I LOVE CRUISE. But holy hell is the coffee terrible.

chetman

I love this trip, but every year the lack of decent coffee bums me out. Sure, there's a joint that'll make you a halfway decent espresso, but my prep of choice is pour-over -- a very different thing.

Has anyone else with a pourover/french press habit tried brewing on board? Can you get water in the Windjammer that's hot enough to brew with? Is that a plausible approach?

[edited by @Bry, Mar 7, 2016, to change thread categories]

stevendj

A portable immersion heater, maybe? I don't know if there are accessible plugs in the Windjammer, but you could at least use it in your room. Maybe use a thermos to take coffee from your room to the Windjammer. (You can get hot water for tea in the Windjammer—I regularly bring my own loose-leaf tea—but I expect that you need hotter water for coffee.)

chetman

Yeah, it's the heat of the water  I'm concerned about. I'm pretty sure they won't let me on board with anything like an immersion heater anyway. 

IF I thought I could get 200+F water, I wouldn't at all be opposed to just brewing at my table in the Windjammer. A cup at a time doesn't take long, or require much gadgetry. 

stevendj

Ah, good point. I checked the Royal Caribbean FAQ, and the list of prohibited items includes "Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Travel Steamers & Hot Plates. (Items that generate heat or produce an open flame."

My impression is that the water is well below 200°. I bring very forgiving teas.

Danial

So, personally, I'm a cold brewer that likes coffee cold... but carrying liquids onboard is also a NoNo as far as I'm aware.  I know they won't let you bring on your own booze at least.  but I could have a batch going by end of day two of the cruise, in theory.  

chetman

You can take some liquids. They forbid booze because they SELL booze, so I think you'd probably be okay with cold brew coffee, but (as always) check with RCI first.

Sadly, I'm not a cold brew person. 

Angelastic

I discovered cold brew coffee by trying some brewed by sea monkeys on JCCC2, so I know that's possible, at least on HAL. I can't remember whether I had it cold or warm.

aymazing

I know our suite had a hot pot, so some devices like those might be available on-board.  Not sure about the options on the Westerdam.

BrettGlass

The Westerdam had much better coffee than the Freedom of the Seas. And a chocolate bar with wonderful coffee/chocolate drinks. (Do not know if this still exists.) Although the land-based "Cacao drinkchocolate" shop, in the West Burnside area of downtown Portland near Powell's Books, is better yet.