Comments on: Cafe-Cafe, Por Favor: The Nescafé Phenomenon in Chile

By: Maria Parsons

Maria Parsons — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:27:14 +0000

Unlike the comment I happen to love Nescafe from Chile. I am having problems finding it in the USA can anybody help?

By: Liz Caskey

Liz Caskey — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:20:13 +0000

I have a wonderful Francis Francis italian espresso machine at home (dangerous!) and the scam of the century is that it can ONLY use Illy pods, no doubt the biggest partnership (considering these babies are several hundred bucks). It was a wedding gift so we are trying to see if we can buy another attachment to grind our own beans. More than the pods themselves, which make decent coffee, it is not having the option to have variety.

Funnily enough, being back in the US, while the beans are good, I find the coffee so watered down. I think I will stick with espresso!

By: eileen

eileen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:42:35 +0000

Really? you use pods? I haven’t ever liked them when I’ve had them, but maybe I haven’t had the right ones, and I don’t have a pod-machine, so I only try it at friends’ houses (in the states). Any opinion on the coffee at Tostaduría Puerto Rico and that ilk?

And yes, SAG stops me every time wanting to check out my multiple bags of coffee. Looking forward to going to the states for Thanksgiving to stock up again!

Nescafe, blech. It’s how I started drinking poor-quality tea. I’d rather drink fake tea than fake coffee!

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:20:31 +0000

I couldn’t agree more! Although there are a few other things that I don’t care for in Chile: Mayonnaise (they smear this on anything and everything), ketchup and “tomato sauce” in a bag. Any thoughts on these things?

By: Liz Caskey

Liz Caskey — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:49:22 +0000

In reply to omegaet. Actually, in all fairness, you can get Illy espresso in Chile now at the gigantic (upscale) supermarkets like Jumbo. I buy the pods since I have a Francis Francis machine. Try some of the cafés down in Bellas Artes, really good quality (all Italian or the like). New one just opened by MAVI museum, Café del Museo, very hip.

By: omegaet

omegaet — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:05:49 +0000

This may very well be the most accurate information ever posted in this blog…just kidding…..you’re always on the money.

“Nescafé” is everywhere in Chile and people drink it!

It can be a real challenge to find a cup of good brewed coffee outside of tourist hotels and upscale restaurants in Santiago….(cafes con piernas is an exception — but Liz can comment on this).

We’re heading to Chile for three weeks next month….and we’ll be packing a couple of bags of coffee and a tin of illy espresso to take along!

So, the question of the day is really: How can a country that produces so much great and interesting wines tolerate such bad coffee?