Afternoon coffee: the ritual that splits coffee drinkers

Afternoon coffee: a ritual that allows no middle ground

The afternoon coffee is a battlefield where everyone defends their method with the passion of a football fan. Some swear by the paper filter, while others stick to the moka pot even when it spits out a bitter brew. What looks like a simple break hides a consumer decision: which beans to buy, how to extract them, and even whether a splash of whisky is allowed.

Paper filter versus moka pot

The V60 with a paper filter keeps winning fans because it lets through only the best: a clean, nuanced cup. The moka pot, on the other hand, is fast, but its harsh result sometimes has to be sweetened or drunk with milk, as many who use it admit. That split defines the debate: purity versus punch, ritual versus practicality.

From bean to supermarket: brands that divide opinion

When choosing coffee, tastes range from single-origin plantations to the options at big supermarket chains. Lavazza Oro and L'Or Colombia get the praise, but Mercadona's Fuerte range also surprises, sneaking in among the favourites for its value for money. Judging by what people share online, the trend points to whole beans and fresh roasting, even if the wallet sets the limits.

The afternoon coffee debate is far from settled. The moka pot holds its ground, but the tide of single-origin bean coffee pushes the other way. The only certainty is that everyone will keep making their coffee the way they like it best, whatever the neighbours think.