Coffee |OT| Taste as good as it smells
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FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
Kod1ak said:
Thats how I was not only about a year ago. Don't give up on it, your bound to have a good cup of coffee one day.
parrotbeak
Member
I think coffee is kinda like beer for a lot of people. Start with the cheapest, shittiest tasting stuff and drink it mainly for the effects until you get used to the taste. Then start drinking more expensive, less shitty stuff and think it tastes awesome.
Kinitari said:
Heh, funny thing is, out of all the coffees my local roaster has, the Ethiopan coffee is the only one I don't care for. But, if you wanted to try some:
(assuming you're actually in Canada)
http://www.happygoat.ca/collections/all
The Dominican is my favorite. The Nicaraguan is a nice dark roast as well.
CoffeeJanitor
Member
Holy shit GAF. I just got my first coffee pot because I have been trouble staying awake to study, as my schedule is really crazy. Anyways, it's fucking 4:30 am here and I am not tired at all. I think I have maybe only had 2-3 cups of coffee, and that was all diluted into milk, but that was like 5 hours ago and I'm still not tired. Should I try to go to sleep? Should I not? I feel like I'll go insane if I don't do something RIGHT NOW
POWERSPHERE
Member
CoffeeJanitor said:
wank it out, hotshot.
fabricated backlash
Member
CoffeeJanitor said:
It should wear off faster than that. Caffein only works for about an hour. I guess mixing it with milk slows the rate at which the body is absorbing the caffein.
But the best thing to do when on caffein is to read or play a game. Seriously, you're going to be tired in no time.
Also since it seems that you're sensitive to caffein, don't ever drink Chai Tea (or at least not too much) That's even more stimulating than the strongest coffee I've ever had.
Coffee addict here. Drink almost daily during the workweek. I usually prefer to drink my coffee with cream, but I use milk since it's more often found than cream.
Have a double pan moccamaster at home, but I'm planning on getting an alternative coffee machine. I'd also like to learn to make latte by myself, since the coffee shop lattes can be hit-or-miss.
Have a double pan moccamaster at home, but I'm planning on getting an alternative coffee machine. I'd also like to learn to make latte by myself, since the coffee shop lattes can be hit-or-miss.
All right, it's time for me to upgrade from my blade grinder since I'm spending more time with coffee beans. Any recommendations for a good burr grinder, something that can handle several cupsworth of grounds at a time? No preference for manual/automatic. I was looking at this Kyocera model, which looks like a decent entry-level burr grinder:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003S9XF7K/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Any thoughts?
Oh, and I'm brewing with an Aeropress, so I'm looking for something that can do pretty fine grounds.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003S9XF7K/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Any thoughts?
Oh, and I'm brewing with an Aeropress, so I'm looking for something that can do pretty fine grounds.
nakedsushi
Member
SolKane said:
I have the Hario version of that type of grinder: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001802PIQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
It's great since I only grind about 1 cup of coffee each morning, at most 2 if someone else wants a cup of coffee. I wouldn't do several cups-worth at a time though, just because my arms get tired of all that grinding. You can adjust the size of the grind by setting the gear thing at the top, but since it doesn't have numbers or any markers, you just kind of have to do it by feel. It hasn't been a problem for me.
The only improvement I'd like from it is if it had a better grip. Sometimes it's hard to hold the bottom still while you're turning the handle at the top, especially if you have firmer beans.
nakedsushi said:
I used to be high on that grinder, but I realized that it's really not the best made grinder. It has a few engineering flaws... It gets better when you go smaller on the grind, but it can't do french press well because you get a wide variety of ground sizes. Much better than any blade grinder though.
Finally bought my first grinder! After doing some research I opted for the Hario Mini Mill. I've only used in once, and so far I'm very happy with it. The grind had a good consistency and I quickly found a sweet spot for my french press. The grinding itself was mostly smooth with the occasional jerk and twitch. Took about a minute to grind about 20 grams of coffee.
After reading around a bit I've found out that the slight wobble in the grinding mechanism can be fixed with a bit of tape, improving the grind consistency, so I'm going to try that later and report back. For the £32 I paid I'm very pleased with this grinder. Perfect for someone like me that only makes coffee for myself once or twice a day.
Oh, and I don't think I'll ever go back to buying pre-ground beans if I can help it. The difference in taste is pretty amazing.
Edit: I put some tape around the main shaft and the outer burr which has reduced the overall wobble. The consistency of the grind seems improved, but as this was only my second time using the grinder it's hard to tell; I might be fooling myself. Bottom line is that it produces a consistent grind, anyway.
I became a real coffee addidct in the last year. I also tried different flavors and syrups, which I'm using quite regularly. What I don't need in particular is a coffee right after I waking up. Mostly, I drink my first coffee at 10 am.
I wish I had enough money to visit Starbucks every day!
I wish I had enough money to visit Starbucks every day!
Hey guys, looking to up my game in a few weeks and move past a Cuisinart drip coffee maker. Essentially, I'm wanting some fairly low cost options with great reviews that will enable me to have a great cup of coffee. That's why I'm wanting a good burr grinder so that the French press isn't passing through a ton of grains. I have a blade grinder now, and it's just not consistent enough. Also, wanting a way to make some espresso drinks like Americano's, red eye's, maybe macchiatos, etc. I'm hoping that the espresso maker and milk frother will get me there. Milk frother is probably more for guests or my wife that may want some frou-frou drinks.
Looking at getting these items, feedback on them?
Bodum Burr Grinder
Norpro Frother
Bialetti Espresso maker
Bodum French press
Looking at getting these items, feedback on them?
Bodum Burr Grinder
Norpro Frother
Bialetti Espresso maker
Bodum French press
Great, thanks for the info on that. Seems like great reviews for the press. The grinder also has better reviews than the other sub-$100 units due to it having a glass container (less static) and a better fit so no dust on your kitchen counter.
Guess my main question is how my espresso will turn out in cooking it on a stovetop like that. I'm assuming it's a percolator.
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
Looks like a nice setup. However, even though I generally like Bodum products, I've had bad experiences with their french presses. I have the same model french press and there are two major problems: the metal holder is prone to rust spots (dry the metal holder and glass beaker separately after washing and use some steel wool on any spots that form) and the glass beaker itself is made out of some of the flimsiest glass I've encountered. I've had two Bodum beakers break on me during normal use. I bought a universal replacement by Bonjour nearly 2 years ago and I've yet to have any problems.
So, I'd suggest either buying a Bonjour french press like this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XOLS2C/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Or keep this: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NHY3YO/?tag=neogaf0e-20 saved in your cart for later.
It technically won't be espresso, but it'll be close enough. If you have an Ikea near you, they sell moka pots for small money: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30149839/
Thanks for the tip, that link seemed to be broken for me. Is this what you were talking about?
That's cool about the Moka pot. This will be enough to get me started for now. I'll probably up my game eventually as well in that aspect.
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
Huh, my Amazon links usually work when I strip out the weird information at the end. I must have edited out too much of the junk stuff.
But yeah, that's the one I was talking about (though I linked to that snazzy, victorian-era-looking, copper-colored one).
And to expound on how moka pots work, assuming you've never used one:
There are 3 components to a moka pot, from bottom to top: a chamber that holds the water, a filter that you load coffee in to (side note here: this is pretty much the only aspect that is like an espresso machine. You should use espresso-ground coffee as well. You do not have to tamp the grounds down with a moka pot, though.), and a top chamber to hold the brewed coffee. It is similar to a percolator in function; that is, water, once boiling, will be forced upwards, passing through the coffee. The main difference is that a percolator typically recycles the brewed coffee back into the main water chamber, which gives percolator coffee its distinctive taste. A moka pot keeps the brewed coffee separate from the water.
Like I said, the moka pot won't make true espresso. It just doesn't build up enough pressure to do that. However, it does make a reasonable facsimile at a fraction of the cost and with little added labor.
Awesome, sounds like a good start for me to start making some pseudo espresso here. I assume that most people couldn't tell the difference unless it were side by side, unless they were a real coffee snob (not said in a bad way). Sounds like what I need, really.
Moka pots do not produce espresso since they are unable to reach the 9 bar threshold. Sometimes, if you get a good grind, you can get a little bit of crema. Make sure to not get a cheap $5 moka pot. They can be made of cheap metal and lead to horrible tasting coffee. Bialetti are a good brand that are not expensive.
And regarding you french press question, bodum is a solid brand. I have the french press you linked and it works great. But even their more plastic looking ones are solidly built as well.
A lot of people have never had a well done espresso
And regarding you french press question, bodum is a solid brand. I have the french press you linked and it works great. But even their more plastic looking ones are solidly built as well.
A lot of people have never had a well done espresso
Awesome, thanks!
EmmanuelMunoz said:A lot of people have never had a well done espresso
I haven't. I mean, I've had espresso from local coffee shops, but I don't know how that compares with something from the mother country.
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
Oh, I feel like I should add that I don't actually drink coffee, yet I am intimately familiar with a ton of coffee equipment.
For the record, my preferred teapot: a french press.
What I've brewed using a Moka pot and an Espresso machine: yerba mate and espresso-ground rooibos. I recommend the "red espresso" for anyone looking for a naturally decaffeinated coffee-like drink.
For the record, my preferred teapot: a french press.
What I've brewed using a Moka pot and an Espresso machine: yerba mate and espresso-ground rooibos. I recommend the "red espresso" for anyone looking for a naturally decaffeinated coffee-like drink.
Dice
Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I guess Gevalia is expanding into retail because I saw some at Meijer. Didn't get any so I don't know how good it is, but I squeezed a bit of air out of the bag to take a whiff and it smelled a hell of a lot fresher than their usual supposedly-fresh vacuum-sealed stuff. I'd probably still prefer the shockingly good whole bean organic house blend of the Meijer brand.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
45 is a bargain.
I've seen kopi luwak go for 150 to 200 a lb.
But, I know there might be a markup for kopi luwak fron Indonesia, as oppossed to the Phillippines.
I brought Kona to the office for the holidays. Mmmm.
I've seen kopi luwak go for 150 to 200 a lb.
But, I know there might be a markup for kopi luwak fron Indonesia, as oppossed to the Phillippines.
I brought Kona to the office for the holidays. Mmmm.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
I'm not entirely sure. But I'm guessing the cheaper kind is from places where they have captured civets to poop beans as opposed to organic civet poop collecting.
And when I speak of civet farms, some are caged and some are just fenced in large areas, free to roam over the property.
Might have to do with the beans as well? Indonesian coffee usually sells at a higer price than Phillipino beans.
parrotbeak
Member
Just curious how much the Kona is up there. I never buy 100% but I think it's in the $25 for 7 oz range. I'll buy the 10%, which is nothing, but I feel like at least I'm buying 10% local and can still get it for $5/10 oz.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
Kona was a gift, so I don't know.
Well I got the french press and the Bodum grinder. Changed my life. What do you guys find are the best blends for french press? I tend to prefer the darker roasts, for sure, and something without a lot of acidity. So far I've had some Alternative Fuel from Jittery Joes (fantastic) and some Level 3 blend from Seattle's Best (not that great).
Also, is an espresso roast something that you could use in a french press, or for day to day coffee drinking? As far as I understand the espresso roast has to do with the amount of pressure on the beans during the roast, and obviously it's a darker roast with a strong flavor.
Also, is an espresso roast something that you could use in a french press, or for day to day coffee drinking? As far as I understand the espresso roast has to do with the amount of pressure on the beans during the roast, and obviously it's a darker roast with a strong flavor.
way more
Member
Is there a special way to make french press? I'm at my parents and they have a percolator, a pour over, a espresso machine, and a french press and the last option is always the worst. I've also realized that I stopped brewing coffee at my apartment because I hate my french press.
Is there some step I'm ignorant about that make it''s coffee taste as good as the other options?
Is there some step I'm ignorant about that make it''s coffee taste as good as the other options?
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
How coarse are your grounds? Are you grinding them yourself or buying them pre-ground?
Pre-ground coffee is generally always ground too fine for use in a french press and results in bitter coffee that has a lot of "sludge" at the bottom. Either start grinding your own beans (a small blade grinder is fine enough for this task) or go to a place that you can buy whole beans and grind on premises (be sure to select a coarse grind).
If you're already doing that, how long do you brew the coffee? Between 3 and 4 minutes is fairly typical. You can also try adding a tiny pinch of salt to the coffee, to help combat bitterness.
Edit: Also, try different roasts of coffee. I've found that people always think they like darker roasts than they actually do.
I've read a lot of stuff against the blade grinders because you can't control the consistency of the grind. You just do it until it looks good, but some of it may be too fine, others too coarse. Which is why I opted for that burr grinder. Thing is awesome so far, too.
My own experience with a blade grinder wasn't all that great. Really inconsistent grinds.
The Lamonster
Member
Just got my first French Press for Christmas. Absolutely loving it. I also got a grinder so I can buy whole bean now. So much better.
I still use my normal coffee maker on weekdays, though.
I still use my normal coffee maker on weekdays, though.
morningbus
Serious Sam is a wicked gahbidge series for chowdaheads.
Oh, absolutely. But there are a couple of things to keep in mind: the french press method is more forgiving of an inconsistent grind than other ways of brewing coffee and burr grinders are inherently way more expensive than blade ones. (I was able to buy a Bodum blade grinder for $10, whereas a Bodum burr grinder starts at about $80.)
If you work in pulses and shake the grinder a little bit, I've found it is can be consistent enough. Having said that, I'd never attempt to do something like espresso and would seriously hesitate to even grind beans suitable for drip coffee with a blade grinder.
But yes, definitely: if you aren't concerned with the money, then you should absolutely buy a burr grinder.
Gotcha, yeah if you've never ground your own coffee, then any grinder will be a step up. But having used a cheapo blade grinder, that Bodum burr grinder you mentioned that was $80 is just a notch 5 steps above. That and it doesn't make any mess on the counter. No complaints with that thing whatsoever, though I haven't ground anything fine in it yet. More concerned with the coarse grinds now for French Press.
Kona coffee - Is it as good as everyone says? Seems like it's suppposed to be some kind of holy grail of coffee. Seems to go for $50/lb on Amazon, and I see a couple that are $15-20/lb. I'm assuming that's lesser qualities of beans or companies trying to get their foot in the door.
way more
Member
I wouldn't call it the holy grail. That's like saying such-and-such is the Holy Grail of beers. They all taste good in their own ways. It is indeed great. I've had those beans roasted right off the trees, that was fun.
It looks like I'm doing everything right to get my french press in order. I just don't like the taste. Oh well, you can't enjoy them all. Maybe someday I'll change.