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Let’s talk coffee
- Thread starter jmattbassplaya
- Start date
Last night when I got home from work I was nervous I really screwed up the roast. I left the beans on counter on a plate to let the beans release the CO2(?). But I couldn't smell any coffee aroma from the beans. I had a bag from some preroasted beans that I put the beans into.
This morning I opened the bag and there it was! Glorious coffee aroma! I put some water on and ground some beans. Got my French press setup ready. The end result was good. Not bad for my first attempt.
I can't wait to roast another batch tomorrow. Something tells me I won't be buying preroasted beans again unless there's an emergency. Lol!
This morning I opened the bag and there it was! Glorious coffee aroma! I put some water on and ground some beans. Got my French press setup ready. The end result was good. Not bad for my first attempt.
I can't wait to roast another batch tomorrow. Something tells me I won't be buying preroasted beans again unless there's an emergency. Lol!
I’m into cold brew mode. Roast a batch, give it a couple days, grind and soak.
I'm don't have near the coffee knowledge a lot do, but I have learned I need one of these . . . .
BUNN home coffee makers last forever, they're FAST, and with the thermal, you never have to worry about the hot plate cooking your next two cups way past well done . . . and then you put this in it . . .
COMMUNITY Sig Blend Dark Roast. GOT to have my Loo-Zee-Anna coffee at home here in Tennessee.
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BUNN home coffee makers last forever, they're FAST, and with the thermal, you never have to worry about the hot plate cooking your next two cups way past well done . . . and then you put this in it . . .
COMMUNITY Sig Blend Dark Roast. GOT to have my Loo-Zee-Anna coffee at home here in Tennessee.
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Your Silvia will last a long time. I’ve had one for about 15 years, and only had to replace the pump after about 12 years in (very easy to do yourself). If you want to really bring out the best in that machine, invest in an Auber PID. Totally worth every penny, IMO.
question for my coffee snobs,
how many brewers have you got in your house?
I've got a french press (never use), moka pot (also never use), a moccamaster (several times daily), a cafelot robot (~daily), aeropress premium (several times a week), aeropress xl (few times a month), standard aeropress (occasionally), and a puckpuck cold brew attachment for aeropress.
seems like overkill, but (grinders aside) only the moccamaster and cafelot robot, for batch brewing or espresso, were of significant cost.
other than the stuff I don't use, which is inexpensive anyway, i'm a fan of each different thing we have in the house. particularly the robot, I've never had espresso better. From fancy cafes, friends ~$3k machines, nothing. love it. big learning curve, though. also zero maintenance.
how many brewers have you got in your house?
I've got a french press (never use), moka pot (also never use), a moccamaster (several times daily), a cafelot robot (~daily), aeropress premium (several times a week), aeropress xl (few times a month), standard aeropress (occasionally), and a puckpuck cold brew attachment for aeropress.
seems like overkill, but (grinders aside) only the moccamaster and cafelot robot, for batch brewing or espresso, were of significant cost.
other than the stuff I don't use, which is inexpensive anyway, i'm a fan of each different thing we have in the house. particularly the robot, I've never had espresso better. From fancy cafes, friends ~$3k machines, nothing. love it. big learning curve, though. also zero maintenance.
We have multiple brewing methods as well since that factors in to what coffee we roasted or bought.
For example, we only do pour overs with the natural Ethiopians we roast light, but we'll make cold brew or pull shots with the darker roasted Guatemalan. Kenyan coffee, almost always Bialetti, etc. We use an antique la Pavoni for pulling shots which produces superior espresso.
We do have one grinder that rules them all, the Baratza Vario. They aren't cheap, but we have yet to find a better grinder. That and the Baratza customer support is second to none if you need it. We're coming up on 20 years with the Vario.
I did pick up a hand grinder (Handground brand) years ago for special occasions, such as when making Turkish coffee because I can get the beans ground down to a fine powder easier with that than the Baratza.
-Mike
For example, we only do pour overs with the natural Ethiopians we roast light, but we'll make cold brew or pull shots with the darker roasted Guatemalan. Kenyan coffee, almost always Bialetti, etc. We use an antique la Pavoni for pulling shots which produces superior espresso.
We do have one grinder that rules them all, the Baratza Vario. They aren't cheap, but we have yet to find a better grinder. That and the Baratza customer support is second to none if you need it. We're coming up on 20 years with the Vario.
I did pick up a hand grinder (Handground brand) years ago for special occasions, such as when making Turkish coffee because I can get the beans ground down to a fine powder easier with that than the Baratza.
-Mike
Recent discovery for me has been how much better cold brewed coffee is for my tastes. Thought it would just be some gimmick, but is really a good match for me and when this stuff runs out I'm going to be looking into making my own.
Anyone with insight into easiest method/equipment for making cold brew?
Anyone with insight into easiest method/equipment for making cold brew?
aeropress + puckpuck makes amazing cold brew
if you don't have an aeropress, as I keep saying in this thread, it's completely worth every penny. it's an amazing brewer.
puckpuck is an attachment you fill with ice and water and adjust the drip rate. it drips over your ground coffee for around 3.5 hours. result is the best cold brew i've ever had.
We bought a Filtron after fiddling around with a few DIY ideas. $40 and now we're done with it. We've had ours 15-ish years now.
Scores high up on the ease of use scale. All the parts you need, the parts are reusable, except the paper filter of course, and it's all measured out for you. The only things you have to think about are the grind and when to drain it, which are both personal preference anyway.
Easy peezy.
-Mike
I have one machine I use daily. I bought a Rancilio Sylvia at the beginning of last year to upgrade from my old Gaggia Classic. I use the Rancilio every morning witha. Eureka Mignon Grinder. I don't feel I need anything else. Have a good tamper, and swapped out to a larger basket / new shower screen. OTher than that everything is stock. Makes great coffee. I stopped buying coffee out and make one for home, and one I put in a thermos to take to work.
nice set up. really can't go wrong there.
I do love the variety of brewing several different ways.. especially because some alternate methods - like french press or aeropress, are pretty inexpensive and fun to use on occasion.
I’ve got a few brew methods available: French press, aeropress, V60 and my Bianca espresso machine (and my heavily modded Silvia that I just can’t seem to let go after all these years… let’s call it my backup machine). I’ve got my Niche conical burr grinder that can reasonably service most brew methods and a travel Timemore hand grinder for camping/travel that pairs with the aeropress. I still have a Rancilio Rocky flat burr grinder kicking around somewhere that I should probably let go.
I default to espresso out of the Bianca, which is far and away my favourite extraction. If I have the occasional roast that turns out less than ideal, I can usually make it taste decent in the Aeropress (though I don’t love brewing hot coffee in plastic… I’ll eventually pick up one of those new glass aeropresses).
I keep meaning to spend some time brewing with the V60. I’ll get to it eventually.
I went back and forth on this a lot. I'm still very skeptical, but supposedly the material for the aeropress (this did not apply to the original models ~20 years ago) is 100% safe and has been tested "by people smarter than us" that there is zero issue with the material leeching into the water.
a huge part of the appeal of an aeropress is that it's indestructible plastic, and they're inexpensive.
so, a glass one that can break if dropped, that also costs $200, seems crazy to many.
I ordered one the day they were available online. I will admit, $200 is a lot. But this thing really is premium. It feels sturdy, the metal filter cap is thick and heavy. it feels like something you'd find in your grandparents house built back "when things were made to last."
it actually is similar to my beloved cafelat robot in this way. zero plastic, built to last, etc.
I still use the XL plastic version to make a larger cup, but my regular AP i never use since the glass one is so awesome. But it does get filled to the brim with 16g coffee and 256 g water, which is not a very large cup.
I doubt they'd do it, but the idea of a premium XL would be cool.... but i think that would be so expensive even crazy enthusiasts would hold off.
I don't brew coffee in plastic either, or drink it from plastic because I don't like the flavor plastic adds to the finished product. Metal, same thing.
-Mike
-Mike
thoughts on this?
Plastic-Free Coffee Brewer
The SimplyGoodCoffee Platic-Free Brewer brews coffee with round, rich flavor, and no bitterness every time! Explore barista coffee without plastic touches!
simplygoodcoffee.com
I have a moccamaster, and I love the coffee it makes.
I sent this company a message asking if they would ever sell metal parts to replace the plastic brew basket on classic MM brewers.
they responded that unfortunately, there are lots of internal plastic bits in a moccamaster and it can never be plastic-free as is.
I don't plan on replacing mine since it's only a few years old and they're built like a tank... but, i do love the idea of this plastic-free homage to a classic coffee maker.
I own a few plastic Aeropress units, and the newest glass and metal one. Despite taking great care with it, I see that the glass is cracked at the bottom, and one of the pressed in plugs that cover the fasteners on the bottom of the base has fallen out. I really like the results I get with this, and may have to buy a replacement if this one fails completely. So far, I am using it and the crack has not gotten any larger.
