609497 Sat Apr 04 10:28:08 -0700 2009 45 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 4567283 Is it just a bunch of liquid chemicals...what's in it? Sat Apr 04 10:28:08 -0700 2009 97452 Beach Chick 1 4567394 I have no idea what's in it, but yes, I use it every day. Hazlenut, French Vanilla, and Italian Sweet Cream. Sat Apr 04 11:14:29 -0700 2009 4567283 212582 schrutefarms 1 4567396 I use the refridgerated one--I feel, because it can go bad, than it must be somewhat "fresh", right? :) Sat Apr 04 11:15:38 -0700 2009 4567283 212582 schrutefarms 2 4568351 Probably horrible for me I know. But I use the refrigerated one too. Hazelnut, Amaretto, whatever I like it. Sat Apr 04 20:09:19 -0700 2009 4567396 232829 kchurchill5 1 4567467 It's basically partially hydrogenated oil and sugar with some flavorings, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Sat Apr 04 11:51:02 -0700 2009 4567283 139230 Wahooty 2 4568223 no offense to schrutefarms and others but why would anyone want to put this chemical stuff in a good cup of coffee vs. half and half? Is it a flavor thing? Sat Apr 04 19:04:20 -0700 2009 4567467 97452 Beach Chick 3 4568266 I'm lazy. Sat Apr 04 19:29:09 -0700 2009 4568223 212582 schrutefarms 3 4568345 Don't ask me - I take mine black and unsweetened. When I do feel like cream, I either use light (18%) cream or half and half. But of those I know that use the stuff, they're going for the flavored varieties, so you get your flavoring, sweetness, and "creaminess" in one step. I'm assuming this is the "laziness" schrutefarms refers to. :) I will admit to a dark, dark phase of grad school where I occasionally used the stuff because that's what was in the lab fridge. But if you'd tasted the sludge that was in our lab coffeemaker by late afternoon, you might forgive me. My uncle drinks decaf with powdered creamer. At that point, one REALLY has to ask, "what, exactly, is the point?" Sat Apr 04 20:06:23 -0700 2009 4568223 139230 Wahooty 4 4568838 "what, exactly, is the point?" I ask the same question of those drinking caffeine-free diet soda. Why not just drink seltzer and get it over with? I could never understand the powdered "creamer" business, ever, and it certainly would never go in my tea. I do know people who use the flavored creamers in their coffee, and it seems the flavoring is what they're after. I'll stick with my tea with honey and milk (and the tea's not-decaf, either.) Sun Apr 05 07:21:51 -0700 2009 4568345 95137 mcsheridan 4 4575739 That is exactly the "laziness" I refer to :) Tue Apr 07 12:19:57 -0700 2009 4568345 212582 schrutefarms 5 4575941 Love your beets, btw. Tue Apr 07 13:08:52 -0700 2009 4575739 139230 Wahooty 6 4575995 Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica. Tue Apr 07 13:21:49 -0700 2009 4575941 212582 schrutefarms 3 4571691 It was initially designed for people who keep kosher, so they could have coffee after a dinner containing meat. It also seems to be a godsend to my lactose-intolerant friends. Coming from someone who prefers hers black. Mon Apr 06 09:40:19 -0700 2009 4568223 59951 thinks too much 4 4574178 I drink one or two cups of coffee per day and am lactose intolerant. Unless we're talking lattes, there's really not going to be enough milk in a coffee to cause problems. Most lactose intolerant people can have a certain amount before it causes any problems. I've been to plenty of workplaces that only had the refrigerated coffeemate or the powdered kind. I think the refrigerated kind is somewhat better than the powdered, but find them both fairly disgusting. I can't stand the flavored varieties. Tue Apr 07 05:07:00 -0700 2009 4571691 107671 queencru 5 4574241 Ah, but I've seen people do a nearly 50/50 creamer/coffee mixture in their mug. If a lactose-intolerant person tried to do that with milk or half and half a couple of times a day, they'd have some discomfort. Some people view the coffee as a necessary evil - a delivery vehicle for the sweet, flavored creamer. Tue Apr 07 05:40:30 -0700 2009 4574178 139230 Wahooty 5 4577613 The flavor I like best in my coffee is COFFEE! I don't get any of this flavoring stuff and when I see the commericals for this artificial sludge on TV, I find them nauseating. I have to say that I am so surprised that people buy this stuff. To each his own, I guess. Wed Apr 08 05:08:34 -0700 2009 4574178 34558 roxlet 1 4568218 I use the Sugar Free refridgerated kind...French Vanilla. It's not as thick (oily?) as the sugar kind...tastes good to me! Sat Apr 04 19:02:36 -0700 2009 4567283 124701 Gingerleen 2 4568321 Brings back memories of a job where the powdered kind was always out by the coffee - my cynical boss always referred to it as "cremate", Sat Apr 04 19:52:09 -0700 2009 4568218 47777 janeh 1 4568588 Not for coffee, but for cooking. I've used it in scones, as well as to make french toast. Sun Apr 05 00:46:27 -0700 2009 4567283 11583 ipsedixit 2 4569334 wow ipsedixit...how did you come up with the scones and french toast idea..did you run out of milk? Sun Apr 05 11:58:46 -0700 2009 4568588 97452 Beach Chick 3 4569741 We were camping and staying in a "log cabin" and the pantry only had coffee mate creamer ... Sun Apr 05 15:39:39 -0700 2009 4569334 11583 ipsedixit 4 4569960 sometimes you gotta make do with what you got...that is definitely the beauty of camping! Sun Apr 05 17:08:43 -0700 2009 4569741 97452 Beach Chick 1 4569364 Mmmmm, sugar syrup and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil - aka Crisco - with just enough emulsifiers to keep them together. Throw in some artificial flavoring and you've got - well, I'm not quite sure. But it's not going in my coffee. I like a little half and half in my coffee, although I don't make a habit of it. I'll even confess to the occasional shot of flavored syrup. But Crisco? No thanks. Sun Apr 05 12:10:53 -0700 2009 4567283 58743 alanbarnes 1 4569556 Never have...never will Sun Apr 05 13:42:27 -0700 2009 4567283 11290 jfood 1 4569978 Nope, can't stand anything sweet near my coffee. Took me a long time to learn to drink coffee because of that. Heck, I love sweets, why is sweet coffee so icky?!!??!? Most coffee-mate tastes sweetened to me. A bit of skim milk is all I take in mine, and I always grind and brew it fresh at home. Sun Apr 05 17:18:26 -0700 2009 4567283 237929 tracylee 2 4569990 I grind mine fresh usually but always coffee mate. Can't stand half and half. I like a little flavor. No sugar. Just a little not much, but I admit. Hate cappuccinos, espressos all those can't stand them. Just black coffee with a little flavored cream. Starbucks ... No way! Sun Apr 05 17:23:56 -0700 2009 4569978 232829 kchurchill5 1 4570029 We use it on the sailboat - hard to keep milk fresh so instant creamer works. Also use powdered milk for the same reason. Not bad but I do take my tea black.......... Sun Apr 05 17:45:33 -0700 2009 4567283 178869 juliewong 1 4570925 It's an ersatz food product - never use it, would go without if nothing else available. Mon Apr 06 05:03:01 -0700 2009 4567283 139725 janniecooks 1 4571599 I tend to be a seasonal coffee drinker and only want coffee in the morning if it is cool out, the other mornings I want iced tea. If I buy 1/2 & 1/2 I don't use it before it goes bad but I can use the powdered Coffee-Mate and it will not go bad. I really like the new Italian Sweet Cream. Of course as I said I am not a coffee freak or purists. Funny thing is when I do drink coffee I want coffee something strong. I find most of my everyday coffee drinking friends do not use enough coffee per cup being brewed. Mon Apr 06 09:20:36 -0700 2009 4567283 14445 swamp 1 4571661 ka-ka poo-poo! Never ever use this - it just tastes weird. If I'm out of milk, I use the frozen cubes in the freezer. Mon Apr 06 09:35:01 -0700 2009 4567283 155034 alwayscooking 2 4571776 You keep frozen cubes of milk in the refrigerator? (like some of the others in this thread, I don't really have anything of value to add, but like to see my sig on the board) Mon Apr 06 09:58:38 -0700 2009 4571661 11300 Muskrat 3 4571837 Did you want an answer then? I freeze low-fat milk into cubes (actually stars from a novelty mold) and keep it in a bag for emergencies. Whole milk doesn't do as well. Mon Apr 06 10:15:10 -0700 2009 4571776 155034 alwayscooking 4 4572251 Is that 1% or 2% milk? I like this idea. Mon Apr 06 12:32:16 -0700 2009 4571837 95137 mcsheridan 5 4572273 Either will work - the more fat, the more likely it will separate so you have to stir the coffee well. But it doesn't impact the flavor (unless I reach for that bag at the very back of the freezer . . . but I've recently demunged the freezer and that's a whole other story!) Mon Apr 06 12:37:06 -0700 2009 4572251 155034 alwayscooking 1 4571872 If the coffee-mate is kept near the photo copier and you have to clear jammed paper and your hand get all black, put a little coffee-mate powder in your hand and you have an excellent hand cleaner; as good as Go Jo. I have also used it to clean wine stains out of a dress shirt while at conferences. It will never pass my lips. Give me my coffee, as truckers say, like my women. Mr Non-PC Granola Mon Apr 06 10:20:39 -0700 2009 4567283 93538 Passadumkeg 1 4571903 I don't understand it either. It's OIL. Why would pouring oil into your coffee make it better? Never mind that most of it is partially hydrogenated oil, which is really bad for you, and corn syrup. I mean, I just don't want oil in my coffee, kthxbai. If refrigeration is a problem, I wish they'd provide powdered milk. I'd rather put that in my coffee than oil. Mon Apr 06 10:36:07 -0700 2009 4567283 19518 rockandroller1 2 4572414 I'd forgotten! That's what I'd use in Ecuador, when I was living without a refrigerator. Powdered milk worked just fine in that case. Mon Apr 06 13:15:24 -0700 2009 4571903 237929 tracylee 1 4573593 I like my coffee like I like my women; dark and bitter. Unless I'm drinking Cafe Cubano, I have no need to adulterate my coffee. Mon Apr 06 19:48:53 -0700 2009 4567283 22801 bkhuna 2 4574086 maybe that's why jfood likes a hot fudge sundae with vailla ice cream. :-)) Tue Apr 07 03:46:50 -0700 2009 4573593 11290 jfood 1 4576095 My brother has had kidney problems (stones) for over 30 years and can't have too much dairy. He has been using Coffee Mate ever since. He's gotten used to it, since he won't give up drinking coffee. I'd get used to it too, if I were in his situation. My SIL started using it when they got married (and still does), "to keep him company." That's true love, IMHO. Tue Apr 07 13:47:34 -0700 2009 4567283 14447 rednails 2 4577299 gross-it's bad for you-at least try silk soy creamer. it has all those flavors and it is not as bad. Tue Apr 07 21:13:45 -0700 2009 4576095 172174 Brisbane 3 4577630 I tried one of the flavored soy milks and it gave the coffee a taste roughly like I imagine eating grass would taste like. As much as I don't like coffeemate, I am definitely not a soy milk fan. Not a big loss since I have to limit my soy intake for most of the month because it triggers migraines. Wed Apr 08 05:25:45 -0700 2009 4577299 107671 queencru 3 4578224 I don't think my brother would try *anything* made from soy, LOL. Or my SIL, for that matter. They aren't foodies, by any stretch of the imagination. But they're family, so I still love them. Wed Apr 08 09:52:47 -0700 2009 4577299 14447 rednails 1 4577647 dunno, chemicals I guess. The dry stuff is great for demonstrating how flammable it is if you dust some over a candle. Something we did as bored teenagers (DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME) It is also GREAT for ruining coffee! Wed Apr 08 05:42:40 -0700 2009 4567283 22477 jbyoga 2 4578757 I was thginking the same thing about the old poof test. I believe I once read this product is so flamable they do not allow it in many prison systems. LOL Wed Apr 08 12:20:11 -0700 2009 4577647 253154 Fritter 2 4581488 Very true! That's why neither I nor my SO (who has a Ph.D. in chemistry-based science) will put it into our coffee - my SO confirms that it explodes when you throw it into a campfire. Thu Apr 09 10:20:25 -0700 2009 4577647 67226 Libertycafe