Often at relatives houses and especially work, I have been given pretty awful tasting coffee. A trick I have learned in bring a packet of Starbucks VIA instant coffee and add some to the "not so great" cup of coffee you are served. Usually half a pack does the trick and can go virtually undetected.   I am not a very big advocate for instant coffee but Starbucks has come through on this one and you can now drink other peoples coffee without insulting them or missing out on the caffine you need!  

I have also made the instant coffee on it's own and although it still is not quite the fresh...