Coffee Addicts Thread

[Jeff W]

Can anyone recommend something I can buy so I don't have to go out and spend so much money? This stuff is costing me more than smoking ever did. I don't have much room in my kitchen, and I like to drink latte's. Don't know how to do it.

Aerobie Aeropress (~$25)

Makes espresso strength coffee, so it's good for milk drinks(or americanos).

Then you need a milk frother (~$20? I only drink black coffee so not sure) to make lattes.

So, $45 initial investment plus cost of coffee and milk. Even at 3 coffees a day you prob won't use more than a pound of coffee/wk. It'll probably pay for itself in a week at the rate you're drinking lattes.

[Rick Nebiolo]

If someone else already posted information about vacuum coffee makers I apologize in advance.

Anyway, this Bodum Clear Santos Electric Vacuum Coffee Maker at $130 seems to be a decent compromise between expense, quality and how likely it would still be used six months after purchase.

Check the demenstration video in the link; looks cool.

~ Rick

[Neko]

that thing seems pretty cool, but damn 12-14 minutes is too long to wait for coffee

[Jeff W]

Eh, got [censored] reviews for durability at Amazon. I'd rather just use a french press if I needed to make bulk coffee (as opposed to single servings).

[Aloysius]

Current setup:



I switched to the stainless steel Bodum after breaking my 2nd glass french press (both were Bodums). I'm not a huge coffee guy by any means, but the flavor yielded from a french press is so far superior to any machine I've used, it's worth the extra time to boil water etc etc. (I'm also at 2 slightly heaping tablespoons, or one coffee scoop, to about 8 ounces water).



Thanks for the grinder reviews, Jeff. The Capresso seems to be a favorite for the cheaper burrs so I picked one up and am really liking it so far. Can't speak to its grind for espresso.



I'm currently drinking their Kenya Chema Auction Lot brew, really good, citrus top notes, deep flavor with noticeable chocolate hints.

-Al

[Rick Nebiolo]

Eh, got [censored] reviews for durability at Amazon. I'd rather just use a french press if I needed to make bulk coffee (as opposed to single servings).

Thanks. That's is out given my disdain for things that break.

It seems going to a French press means you need an even coarse grind and will need to commit to a burr grinder at $200 plus for a decent model. But if you often buy cups of coffee in a typical shop you can make up $200 or so fast.

In the meantime I might try something that uses fine grinds like the mokapot That way I can stick with my cheap blade grinder for the time being while trying something new.

~ Rick

[luegofuego]

any of yall tried the nespresso thingy? im very happy with mine, mainly since i would never imagine bringing myself to standing in fron of the machine for 10 minutes just to get a small shot of espresso.

[Jeff W]

Rick, how much coffee are you making at a time?

If you only drink a cup or so at a time, the Aeropress is great and it works fine with crappy grinds (i.e. blade grinder). It is a lot less hassle and cleanup than a moka pot in my experience.

[Rick Nebiolo]

Rick, how much coffee are you making at a time?

If you only drink a cup or so at a time, the Aeropress is great and it works fine with crappy grinds (i.e. blade grinder). It is a lot less hassle and cleanup than a moka pot in my experience.

I usually make a ten cup pot drinking about half that morning and warming it up a day later in the microwave (not good but I'm a little lazy). The evenings gf comes over I make a fresh pot and we go through it right away; she thinks it's the best coffee ever but I suspect she's buttering me up .

The Aeropress gets great reviews on Amazon (with about 67 reviews which means they are probably legit) and is only $26 bucks. I'd like to cut down on caffeine so this sounds like a good bet.

Not sure you posted links already but there are demos on YouTube which sold me.

~ Rick

PS I was going to ask if this is sold in stores but found this link with a sub-link to B&M stores at the bottom. After going through about 500 stores I found one a few miles away (hint to Aerobie - alphabetize!).

Edit to eliminate more unnecessary rambling by me.

[J.A.Sucker]

If someone else already posted information about vacuum coffee makers I apologize in advance.

Anyway, this Bodum Clear Santos Electric Vacuum Coffee Maker at $130 seems to be a decent compromise between expense, quality and how likely it would still be used six months after purchase.

Check the demenstration video in the link; looks cool.

~ Rick

I had one of these and it made good coffee, but they don't have the longest lifespan. The gaskets get a little worn and the thing doesn't work right after about a year.

French press coffee is much better, anyway. They're also super easy to use if you have one of those hot water spigot things in your kitchen. The grinders aren't really that hard to find - most grinders will work just fine.

I just had the perfect cup of coffee while reading this thead - beans from a local joint that wins tons of awards, made in the french press. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Rick Nebiolo]

Aerobie Aeropress (~$25)

Makes espresso strength coffee, so it's good for milk drinks(or americanos).

More on the Aeropress. Over my morning coffee while playing five table SNGs on the other screen I've been researching coffee bean storage (post to come maybe later). While surfing I've run into two good threads regarding the Aeropress (one which may have been posted here already; I just can't find it).

CoffeeForums

CoffeeGeeks

The later link is 137 pages long and includes extensive input from the inventor.

One thing was sort of funny about these two forums. One of the primary sponsors on the main banner ads seems to be Ambien, a sleep aid.

~ Rick

[Rick Nebiolo]

I read somewhere that the freezing idea was a myth and that it's actually bad to expose beans to extreme temperatures in either direction. I was told to just keep them sealed as best as possible in a dark, dry, ambient temperature environment (i.e. the back of my cupboard). I'll try and dig up the link but I'm pretty sure the freezing thing isn't right.

Regarding freezing:

First, there is something close to Cliff notes at the end.

In you don't mind having your eyeballs destroyed the following are links to the great coffee bean storage debates on various coffee forums (but mostly on coffeegeeks.com):

Very good thread on coffeegeeks:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/coffee/questions/56936

From Coffee Forums:
http://************/2j5x29
http://www.coffeeforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=4230&highlight=storage

More from coffeegeeks:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/cof...estions/209728
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/cof...estions/271943
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/esp...uestions/12124

A link from one of the threads:
http://www.sivetzcoffee.com/newslett...agingJan01.htm

A link to a vacuum storage device:
http://www.all4coffee.com/0vacuum.htm
The coffeegeeks seem to find these devices problematic.

For more go to http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums
I keyed on +storage +freezing

-----

Semi-Cliff Notes:

I played four five table SNGs while skimming the links below.

There seems to be a lot of debate regarding the best practical way to store beans and the freezing option was including in the discussions. Obviously it’s best to buy fresh and in small batches but that isn’t easy unless you live near a quality roaster.

There was some support for approaches similar to my method of taking the bag from the roaster (the kind with the valve) making the first batch fresh then sealing what’s left and use a few more layers of wrap (in my case freezer bags with as much air sucked out as possible). When I take it out of the freezer I take out what I need for one batch then immediately re-wrap while slowly grinding in bursts (to avoid heat) using a blade grinder. I don’t defrost the beans.

Vacuum containers seem to have problems with effectiveness and reliability but would appreciate links to a good one.

I was astounded to see debates on coffee to approach the passion of debates on poker!

~ Rick

[Zeno]

I was astounded to see debates on coffee to approach the passion of debates on poker!

Rick,

There is no debate if a cup of coffee only costs 9 cents!

-Zeno

[Jeff W]

re: Freshness

You can get freshly roasted coffee beans from Sweet Maria's:

http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.roasted.html

Another option is home roasting(Link to Sweet Maria's Guide). You ensure perfect freshness and control the character of the final cup.

I use the Poplite. It needs very simple modding:

1. Remove label and both ends from soup can.
2. Wrap soup can in heavy duty aluminum foil to increase height until it only clears the ceiling of popper by 1".
3. Secure foil with electrical tape.
4. Place soup can in roasting chamber.

This modification keeps the beans from flying out during the roasting process, but still allows the chaff to blow out.

[xxThe_Lebowskixx]

have any of you addicts considered opening your own cafe?