Coffee Crazy

FreshCoffee2

Hi guys, in agreement with you both...but still found it entertaining to watch. I had to keep making mental notes to try not to be biased due to my own industry involvement and just keep sipping MY BEER and enjoy. OE, I understand where you're coming from but look at it from the consumers point of view. Some of "our colleagues" must have dug deep to produce it but then as said a couple of certain brands already identified must have foot most of the bill because I dont think "our colleagues" would have been able to back such a project without considerable sponsorship help. From a technical point of view I found myself wondering why on earth the main character seemed to go from Italy, to Japan, then back to France but hey like I already said, I was being entertained. The seemingly unrelated 1 minute "whistlestop" visit to a coffee plantation near Nimbin might also leave some consumers wondering what that was supposed to be about... It looked like it was just plonked into the middle of the show for the sake of plonking it into the middle of the show. Considering the inordinate amount of hoo haa surrounding the coffee game I wonder why the program wasn't extensively plugged before going to air. I only found it as a result of having to keep inside and out of the heat and therefore scanning the TV guide for programs that might be interesting to watch. There wasn't even any blurb printed in the guide, just the title Coffee Crazy. It could have been an american sitcom about a disfunctional family called "The Coffees", and you had to turn it on to see what it might be about! I allowed it to take me along for the ride and be entertained...and by the way...the gratuitous injection of sex into it all with the tall female coffee taster did not go unnoticed...I am simply just shocked. Ok and now for a slightly more serious point. This program brought to mind the very real distinction between the professional operation of an espresso machine to make "normal" coffee drinks as an adjunt to and within the food industry, and The use of a coffee machine by a professional barman to make mixed alcoholic drinks based on espresso. I believe these are two different trade specialisations. Cheers, FC.

[deleted]

Hey guys this is pure commerce at its best. He won the WBC title and good luck to him but he is also reaping the benifts financialy...well done Paul. I would want to be making a few dollars from being a world champion. I think as professionals that we know what Paul is doing...selling his name and the title that he won to the multinationals for advertising...we all need money to survive. He is there to sell and by the sounds of it, he will sell lots of machines. Relax and take it in your stride, cuase we can't match the dollars needed to produce anything of that nature May the coffee gods be with you Brian

Reschsmooth

But, in the world of reality/lifestyle TV, the mighty dollar rules supreme, well above the objective of infotainment. I don't begrudge anyone (nearly) from making a buck, however, when it is being done via nearly subliminal promotion and suggestion in the guise of entertainment, I have a serious issue. But, it is the world we live in where we are all responsible for the increased need of sponsorship in almost every part of out lives. Cheers and happy 2004 Patrick

Gonzo

Just let me know where I can line up to taste alcoholic coffee drinks with the babe. G.

[deleted]

Merde En Anglais Hey there I thought that the female sipper was the real SUN BEAM ;D ;D ;D ;D Why do Aussies always want to knock the French. Maybe PB went to the wrong cafes in Paris. Over the years I have had numerous great coffee experiences in France. Better chance of getting a decent coffee and feed in Paris than anywhere in Australia Maybe it was the Barista and not the coffee that was the problem C'est la vie Vive la revolution. Domain, le Bastille A la prochaine Froggy

FreshCoffee2

Judging by the number of replies to this topic it appears that......the program was badly positioned, with little or no advertising beforehand to get people to tune in...and no one saw it. FC.

john_2

Good day Fresh et al. I saw the program but to be honest I was a little dissapointed. With all due respects to Paul. He did a great job in winning the WBC. I agree with FROGGY, why do Australians like to knock the French. I lived in France for the best part of two years and had a ball. I ate in countless restaurants not only in Paris but throughout the country with memories of only 1 ordinary meal. I also remember drinking and enjoying some great coffee. I know that there were some ordinary cafes but Australia also has its share of ordinary cafes too. The average French Barista would leave the average Aussie Barista in their wake. I never saw any kids making coffee. It was not uncommon to see the French Barista pumping all 3 or 4 groups at once serving hundreds of persons at breakfast time. I did have trouble following the travel sequence. What did Nimbin and Tokyo have to do with anything??? Maybe any critism should be directed to the editor, the marketing company and sponsors. John

lars

Hi there - I haven't actually lived in France, but I spent a lot of time in Paris, and I have to say that unless you were prepared to spend a lot of money, the food was actually pretty disappointing, and as for the coffee - what you were really paying for was the view; the coffee was basically filtered crap! I didn't see the program, but if that's what Paul was getting at, then I agree with him. L

over_extracted

Well go to circular quay and try to get a decent coffee...Looks :o like, that as in france you have to know where to go or have a proper idea where the good coffee is. France is a big country and iam sure that a lot of french baristas were disapointed with the lack of respect,the people that made that program should have done some more research on the situation in france before going there.Whats next bad coffee in italy.See ya OE

john_2

OE I agree totally with you. Lars, I am not sure how much time you spent in Paris. Any body who sits on the Champs or in any of the cafes around the regular tourist traps and pays 5 to 10 bucks for a coffee obviously has not visited that cafe for a coffee experience. I agree with you Lars Yes you will pay high prices as you are definitely paying for the view and the passing out parade. A premium is paid for food and beverages at these places as tourists will buy one coffee and sit there for hours. Lars, I am sorry that you did not get the opportunity to experience some of the "REAL PARIS" that I was extremely fortunate in seeing. As in any city including Paris and Sydney you will always find some very ordinary cafes. However, there are always some great cafe experiences to be had for the asking. Next time be a a little more adventurous and keep away from the tourist haunts and look for a cafe full of locals. These local cafes stand out as there are no tourists in them. You may also learn a bit about the local culture and where the best and cheapest places to eat are. Lars, with regard to not seeing the program I find it hard to understand how you can agree with any comments that may have been made on it. John

lars

Actually John, I spent a lot of time travelling around Paris, exploring and getting away from the tourist areas. I also speak French pretty well. I didn't see the program as I mentioned, but my point was not necessarily in support of Paul, but simply to say that for all their crap about having the best food in the world, unless you were prepared to pay big bucks, it was pretty average...and if you were prepared to pay big bucks to eat out every night - well, you could do that here at Tetsuya's if you wanted to. The other point was I was surprised at how consistently average their coffee was. Anyone can make a great cafe au lait if they put enough warm milk in it, but I only had one or two good espresso coffees in my whole time in Paris. -L