Newsstand - Airline coffee: a bitter cup, indeed

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12057042/from/RSS/

How is it possible to screw up a cup of coffee so badly?
Java, Joe, morning juice, black gold, an ex-junkie’s last vice — whatever you want to call it, coffee has a firm grip on this country’s morning routine. The proof is in the long lines at the airport coffee stands every morning.

From the article:

>>4. You’re drinking decaf — whether you want it or not. Many flight attendants brew only decaffeinated coffee. Are they concerned about your jangled nerves? Not particularly. It’s just that they’d rather have sleeping passengers than a hyperactive crowd any day. I am not condoning it; I’m just saying it happens. Did you know that airline coffee used to be 90% caffeine-free anyway? And did you know that a few airlines still serve mostly decaffeinated coffee as a matter of course?<<

Is there any possibility that this is true??

I have found most airlines coffee is currently actually drinkable. Far better than the swill served by most airport vendors. It has not always been that way. The ability to also get half-n-half and the blue or yellow packaged sweeteners has also helped.

MisterNice

I'm a coffee drinker; yet never drink the stuff on the plane. I think it's disgusting. Frankly, on a long haul morning flight; I would rather sleep. I always get a kick out of people lined up for coffee at 530am in the morning when they have a 3-5 hour flight ahead of themselves.

From the "which airline has the worst coffee" survey, post #20
http://www.tripso.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6065

"As a former American Airlines Cabin Service (airplane cleaners) employee, I have personally witnessed the cleaners use the same mop head (because they are more absorbant than rags or towels) that was used to clean the toilet, to clean the coffee decanter.

Gross, but 100% absolutely true. I worked for them 16 years ago, and haven't had a cup of airline coffee since then."

Don't forget: no matter how good the bean is, or how perfect the grind is, if you use toilet-grade water, you will wind up with a cup of craptastic coffee.