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 don´t
bother any more as I don´t think it´s 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 don´t 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 don´t
bother any more as I don´t think it´s 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 don´t 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 don´t 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 it´s 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.....
 

Full URL for that reference;
http://www.coffeereview.com/reference.cfm

MC

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