What kind of snob are you?

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As members of this forum, it is probably safe to assume that most of us are hi-fi snobs. (I use the word 'snob', not in its derogatory sense to imply a condescending feeling of superiority, but rather as being discerning and particular or fastidious). Even a cursory glance at the photos on the 'pictures of members' kit' thread reveals that forum members possess audio and visual equipment that the Average Joe would not even know existed, let alone buy. Signs of being a hi-fi snob include being economical with the truth when a friend asks you what you think of the 'sound system' that he/she bought at OK Bazaars and spending more on cables than most people spend on their entire music system. Now, in addition to hi-fi, what else are you snobbish about? As for me, I don't give a s**t for the lastest fashion in clothes or shoes nor do I care much for the latest technology in cell phones. However, I am very particular about the coffee and whisky that I drink. Since I do not consume either of these in large quantities, I regard my daily cup of coffee and glass of whisky as a rare treat that deserves the best I can afford. So, I am an unadulterated coffee and whisky snob.

[gifs]

Another coffee snob here, I even convinced the office I work at to get a proper machine just so I can have a proper fix.

When my friends offer me coffee I often decline and take tea instead, because they only have instant.

[LAV]

Mains cabling? Nah. That fancy molecule-aligned silicone sheathed silver screened mains lead cannot make the midrange any sweeter or the treble any more controlled than my vanilla 1.5 or 2.5mm² three-core 

Coffee, for sure. Life's too short for bad cofee! Tools and power tools too - I don't want to buy another socket set in a week's time because I bought sh1t the 1st time. Whiskey's an interesting one - since my taste is varied, I'm not too snobbish. Examples from the cheaper stuff: I won't touch First Watch, to me Three Ships tastes like disinfectant, but Black & White I find extremely drinkable. Also, I'd rather buy a case of Johnny Black than try to impress someone with Johnny Blue...

Camera kit and memory cards...no "no-name" SD cards for me. I can never retake a great photo, so corrupt data is a no-no.

[ghostinthemachine]

Fun thread... I think there was a similar one a few years ago...

As for me:

I dont follow any trends.
I rarely buy/wear brand-name clothes.
Wine must be good but if I cant afford a $$$ bottle then a mid-price-range bottle will do.
Filter coffee is nice but most of the time its sommer plain ol tin.

So, I am actually pretty boring for such a perspective.

[alternativeroute]

Pasta... None of glue like SA stuff...
Coffee...

[kamikazi]

Self-confessed coffee, whisky and pizza snob... Consume those in small quantities so consider those a treat, though was not always the case with coffee. I started keeping off the filter coffee at work due to suffering caffeine withdrawal symptoms in my 2nd week during my December leave...! Now sticking to the fancier instant coffees!

Would have previously qualified as a computer snob keeping my PC up-to-date with latest graphics and CPUs, but the audio bug hasn't left much extra on funding the PC the past few years... PC Components also got to a point where it became ridiculously expensive to keep up with technology which made it a far from a sensible hobby to spend money on.

[CAD]

Ricoffy in a plunger is still Ricoffy
So I guess I am a coffee snob.
I either have Jacobs or Nescafe Gold instant coffee but nothing compares to freshly ground beans,nice strong coffee and espresso.
Good quality pasta is a must.
Oh and twin flex is not and will never be speaker cable in my home.

[Steerpike]

when a friend asks you what you think of the 'sound system' that he/she bought at OK Bazaars

Back in the early 1980s, you could buy NS1000s at the "OK" in Sandton City.

[chipwelder]

Coffee
Music
Knives

It's more about honesty about what it is, than getting the best, fake is so last year... also drink tea when I don't know what coffee is on offer, have an aunt that drinks coffee when she doesn't know what tea is on offer... i often have tea when she has coffee, then comment on the other's good choice.

[Byrd]

I find it fun making my own pasta, and in a lasagna it is a must. Not a snob though as I still don't look down on the regular stuff. It is just quite different.

Coffee - I prefer the fresh stuff, but it is usually too much trouble to go to. It is a nice treat.

Airlines - I only fly BA and it makes me feel gooooood.

Wines - my general favourite is Vrede & Lust.

Eating out - I am quite fussy here - on service and food at least. We went to Bel gables in JHB recently which was interesting but I find the smaller out of the way places better.

[PearlJam]

I like my coffee (i like it a lot ) but the instant type.  For some reason I like it more.  But i like the smell of the fresh coffee that I make for my wife everyday.  Fresh from grinding the beans right through.  Take-away coffee.....nothing beats Seattle for me.

[u235]

Design snob. I hate sloppy design in any form, and I love the care and attention in local designs like Southwell catamarans, Vivid Audio speakers, and certain turntable components made in Cape Town.

Also materials snob. When manufacturers use 1.2mm when they should use 2mm, when it's plastic and it should be aluminium, when the shiny coating on the bezel makes tiny flakes, and when you anticipate a tactile experience and instead the item feels dead -  Shiver.

Food generally. Married to a talented foodfreak, I so seldom get anything better than I get at home, that eating out is usually not a pleasure.

Musical instruments. One kid's piano is a 1946 Danemann, Sax is a 1953 Selmer MkVi, other kids guitar is a Les Paul with a Marshall Valve-state amp (all except the guitar were bought for a song, so it's not the money that counts)

Apart from that, anything goes and I'll happily drink retsina if nothing else is available!

[cj]

nothing like a good watch, something with real functional design to it. so far i got a citizen auto, breitling navitimer, an old tissot(cant remember the name) and my two timex watches that i wear on a daily basis. the two timex ones are actually kinda my favourite ones as i can wear them when doing anything, nothing like a military grade watch with a titanium case with a mineral crystal glass that cant be scratched. love the detail and intricate workings that go into a watch, amazing pieces of design (esp the navitimer), form and function matched perfectly.

as for coffee? like the smell, cant stand the taste, not even the good stuff that my brother spends an hour brewing. earl grey tea all the way.

[chipwelder]

I have two friends who were like that... loved the smell, not the taste... till they tried it black and bitter... then it tastes like it smells ymmv

[mafioso]

nothing like a good watch, something with real functional design to it. so far i got a citizen auto, breitling navitimer, an old tissot(cant remember the name) and my two timex watches that i wear on a daily basis. the two timex ones are actually kinda my favourite ones as i can wear them when doing anything, nothing like a military grade watch with a titanium case with a mineral crystal glass that cant be scratched. love the detail and intricate workings that go into a watch, amazing pieces of design (esp the navitimer), form and function matched perfectly.

as for coffee? like the smell, cant stand the taste, not even the good stuff that my brother spends an hour brewing. earl grey tea all the way.

As a lapsed watch importer, may I correct you on the glass? Scratchproof glass should be sapphire - not mineral crystal. The former has the disadvantage that it would shatter more easily than mineral crystal.

My daily driver watch is a 50's Girard Perregaux (39 jewels, automatic, solid 18ct gold). I also have an automatic Rado and some vintage original Buren Grand Prix's and some Omegas.

Aftershave is Tabac. My coffee is Nescafe Classic - 3 heaped teaspoons, no milk but sometimes Cremora. I do also keep Italian coffee making gear to make espresso. Audio gears are all vintage - Dynaco, Scott, Leak, Sansui, Quad, Garrard, Micro, Micro Seiki, Nagra, Nagatron and no lust after anyhing else.

I buy the best tools I can afford - Makita, Bosch, and Snap-on and I live in errr...Upper Kenilworth with some gomgat government types and embassies and consulates galore around me.

But I'm no snob. I will never forget where I come from and that my parents' home was the first to be built among thick, Port Jackson bush in a newer part of Durbanville at the start of the 50's.

Oh yes, and I don't touch SAB beer, on principle - Windhoek for me. I don't touch whisky or brandy but I'm partial to the occasional Monis sherry or port or pukka Italian sambuca such as Brotto.

In the days I used to wear suits, they came from either Phil Moss or bespoke from James Hinton-Lever but these days most of my threads come come Cape Union Mart or Woolies - made in China, my china Shoes from Merrell.

Cigarettes are Dunhill Infinites bought from a corner squatting Somali and they are lit with a Dunhill.

That's it.

mafioso