Coffee |OT| Taste as good as it smells

Bought this:

baratza-encore-coffee-grinder-front-side.jpg


Baratza burr grinder, and:

2895743802_86d9b5001a_o.jpg


A Chemex. I'm pretty stoked to play around with it. I also went downtown and picked up another Hario V60 (glass) from the aforementioned store above to round out my collection. I may or may not pick up a french press as well in the near future depending on how satisfied I am with these things.

Honestly, I had one of the best cups of coffee I've had in my life out of the V60 at home, but it is a finicky little thing sometimes.
 
A Chemex. I'm pretty stoked to play around with it. I also went downtown and picked up another Hario V60 (glass) from the aforementioned store above to round out my collection. I may or may not pick up a french press as well in the near future depending on how satisfied I am with these things.

Honestly, I had one of the best cups of coffee I've had in my life out of the V60 at home, but it is a finicky little thing sometimes.

Cool! I'v been wanting to get a Chemex but haven't pulled the trigger. Do you have a some sort of water kettle to use to add the water to the grounds? If/when I get the Chemex I was thinking of getting a Hario Buono Drip Kettle as well.

Also did you get the Chemex filters to go with your carafe?
 
Cool! I'v been wanting to get a Chemex but haven't pulled the trigger. Do you have a some sort of water kettle to use to add the water to the grounds? If/when I get the Chemex I was thinking of getting a Hario Buono Drip Kettle as well.

Also did you get the Chemex filters to go with your carafe?

Yes, I have the Buono Kettle actually. It was given to me as a gift, otherwise I'm not sure I'd have gone out of my way to purchase it - but now that I have it I really like it. It's probably necessary with the V60, as you need a really really slow pour. Also, I purchased the square white filters for the Chemex. Apparently the Chemex makes for a lighter brew - which is good for some types of coffee and perhaps less than ideal for other types. The V60 handles pretty much everything well. But I really wanted more than one way to brew my coffee so that I have some options depending on what type of coffee I feel like buying. Anyways I'll let you know how I like it after I've given it a few rounds.
 
Yes, I have the Buono Kettle actually. It was given to me as a gift, otherwise I'm not sure I'd have gone out of my way to purchase it - but now that I have it I really like it. It's probably necessary with the V60, as you need a really really slow pour. Also, I purchased the square white filters for the Chemex. Apparently the Chemex makes for a lighter brew - which is good for some types of coffee and perhaps less than ideal for other types. The V60 handles pretty much everything well. But I really wanted more than one way to brew my coffee so that I have some options depending on what type of coffee I feel like buying. Anyways I'll let you know how I like it after I've given it a few rounds.

Sounds good, and I hope you like it. I tend to prefer a light roast so I hope the Chemex handles that well. Then again you seem to really like the V60 which I wasn't aware of and it looks like it might offer an improved brew at a lower cost vs. the Chemex (namely in regards to the coffee filters used). Like you said, it's always nice to have options! I have a burr grinder and typically use a drip coffee maker though I do have a Bodum French press that I use from time to time. It's just that the French press uses so much more coffee beans compared to my drip coffee maker that I end up using less frequently due to cost/benefit.
 
Sounds good, and I hope you like it. I tend to prefer a light roast so I hope the Chemex handles that well. Then again you seem to really like the V60 which I wasn't aware of and it looks like it might offer an improved brew at a lower cost vs. the Chemex (namely in regards to the coffee filters used). Like you said, it's always nice to have options! I have a burr grinder and typically use a drip coffee maker though I do have a Bodum French press that I use from time to time. It's just that the French press uses so much more coffee beans compared to my drip coffee maker that I end up using less frequently due to cost/benefit.

Do you want my spare V60? If you live in the US I'll send it to you for free along with some filters. :)
 
Are second hand machines worth it? A friend I know is getting rid of his espresso machine, he offered me to have it for about a few hundred bucks. It's a Wega that he bought for over maybe 2000 bucks. I drink at his coffee shop and the coffee taste is still excellent so I figure why not? I spend maybe 3 euros a day on coffee so it'll save me in the long run, but I'm a complete noob on doing this myself (when I see him work a cappuccino to it's amazing)
 
So I got the Chemex 2 days ago, and I've already used it like 8 times, lol. I was thinking of waiting to post my impressions, but I'm really in love with this thing. So far I've tried a Guatemalan and a Colombian coffee from Cafecito Organico, as well as the House Blend and Hair Bender (espresso blend) from Stumptown. Out of all of them I enjoyed the Colombian the best - I'm actually sipping some right now as I type this. The Chemex produces an absolutely delicious cup of coffee. The body is lighter, but the flavors are more complex. I definitely feel that it benefits from brighter coffees, as it seems to highlight those notes the best. In the Colombian for example, I can taste a very forward nuttiness, and a bit of lemon on the tip. There is zero bitterness, and the finish is clean. The coffee is really clear and it leaves no aftertaste. This is kind of strange to me because I'm used to a little linger, you know... I like the heavier feeling brews... like the kinds produced by the french press and the Hario V60, but this is at the same time a welcoming change. It also feels a bit easier on the stomach, as I had my first two cups before breakfast without feeling any negative effects.

Right now, I've got half a Chemex full of coffee on the kitchen counter. I'm gonna let the rest cool off and stick it in the fridge for tomorrow. Should be pretty tasty cold as well. I highly recommend this device as an alternative brewing method, or just something to check out if you want more flavor out of your coffee without any bitterness. Especially if you want a very pure, clean tasting coffee. I wouldn't dare tarnish something this good with cream and sugar. I gave some to my co-worker and he was like "what the fuck is this... if coffee actually tasted this good I'd drink it every day."
 
GAF, I'm in desperate need of a good electric drip coffeemaker with a timer for around $75. Good quality and good coffee, any suggestions? If I can buy it in europe, that's a plus.
 
I'm poor so I also use my blade grinder to grind whole spices I get. I can't afford a dedicated spice grinder so now my coffee tastes like coriander a little bit. Man that Chemex glass is attractive. I think I will have to pick one up. I was enjoying the hand grinder discussion, the thought of a hand grinder had never occurred to me before, but the wobble comments were sorta worrisome, it wasn't until I was looking at a page for a grinder mod that I realized what hole I was starting down. Anyway, handgrinders yay or neigh?
 
I'm poor so I also use my blade grinder to grind whole spices I get. I can't afford a dedicated spic grinder so now my coffee tastes like coriander a little bit. Man that Chemex glass is attractive. I think I will have to pick one up. I was enjoying the hand grinder discussion, the thought of a hand grinder had never occurred to me before, but the wobble comments were sorta worrisome, it wasn't until I was looking at a page for a grinder mod that I realized what hole I was starting down. Anyway, handgrinders yay or neigh?

Personally I'd use the blade grinder for your spices, and the hand grinder for coffee. Keep that stuff separate. If you can spring for a burr grinder for your coffee I would, but the handgrinders reported do well.

Danne-Danger said:
GAF, I'm in desperate need of a good electric drip coffeemaker with a timer for around $75. Good quality and good coffee, any suggestions? If I can buy it in europe, that's a plus.

I'm not sure where in Europe you are, but this looks like one that has good reviews. I've never seen that brand in the US, FWIW. That one's about $72 unless I missed something in the conversion.
 
Still drinking Happy Goat Coffee (Ottawa), using my Baratza Virtuoso and Aeropress.

I've gotten a bit lazy though, and I never get up in time to make some in the morning. I've been buying Lattes at my local McDonalds...which are surprisingly good. They used to be terrible but something has changed...maybe the new staff actually knows how to make it. Not as much flavor as fresh roasted beans, but still quite smooth.
 
So after trying Cafe Bustelo and a similar Turkish coffee my Serbian friend brought, they were quite smooth but the flavor was a bit too different (plant-tasting?) to become my regular deal. However, I took to mixing them with my usual coffee. If I went with 1/3 of that type, it made for a really wonderful experience.

A couple weeks ago I finally got around to trying Yuban and wow! It's very similar to this bend I was making. It's very smooth and nutty, but with that unique quality. It's also very cheap compared to other coffees, so I'm surprised by the flavor. The can says "100% coffee" so I wonder if it blends arabica and robusta beans, as that might help explain the price difference.

That said, do Cafe Bustelo and turkish coffees use robusta? They are so different from the coffee you usually get that I feel like they have to be a different type of bean, not just different from typical region variance.
 
After drinking tea for so long, I'm now starting to get into coffee for the first time due to med school.

Any suggestions for a drip coffee maker? (preferably something on Amazon)
 
bro...

trust me bro...

electric kettle + aeropress.

or if you don't want to mess with filters and don't mind a little bit of grit, french press.
 
bro...

trust me bro...

electric kettle + aeropress.

or if you don't want to mess with filters and don't mind a little bit of grit, french press.

I think my issue is that time is at a premium for me, so I'd like something that's convenient without sacrificing too much quality. I'm only just learning about these different types of coffee makers, so I'm not as knowledgable as far as their convenience-to-quality ratio.

I just don't really know where to start when looking for a coffee maker, I guess.....
 
Okay then I guess nothing will beat a programmable drip, but a kettle & press is pretty fast.
 
I think my issue is that time is at a premium for me, so I'd like something that's convenient without sacrificing too much quality. I'm only just learning about these different types of coffee makers, so I'm not as knowledgable as far as their convenience-to-quality ratio.

I just don't really know where to start when looking for a coffee maker, I guess.....

A lot of people really seem to like the Technivorm. I'm not sure what your budget is (it's a higher priced item), but it seems to be a good auto system, if you need a hands-off approach. Otherwise, honestly a lot of manual prep methods take a very short amount of time. Get an electric kettle first and have it boil while you do something else. When you come back to it, whichever method you've chosen (aeropress, french press, pour over, clever, vac pot, etc...) should only take you about 4 to 5 minutes tops. It's cheaper to brew manually, and it tastes a hell of a lot better than the majority of all auto drip makers.

Another question you should ask is how much coffee you want to make at a time, because that will probably influence what type of purchase you make.
 
Alright, CoffeeGAF. It's 2013 and I want to brew espresso at home. The problem is, I know next-to-nothing about it. All I know is that I love ordering double or triple espressos at Starbucks. I don't even understand what milk has to do with it, but I see a lot of people mentioning steamed milk in relation to espresso machines. There is no milk in the espressos I've had at restaurants.

Any brand recommendations? Is there like, a home espresso machine consensus?
 
A latte is espresso with steamed milk. Pretty much every espresso machine has a steam jet to steam your milk.
 
My gear:

1. Coffee beans from my local coffee seller. He roasts them himself and it is amazing!

coffee_beans.jpg


2. Brita water filter. My tap water does not taste great so the Brita improves the taste a lot for me.

brita_pitcher.jpg


3. A Thermometer. Water temperature is crucial for making a great cup of coffee. If It is too hot it tastes "burned", if it is too cold it tastes weak and bland. I aim at 185F when making my coffee.

41MNN661QJL._SX450_.jpg


4. The AeroPress Coffee Maker. It is the best poor man's espresso. You won't get the strength of a real espresso, but it is close enough for the price you pay. I was impressed by the genius concept of using air pressure instead of 'x' kW to make the shot. Brilliant and efficient engineering.

21bkeRW10nL.jpg


5. Krups 203 Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder. I grind on fine because it works better for my aeropress. For French Press, grind on coarse so that no grains go through the mesh.

41PvifEtLCL._SY450_.jpg


This is all under 100$ for me. My friends tell me that my coffee taste amazing.
Extra stuff:
5a. Aerolatte Milk Frother. When used properly, it does give an amazing foam for the non-fat milk I use to make delicious lattes. It is close to those expensive milk steamers but at a fraction of their prices.

316YPD35SFL._SX450_.jpg


5b. A thermal travel cup: I use it to take my cup of coffee with me to work
 
Alright, CoffeeGAF. It's 2013 and I want to brew espresso at home. The problem is, I know next-to-nothing about it. All I know is that I love ordering double or triple espressos at Starbucks. I don't even understand what milk has to do with it, but I see a lot of people mentioning steamed milk in relation to espresso machines. There is no milk in the espressos I've had at restaurants.

Any brand recommendations? Is there like, a home espresso machine consensus?

Well if you want great espresso, the Rancilio Silvia is pretty hard to go past but she has some idiosyncrasies and is dependent on a high quality grinder.

The Breville Infuser is probably the best bang for buck in home espresso at the moment.
 
The blacker the better. Get it as heavy as you can get and then some. Nothing else in it. That's how I drink my coffee. Am I weird?
 
i really got to get one of those nice coffee makers. right now i just use instant coffee and i really wish to one day try a real proper brewed cup of coffee.
 
This:

cafetera_vitronoir.jpg


50/50 roasted coffee for the workdays, gonna go back to arabic cause I miss the taste. I also keep a bottle of Bailey's just to mix it with coffee for those cold winter afternoons.
 
i really got to get one of those nice coffee makers. right now i just use instant coffee and i really wish to one day try a real proper brewed cup of coffee.

Get a cheap Hario manual burr grinder, a thermometer and an aeropress and you're well on your way to drinking amazing coffee. Very cheap entry price at about $60 and only takes minutes of your time.
 
This:

cafetera_vitronoir.jpg


50/50 roasted coffee for the workdays, gonna go back to arabic cause I miss the taste. I also keep a bottle of Bailey's just to mix it with coffee for those cold winter afternoons.

How does this compare to a french press? Can you make those turkish/greek style strong coffee's with it?
 
I'm a "casual" coffee fan, and I just graduated from instant coffee to this:


Is this universally hated by coffee enthusiasts? Because man, it's tasty. Having a warm cup of coffee right now.
 
I'm a "casual" coffee fan, and I just graduated from instant coffee to this:

Is this universally hated by coffee enthusiasts? Because man, it's tasty. Having a warm cup of coffee right now.
You went from pizza rolls to frozen pizza. It's alright but it's not on the level of handmade, and then of course handmade has its own levels of quality.
 
I usually use a moka pot or a french press. I also have a standard drip coffee machine when I want a more substantial amount that's isn't so strong that I can't nurse it for a while while reading, watching tv or whatever. I've been trying to cut down on the excessive amount of coffee I drink (particularly copious amounts of chesnut flavoured espresso from the moka pot) because it gets me too anxious when it's constantly flowing through my system.

It's too bad, since I love it so but I get bad sleep or moody when I'm in the throws of caffeine withdrawl at work (gross coffee there) or avoiding it in the evening. I'm trying to figure out how to put coffee into some of my gluten-free healthy morning muffin recipes. ^_^

The local coffee shop chain here has some really nice bean varieties and even some flavoured ones that smell heavenly. Usually I get chestnut but they were out so I brought home some nutty vanilla and am enjoying it just as much.
 
That post got me really interested in Chemex, how's brewing time compared to Aeropress? Pretty similar I'm guessing? Does it yield better flavor in your opinion?

Personally, I find the Chemex a bit underwhelming to be honest. I'm fairly new to it -- I'm only a few weeks in and still tinkering with temperatures within a tight range and the like -- and I can't compare it against an Aeropress as I have yet to go down that route just yet.

Still, it's just a manual drip coffee, and while you it certainly grants you a lot of control, I also find it to consistently deliver fairly, flat coffee (additional caveat: I'm using mild to medium roasts). Depending how much coffee you drink, you may also need to serve the coffee fairly quickly or temporarily transfer the contents to a carafe as the Chemex, being full glass, open aired, and in contact with the surface of whatever it's on, will quickly transfer the heat from your coffee to the surrounding environment. If it weren't for my coffee obsessiveness, I'd stop hassling with it and just use the automatic drip machine, but I'm fairly determined to find the right roast and methodology to get something I can rally around with it.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that I'm very much in the French Press camp and adore a good cup of European styled espresso above nearly anything else, so I do like my coffee rather full bodied, oils, grits, and all (just no Turkish styled coffee, please).

For anyone looking for a lazy, albeit great, way to have good coffee show up at your door, Tonx has been a fantastic addition to my local roasters;l they also sell some fine equipment (hello, Baratza) for anyone interested.

And thanks for that write up, Dynamite. That said, you missed cold pressed coffee though it's not really something most people are likely to do given the brew time;-P
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot#Moka_coffee_vs._drip_coffee

The Turkish/Greek coffee is completely different.

It is the most popular method for brewing home coffee here in Spain, though electrical Espresso and Nespresso machines are becoming more common.

I like its flavor and extraction of caffeine (really wakes me up).

ah ok thanks. Might give it a try since its pretty inexpensive. Right now I just use french press.

Although I really wanna try and make Turkish coffee but I can't find the pot you boil the coffee in.
 
Nice that this has been bumped recently, doing so again.. Finally figured out how to make a Caffe Cubano in my Moka pot. Took about 5-10 tries, but I got it right. Way too much sugar for me since I'm used to drinking strong roast coffee black out of a French Press. But it's cool sometimes and especially if I'm craving some sweet coffee.
 
I love my Nespresso machine. My only problem with it is that you are stuck in its "closed system" having to buy its capsules, which are quite expensive. Regardless, the espresso it makes tastes excellent, there is no cleanup and next to no maintenance. It is so quick and easy. Recommended.
 
Personally, I find the Chemex a bit underwhelming to be honest. I'm fairly new to it -- I'm only a few weeks in and still tinkering with temperatures within a tight range and the like -- and I can't compare it against an Aeropress as I have yet to go down that route just yet.

Still, it's just a manual drip coffee, and while you it certainly grants you a lot of control, I also find it to consistently deliver fairly, flat coffee (additional caveat: I'm using mild to medium roasts). Depending how much coffee you drink, you may also need to serve the coffee fairly quickly or temporarily transfer the contents to a carafe as the Chemex, being full glass, open aired, and in contact with the surface of whatever it's on, will quickly transfer the heat from your coffee to the surrounding environment. If it weren't for my coffee obsessiveness, I'd stop hassling with it and just use the automatic drip machine, but I'm fairly determined to find the right roast and methodology to get something I can rally around with it.

Of course, it's worth pointing out that I'm very much in the French Press camp and adore a good cup of European styled espresso above nearly anything else, so I do like my coffee rather full bodied, oils, grits, and all (just no Turkish styled coffee, please).

For anyone looking for a lazy, albeit great, way to have good coffee show up at your door, Tonx has been a fantastic addition to my local roasters;l they also sell some fine equipment (hello, Baratza) for anyone interested.

And thanks for that write up, Dynamite. That said, you missed cold pressed coffee though it's not really something most people are likely to do given the brew time;-P

Every method has its drawbacks and caveats. For many, temperature and body are the obvious drawbacks of the Chemex. Especially for those who like a bold and hot cup of coffee. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just about finding what method produces the best results for you. However, there is no reason you should be getting "flat" coffee with your Chemex. This morning I had a cup of Columbian from Madcap out of a Chemex and it was vibrant, bright, snappy and sweet - full of citrus. Like all manual methods, your perimeters are very important. If you can give me some information (like water/coffee ratio, extraction time, grind size, etc...) I may be able to help you make a better cup.

FWIW, as much as I love my Chemex I have gone back to the Hario for the time being. I get all the brightness and fruity tones as well as the body and depth of other methods. It's more difficult to make a good cup, but it's really fucking good coffee.
 
Every method has its drawbacks and caveats. For many, temperature and body are the obvious drawbacks of the Chemex. Especially for those who like a bold and hot cup of coffee. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just about finding what method produces the best results for you. However, there is no reason you should be getting "flat" coffee with your Chemex. This morning I had a cup of Columbian from Madcap out of a Chemex and it was vibrant, bright, snappy and sweet - full of citrus. Like all manual methods, your perimeters are very important. If you can give me some information (like water/coffee ratio, extraction time, grind size, etc...) I may be able to help you make a better cup.

FWIW, as much as I love my Chemex I have gone back to the Hario for the time being. I get all the brightness and fruity tones as well as the body and depth of other methods. It's more difficult to make a good cup, but it's really fucking good coffee.

Well, if you have any suggestions for Chemex metrics that work for you, I'm all ears.

I'm using a just slightly coarser grind than just what's dead center on my burr grinder -- which is, for the time being, the Cuisinart model shown some number of posts above -- with water at around 195 degrees Fahrenheit, and at about a 6-7 grams of grinds to 1 cup of water. I've been sloppy about keeping an eye on the extraction time, especially since it's mostly physics here, but I'd say, probably around the 4 minute range.

As noted, since I'm new to the Chemex, I'm still playing with those measurements to try to find something a bit more to my liking. Also, since the Chemex cools quickly, I generally opt to go for a slighter higher temperature to try to keep it hotter a tad longer, though this obviously will alter the flavor a bit. Still, since I'm more of a French Press coffee kind of guy, and was looking for something a bit bolder or stronger, and my earlier attempts at lower temperatures gave me something I found just too blasé, I thought that was a fair trade off.

All that said, "flat" may be overly harsh. My partner loves the coffee that comes out of it, and she also loves the current roast on tap: a boutique Sulawesi, which is, generally not my favorite varietal, though, oddly enough, I do like varietals from the surrounding region.
 
Up your dosage. The typical ratio is going to be somewhere between 1:15 and 1:17 (coffee to water). Let's say you want to make 4 cups in your chemex (which correlates to 20oz according to Chemex measurements), using a 1:15 ratio puts us at around 40 grams of coffee (you can dose down to about 38 if you want to). This is also right around the 2:1 ratio (oz of water:grams of coffee) that many enthusiasts recommend. Grind size should get you to around 4 minutes total. Remember to rinse your filters beforehand and bloom your coffee for 30-45 seconds. Let me know how this goes for you.

I usually use water off the boil, so it's probably around 205 when I start, and I get fantastic cups.
 
Instant European coffee. $100 will get a heavy coffee drinker a years' supply, far more $ in time saved, and it tastes better than 90% of black coffee in American coffee shops.
 
Up your dosage. The typical ratio is going to be somewhere between 1:15 and 1:17 (coffee to water). Let's say you want to make 4 cups in your chemex (which correlates to 20oz according to Chemex measurements), using a 1:15 ratio puts us at around 40 grams of coffee (you can dose down to about 38 if you want to). This is also right around the 2:1 ratio (oz of water:grams of coffee) that many enthusiasts recommend. Grind size should get you to around 4 minutes total. Remember to rinse your filters beforehand and bloom your coffee for 30-45 seconds. Let me know how this goes for you.

I usually use water off the boil, so it's probably around 205 when I start, and I get fantastic cups.

I'll give this a shot tomorrow, thanks.
 
Instant European coffee. $100 will get a heavy coffee drinker a years' supply, far more $ in time saved, and it tastes better than 90% of black coffee in American coffee shops.

No thanks. I've never tried any instant coffee that didn't taste like shit.
 
Can anyone recommend a good burr grinder? (Not one that costs $400). Something less than $100 would be good.
 
Top Bottom