Coffee

Harry Chickpea · #21 09/01/10, 10:33 AM

If you want an interesting flavor, add an opened cardamom pod into the drip basic. Learned this trick at a place in Puerto Rico.

LisaInN.Idaho · #22 09/01/10, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seagullplayer

I think the magic of a French Press is the temp of the water, most drip makers just don't get hot enough, mine included.
.

That's what I've read and we bought a Technivorm Moccamaster because it's supposed to be the only non-commercial coffee maker that does heat the water to the correct temp. That thing is awesome. Coffee never tasted so good. I have french presses too but the Moccamaster makes better coffee IMO.

arabian knight · #23 09/01/10, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaInN.Idaho

That's what I've read and we bought a Technivorm Moccamaster because it's supposed to be the only non-commercial coffee maker that does heat the water to the correct temp. That thing is awesome. Coffee never tasted so good. I have french presses too but the Moccamaster makes better coffee IMO.

At least you hit that on the head.
Yes coffee now this is even according to BUNN, and I know most all of you have heard of BUNN coffee brewers. The Temp for brewing coffee is best brewed at close to 205, The brewers I help work on, I set all brewers at somewhere between 195 and 205. And I try to get them very close to 200 ,,,202 something like that. The hotter is better because you want to extract the oils without burning them which gives a bitter taste, or burnt taste.

ldc · #24 09/01/10, 12:00 PM

I re-grind inexpensive coffee in cans from the store, use a paper filter in a cone, boiling water...it all tastes great! The grinding it fine, and recently, seems to help any brand. ldc

mightybooboo · #25 09/02/10, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patt

I use a French press for mine and if you don't grind it somewhat coarse it is like drinking sand!

So is that only for cone filters and not the basket type? I have a regular drip coffee pot I use when the boys are home because it makes more at a shot.

Pat,you might like this,seems like a lot of work to me who uses a drip,but what FINE reviews from coffee lovers,only 25 bucks too!
---------------
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-80R08-...3445217&sr=8-9

Aerobie 80R08 AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker.....

Fast and convenient, the AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker makes one of the best cups of coffee you'll ever taste. This innovative uses the ideal water temperature and gentle air pressure brewing to produce coffee and espresso that has rich flavor with lower acidity and without bitterness. It makes 1 to 4 cups of coffee or espresso (enough for 1 or 2 mugs), features a micro filtered for grit free coffee, and takes just 1 minute to make coffee (actual press time takes only 20 seconds).

CLICK to enlarge pics

rabbitpatch · #26 09/02/10, 11:42 AM

I have a regular drip coffee maker, and I find that adding HOT water to the reservoir helps a great deal. Not boiling mind you, (don't want to melt the machine!) but as hot as possible out of the tap. Or if I'm using filtered water, I sometimes run water through the coffee maker multiple times, but only put coffee in the basket the last time. The hotter the water that goes in, the hotter it is when it comes out too.

mudburn · #27 09/02/10, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightybooboo

Pat,you might like this,seems like a lot of work to me who uses a drip,but what FINE reviews from coffee lovers,only 25 bucks too!
---------------
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-80R08-...3445217&sr=8-9

Aerobie 80R08 AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker.....

That's what I use every day for my coffee. It actually isn't a lot of work. I researched it as much as I could before buying one. It doesn't take long to make a cup of coffee and cleanup is a breeze. Here's a video of how it works:

You can play around with the water temperature, time before pressing, etc. I also reuse the filters several times (rinse them out after use). I'm very pleased with it.

mudburn

Haven · #28 09/02/10, 11:53 AM

Can someone tell me where to get a larger coffee grinder? All i can find are the smaller ones so I have to keep refilling it and grinding over and over to fill a large mason jar. I have looked at Wal mart and Sams..nothing.

Someone bought us an expensive coffee pot with a built in grinder...what a MESS. It shot coffee all over my counters, in my cupboards, and you had to tear it down and wash 6 pieces then put it back together everyday. I would wake up in the morning, wanting nothing more than my warm coffee and would end up in tears fighting with that 150.00 POS machine.

Our Little Farm · #29 09/02/10, 12:07 PM

A thread about coffee.....

I knew you were my friend for a reason Daniel. LOL

What type of coffee maker do you have?

painterswife · #30 09/02/10, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haven

Can someone tell me where to get a larger coffee grinder? All i can find are the smaller ones so I have to keep refilling it and grinding over and over to fill a large mason jar. I have looked at Wal mart and Sams..nothing.

Someone bought us an expensive coffee pot with a built in grinder...what a MESS. It shot coffee all over my counters, in my cupboards, and you had to tear it down and wash 6 pieces then put it back together everyday. I would wake up in the morning, wanting nothing more than my warm coffee and would end up in tears fighting with that 150.00 POS machine.

The reason that large coffee grinders are hard to find is that as soon as you grind the coffee starts to go stale.

Patt · #31 09/02/10, 03:17 PM

That Aerobie looks interesting, thanks!

Beowulf · #32 09/02/10, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Doling

The French press requires a course grind. I love my French press...I bought a second one to take camping!

I bought my first one for a camping trip, and loved it so much I kept it for the kitchen.

Then I bought my second after I dropped the first and broke it.

Then I bought my third after I broke the second emptying out the used grounds. The third one is made out of plastic....

danielsumner · #33 09/02/10, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

A thread about coffee.....

I knew you were my friend for a reason Daniel. LOL

What type of coffee maker do you have?

I've had a lot of coffee makers over the years, This is my favorite. When this one goes to brew station heaven, I'll buy another if it's still available. It's a Cuisinart 12-cup Brew Central.

Coffee - Homesteading Questions

hotzcatz · #34 09/03/10, 01:18 AM

Sometime in the early eighties, I found a stainless steel thermal type French press. It's still working great and since it's all metal there's nothing to break. I've never seen another SS one since.

For roasting coffee beans, we use a dry cast iron pan on top of the stove. First off, turn off the smoke alarms. Then put a layer of coffee beans in the pan, about one or at the most two beans thick. Put over high heat and stir until as dark as you like them. The smoke and popping noises are normal. Have a baking sheet ready and as soon as the beans are the color you want, spill them out and spread them around on the baking sheet. They need to be cooled off quick to stop the roasting process. When they've cooled off enough to handle, grind and brew.

We use coffee beans from the backyard which is a Guatemalan "arabica" type. They make a pretty decent brew, a bit less acidic than Kona but more work.

Sometimes we take the roasted coffee beans and pour chocolate over them to make them into candy bars. No sleeping after that snack!

mightybooboo · #35 09/03/10, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

Sometimes we take the roasted coffee beans and pour chocolate over them to make them into candy bars. No sleeping after that snack!

Now that sure sounds interesting! Whole beans,or crunch em up? I want to try that.

mudburn · #36 09/03/10, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painterswife

The reason that large coffee grinders are hard to find is that as soon as you grind the coffee starts to go stale.

Coffee should be ground just before brewing. Ground coffee goes stale and rancid too quickly -- the oils are exposed to air and oxidize. After roasting the whole beans even will begin to degrade in quality within a couple of weeks as the oils migrate to the surface (really oily beans are either an old roast or a very dark roast). I roast enough for one week or a few days at a time and grind only enough for the amount I'm brewing each time. Green coffee beans kept at room temperature will stay fresh for months.

mudburn

michelleIL · #37 09/03/10, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mudburn

Coffee should be ground just before brewing. Ground coffee goes stale and rancid too quickly -- the oils are exposed to air and oxidize. After roasting the whole beans even will begin to degrade in quality within a couple of weeks as the oils migrate to the surface (really oily beans are either an old roast or a very dark roast). I roast enough for one week or a few days at a time and grind only enough for the amount I'm brewing each time. Green coffee beans kept at room temperature will stay fresh for months.

mudburn

I didn't know they could be kept at room temp! Thanks mudburn.

painterswife · #38 09/03/10, 07:48 AM

Room temp. and preferably in a fabric or burlap bag. Somewhere dark and not damp.

Mudburm, we let out roasted beans off gas for at least 24 hours before we grind. we are still playing with how dark we roast but it is the best coffee I have ever had.

LisaInN.Idaho · #39 09/03/10, 10:56 AM

Here are the results of coffee maker testing from America's Test Kitchen:

Highly Recommended
Technivorm Moccamaster Coffeemaker
Fast, very simple to operate. Tasters described coffee as “a dynamic and clean cup, flavorful and expressive,” “very good; robust but smooth.” Achieved perfect temperatures for brewing and serving and was the closest of all the coffee makers to reaching the ideal brewing time. Pieces disassemble easily for cleaning. Though not programmable, this machine was so fast and easy to use, we didn’t mind.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $239.95
Recommended with Reservations
Krups 10-Cup Programmable Thermal Coffee Machine
Compact and attractive, this programmable machine is simple to use, but it lost points for too-slow and slightly too-hot brewing. Thin water line down front of machine magnifies as water is added, making it easy to read levels. Optional beeper indicates when brewing is complete. Tasters deemed its coffee “slightly too bitter.” Half-pot was weaker than the full pot.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $95.93
Recommended with Reservations
Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal 12-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker
“As loud as a jet taking off,” the attached burr grinder will wake anyone who isn’t already up in the morning. Controls and carafe were well designed, but brewing water spent most of the cycle well below optimal temperature, reaching it only for the last three minutes. While a few tasters called the coffee “mellow,” others deemed it “watery,” “bitter,” and “thin.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $199.00
Recommended with Reservations
Black & Decker 10-Cup Thermal Stainless Steel Coffeemaker
Innovative lift-out water reservoir you can take to the sink and fill, but controls could use improvement: A temporary sticker explained that one button turned the machine on and off and set programs with different numbers of pushes. Tasters found the coffee “strong,” but “nothing exceptional”; some remarked on its bitterness. Brewing water remained too cool for most of the cycle, then spiked up too high near the end. Half-pot was slightly weaker.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $59.99
Not Recommended
Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Deluxe 10-Cup Thermal Coffemaker
This programmable machine is easy to use and fill, with simple controls, and we liked the two commuter cups you can brew into directly. But it’s one of the slowest coffee makers in the lineup, taking 12 minutes, 23 seconds to produce a pot. Brewing water was too cool and took 16 minutes of the brew cycle to reach the proper temperature. Tasters found the coffee “strong” but too “bitter.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $89.99
Not Recommended
Mr. Coffee 10-Cup Thermal Programmable Coffee Maker
Attractive machine, but water filter is fussy to put in correct direction, with tiny, raised print the only indication. Condensation dripped neatly into tank when lid was opened. Tasters found the coffee the most bitter of the lineup, calling it “harsh,” “like cowboy coffee,” and rated it near the bottom for complexity of flavor. Brewing temperature fluctuated between too high and too low.
★ ★ ★ ★ $47.24
Not Recommended
Bunn-O-Matic Home Brewer
This super-fast machine brews a full pot in just four minutes, but the coffee is “weak,” “thin,” and “flat.” You can’t see into the water reservoir or check water level; you must leave unit on at all times to keep water preheated and ready to brew (at the cost of fresh flavor), or wait 15 minutes for preheating before brewing. No “on” button; closing reservoir lid starts brewing. Turbulent water spray strews grounds over and around filter. Water never reached 195 degrees.
★ ★ ★ $131.32
Not Recommended
Capresso CoffeeTEAM Therm
Deluxe machine is enjoyable to watch as the filter fills, then swings over to begin brewing, but for the price, the coffee should taste better, and it takes up too much counter space. Coffee was brewed at too high a temperature, making it “too hot to drink,” “weak and watery,” and “too bitter”; it received the lowest overall tasting scores. Delicate, tiny parts for top of brew basket were fussy, easily lost, and had to be in exactly the right place for proper function.
★ ★ ★ $299.00
*

LisaInN.Idaho · #40 09/03/10, 11:00 AM

And here are results from coffee grinder tests (though these are 9 years old)
From Cook's Illustrated.

It's more of a challenge to choose among available coffee grinders than it is to actually grind coffee beans.

products tested (listed alphabetically)
Braun Aromatic Coffee Grinder, Model KSM2B
Braun Coffee/Espresso Mill, Model KMM30
Capresso Burr Grinder, Model 551
Capresso Cool Grind, Model 501
Cuisinart Coffee Bar Coffee Grinder, Model DCG-20BK
Krups Fast-Touch Coffee Mill, Model 203
Mr. Coffee Coffee Grinder, Model IDS55
Proctor-Silex Fresh Grind Coffee Grinder, Model E160B
Starbucks Barista Blade Grinder
See Product Comparison Chart

Coffee tastes best if the beans are ground fresh before they are brewed. With a wide variety of countertop coffee grinders on the market, it is no problem for home cooks to grind beans on demand. Most of the reasonably priced grinders, which generally cost around $20, employ propeller-type blades that work like a blender, literally chopping the beans as they spin. But our self-imposed price cap of $50 did allow us to include several low-end burr grinders (a fancier type of machine that works like a motorized pepper mill). We bought 10 popular models from seven manufacturers and 30 pounds of coffee beans. We tested each unit by grinding 2 ounces of coffee beans (about 8 tablespoons) and using those grounds to brew full, 40-ounce pots of coffee. Because most everyone we know uses an automatic drip machine, we did, too.

The first issue we addressed was the evenness of the grind. Blade grinders actually chop the beans with their furiously spinning blades. In a burr grinder, on the other hand, beans are truly ground a few at a time between two grooved disks, one stationary and the other rotating just above it. The grounds are fed out through a chute into a sealed container. The disks operate at roughly 7,000 to 9,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), while the motors in most blade grinders spin at 14,000 to 20,000 RPM.

We observed that the blade grinders’ rough treatment of the beans did often result in unevenly ground coffee, with particles ranging from dust to large chunks in the same batch, but we found we could improve the evenness of the blade grind either by grinding in short, quick bursts, with stops in between to shake the grinder to redistribute the grounds, or by shaking the grinder as it ground, much as you would a martini in a cocktail shaker.

The burr grinders produced a more even grind, but tasters didn’t find that more evenly ground coffee translated into improved flavor. Tasters did prefer the rich body of burr-ground coffee, but they also noticed the tendency of this coffee to taste slightly bitter, owing in part, no doubt, to the more fine and even grind, which made for the coffee’s greater exposure to and prolonged contact with the water in the coffee maker. These combined forces caused what coffee experts call overextraction, which occurs when too much flavor is extracted from the beans. In our tests, we were less likely to encounter this problem if the coffee was ground coarse, more so than even the coarsest setting on the burr grinders could accomplish.

We were surprised to discover that the coffee brewed with blade-ground beans was less likely to turn out bitter. The tasters did note that coffee from blade-ground beans had less body than coffee from burr-ground beans, but we were happy to sacrifice a little body for the reduced risk of brewing bitter coffee. We also learned that we could improve the body of the coffee somewhat by defying the blade grinders’ instructions and grinding the beans for a little longer, 20 to 25 seconds, rather than the recommended 10 to 15, without overheating the beans or jeopardizing smooth flavor in the coffee.

Overprocessing the beans into superfine coffee dust was another concern. Experts agree that the best grinders produce minimal dust, which can block waterflow through the filter in many coffee-brewing devices. None of the grinders we tested, however, produced enough dust to clog the filter.

The temperature of the coffee grounds was another factor we considered. Ideally, the beans should not heat up too much as they are ground because heat causes the evaporation of flavorful oils and results in a loss of flavor. Most experts claim that cheap blade grinders overheat the coffee beans. According to the infrared thermometer we used to measure the temperature of the grounds, this isn’t true. The burr grinders actually caused a greater increase in temperature, albeit a slight one. Our tasters, however, were not able to correlate a greater increase in temperature with poorer coffee flavor. The temperature increases we measured seemed to make very little difference.

Recommended
Capresso Cool Grind, Model 501
Has large capacity and a deep cup, the features we value most in a blade grinder. Some large pieces of bean were left after grinding, however.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $19.99
Recommended
Krups Fast-Touch Coffee Mill, Model 203
No cord wrap, but excellent fit between lid and base. Grinds fine, yet does not create excessive amount of coffee dust.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $19.99
Recommended
Mr. Coffee Coffee Grinder, Model IDS55
Nice deep lid prevents the (unevenly) ground coffee from spilling. No cord wrap.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $13.99
Recommended
Braun Aromatic Coffee Grinder, Model KSM2B
Tended to grind on the fine side, rarely leaving large chunks of bean. Did create a noticeable quantity of coffee dust, though.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $20.18
Not Recommended
Proctor-Silex Fresh Grind Coffee Grinder, Model E160B
Clever internal cord storage system, but that doesn’t make up for a capacity so small that you have to grind twice to get enough coffee for one 8-cup pot.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $13.28
Not Recommended
Cuisinart Coffee Bar Coffee Grinder, Model DCG-20BK
Cord stores in an internal chamber, which makes it difficult to use. Shallow lid spills ground coffee, and there was a loose fit between lid and base.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $19.99
Not Recommended
Starbucks Barista Blade Grinder
A study in contrasts: Attractive design, but the lid is so small that coffee spills easily. The coffee is ground evenly, except for the few whole beans usually left behind.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $19.95
Not Recommended
Braun Coffee/Espresso Mill, Model KMM30
We didn’t care for the automatic timer because the machine’s notion of the proper grind time often did not jibe with ours.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $49.99
Not Recommended
Capresso Burr Grinder, Model 551
Creates more coffee dust than we expected. Also, the power switch is too easy to hit by mistake, an error that sends coffee grounds flying to every corner of the room. Did not care for automatic timer.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ $49.99
*Prices subject to change.