The Minneapolis/St. Paul City Pages has a short and snappy post entitled “5 common coffee mistakes.” The brothers Meza of Paradise Roasters in Ramsey, MN are the sources on the piece and they know what they're talkin' 'bout, Willis, though I have to disagree with their pronouncement that you should never use milk in your premium bean coffee--I've got a stomach lining to preserve and need the occasional lactose buffer.
I do believe that when sampling a new coffee it should be naked. That way you can savor its inherent nuances and subtitles, or, if it's horrible, wallow in its appalling flavor, both on its way in and out your mouth.
Link (via Coffee Talk)
I couldn't disagree more strongly with their comment about milk and sugar. You can never "waste" premium beans, regardless of your creamer/sugar preferences. You will still appreciate the difference according to your upgrade. I go in phases when it comes to adding milk, but now is definitely one of those with-milk phases. I cup coffee every morning, and usually add milk after trying "naked." Milk always makes the taste more or less different, sometimes helps the taste, but never harms it.
Posted by: Mike Miller | March 12, 2008 at 07:47 PM