All Things Coffee ...

Currently in my house -

Espresso -
Supersonic - Concorde Espresso - amazeballs but hard to find - http://www.supersoniccoffee.com/category-s/1823.htm - tart like a grapefruit and bittersweet like dark chocolate. Just fantastic!
Both -
La Colombe Workshop single-origin Ethiopian Ardi - Very nice as espresso - and as coffee - strong with a good face kick early in the morning - cool package whih of course is how i picked it
Coffee -
Tandem - Kochere - another African that is delicious! First thing I've had from these roasters from Portland ME - thinking about subscribing - super good!
 
Pro-Tip - when weddings switch to coffee, make the bartender put some whiskey in it. If she's a she and she states that she likes your style you can probably bang her!
Next time I go to a wedding I'll let you know. :D

Seriously though, thank you for the post about grinders. My wife is looking for one as a Christmas gift and I'll definitely come back to this thread when it's time to buy!
 
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kylelovescrayons kylelovescrayons fantastic post:

Since BXLio is a self-described not a big coffee guy I'm gonna take a swing -

All coffee methods have their merits -

Personally I have 9 brew methods at my house because I am a big coffee guy. In my humblest of opinions drip (standard) is shit. You are using a great deal of coffee beans brewed fairly inefficiently and then some of it needs to sit - which sadly makes it worse by the minute (having nothing to do with heat and everything to do with air.)

I also can't stand K-cups - we have them at my job. Super environmentally terrible, and poor quality beans. For these reasons I have pretty much pushed for it's replacement with something almost as easy and infinitely better ... (details to come) - that being said people on the go-go still enjoy it's ease and quickness - but will we all like living in K-cup igloos after the apocalypse?

I have enjoyed french press coffee many times, and have a big one at home. I occasionally use this to make coffee when I have a few guests over. Not a bad method - but the actual pressing can lead to some grit and some bitterness that is not intended so i prefer the Sowden Softbrew - also what I have brought to work to replace the K-Cup. Plus it makes great cold brew overnight in your fridge!



Although the Sowden is an incredibly low acid high flavor brew - the tastiest brew method for me is the Chemex and that is my go-to for multiple guests coming over since I don't have a solo or two cup one, only the big 8 cup version. It does require a filter which neither of the previous methods require.

Other interesting methods are the pour-over styles, namely the hario and kaleda (I prefer kaleda)

Lastly you mention Aero-press!

I love me some aeropress - when I have time, and just want one cup for myself i often reach for the aeropress - the coffee ritual for me, weighing and grinding the beans, measuring out my portion, brewing etc. is made even more fun with a little assembly of the aero-press - but again I say when I have time because if you do not clean your aero-press before enjoying your cup it can be a real pain to get apart and clean. My favorite travel piece (light) great for camping and at one point you could even use one while flying in an airplane - damn terrorists ruin everything.

So to answer your question

Best low-skill ease of coffee-making - Sowden Softbrew
Best replacement for French press - Chemex
Great single cup options - Kaleda or hario-style pourover
Delicious but requires more skill and time - Aero-press.

Obviously all this should be done with beans ground to the correct format and that have bean sealed in an airtight container. These beans should be no older than a month past roasting date.

Thoughts?
One of the best posts I've seen on the forums.

My life changed when I got a Delonghi that grinds the beans fresh for each cup. Delicious coffee. Great crema. Life altering.

Yes this is expensive BUT we did the math. Kuerig et al are cheap to buy but the kups are very expensive. We would have spent around $750 more per year on the coffee cups with that maker vs our "expensive" whole bean grind and brew in one maker. Bottom line: worth every penny and ultimately cheaper than kuerig or Starbucks.

Then my life changed again when my neighbor introduced me to home roasting. Beans that were roasted 1-5 days ago taste demonstrably better. Just no way around it.

My 2 cents.
 
You chumps are all so cool with your grinders and all but come talk to me when you get your own coffee bean roaster, ya know?
 
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Home roasting?

You guys are aggro pro coffeephiles and I like it.

I'm gonna to finally make the leap from Keurig.
 
My coffee noob question is this:

If I go out and get a DeLonghi, what model should I buy if I want a coffee maker that grinds the beans before each brew?

I'm seeing drip coffee/espresso makers on the DeLonghi site but you guys are saying stay away from the drip coffee....

*my price max is $600
 
My coffee noob question is this:

If I go out and get a DeLonghi, what model should I buy if I want a coffee maker that grinds the beans before each brew?

I'm seeing drip coffee/espresso makers on the DeLonghi site but you guys are saying stay away from the drip coffee....

*my price max is $600
I have the Delonghi Magnifica. Freaking awesome.

And as Seth Seth and I said earlier, next up is home roasting.
 
any home roasters - i am happy to offer tasting/cupping notes - let me know where to get your beans? I have two friends who home roast, one of them has gotten picked up by a few shops in the city as there like rotating specialty coffee. If only the customers knew.

And yes grinding your coffee that is roasted within a week is the greatest smell on the planet ... well top 5 smells.
 
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great price on the magnifica - https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/d...SU529RFB0100&gclid=CK-t95PTgckCFZAkgQodbqcDvw

I don't know a ton about it - but i know many people whove bought from the seattle coffee gear site and both their reviews and refurbished equipment are rock solid. That being said it's an automatic espresso machine so 21Architect 21Architect you would still need a seperate coffee brew method. Depending on your usage i'd say get a nice espresso machine like this and get yourself a pourover set up or chemex or sowden softbrew.

Also breville makes a combined espresso and grinder, i have no experience with it, but they sell it at bed bath and beyond which means whenever it's dirty you can trade it in for a new one no questions asked (hands down best return policy in the world) - i do not advocate trading it in every time it's dirty but if there's ever a problem - boom!
 
great price on the magnifica - https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/d...SU529RFB0100&gclid=CK-t95PTgckCFZAkgQodbqcDvw

I don't know a ton about it - but i know many people whove bought from the seattle coffee gear site and both their reviews and refurbished equipment are rock solid. That being said it's an automatic espresso machine so 21Architect 21Architect you would still need a seperate coffee brew method. Depending on your usage i'd say get a nice espresso machine like this and get yourself a pourover set up or chemex or sowden softbrew.

Also breville makes a combined espresso and grinder, i have no experience with it, but they sell it at bed bath and beyond which means whenever it's dirty you can trade it in for a new one no questions asked (hands down best return policy in the world) - i do not advocate trading it in every time it's dirty but if there's ever a problem - boom!
Pretty sure we bought our Magnifica from Seattle Coffee Gear. Highly recommend them.

Also, 21Architect 21Architect you might not need the extra brew method that kylelovescrayons kylelovescrayons suggests. The Magnifica brews everything from a small espresso shot to a full cup of coffee. When I first got it I was brewing a full cup at a time (double extra-long setting). I have gradually pulled back until I now brew about 1/3 of a cup (single long setting). The pulling back is to create a stronger and more intense flavored cup.

A machine like this will encourage you to drink stronger, tastier coffee. As a side note, I got the Magnifica after my neighbor introduced me to his. My neighbor explained that if he ever gets a divorce he and his wife will have a custody battle over the Magnifica. After 3 years with mine, I understand what he meant.

BTW, I got the one with automatic milk froth for cappuccino. If I had it to do over again I would have gotten the manual frother.
 
Nice - I didn't see until after posting that it makes standard style coffee as well.

Question - I know it is a double boiler - do you find you are able to steam milk and draw espresso consistently - as in draw two shots steam milk for a drink, draw two more shots in rapid succession or does it require some rebound time?

Just curious - I love the machine in theory I just know for my preferences I want a dial and a knob, more analog style i suppose. At that price though it can't be beat!
 
Oh man. This thread is awesome. kylelovescrayons kylelovescrayons I had NO idea you were such a coffee pro haha

I got an aero press last year and really like it. Picked up a simple hand crank burr grinder. I love the ritual of hand grinding the beans and making a coffee in the morning. Very zen way to start your day.

I've never been very precise with my Aero Press. Interested in hearing any Aero Press methods!
 
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Oh man. This thread is awesome. kylelovescrayons kylelovescrayons I had NO idea you were such a coffee pro haha

I got an aero press last year and really like it. Picked up a simple hand crank burr grinder. I love the ritual of hand grinding the beans and making a coffee in the morning. Very zen way to start your day.

I've never been very precise with my Aero Press. Interested in hearing any Aero Press methods!
I do the inverted AeroPress method. Put the plunger into the sleeve, then put it down on the table plunger-side-down (with the sleeve open at the top). I then run water through the strainer cap and drop the filter in (the water is so the filter sticks to the cap). Dump ground coffee into the sleeve, pour in just enough water to wet down the coffee, let it sit for a moment, then pour in the rest of the water. I usually pour the water in down the side as that seems to mix things well. Stir with the paddle to mix grounds and water. Note that I don't put the water all he way to the top or it'll slosh over when you stir it and then you won't be able to get the cap on quite right. Put the top on, then turn it over onto your mug and put just enough weight on the plunger to help it down (in other words, not squeezing it to death). Add water to mug to make a mug-full and you're done.

For clean-up, take the filter cap off and plunge the compressed coffee "puck" and filter into your garbage can (it should just pop out with a little push), then just rinse everything in hot water.

It all sounds like a lot of fiddling around when I write it all out like this but really it's quick and easy. Plunger into sleeve, filter into wet strainer cap, dump in coffee, pour in water, stir, put on cap, turn over onto mug, push gently. Done. Only takes a minute or two.

I'd write about water heating devices and temperature but I have to go make my coffee.
 
I'd write about water heating devices and temperature but I have to go make my coffee.

Quick and dirty! 15g of coffee with 240 g of water (plus a little more to wet the filter and preheat the mug and aeropress) should yield 210 g of coffee.

Super efficient! I also like the upside-down and inside-out inverted method. I use water removed from boiling - so just below 205-210 ish degrees in order to wet the filter - other than that same coffee!

I stir after a minute - so 30 second "bloom" initial pour then almost fill then stir after a minute. Then wait 3 and plunge! It makes a little happy hiss when it's done.

Also SFphoto SFphoto I have a great lil hand grinder but mainly use it when traveling.

It is all about the ritual of coffee!
 
Inverted aeropress, two scoops of coffee, as much water as it'll hold without spilling, 30 second stir, 45 second steep
 
How fine or coarse of a grind for Areo Press? I find it extremely difficult to push the plunger sometimes.
 
NOTHING GOING ON WITH THE TEAM TODAY, GOING TO JUST HANG OUT AND TALK COFFEE
 
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How fine or coarse of a grind for Areo Press? I find it extremely difficult to push the plunger sometimes.
I usually use a coarser grind than I think you're meant to but haven't had that problem. I have a reusable filter, so that might make a difference.