Coffee
Jun 9th 2011, 7:33 pm
#31
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Coffee
You can get an O.K cup-o-joe with cheap beans. Its more to do with the method. French presses call for a fairly coarse ground and good timing but it's not complicated.
My method at the moment using a regular blade grinder involves the following:
Boil kettle, when it clicks off start a two minute timer, grind the beans, how long they grind depends on the size of the bean, normally about 15 short jabs of the grind button with the present Ruta Maya Mexican coffee. When the two minute timer is up I add the water, its just below boiling point, stir until you get the 'brown cream' on the top of the beans and then set a 3 minute timer, stir half way through if I've not been rugby tackled by the little one then stir again when the 3 minutes are up, then slowly push down.
Zing.
If I had my way I'd have burr grinder rather than the current blade grinder, burr grinders give you less powder, also, one of the french presses I have has a few extra doo-dads that stop most of the sediment getting in.
This one
It really doesn't take long to get it, and once you do most other coffee with the exception of one from a good espresso machine taste like shit. Drip machines take a lot of cleaning to keep a good consistent taste. I think the last one we had got us slowly used to coffee that tasted worse each time we used it as it was so damn hard to clean the reservoir properly, the french press is a quick rinse and its done and even the cheap ones are good.
My method at the moment using a regular blade grinder involves the following:
Boil kettle, when it clicks off start a two minute timer, grind the beans, how long they grind depends on the size of the bean, normally about 15 short jabs of the grind button with the present Ruta Maya Mexican coffee. When the two minute timer is up I add the water, its just below boiling point, stir until you get the 'brown cream' on the top of the beans and then set a 3 minute timer, stir half way through if I've not been rugby tackled by the little one then stir again when the 3 minutes are up, then slowly push down.
Zing.
If I had my way I'd have burr grinder rather than the current blade grinder, burr grinders give you less powder, also, one of the french presses I have has a few extra doo-dads that stop most of the sediment getting in.
This one
It really doesn't take long to get it, and once you do most other coffee with the exception of one from a good espresso machine taste like shit. Drip machines take a lot of cleaning to keep a good consistent taste. I think the last one we had got us slowly used to coffee that tasted worse each time we used it as it was so damn hard to clean the reservoir properly, the french press is a quick rinse and its done and even the cheap ones are good.
Jun 9th 2011, 7:58 pm
#32
Sleepless In Chicago
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Chicago.
Posts: 3,601
Re: Coffee
How do you use a paper filter in a french press? I've poured coffee from a french press through a filter into a travel mug before, is that how?
Jun 9th 2011, 8:05 pm
#33
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: Coffee
Yes, the water in a drip machine is not hot enough.. however you can manually pour boiling water straight from your electric kettle through a filter cone/paper filter. I have several such plastic filter cones (some Mr. Coffee style, some Melitta style) that I've saved from defunct drip machines.
As someone mentioned earlier, another totally different way of making good coffee is using a stovetop macchinetta (Bialetti or similar.) This makes a superb satisfying cup of coffee. But, as someone mentioned, beware of potentially fatal accidents.
As someone mentioned earlier, another totally different way of making good coffee is using a stovetop macchinetta (Bialetti or similar.) This makes a superb satisfying cup of coffee. But, as someone mentioned, beware of potentially fatal accidents.
I quite like the stove top machines, I miss having a gas stove to put them on.
Jun 9th 2011, 8:06 pm
#34
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Coffee
Yes, sorry I wasn't clear. I was contrasting a French Press (hard to eliminate at least some sediment) with making coffee using filter cone and paper filter, which eliminates sediment. I take your point though, that some French Presses are better at eliminating sediment than others..
Jun 9th 2011, 8:08 pm
#35
Sleepless In Chicago
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Chicago.
Posts: 3,601
Re: Coffee
Yes, sorry I wasn't clear. I was contrasting a French Press (hard to eliminate at least some sediment) with making coffee using filter cone and paper filter, which eliminates sediment. I take your point though, that some French Presses are better at eliminating sediment than others..
Jun 9th 2011, 8:09 pm
#36
Senior Moment
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 5,008
Re: Coffee
Yes, my main problem with the French Press is the inevitable sediment. I've never owned a burr grinder but I would imagine that (compared with my cheapo blade grinder) the burr grinder would partially eliminate the sediment. But again, using a paper filter totally eliminates even the finest sediment.
Ahh the fruits of having spent my university years working in a kitchen shop. I think I have more knowledge about pans, juicers and knives than I do about my degree subject.
Jun 9th 2011, 8:28 pm
#37
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Houston
Posts: 522
Re: Coffee
Being from that area, and knowing my folks can't make a decent cuppa either, and God knows I've tried - it may be your water.
Well water out there is too hard. Do you have a well or city water?
That said, sometime mail order is your best bet. We love Katz coffee, which is to be had down here Texas way. Whilst in upstate, I buy Green Mountain.
Also, learn about beans. Only accept 100% Arabica, the oils tend to cause less tummy upset. Robusta beans are the cheap grade beans; you'll find that in Folgers and anything bulk sized and in a can. Kona beans are different from Jamaican and from African from Brasilian. I found out long ago that Konas rarely upset my stomach, but anything from South America does.
Yes, its about terroir.
Well water out there is too hard. Do you have a well or city water?
That said, sometime mail order is your best bet. We love Katz coffee, which is to be had down here Texas way. Whilst in upstate, I buy Green Mountain.
Also, learn about beans. Only accept 100% Arabica, the oils tend to cause less tummy upset. Robusta beans are the cheap grade beans; you'll find that in Folgers and anything bulk sized and in a can. Kona beans are different from Jamaican and from African from Brasilian. I found out long ago that Konas rarely upset my stomach, but anything from South America does.
Yes, its about terroir.
Last edited by Bomjeito; Jun 9th 2011 at 8:33 pm.
Jun 10th 2011, 12:50 pm
#42
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: Coffee
I agree, would much rather have gas. We live out in the country, and only have electricity. We did talk about getting a propane set-up in our house, which would give us a gas stove AND gas hot water heater (much cheaper to run than electricity.) But, when we bought the house 15 years ago, we bought a new electric stove which is still (unfortunately) running fine, so no compelling incentive to invest in the propane.
Jun 10th 2011, 1:11 pm
#43
Yeah that guy.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 6,922
Re: Coffee
I agree, would much rather have gas. We live out in the country, and only have electricity. We did talk about getting a propane set-up in our house, which would give us a gas stove AND gas hot water heater (much cheaper to run than electricity.) But, when we bought the house 15 years ago, we bought a new electric stove which is still (unfortunately) running fine, so no compelling incentive to invest in the propane.
Northern NY eh? Are we talking Massena? Watertown? Potsdam?
Jun 10th 2011, 1:34 pm
#44
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Jun 10th 2011, 1:47 pm
#45
Yeah that guy.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 6,922