So we got the origin of the bean, the type of the bean, the roasting of the bean, the grinding of the bean, before we even hit the ground bean with hot water.
What about type type of water, the temperature of the water, the type of coffee maker, filter etc. ?
I discovered hot coffee, one cold morning during Basic Training, when I decided to risk change, get in line for the bitter hot liquid, and alas, it was better than standing out there rubbing my hands together.
Water: Pure clean, it can be store bought or from a home RO system or just a jug of distilled. But avoid tap water as most of it has so many chemicals it alters the flavor of the coffee. Unless of course you live in Flint Mi and you like a heavy flavor...
Temp: I use almost boiling water, I pull the pot off the burner at boil and pour it over my ground that are in a #4 Melita brown paper organic IIRC filter on top of the cup I will drink out of. I drink 2 16 oz cups in the morn.
Mickey D's: Certainly a decent cup, its in fact a good cup. When I travel in my camper I drink Nescafe Instant Coffee.
The Turkish grind is about 1 grind short of talcum powder. In Turkey they do not use a filter, instead they just put the grounds in the cup, stir and drink. I too enjoy adding some grounds to my morning cup, enhances the flavor and its so fine as you won't notice.
Now post the noon hour I drink expresso by Nesspro, as good as it gets this side of Italy and the Italians truly makes the best expresso in the world...
I'm no snob, just like great coffee and I have have spilled more coffee over the sides of a canteen cup as I hold it with both hands in the bitter winters up on the DMZ of Korea and the mountains of Germany. Infantry soldiers know coffee..at a low boil in a Mess Hall Roasting pan, with a teaspoon of salt and a handful of egg shells.