Coffee - a product that can vary from dishwater to nearly-solid

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

The worst coffee I have ever been served was actually in the cafe at the Swindon Steam museum about 5 years ago. I suspect they had used some cleaning solution in the coffee machine and hadn't flushed it out properly. It tasted really horrible and I shudder when I think about it to this day!

Which reminds me of:

"Waiter, waiter, this coffee tastes like soil".


"Well sir, it was ground this morning".

[TonyK]

The worst coffee I have ever been served was actually in the cafe at the Swindon Steam museum about 5 years ago. I suspect they had used some cleaning solution in the coffee machine and hadn't flushed it out properly. It tasted really horrible and I shudder when I think about it to this day!

My old boss got similar in our office. My colleague had decided the office kettle was getting furred up, so filled it with descaler. Then he went out. Enter the boss, who took his coffee black, and was delighted to find the kettle was full...

The office closed some years ago. Those who worked there still talk about this. Not sure what happened to the boss.

[JayMac]

The worst coffee I have ever been served was actually in the cafe at the Swindon Steam museum about 5 years ago. I suspect they had used some cleaning solution in the coffee machine and hadn't flushed it out properly. It tasted really horrible and I shudder when I think about it to this day!

Poor coffee at Swindon? Plus ça change.

"I assure you that Mr Player was wrong in supposing that I thought you purchased inferior coffee. I thought I said to him that I was surprised you should buy such poor roasted corn. I did not believe you had such a thing as coffee in the place; I am certain I never tasted any. I have long ceased to make complaints at Swindon. I avoid taking anything there if I can help it."

That quote is from a letter sent in 1842 to the first refreshment room franchisee at Swindon station. The letter's author? One Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

[broadgage]

The worst coffee I have ever been served was actually in the cafe at the Swindon Steam museum about 5 years ago. I suspect they had used some cleaning solution in the coffee machine and hadn't flushed it out properly. It tasted really horrible and I shudder when I think about it to this day!

My old boss got similar in our office. My colleague had decided the office kettle was getting furred up, so filled it with descaler. Then he went out. Enter the boss, who took his coffee black, and was delighted to the kettle was full...

The office closed some years ago. Those who worked there still talk about this. Not sure what happened to the boss.

Phosphoric acid is the usual material used to remove limescale from kettles, coffee machines, water boilers and the like. It is only moderately toxic and unlikely to do any harm if ingested, unless in improbable amounts.
It is one of the ingredients in cola drinks.

[TonyK]

Phosphoric acid is the usual material used to remove limescale from kettles, coffee machines, water boilers and the like. It is only moderately toxic and unlikely to do any harm if ingested, unless in improbable amounts.
It is one of the ingredients in cola drinks.

I might be able to get a sample to analyse. Apparently, quite a lot was sprayed over the office wall.