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The other adult beverage.....
So, while I appreciate discussions of the fine points and the arcana of food
and beverages (it's probably no secret that I love spending time in the kitchen), and such talk is never out of place in any setting (ya gotta stop fishing to eat and drink once in a while, right?), I've never really been a great fan of hard liquors. I don't mind that talk of various single malt whiskies crops up here from time to time, but it doesn't resonate for me. Beer, I know something about, having sampled more than my share and even brewed a bunch of my own for a few years, but I can't drink it anymore.....gives me a headache every time. Wine, I like, but I've found that I'm not interested enough to spend the time and money needed to learn about it in depth. Besides, the ten dollar a box stuff works well enough for my daily needs with supper. No, my concern is really more for the other end of the day. For years now (many years) I have been dissatisfied with the pitiful trash that passes for coffee in this country. I've always known, of course, that something can be done about it but never got around to doing it. That just changed. One day last week, Becky stopped by with some freshly roasted and ground Colombian caranavi. It got lost under a heap of something or other for a day or two and then I brewed up a pot when it turned up again. Hey, this is GOOD! Becky says talk to my dad, he sent me the roaster and a bunch of coffee for Christmas. Becky's father has been roasting his own coffee for 25 or 30 years. He'd talked to me about it a couple of years ago but at that time it just sounded like too much to get into in a life already crowded with many other things. But now I'd tasted the result. It was time to talk to Rodger again. So, Friday night I talked to him for about an hour and ended up going he http://coffeeproject.com/index.html and ordering a roaster and a couple of pounds of coffee, Ethiopian harrar and something listed just as Bolivian shade grown organic (I wanted the caranavi but apparently it's only sold bundled with other things in some sort of sampler). This morning I roasted and brewed my first pot of the harrar. WOW! :) Anyway, I've done a bit of research on line in the past couple of days....there is a ton of stuff about coffee. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
"Wolfgang" wrote in message ... So, while I appreciate discussions of the fine points and the arcana of food and beverages (it's probably no secret that I love spending time in the kitchen), and such talk is never out of place in any setting (ya gotta stop fishing to eat and drink once in a while, right?), I've never really been a great fan of hard liquors. I don't mind that talk of various single malt whiskies crops up here from time to time, but it doesn't resonate for me. Beer, I know something about, having sampled more than my share and even brewed a bunch of my own for a few years, but I can't drink it anymore.....gives me a headache every time. Wine, I like, but I've found that I'm not interested enough to spend the time and money needed to learn about it in depth. Besides, the ten dollar a box stuff works well enough for my daily needs with supper. No, my concern is really more for the other end of the day. For years now (many years) I have been dissatisfied with the pitiful trash that passes for coffee in this country. I've always known, of course, that something can be done about it but never got around to doing it. That just changed. One day last week, Becky stopped by with some freshly roasted and ground Colombian caranavi. It got lost under a heap of something or other for a day or two and then I brewed up a pot when it turned up again. Hey, this is GOOD! Becky says talk to my dad, he sent me the roaster and a bunch of coffee for Christmas. Becky's father has been roasting his own coffee for 25 or 30 years. He'd talked to me about it a couple of years ago but at that time it just sounded like too much to get into in a life already crowded with many other things. But now I'd tasted the result. It was time to talk to Rodger again. So, Friday night I talked to him for about an hour and ended up going he http://coffeeproject.com/index.html and ordering a roaster and a couple of pounds of coffee, Ethiopian harrar and something listed just as Bolivian shade grown organic (I wanted the caranavi but apparently it's only sold bundled with other things in some sort of sampler). This morning I roasted and brewed my first pot of the harrar. WOW! :) Anyway, I've done a bit of research on line in the past couple of days....there is a ton of stuff about coffee. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang Wow, what a great discovery! I remember when I did the same, 27 years ago when I started in the workforce. The group was brewing and mixing coffee beans, which easily found a way to my tastebuds. It was a Columbia, French Roast blend. Since then my wife and I have been experimenting with blending our own mix of coffee beans. Today we enjoy the Columbia/Mocha Java. I only drink one cup of coffee on the weekends now, cut down because it was tearing my stomach up. I do love the smell of a fresh brew and the taste on a cold weekend morning. Since I know you're in the kitchen quite a bit and an outstanding cook, Try complementing your favorite coffee blend with a biscotti. -tom |
The other adult beverage.....
Wolfgang wrote:
One day last week, Becky stopped by with some freshly roasted and ground Colombian caranavi. You should get whole beans and grind your own as needed. Ground coffee loses its freshness quickly. Keep it in the freezer in a sealed container. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
The other adult beverage.....
"rw" wrote in message m... Wolfgang wrote: One day last week, Becky stopped by with some freshly roasted and ground Colombian caranavi. You should get whole beans and grind your own as needed. Ground coffee loses its freshness quickly. Keep it in the freezer in a sealed container. O.k., I'll try to remember that. Thanks. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 6:07 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang Many people here do this, although the vast majority doubtless buy ready roasted and ground coffee, most supermarkets and a large number of other shops, including specialist coffee shops, ( where you can also buy a cup of coffee, but that is not their raison d étre ), offer green coffee, roasting, grinding and blending facilities. Even the cheapest coffee tastes a lot better when freshly roasted and ground. Although using the grinder/blender for ready roasted beans in the various shops is most popular, I know quite a few people who roast their own. Most use the hot air stream method. When my wife was alive, we used to roast our own as well, but I donīt bother any more as I donīt think itīs worth it for the amount of coffee I drink. It is of course best consumed fresh! The only really critical step is knowing when to stop the roast. The German sites would probably not be a lot of use to you, but these seem to cover a lot of stuff fairly comprehensively. The first roaster I used was made with a temperature controlled hot air gun, and a metal sieve on a motor driven cam. Worked perfectly. http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html http://www.breworganic.com/Coffee/HowToRoast.htm http://www.ineedcoffee.com/00/11/whyroast/ Difficult to get some beans in the ( small ) amounts required now, but there is still a large choice here. Large cities usually have a couple of shops with "special" or rare beans. Should be even more in America ? MC |
The other adult beverage.....
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message ... Wow, what a great discovery! I remember when I did the same, 27 years ago when I started in the workforce. The group was brewing and mixing coffee beans, which easily found a way to my tastebuds. It was a Columbia, French Roast blend. Since then my wife and I have been experimenting with blending our own mix of coffee beans. Today we enjoy the Columbia/Mocha Java. I only drink one cup of coffee on the weekends now, cut down because it was tearing my stomach up. I do love the smell of a fresh brew and the taste on a cold weekend morning. I've already read a good deal about blends, but I'm not anywhere near ready to try that......with my virtually non-existent experience in roasting, blending would be an entirely random experiment. Since I know you're in the kitchen quite a bit and an outstanding cook, Try complementing your favorite coffee blend with a biscotti. I'll be trying it with LOTS of stuff. :) Thanks, Tom. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 6:07 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
.. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang I wanted to add, if you get serious on coffee tasting, you'll eventually graduate to espressos or caffé espressos, and then it becomes an art. -tom |
The other adult beverage.....
"Wolfgang" wrote in message ... "Tom Nakashima" wrote in message ... Wow, what a great discovery! I remember when I did the same, 27 years ago when I started in the workforce. The group was brewing and mixing coffee beans, which easily found a way to my tastebuds. It was a Columbia, French Roast blend. Since then my wife and I have been experimenting with blending our own mix of coffee beans. Today we enjoy the Columbia/Mocha Java. I only drink one cup of coffee on the weekends now, cut down because it was tearing my stomach up. I do love the smell of a fresh brew and the taste on a cold weekend morning. I've already read a good deal about blends, but I'm not anywhere near ready to try that......with my virtually non-existent experience in roasting, blending would be an entirely random experiment. Since I know you're in the kitchen quite a bit and an outstanding cook, Try complementing your favorite coffee blend with a biscotti. I'll be trying it with LOTS of stuff. :) Thanks, Tom. Wolfgang Coffee is long term Wolffie, it's a pleasurable passion like fly-fishing. Enjoy!! -tom |
The other adult beverage.....
May also be of interest;
http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-roasters.html http://www.homeroaster.com/homemade.html http://www.sweetmarias.com/homemade-homeroasters.html It is important to get ( or make) a machine where you can see the beans properly during the roasting process. many closed rum machines will not allow this, and you are forced to rely on smell. This can be a problem. Also, a really good grinder is half the battle; http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-grinders.html Most "ordinary" kitchen grinders are no good. There are a large number of sites now with various info. I donīt know how up to date some of these links are, I got them together for somebody else who wanted them. MC |
The other adult beverage.....
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:07:35 -0600, Wolfgang wrote:
So, while I appreciate discussions of the fine points and the arcana of food and beverages (it's probably no secret that I love spending time in the kitchen), and such talk is never out of place in any setting (ya gotta stop fishing to eat and drink once in a while, right?), I've never really been a great fan of hard liquors. I don't mind that talk of various single malt whiskies crops up here from time to time, but it doesn't resonate for me. Beer, I know something about, having sampled more than my share and even brewed a bunch of my own for a few years, but I can't drink it anymore.....gives me a headache every time. Wine, I like, but I've found that I'm not interested enough to spend the time and money needed to learn about it in depth. Besides, the ten dollar a box stuff works well enough for my daily needs with supper. No, my concern is really more for the other end of the day. For years now (many years) I have been dissatisfied with the pitiful trash that passes for coffee in this country. I've always known, of course, that something can be done about it but never got around to doing it. That just changed. One day last week, Becky stopped by with some freshly roasted and ground Colombian caranavi. It got lost under a heap of something or other for a day or two and then I brewed up a pot when it turned up again. Hey, this is GOOD! Becky says talk to my dad, he sent me the roaster and a bunch of coffee for Christmas. Becky's father has been roasting his own coffee for 25 or 30 years. He'd talked to me about it a couple of years ago but at that time it just sounded like too much to get into in a life already crowded with many other things. But now I'd tasted the result. It was time to talk to Rodger again. So, Friday night I talked to him for about an hour and ended up going he http://coffeeproject.com/index.html and ordering a roaster and a couple of pounds of coffee, Ethiopian harrar and something listed just as Bolivian shade grown organic (I wanted the caranavi but apparently it's only sold bundled with other things in some sort of sampler). Not much of a coffee afficianado myself, but my wife and several other friends and relatives swear by a product called the Toddy Coffee maker. Instead of brewing the coffee hot, you pour the coffee and a couple of cans of cold water into a container where it steeps overnight. Next morning it is filtered out into a concentrate - about one jigger per cup, I think. The cold brewing takes out much of the bitter taste. I'm informed that even cheap coffee handled that way tastes much better than hot brewed premium brands. This morning I roasted and brewed my first pot of the harrar. WOW! :) Anyway, I've done a bit of research on line in the past couple of days....there is a ton of stuff about coffee. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
The guy I gave my roasting machine to sent me this;
http://www.homeroasters.org/ he says it is pretty good for info etc etc. I have not used it. I still have the plans for the machine somewhere if you want them. One last point, some of the machines people make use brass, aluminium etc. I ONLY used stainless steel and special heat resistant glass for the machines I made. Some of the other metals will taint your coffee. MC |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 12:07*pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. * I'll piggyback on this with a followup query. What about the caffeine? I love coffee & would be more than willing to try the roll- your-own route; but my experience with "better" coffee seems to correlate body with increased caffeine. Not that I mind a good shot of speed now and again; but is this necessarily the case? Joe F. |
The other adult beverage.....
"Mike" wrote in message ... On Jan 10, 6:07 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote: .. But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. Wolfgang Many people here do this, although the vast majority doubtless buy ready roasted and ground coffee, most supermarkets and a large number of other shops, including specialist coffee shops, ( where you can also buy a cup of coffee, but that is not their raison d étre ), offer green coffee, roasting, grinding and blending facilities. Even the cheapest coffee tastes a lot better when freshly roasted and ground. Although using the grinder/blender for ready roasted beans in the various shops is most popular, I know quite a few people who roast their own. Most use the hot air stream method. When my wife was alive, we used to roast our own as well, but I donīt bother any more as I donīt think itīs worth it for the amount of coffee I drink. It is of course best consumed fresh! The only really critical step is knowing when to stop the roast. The German sites would probably not be a lot of use to you, but these seem to cover a lot of stuff fairly comprehensively. The first roaster I used was made with a temperature controlled hot air gun, and a metal sieve on a motor driven cam. Worked perfectly. http://www.sweetmarias.com/instructions.html http://www.breworganic.com/Coffee/HowToRoast.htm http://www.ineedcoffee.com/00/11/whyroast/ Difficult to get some beans in the ( small ) amounts required now, but there is still a large choice here. Large cities usually have a couple of shops with "special" or rare beans. Should be even more in America ? Thanks, Mike. The roaster I bought uses hot air. It also has a very small capacity.....something like a quarter cup of beans. Just about enough for two pots of coffee, so no need to worry about freshness. All the green beans I've seen at the Coffee Project website are available in one pound packages and everything I've read thus far says they can be stored for a year or two without any significant loss in quality. I've also looked at a few other suppliers. Looks like it'll be at least a couple of years before I can exhaust the readily available options. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
"Wolfgang" wrote in message ... One very important point to remember: DO NOT use the same coffee grinder for your coffee beans that you use for mixing dubbing. : ) Bob Weinberger La Grande, OR |
The other adult beverage.....
"Mike" wrote in message ... May also be of interest; http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-roasters.html http://www.homeroaster.com/homemade.html http://www.sweetmarias.com/homemade-homeroasters.html It is important to get ( or make) a machine where you can see the beans properly during the roasting process. many closed rum machines will not allow this, and you are forced to rely on smell. This can be a problem. Also, a really good grinder is half the battle; http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-grinders.html Most "ordinary" kitchen grinders are no good. There are a large number of sites now with various info. I donīt know how up to date some of these links are, I got them together for somebody else who wanted them. I already have the roaster and the grinder. Thanks. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
You should also check out these ( Zassenhaus coffee milling machine) ; http://www.kaffeeshop24.de/index.htm...ffeemuehle.htm Quite a few people swear these are the best, and superior to various other electric machines etc. I could never actually taste any difference, but others said they could. As I am quite a heavy smoker it may well be that my palate is simply not able to notice subtle differences? MC |
The other adult beverage.....
"ray" wrote in message ... Not much of a coffee afficianado myself, but my wife and several other friends and relatives swear by a product called the Toddy Coffee maker. Instead of brewing the coffee hot, you pour the coffee and a couple of cans of cold water into a container where it steeps overnight. Next morning it is filtered out into a concentrate - about one jigger per cup, I think. The cold brewing takes out much of the bitter taste. I'm informed that even cheap coffee handled that way tastes much better than hot brewed premium brands. Interesting. One thing is certain, brewing by that method is going to result in a radically different product than using hot water. The chemistry is pretty complex.....and water temperature makes a BIG difference. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
"ray" wrote in message ... Not much of a coffee afficianado myself, but my wife and several other friends and relatives swear by a product called the Toddy Coffee maker. Instead of brewing the coffee hot, you pour the coffee and a couple of cans of cold water into a container where it steeps overnight. Next morning it is filtered out into a concentrate - about one jigger per cup, I think. The cold brewing takes out much of the bitter taste. I'm informed that even cheap coffee handled that way tastes much better than hot brewed premium brands. Sounds interesting, but coffee can easily become bitter if it sits too long in H20. Another thing you can accidentally do is burn the beans. Some think the hotter the better, too hot can be a disfavor to the taste. Coffee Beans! yes, they do go bad, actually stale. Good roasting co. turn their incoming beans over once a week, so we never buy in bulk. Stevie made a good point to keep the beans whole, and freeze them, I'll add, measure and grind only what you'll use, which he probably does do. The best we found is the hour glass Chemex type coffeemaker. http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/ Bring the water just before boil in a pan. Wet the cone shaped filter, add the ground blend beans and pour the water over the beans. Nothing fancy, no metal taste, no burned beans. -tom |
The other adult beverage.....
"rb608" wrote in message ... On Jan 10, 12:07 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote: But I'm wondering if anyone else here has played with this and if so, I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences, preferences, etc. I'll piggyback on this with a followup query. What about the caffeine? I love coffee & would be more than willing to try the roll- your-own route; but my experience with "better" coffee seems to correlate body with increased caffeine. Not that I mind a good shot of speed now and again; but is this necessarily the case? Haven't seen much about that yet. All I remember from my reading so far is that roasting necessarily destroys some caffeine. I suspect that which beans you start with is a more important factor. More important still, I'm certain, is that "better" coffees as such appear to be defined here these days.....which is to say "stronger" coffees.....have more caffeine because they use a lot more coffee. I've always felt there was a clear message in the fact that products from places like Starbuck's Alterra, Caribou, etc. invariably taste like a boiled mixture of **** and asphalt. :) And, anyway, you can buy decaffeinated whole green beans. The nice thing about roasting and brewing your own is that you have virtually infinite control over both darkness or roast and strength of brew.....and freshness. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 7:21 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
"Mike" wrote in message ... May also be of interest; http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-roasters.html http://www.homeroaster.com/homemade.html http://www.sweetmarias.com/homemade-homeroasters.html It is important to get ( or make) a machine where you can see the beans properly during the roasting process. many closed rum machines will not allow this, and you are forced to rely on smell. This can be a problem. Also, a really good grinder is half the battle; http://www.madcoffeemaker.com/learn/...-grinders.html Most "ordinary" kitchen grinders are no good. There are a large number of sites now with various info. I donīt know how up to date some of these links are, I got them together for somebody else who wanted them. I already have the roaster and the grinder. Thanks. Wolfgang OK. A couple of people I know use this machine; ( Bodum Antigua ) http://www.kaffeeshop24.de/index.htm...ffeemuehle.htm primarily because it has a genuine mill work, and the grain size can be set. This is very important for some roasts. If you already have a machine then of course try that first. Machines with whirling blades and the like give indifferent results, for two main reasons. The grounds are not uniform, and the heat produced reduces the coffee aroma. My personal favourite was a "French Roast" Sumatra espresso which is milled "very fine", and I drank it ( much to the disgust of one or two people) with sugar and steamed cream. I have not had a cup of coffee to compare with it since I gave the machine away. May also be of interest; http://www.dccoffeeproducts.com/beanbasics.html http://www.dccoffeeproducts.com/greencoffee.html For some people itīs almost a religion! MC |
The other adult beverage.....
"Bob Weinberger" wrote in message news:nmthj.8827$O97.1233@trndny01... "Wolfgang" wrote in message ... One very important point to remember: DO NOT use the same coffee grinder for your coffee beans that you use for mixing dubbing. : ) Check.....stick with the low fiber coffee! Wolfgang who will also not be using it for chilies. |
The other adult beverage.....
"Wolfgang" wrote If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. I drink WAY too much of the stuff and always buy whole beans and grind them just before preparing ( I generally use a French Press style pot ) I haven't tried roasting beans but with this encouragement I just may do so soon ASIDE: As I say, I drink lots of coffee, fresh ground and brewed from a variety of beans ... I thinnk of myself as a serious coffee drinker. But I always feel like a real country bumpkin when forced to buy my morning fix from a trendy coffee shop .... the list of fancy products on the list always leaves me wondering "what the hell is a Lattie" ( or whatever) and "how do I just order a good cup of strong black coffee?" .... the "adult beverage" in your subject line makes me again ponder, "are these kiddie drinks full of whipped cream really coffee?" |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 7:33 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
The nice thing about roasting and brewing your own is that you have virtually infinite control over both darkness or roast and strength of brew.....and freshness. Wolfgang The decaff beans taste a lot different. I tried a few of the decaff beans. They were not as "good" as a rule, but I only tried a couple of types. The amount of coffee you use to actually make the final cup is a major factor of course. The "standard" amount of coffee is 8g, ( used by tasters). if you use more or less, you get a different intensity of flavour, and in some cases a completely different flavour. The size of the grounds also has a major effect, and how you actually prepare the coffee. After trying various machines, we eventually mostly used a simple coffee filter and poured boiling water over it. If you use a percolator or an espresso machine, the taste is different even from exactly the same grounds. MC |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 7:37 pm, "Larry L" wrote:
ASIDE: As I say, I drink lots of coffee, fresh ground and brewed from a variety of beans ... I thinnk of myself as a serious coffee drinker. But I always feel like a real country bumpkin when forced to buy my morning fix from a trendy coffee shop .... the list of fancy products on the list always leaves me wondering "what the hell is a Lattie" ( or whatever) and "how do I just order a good cup of strong black coffee?" .... the "adult beverage" in your subject line makes me again ponder, "are these kiddie drinks full of whipped cream really coffee?" See here for explanations; http://www.coffeereview.com/reference.cfm?ID=197 MC |
The other adult beverage.....
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The other adult beverage.....
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message ... The best we found is the hour glass Chemex type coffeemaker. http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/ Bring the water just before boil in a pan. Wet the cone shaped filter, add the ground blend beans and pour the water over the beans. Nothing fancy, no metal taste, no burned beans. -tom I rarely (like almost never) drink coffee, however when my buddy brews up a pot with the above coffeemaker and his freshly ground beans. It tastes pretty damn good on a cold morning stream side. JT |
The other adult beverage.....
"Larry L" wrote in message ... "Wolfgang" wrote If not, any true coffee lover should definitely look into the do it yourself thing. I drink WAY too much of the stuff and always buy whole beans and grind them just before preparing ( I generally use a French Press style pot ) I haven't tried roasting beans but with this encouragement I just may do so soon What I've tasted so far convinces me that I made a wiser decision in this than I do in most of my purchases. :) I could have, and probably should have, done some more reading before buying a $70 machine to roast coffee, but I trust Rodger's judgment in these matters. Subsequent reading reveals that I could have simply bought the beans and roasted tham in a pan on the stove top. If you try that method first, the worst that can happen is that you're out five or six bucks for a pound of beans. Based on my first attempt at using the machine, and Becky's first, and Rodger's 25 years, I'd say that the worst isn't likey to happen. If you don't like the first try, roast the second a little less.....or a little more.....to suit your taste. And then, you only need to roast as much at a time as suits your immediate needs.....it only takes five to ten minutes. The remaining beans can be stored at room temp for a year or two. There IS one potential drawback, though. Roasting coffee beans is an extremely aromatic experience! Even a relatively light roast like I prefer leaves my apartment reeking of coffee (I don't have an exhaust fan). I didn't realize the full impact until I stepped outside and then came back in. Everything I've read thus far, including the instructions that came with the machine, says that a really dark roast WILL produce smoke. Anyone who doesn't like a really powerful smell of roasting coffee will definitely NOT be pleased. And we're talking about an odor that's got some staying power. ASIDE: As I say, I drink lots of coffee, fresh ground and brewed from a variety of beans ... I thinnk of myself as a serious coffee drinker. But I always feel like a real country bumpkin when forced to buy my morning fix from a trendy coffee shop .... the list of fancy products on the list always leaves me wondering "what the hell is a Lattie" ( or whatever) and "how do I just order a good cup of strong black coffee?" .... the "adult beverage" in your subject line makes me again ponder, "are these kiddie drinks full of whipped cream really coffee?" De gustibus non est disputandum. What ****es me off (aside from the already mentioned fact that it all tastes like ****) is that you can't get "a small cup of coffee." You gotta speak some other language. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
"Wolfgang" wrote in message ... ...What ****es me off (aside from the already mentioned fact that it all tastes like ****) is that you can't get "a small cup of coffee." You gotta speak some other language. Oh yeah, and the price. Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
Tom Nakashima wrote:
The best we found is the hour glass Chemex type coffeemaker. http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/ Bring the water just before boil in a pan. Wet the cone shaped filter, add the ground blend beans and pour the water over the beans. Nothing fancy, no metal taste, no burned beans. -tom The best and easiest way to make coffee at home, IMO, is with Melita coffee filters. The best way to make coffee on a camping trip (again, IMO) is with a French Press. You can get plastic nonbreakable ones in different sizes. Cooking things, like spices and utensils, can be stored in the container when it's not in use. -- Cut "to the chase" for my email address. |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 8:09 pm, "JT" wrote:
"Tom Nakashima" wrote in message I rarely (like almost never) drink coffee, however when my buddy brews up a pot with the above coffeemaker and his freshly ground beans. It tastes pretty damn good on a cold morning stream side. JT For very many years, I was a confirmed tea drinker. Although I liked the aroma of some coffees, the taste never lived up to the promise of the aroma. I only started roasting beans because my wife drank a lot of coffee, and wanted to try it, as others had enthused about it. The only machines available then were very expensive, and I got the feeling that they were rather more of a status symbol than anything else. Anyway, I made one from a article in a magazine. It was a big success. That was the first time I drank a cup of coffee which tasted as good as it smelled. I mostly drink tea again nowadays, but I do appreciate a really good cup of coffee now and again. It is also a bit more like a "treat" if I only drink it occasionally. There is an Italian restaurant not too far away from where I live, and now and then I go there, eat something or other, and have a couple of cups of coffee, The coffee there is really good. In many other places, it is simply not worth drinking. MC |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 2:10*pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
*You gotta speak some other language. My brother in law and I often muse on how it is that Starbucks seems to have copyright on the Italian word for "twenty". :-) In addition to your fascination with the roasting end of things, consider- and it's not hard having seen the replies to this thread- the various methods of passing the water through the grounds when preparing the brew. Each method brings out a different flavor to the end product, even if you use the same beans. I go through various enthusiasms in this regard that last from a day at a time to months on end- from standard drip machine through stove-top espresso maker (like the aluminum one I use in camp on the Svea), pour-through (like the other method I use when making a single cup in camp or the Chemex Tom mentions), French press, and of course the simple "cowboy coffee" method many of us use when there is a group in camp. All work equally well- whether in the wilds or in the kitchen- and all will give a different taste. Most methods suggest that the water be slightly below the boiling point when you put them on the grounds- not sure why the espresso method works so well considering this, but who's to argue? It works! Wm (who likes milk and a little sugar with his morning cuppa.... so sue me! :-) |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 8:10 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
There IS one potential drawback, though. Roasting coffee beans is an extremely aromatic experience! Even a relatively light roast like I prefer leaves my apartment reeking of coffee (I don't have an exhaust fan). I didn't realize the full impact until I stepped outside and then came back in. Everything I've read thus far, including the instructions that came with the machine, says that a really dark roast WILL produce smoke. Anyone who doesn't like a really powerful smell of roasting coffee will definitely NOT be pleased. And we're talking about an odor that's got some staying power. I would seriously advise you to avoid doing any dark roasts in your apartment. The first time we roasted beans was in the garage anyway, so it was not a problem, which was just as well, as the smell hangs around for ever, although you yourself will get used to it, and barely notice it, it may well just about knock others out! The first time I did a dark roast, I simply was not prepared for the amount of smoke which was generated, or the intense smell. I thought something had gone badly wrong. But this is actually normal of course. Also, the oils etc which are driven off do settle as solids, oils etc. in the viciniyt. There was a dark patch on the concrete ceiling above the roaster, and the garage always stank of coffee. The aroma also turns "bitter" after a while, and will actually bite a little in your nose. This is doubtless a result of various components decomposing etc, If you want to do things like this it is better to do it outside! MC |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 2:10*pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
What ****es me off (aside from the already mentioned fact that it all tastes like ****) is that you can't get "a small cup of coffee." *You gotta speak some other language. That's one thing I won't do. I order a "small" and let them figure it out. Some times I *have* be there, but I don't have to speak their language. (For a retail cup of coffee, though, it beats most other places. Most other places for me being fast food, gas stations, & convenience stores. Oh yeah, and the office.) Joe F. |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 1:33*pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
*More important still, I'm certain, is that "better" coffees as such appear to be defined here these days.....which is to say "stronger" coffees.....have more caffeine because they use a lot more coffee. * That's in keeping with my experience. I have a small drip machine on my desk, and there's a coffee store across the road; so I sometimes grab something fresh ground for a treat. It is good (not that the office java is a high hurdle), but I inevitably spend the afternoon almost uncomfortably buzzed. On those days, I get home literally "needing" a drink. Joe F. |
The other adult beverage.....
"Larry L" wrote in message ... and "how do I just order a good cup of strong black coffee?" Got that right, I walked into a Starbucks a few months ago, taken my chances on the famous coffee house. Had to search the board for just a plain black coffee...finally saw Tall, Grande, and Venti. What happened to Sm, Med, Lg??? I had to wait in a long line behind a group of teens who ordered their double cappuccino latte mocha decafs with a twist of lemon, then had to wait again because the coffee wasn't made yet. Guess nobody orders just a simple black coffee anymore. -tom |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 2:45*pm, Mike wrote:
If you want to do things like this it is better to do it outside! After reading the roasting intro on the coffeeproject site, that was my first thought. Joe F. |
The other adult beverage.....
"Steve" wrote in message ews.com... On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:17:50 -0800 (PST), rb608 wrote: What about the caffeine? The highest dose of caffeine comes from Robusta beans. Most specialty level coffees made for drip or press are blended from Arabica beans which have a much lower caffeine content. Cheap coffees, (Folger's for example) are made with a high percentage of Vietnamese Robusta and are loaded with caffeine. Very interesting. Thus far in my reading, I've run across a couple of references to Robusta but nobody has really had anything at all to say about it. I've been aware of a distinction between Arabica and Robusta for a long time but still don't know what the distinction is. Many espresso blends contain Robusta for it's crema producing qualities. Crema? Wolfgang |
The other adult beverage.....
"rw" wrote coffee filters. The best way to make coffee on a camping trip (again, IMO) is with a French Press. You can get plastic nonbreakable ones in different sizes. I broke the glass in my French Press last year at Craig, Mt. This was, for me, a major emergency and I went to the Fly Shop and asked for help. Mike ( I believe, I'm right ) is the very, very, nice guy at the shop ( it also has one real jerk that always makes me wish I was shopping elsewhere ) ... and he spend considerable time, even drawing a detailed map, directing me to a tea shop in Great Falls ( 45 miles ) that was the best bet. I rushed there hoping to replace the glass. No such luck, mine was an odd size I guess, but they did have a Press/ drinking cup combo that is wonderful ... all but unbreakable. Tea, is, of course, another drink that can consume the consumer. The little lady in the shop was SO nice and her place smelled SO great I took my wife there when she flew in and she purchased samples of several teas. I'm on orders to replenish her supply when I return to the area ... guess that means I'm on orders to visit the Missouri again G Santa also brought me a new press for the trailer, the glass fits inside a protective plastic piece. I agree with rw, these presses are a most excellent way to make coffee while 'camping.' I do have one recurring problem in the Greater Yellowstone Area ... disposing of the used grounds .... I don't want to put them down the trailer sink drain, they seem to not empty from the holding tanks well .... and nice smelly coffee grounds seem a little too inviting to just dump in bear country ? ... don't really want to meet a Grizzly on caffeine |
The other adult beverage.....
On Jan 10, 9:10 pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
Many espresso blends contain Robusta for it's crema producing qualities. Crema? Wolfgang Crema is the coffee oils that "float" on the coffee, most especially espresso. Feshly ground beans produce a lot more cream than any other, and the espresso method extracts more cream than any other, ( obviously temperature related). MC |
The other adult beverage.....
Found a website that explains it better than I can;
http://www.coffee-makers-cafe.com/crema-extraction.html Take note of the extraction methods and times! MC |
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