Coffee and Ketchup

[CastawayCayLover]

Just got off the Magic and it seemed to me that the drink station coffee is different than what was on the Dream this past September, and not in a good way.

Also the Ketchup being dispensed at Pinocchio's seemed like a lower quality (sweeter) than what has historically been out up on deck.

Anyone else notice these (or other) changes where maybe some cost-cutting is taking place?

 

[Marc D]

They haven’t changed the coffee. It’s probably just the dilution ratio of individual machines, much like the soft drinks that charge taste from one machine to the next. They still use Joffrey branded coffee ‘syrup’

Can’t help you with the ketchup.

 

[jenmiller114]

I would assume the coffee is the same but we just got off the Wonder and he said the coffee at the drink station by the pool was better than the coffee in Cabanas. I would guess as the other person said that it is just a difference in the machines. Doesn't seem like it should make that much of a difference but it was enough for him to walk outside to get his coffee.

 

[starvenger]

If you drink enough coffee little things like that can make a difference. It’s not that we’re being snobby (it’s still the basic coffee, after all). It’s more that you’re accustomed to a certain balance and if that balance isn’t there then it will taste “off”. And if the coffee is a concentrate instead of drip coffee, then it’s more susceptible to being “off”.

As for ketchup, they may have switched brands. Places I’ve been to in the Toronto area have switched from Heinz to French’s (long story short, Heinz closed their Ontario tomato plant, French’s took it over, some restaurants decided to switch to French’s ketchup) which I believe has less vinegar and thus is sweeter.

 

[CastawayCayLover]

Thanks for the replies, the coffee issue was with all the machines I tried, drink station, inside Cabanas at different machines and even in the dining rooms.

Just a bad batch of syrup maybe.

 

[starvenger]

Maybe. But after my first experience with Joffrey’s on DCL I started bringing Starbucks Via on all my trips. Cruise, resort, business... doesn’t matter. It’s now an important part of my travel kit. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.

 

[lklgoodman]

Maybe. But after my first experience with Joffrey’s on DCL I started bringing Starbucks Via on all my trips. Cruise, resort, business... doesn’t matter. It’s now an important part of my travel kit. My only regret is that I didn’t do this sooner.

I'll have to remember to do this on our next cruise. I just got off the Fantasy yesterday. The coffee in Cabanas had absolutely no taste to it at all. It was like drinking hot water.

 

[DisneYE]

I'll have to remember to do this on our next cruise. I just got off the Fantasy yesterday. The coffee in Cabanas had absolutely no taste to it at all. It was like drinking hot water.

Yep. No coffee taste at all.
The coffee at DCL is plain awful at self serve locations (cabanas, drink station)
I'm no coffee snob but when their "coffee" tastes more like hot puddle water than anything resembling coffee, then its disrespectful, imo.
The last few cruises we've done I either bring instant coffee or go to Cove Cafe where coffee is excellent, better than Starbux.
Any instant coffee is 100x better than coffee self serve options at DCL

 

[slg]

My biggest complaint of DCL is the terrible coffee. I do think it is marginally better at the drink station, but it still tastes awful. I add a bit of hot chocolate to make it palatable. I wonder if it’s on purpose so we will go buy coffee at cove cafe? I usually drink tea onboard and I am a huge coffee drinker at home. I just don’t understand why it’s so awful.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

Joffrey coffee is horrible tasting no matter if it is from one of the drink machines or in the restaurants. For the prices Disney charges you would think they could provide decent coffee.

 

[slg]

I agree. How can we let DCL know? Surely they can find better coffee?

 

[starvenger]

I agree. How can we let DCL know? Surely they can find better coffee?

They can definitely bend the knee for some other company once the Joffrey’s contract is up.

And don’t call me Shirley.

 

[CastawayCayLover]

I agree. How can we let DCL know? Surely they can find better coffee?

Only thing we can do is keep writing it on the comment cards.

Personally I wish they’d go back to Nescafé. I stayed in a hotel in Gainesville FL not too long ago and they had Nescafé, reminded me of the better days on DCL when they weren’t such a penny pinching organization.

 

[ScooterScott44]

Even thought I like coffee, I won’t chime in on the coffee but will add a note about the Ketchup.

I didn’t personally have any but I did find it odd that on last weeks cruise the servers did something different. In the past when adding ketchup to kids plates they would dump the bottle to make a Mickey head. Now they are bringing a gravey bowl type dish and spooning out the Mickey heads. Might have something to do with a possible change in supplier.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Coffee, like beer and wine, is subject to who is drinking it and what they like. Personally I have been bringing packets of coffee on my trips (cruises and resorts) for about 8 years. I carry Oriental style coffee packets I pick up at the oriental grocers near me: 3-in-1, 2-in-1 and instant espresso packets. I like my coffee STRONG and the drink stations just don't cut it. So I get hot coffee there and add the packet to it. Most restaurants can't provide strong enough coffee either unless you are at a signature restaurant at Disney like California Grill. I spend the extra and get my coffee at the Cove Cafe locations every day.

As for Ketchup, I believe the BBQ sauce packets are Heinz so I would think the ketchup would be too, but it is possible they switched brands. On my cruise in November I remember seeing them use the Heinz ketchup bottles when they gave kid ketchup at dinner at tables near ours.

 

[lklgoodman]

Even thought I like coffee, I won’t chime in on the coffee but will add a note about the Ketchup.

I didn’t personally have any but I did find it odd that on last weeks cruise the servers did something different. In the past when adding ketchup to kids plates they would dump the bottle to make a Mickey head. Now they are bringing a gravey bowl type dish and spooning out the Mickey heads. Might have something to do with a possible change in supplier.

We just got off the Fantasy last Saturday and they were using bottles of ketchup. How odd that they were using gravy boats on your cruise. Our server even made Yoda on the SW night, l wouldn't have know it was him though if she hadn't told my dd who it was.

 

[Dug720]

Even thought I like coffee, I won’t chime in on the coffee but will add a note about the Ketchup.

I didn’t personally have any but I did find it odd that on last weeks cruise the servers did something different. In the past when adding ketchup to kids plates they would dump the bottle to make a Mickey head. Now they are bringing a gravey bowl type dish and spooning out the Mickey heads. Might have something to do with a possible change in supplier.

I'd think gravy boats would make the distributing of ketchup go faster than from bottles where it can get stuck and be slow coming out.

 

[GPaLarry]

After eight DCL cruises and a lot of awful coffee on three different ships, except from the Cove Café, we now take Starbucks Via and use the hot water topside to make the brew. It is not great, but it beats what's on board. Have not used the ketchup, but if they alter Mickey Bars in any way, I'll have to see the captain. Cruise on...

 

[lilsonicfan]

Starbucks Via beats the weird coffee on board any day (except espresso drinks made at Cove/Vista). I have always heard that cruise ship coffee is reconstituted coffee syrup, blech.

 

[starvenger]

Starbucks Via beats the weird coffee on board any day (except espresso drinks made at Cove/Vista). I have always heard that cruise ship coffee is reconstituted coffee syrup, blech.

I know that on Royal’s Oasis class ships it’s drip coffee. Can’t vouch for others.