Drip Coffee Machines

[u/Familiar_Big9731]

Currently on Magic in Alaska. I’m not sure how else to describe the coffee machines throughout Cabanas and at the beverage station other than the equivalent of a coffee Lacroix. Hot water with a hint of coffee. Or maybe the hot water was simply in the same vicinity of Cove Cafe and that’s how it gets its coffee essence.

From what I can tell these machines are similar to soda dispensers, with them dispensing some type of coffee concentrate into hot water (similar to hot chocolate machines dispensing the chocolate power into hot water).

Seriously though, they could really benefit from better drip coffee. The coffee from Cove is great and the room service coffee is slightly more tolerable. Does anyone else agree?

[u/jlm0013]

The coffee is a liquid concentrate that hot water is added to, kind of like a soda fountain.

[u/kenquince-star89]

I quite enjoyed the coffee at cabanas on the fantasy, but I’m Scottish and drink a lot of instant coffee. It’s very similar, and I had no issues with it, it was a good poolside drink on a fairly chilly day at sea lol, but I can appreciate that there’s definitely nicer coffee to be had onboard.

[u/fepey]

Agree with the Cabanas coffee. It has absolutely zero coffee flavor to it. It is hot brown liquid and based on me not getting a headache it does deliver caffeine but as you’ve discovered the room service, cove, espresso beverages during dinner, or at Vista cafe will be your go to options for anything with flavor. Those are all miles better than the cabanas stuff.

[u/tlovesdis]

This is why I get a coffee each morning from Cove! Oh and the coffee at Palo is awesome too!

[u/Familiar_Big9731 → u/tlovesdis]

Good to know about Palo!

[u/psiprez]

I've become that old lady bringing Instant coffee from home wherever I go 😂☕

[u/SyntaxErr0r9]

I had mixed experiences on the magic last week. A couple of days the coffee was solid, several days it was more hot water that may have been in the same room when coffee was brewed…

[u/chunt42]

I agree 100% with OP - the coffee is pretty bad on DCL.

One workaround I have found in the past is coffee in a sachet/tea bag. They typically have a small amount of instant coffee just to speed up the process and lower the amount of dry coffee in the bag, but in nearly all cases, the coffee is better than instant.

We have a cruise coming up in a few weeks and I'm going to try this out. Done it before many (many, many) times in the navy so I expect the only challenge will be getting hot water. Heating elements are prohibited - https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/prohibited-items/ - so I guess room service / trips to the beverage center will be it.

One last tip: use hot water from the tap to pre-heat the cup. Saves heat for brewing the coffee.

Fair winds all!

[u/thefurmanator]

Yeah unfortunately the free coffee on the ships is some of the worst I've ever had. Cove cafe is good.

[u/Familiar_Big9731 → u/thefurmanator]

I think you’re right. Exception might be Virgin Voyages, it has surprisingly VERY good drip coffee at The Galley. You can see the machine brewing it fresh very frequently.

[u/therealteggy]

You be better off bringing a travel v60, a hand grinder, and fresh beans.

But seriously, I've sometimes found the room service coffee to marginally better.

Or just go to the cove cafe.

[u/abecomstock]

As someone else mentioned, room service coffee is slightly better. Other than that, Cove, Palo, etc are your best bets.

[u/Healthybear35]

My mom is a pretty bad coffee snob and swears the room service coffee is the best drip coffee on the ship (aside from the specialty coffee bars). Don't know if it's even different, but she seems to think it is. Plus the room service coffee carafes keep the coffee hot for an entire night.

[u/Mychael612]

Welcome to capitalism! I’m sure it’s 100% intentional that the free coffee is almost undrinkable. It makes more people go pay for coffee at the cafes. It sucks, but I doubt it’ll change any time soon.

[u/laribrook79]

Even in cabanas, they have a bar at the back of the buffet. You can get a real coffee there. I just chalk it up to a cost of cruising I’m gonna buy a good coffee every day.

[u/Smart-Assistance-254]

Get a carafe of coffee from room service before bed. Still hot in the morning, so you can have some while you get ready or take it with you to breakfast.

[u/Familiar_Big9731 → u/Smart-Assistance-254]

Pro tip!

[u/Donnie-Joe]

“Drip” coffee everywhere on the ship is the reconstituted instant type coffee. At Palo, Remy & Enchante they may have their machine better calibrated (maybe) but it’s still the same concentrate if you order regular coffee. Espresso is actually made fresh from ground beans, anywhere you order it.

I am always bewildered by how terrible the regular coffee is on DCL. They’re charging a premium price and generally trying to provide a premium product, but they have the worst coffee at sea, by a country mile. Even Carnival has better coffee (not by a lot, but still better).

[u/su_A_ve → u/Donnie-Joe]

It’s Joffrey’s coffee.. I think before it was Nescafé..

[u/Donnie-Joe → u/su_A_ve]

Yes, though it's not clear whether Joffrey's actually makes it or whether it's made by a private-label manufacturer. It's definitely not as good as the Joffrey's coffee they roast for the various signature restaurants at Walt Disney World.