Similar fond memories of growing up straddling English and American traditions on the wet Westcoast with English and Swedish grandparents.

My grandfather always had coffee brewing on the wood cookstove in his cabin. It was a metal 2 piece drip system. Always adding more hot water to the top as the day progressed. Like your example the first cups are the strongest. They had those white rogers sugar cubes and canned condensed milk from Pacific as creamer. Us grandkids would be bouncing off the walls from the caffeine and massive amounts of sugar most of the day.

Then at night with dinner it was Orange Pekoe tea with milk to finish the day. I'm surprised we got any sleep to be honest looking back on it.

Now living close to the US border I sometimes forget when I'm south tea is not such a normal thing in a restaurant and I get odd looks from those when ordering it. Usually they are the kind of place that serves Coke with breakfast though so I'm already in the wrong place for tea as it is.

For me Tea is the only thing I get from Tim's too in the way of a London Fog. When it comes to Coffee Canadian McDonalds is my way to go. US McDonald's coffee is something else terribly not enjoyable.