You might think that the late Anthony Bourdain – chef, author and host of the culinary and cultural travel show “Parts Unknown” – undoubtedly had a passion for all things culinary. His palate was eclectic, and some dishes Bourdain loved included black pudding, ceviche and even an In-N-Out burger. However, there was one aspect of modern food culture that didn’t excite him, which he revealed in a 2016 interview with Bon Appétit: “There are few things I care less about than coffee… It’s a drink, not a lifestyle.”
Since the 2010s, when chic cafes began offering specialty coffee drinks, latte art, milk alternatives and flavored syrups have become a staple. There is also increasing focus on the coffee beans themselves, how they can be enhanced through preparation techniques like the pour-over method or using a French press, and how the final product is presented. But these new, time-consuming approaches and special menu items prepared by stereotypical hipster baristas did not impress Bourdain. “I don’t want to wait for my coffee. I don’t want some Mumford and Son man-f*cker with a man bun to get it for me,” he told Bon Appétit. In an interview with ABC News that same year, Bourdain again fired up coffee culture, saying, “If it takes you longer to make my coffee than it takes me to drink it, then we have a fundamental problem.”
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How did Bourdain like his brew?
So what kind of coffee did one of the world’s most well-traveled and beloved food experts like if not the complex, expensive Frappuccinos and flavored lattes that have become popular in mainstream culture? “I’m a frugal person when it comes to coffee,” he told ABC News. “I like my coffee in a paper cup with a picture of the Acropolis on it… That cardboard taste is a big part of my New York coffee-drinking experience.” Bourdain admitted that he needed two large cups of it every morning, liked it light and sweet, and preferred to get it from “the guy selling doughnuts on the street” or some corner shop.
Next time you’re craving a cup of joe, skip the cheesy coffee drinks and secret menu items at Starbucks that can sometimes take away from the bold, delicious flavor of the coffee itself. Instead, take a cue from Bourdain and order plain at a coffee shop, or find a street vendor who will serve you a no-fuss, classic cup of joe in the chef’s preferred vessel.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
