos have more caffeine then Drip Coffee... but you'd be wrong...

You see... With Espresso, the water goes thru the Grounds way too fast to pick up as much as Drip Coffee Makers.
The water in Drip Coffee has more contact time with the Coffee grounds. Hence more caffeine.
I found this out long time ago... I was in the Espresso trap also... Sure it's strong, but it is Weaker...

Believe it....or Not

up to you...

Espresso has a comparable amount of caffeine as an 8 oz cup (that is still the official imperial definition, yes?) of coffee. Ask the Google if you don't believe me.

But no, I find that drinking coffee makes me very thirsty. I'll have one in the morning after I get to work and then slosh water all day to make up for it.

Okay, so I can't stand Starbucks coffee. However, I drink a lot of coffee and they make a good travel mug.
http://home.swbell.net/mcpoop//MMACH_5/images/ExtremeTumbler.jpg
I couldn't find it anywhere on the American Starbucks site, but here's a link to the Australian Starbucks site (http://www.starbucks.com.au/en-AU/_Merchandise+and+Gifts/On+the+Go.htm) I have seen these on the shelves at nearly all of the Dallas Starbucks, (my wife loves their Peppermint Mochas).

The best part of this mug is that it does not leak and it fits perfectly in my Planet Bike Cage (http://http://www.planetbike.com/racksncages.html)
http://home.swbell.net/mcpoop//MMACH_5/images/Planet_Bike_cage.jpg

I brew up coffee and take it on every ride. I have water in one cage and coffee in the other. If you can drink from a water bottle while you ride, then you can probably take hits off the coffee mug. :)

No way. My commute is a non-stop flight with no in-flight services.

Soma makes a coffee mug with a handlebar mount for about $30.

I love that Giant Peach iced tea they have though, goooood stuff!

When u talk bikes and coffee this is what come to my mind

http://bicyclecoffeesystems.com/

Thanks, Bart. That is one of the most unique websites I have seen. A site devoted to drinking coffee on a bicycle. What next?

Here is a thermos that fits in a water bottle holder. (It's best to have a plastic water bottle holder for this stainless steel thermos to reduce scratches.) This thermos has a button latch with a spring lid. The result is the thermos can be opened and closed with one hand.

Here is a picture:

http://store1.yimg.com/I/cafemaison_1858_1005984

Here is the link to purchase:

http://www.cafemaison.com/thermos-nissan-backpack-bottle-model-jmw500-sbk.html

I tell ya, honest to goodness, I look forward to winter if only for drinking hot beverages (liike coffee) while riding. I liked stopping at the stop-lights and taking a sip of that hot coffee while riding in the cold weather.

That really is a pleasure. It also makes me look forward to stop lights. Ironically, it seems that when I really look forward to a sip, all the lights will be green ;)

When I found myself waiting in line for 10-15 minutes to get a latte, I decided I had had enough of Starbucks. The one down the street from me is real busy. It's the hip place to be I guess. I didn't mind paying $3.50 for a latte, but waiting 10 minutes isn't my bag. Then I realized how much money I was spending there. :eek:

So, I got an espresso machine, a Rancilio Silvia (http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia). It rocks. You might think $400 or so is a lot to spend on a espresso machine or coffee maker, but it's a bargain compared to a trip down to Starbucks 3-4 days a week. Plus, no lines. Straight espresso, Americanos, lattes, hot chocolate. On demand.

Plus, I've found some damn good beans from home roasters like this guy (http://www.coffeeemergency.com). Not cheap, but it's a nice departure from the carbonized, overroasted Starbucks beans at the grocery store. Try the Code Brown there. It's what espresso should be.

http://www.coffeegeek.com/images/5628/200x200/ranciliosilvia.jpg

When I found myself waiting in line for 10-15 minutes to get a latte, I decided I had had enough of Starbucks. The one down the street from me is real busy. It's the hip place to be I guess. I didn't mind paying $3.50 for a latte, but waiting 10 minutes isn't my bag. Then I realized how much money I was spending there. :eek:

So, I got an espresso machine, a Rancilio Silvia (http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia). It rocks. You might think $400 or so is a lot to spend on a espresso machine or coffee maker, but it's a bargain compared to a trip down to Starbucks 3-4 days a week. Plus, no lines. Straight espresso, Americanos, lattes, hot chocolate. On demand.

Plus, I've found some damn good beans from home roasters like this guy (http://www.coffeeemergency.com). Not cheap, but it's a nice departure from the carbonized, overroasted Starbucks beans at the grocery store. Try the Code Brown there. It's what espresso should be.

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Thanks! I just ordered!

My workplace installed a nice Miele machine in the office, so as long as I don't need to drink en route to work, I'm good to go.

[poor me]It's really hard to keep milk around for cappucinos though... [/poor me]

Not a coffee drinker.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a guy riding one-handed because his other hand was holding a $tarbuck's cup.

Not a coffee drinker either.

I saw one guy on the bike path who spilled his latte(?) all over the place. Guess he was trying to one-hand a Starbucks cup but it all ended up on the pavement. For some reason I just don't see drinking a very hot beverage and biking at the same time no matter what container it's in.

A double shot of espresso has between 40 and 60mg of caffeine.

A 12oz cup of brewed coffee has about 200 mg of caffeine.

mb

1 shot of espresso has pretty much the same amount of caffeine a 1 6 oz cup of coffee. Regular drip coffee used to have more caffeine back in the days when all the major coffee producers (Folgers, Cain, etc) used Robusta. Robusta has twice the caffeine as arabica. Espresso is typically made with mostly arabica beans. However, nowdays arabica is so cheap all the major coffee producers use 100% arabica in most of their products. Many espresso blends have started using up to 10-15% robusta beans, so the trend is reversing.

Hmmm everyone thinks Espressos have more caffeine then Drip Coffee... but you'd be wrong...

You see... With Espresso, the water goes thru the Grounds way too fast to pick up as much as Drip Coffee Makers.
The water in Drip Coffee has more contact time with the Coffee grounds. Hence more caffeine.
I found this out long time ago... I was in the Espresso trap also... Sure it's strong, but it is Weaker...

Believe it....or Not

up to you...

The two processes are very different. Drip coffee uses a very course grind. Espresso uses an extremely fine grind. For drip coffee, the water merely passes through the grinds via gravity. For espresso the water gets injected into the grounds at extremely high pressure. The time spend during extraction may be shorter, but the process is much more efficient.

Funny when I read your post I thought, just get a cup hold that will clamp on the your handle bar and here it is... http://nordicgroup.us/bikecoff/bcimages/dhhm2_small.jpg

When I found myself waiting in line for 10-15 minutes to get a latte, I decided I had had enough of Starbucks. The one down the street from me is real busy. It's the hip place to be I guess. I didn't mind paying $3.50 for a latte, but waiting 10 minutes isn't my bag. Then I realized how much money I was spending there. :eek:

So, I got an espresso machine, a Rancilio Silvia (http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia). It rocks. You might think $400 or so is a lot to spend on a espresso machine or coffee maker, but it's a bargain compared to a trip down to Starbucks 3-4 days a week. Plus, no lines. Straight espresso, Americanos, lattes, hot chocolate. On demand.

Plus, I've found some damn good beans from home roasters like this guy (http://www.coffeeemergency.com). Not cheap, but it's a nice departure from the carbonized, overroasted Starbucks beans at the grocery store. Try the Code Brown there. It's what espresso should be.

http://www.coffeegeek.com/images/5628/200x200/ranciliosilvia.jpg

The Rancilio Silvia is an excellent machine. You made a good choice. I've gone to a semi-commercial heat exchanger machine.

I also roast my own beans, which is kind of the ultimate in coffee obsession. However if you have a Costco in your area, they are an excellent source for fresh roast. The one in my area roasts 5 days per week. I can also buy unroasted coffee beans from them for $1 per lb.

I'm just wondering...do any of you stop for morning coffee on your bike? This is a habit I had when I rode in my car and now I'm just wondering if there is a way I can still stop for coffee? I'm not gifted enough to drive one handed.

I'm not a coffee drinker but I have a coffee maker at the office I use to make herbal tea. It's a nice reward for commuting through the cold. ;)

Hmmm everyone thinks Espressos have more caffeine then Drip Coffee... but you'd be wrong...

You see... With Espresso, the water goes thru the Grounds way too fast to pick up as much as Drip Coffee Makers.
The water in Drip Coffee has more contact time with the Coffee grounds. Hence more caffeine.
I found this out long time ago... I was in the Espresso trap also... Sure it's strong, but it is Weaker...

Believe it....or Not

up to you...

another issue it the roast - darker roasted coffee (like espresso roast) is done to concentrate flavor but has the side effect of breaking down more of the caffine in the bean, leaving the coffe you brew from it (by any method) with a stonger flavor but less kick (which i why i order and brew by the gallon :D )

Espresso doesn't have to be dark! True, it generally is, but the reason many equate espresso with dark, oily beans is because that is what Starbucks, Peets, etc. produce. Why does Starbucks do this? Cuts through milk better than a lighter roast, and milk-based drinks (e.g. lattes, cappucinos) are Starbucks' sweet spot.

Try the Code Brown mentioned above or Taste of Milan (even lighter). No milk needed. In fact, I like shots of those straight.

Bottom line: espresso isn't necessarily a dark roast (http://coffeefaq.com/coffaq9a.htm#EspressoRoast).

I don't stop, but I detest my work coffee. So I bring coffee in the .6 liter size flask. It fits perfectly in a normal bottle cage. It gets cold, but I don't mind. :D

Lighter roasts are better for espresso and that's what I always use. Roasting dark causes the oils (and flavor) of the coffee bean to come to the surface and much of it is lost to evaporation during the roasting process. For drip coffee, this is OK because when the oils are released from the bean, more can be extracted during the drip extraction process. The espresso process has the ability to extract the oils from within the bean, so dark roasting is unnecessary and counterproductive.

I just have to speak up on all of the Starbucks bashing. I used to work for them when they hadn't even finished their domination of Seattle, let alone the world. Back in the day it was a great company to work for, we pulled espresso using real machines and I had tons of training before I was ever allowed to make a drink. Starbucks had great benefits, plus a free pound of coffee a week.

I don't even know what those robot espresso machines they have now are. Let alone that they expect me to tip the barrista for pushing a button. Still, when I'm travelling and it's a choice between 7-11 coffee or starbucks I'll have to go with the starbucks.

Interesting thread. I am a coffee lover but have never entertained drinking a hot beverage while actually on the bike. I do occasionally include coffee shops or restaurants on my route in order to stop for a coffee though. Before and after ride coffees are great too.

I don't even know what those robot espresso machines they have now are.

Superautomatics. It means they don't trust their employees to do it right. (They sell more flavored milk than coffee, anyway) We have one in our galley at work. Should I tip myself? ;)

I don't stop, but I detest my work coffee. So I bring coffee in the .6 liter size flask. It fits perfectly in a normal bottle cage. It gets cold, but I don't mind. :D


And I bet they charge you for the mud at work. :mad: They do where I am. $1.35 for 16oz of sludge. We make our own in my work area.

I love coffee! We have free coffee at work, so I don't make any or stop anywhere to get any on my way in. But usually once on the weekend I'll ride over to Starbucks and have something a little fancier.

The Rancilio Silvia is an excellent machine. You made a good choice. I've gone to a semi-commercial heat exchanger machine.


I'm considering that one too. :) They pollute our espresso machine at work with horrible cheap beans, and I can't take it anymore! :mad: $400 is damn cheap for a good espresso machine, but don't forget to budget $200 for a quality grinder.

I just have to speak up on all of the Starbucks bashing. I used to work for them when they hadn't even finished their domination of Seattle, let alone the world. Back in the day it was a great company to work for, we pulled espresso using real machines and I had tons of training before I was ever allowed to make a drink. Starbucks had great benefits, plus a free pound of coffee a week.

I don't even know what those robot espresso machines they have now are. Let alone that they expect me to tip the barrista for pushing a button. Still, when I'm travelling and it's a choice between 7-11 coffee or starbucks I'll have to go with the starbucks.

Back in those days there may have been a sincere attempt by *$ to make a quality espresso. However, it doesn't really matter what type of machine you have, what type of coffee you use, or how much training the barrista has, if you serve espresso in a paper cup, it's crap. Perhaps when you worked for them, they used porcelain cups, I don't know. I don't blame them for what they do. Most people that go to them want something that doesn't even taste like coffee.

I'm considering that one too. :) They pollute our espresso machine at work with horrible cheap beans, and I can't take it anymore! :mad:

You can find them on ebay, both new and used. Just make sure you get a good quality burr grinder to go with it. Plan on budgetting at least $100 for the grinder.

I engage in Starbucks bashing whenever the opportunity presents itself. Truthfully, their coffee ain't half bad. But everything else about it rubs me the wrong way. Like the time I went in and said "I'd like a double shot, please." Now, at any Peets or Coffee People or your own favorite LCS, the guy goes over to the machine, pulls two shots of espresso, hands you a cup, takes your money and you're on your way. At S'bucks (at least the ones around here), they look at you blankly for a second and then say "Oh, you want a doppio!"

So, just to play along, I usually say "Si! Prego!" And I get another blank look.

Or the time I was in the John Wayne Airport and S'bucks was my only coffee option. I asked for a double machiato. That's two shots of espresso and foam. It's the simplest thing you can ask for other than espresso. So why did it take ten minutes for me to explain to Mr. Barista that No, I don't want steamed milk in it, and No, I don't want vanilla syrup, and No, I don't want whipped cream on it. "Well, what size? Grande or vente?"

I don't know! It's two shots and a dollop of foam! Whatever frickin' size cup that fits into would just be fine!

I guess it's because 90% of their clientele is ordering crap that I don't even consider to be coffee but coffee-flavored milk and sugar beverage.

Ah, heck! DFW beat me to it. And much more succinctly too.

since we are talkin coffee let me plug my local bean pusher....

http://www.geocities.com/caffefresco/

tony is a great guy, a biker, and makes some DAMN tasty coffee beans

AND all his profits this month go to help out those affected by hurricane katrina. this guy has a BIG heart. :D

I just have to speak up on all of the Starbucks bashing. I used to work for them when they hadn't even finished their domination of Seattle, let alone the world. Back in the day it was a great company to work for, we pulled espresso using real machines and I had tons of training before I was ever allowed to make a drink. Starbucks had great benefits, plus a free pound of coffee a week.

I don't even know what those robot espresso machines they have now are. Let alone that they expect me to tip the barrista for pushing a button. Still, when I'm travelling and it's a choice between 7-11 coffee or starbucks I'll have to go with the starbucks.
Didn't mean to dump on Starbucks if I did. The coffee's fine, but the price adds up over time for a regular like myself. I still drop in from time to time when I'm too lazy to brew my own, or when I just want to be seen (I am a beautiful man).

My old favorite was a double shot with a small dollop of whip cream, in a porcelain cup of course.

And yes, Starbucks is the premier place to pose and be seen, the curse of being beautiful. I wonder how we stand it. ;)

I function on the premise that Starbucks isn't that bad because I surmise that the success of Starbucks probably led to the prevalence of coffee shops and restaurants that now serve espresso. It's a heck of a lot easier to get a triple shot nowadays...I used to only find the stuff at Italian restaurants.

Anyway, that's just my guess...or perhaps rationalization...I admit to stopping by the place occasionally. But I prefer Coffee People and they aren't hard to find in this town.

I dunno, I have to say I like Starbuckies, there's one about 100 yards from here lol. Easy to tell people Let's just meet there, it's easy to find. I can ask for "a small drip" and they know what that is, or a double shot, etc. I know they have that veni vidi venti language for everything but they speak regular coffee talk too. I just get regular things there, drip or espresso or a bottle of that Giant Peach tea. Their Madeleins (sp?) are good, if expensive, and seem made for jersey pockets now that I think about it.

Just a personal peeve: I was in Los Gatos and craving some of that Giant Peach, so I asked if they had a Starbucks downtown, No, I got a frosty reply to that, "We keep them out". How about Peet's then? No, "We keep them out, too, too commercial, we like family businesses here." So I ride around a bit and it's High-End-Consumerville, all Gaps and Crate & Barrel and so on, huge chain high-end consumerist stores, and right smack downtown, a SHARPER IMAGE!! The ultimate in chain, overprices, flashy junk. Sheesh!!

Just a personal peeve: I was in Los Gatos and craving some of that Giant Peach, so I asked if they had a Starbucks downtown, No, I got a frosty reply to that, "We keep them out". How about Peet's then? No, "We keep them out, too, too commercial, we like family businesses here." So I ride around a bit and it's High-End-Consumerville, all Gaps and Crate & Barrel and so on, huge chain high-end consumerist stores, and right smack downtown, a SHARPER IMAGE!! The ultimate in chain, overprices, flashy junk. Sheesh!!

Sounds like whoever you're talking to needs a fat dose of reality. Personally I stay out of downtown LG for precisely that reason. There's a peet's at LG Blvd (aka Bascom) and Blossom Hill, right next to the lovely Vasona park.

ahpook, reppin' for Campbell