The perfect cup of coffee...

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I'm in search of a way to make an outstanding cup of coffee at home. I'm relatively picky and just any coffee maker won't do. I have a Mr. Coffee and I haven't been pleased with the results at all. I find that no matter how hard I try to keep it clean, the coffee seems to lose its unique characteristics, which are covered by a taste that seems to be coming from the machine itself.

I'm inclined to go for a french press but I'm wondering if there are other options I should consider. I know there are a few connoisseurs here, namely €uroMeinke, NA, and Blueerica. What say you?

I'm tired of having to always drive to the nearest Peet's for a good cup of coffee.

French press or not, what should I be looking for in a quality coffee making device? Also, what tips can you provide that will bring me a few steps closer to that elusive perfect cup?

Help me swanktify my java, damnit! ;)

[€uroMeinke]

I'm a french press advocate, if for no other reason than filters always remove something of the coffee. One of the best things I've done is to bring my French press to work - there is simply no better coffee than what I serve at my desk.

Of course the press takes a bit more time and care to prepare, so you may want to still have something for you second tier uses. I've been happy with the cone drip coffee makers. I think what makes more a difference here is to keep the coffee fresh, to drink it when made and not let the coffee sit on the burner. I think there are coffee makers that drip into a thermal caraf, that's probably the second best way to go - get it off the burner, but into smething to retain the heat.

I think Blueerica can probably add to this.

[BarTopDancer]

I'm in search of a way to make an outstanding cup of coffee at home. I'm relatively picky and just any coffee maker won't do. I have a Mr. Coffee and I haven't been pleased with the results at all. I find that no matter how hard I try to keep it clean, the coffee seems to lose its unique characteristics, which are covered by a taste that seems to be coming from the machine itself.

You may want to look into getting some Purocaf to clean your coffee maker and pot with. That's what we used when I ran the coffee cart and it always removed the excess tastes.

[CoasterMatt]

I don't like the taste of burnt beans... ask someone else :p

[Not Afraid]

Keep your beans in the freezer.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I don't like the taste of burnt beans... ask someone else :p

That's precisely why I go to Peet's and not Starbucks. :)

Thanks for the tips so far!

[Motorboat Cruiser]

You may want to look into getting some Purocaf to clean your coffee maker and pot with. That's what we used when I ran the coffee cart and it always removed the excess tastes.

Yeah, I'm familiar with that product, although I've never tried it. I might give it a shot.

Although, my coffee maker really is a piece of crap. I dig the simplicity of the french press, although it appears that cleaning one could be a bit of a chore.

I was surprised to find that they are pretty reasonably priced.

[Snowflake]

That's precisely why I go to Peet's and not Starbucks. :)

Thanks for the tips so far!

Ooh, I always felt Peets burnt their beans too. Peets was our office coffee for years.

I've never liked the French Press because I always get more grinds in the cup than I should.

Melita drip worled fine providing the water was the right temp and you got the coffee in a cup fast or in a carafe while still hot.

I want one of these (http://tinyurl.com/p74zb), (1) it's so cool looking and (2) I'm sure it makes a mean cappuccino. But, it is far and away over my budget :(

So, because of all this, I'm essentially a tea drinker now.:coffee:

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Ooh, I always felt Peets burnt their beans too. Peets was our office coffee for years.



Interesting. I have always enjoyed the cups of coffee from Peet's and Deidrichs but for some reason, I simply cannot handle the flavor of Starbucks, something about it just tastes off, or overdone for lack of a better word. And, although I have had a few bad cups at Peet's, I've had some heavenly ones as well.

[Not Afraid]

I started - in my "good" coffee days, drinking Dietrichs when Martin ran a tiny store in a liquore store in Closa Mesa. I'm pretty picky about coffee. I won't drink it if I don't fine it pallatable. Starbucks is the Baskin Robins of coffee places. I will drink their frufru drinks but really nothing else. Peets rules. I will drink just about anything from Peets. Dietrichs is not the Dietrichs I grew up with, but I am REALLY anxious to try Martin's new store, Keen. I've heard good things so far.

[mousepod]

We use a Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal. Requires cleaning every morning but makes a mean cup of coffee. 2 of the big pluses for the machine: the beans are ground just before the water hits 'em; the coffee drips right into a thermos, so no heating element (a la Mr Coffee) to keep cooking the coffee.

When I want an extra strong cup (or I don't feel like making 4+ cups), I also use a french press.

As far as beans go, Heather and I tend to go for whatever fair trade stuff looks good at our local Mollie Stone's - so we change from week to week.

[Kevy Baby]

How 'bout Nescafé?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I've actually been switching to instant :eek: for a few reasons.

GD doesn't drink it, so it's just a cup at a time
I don't have it often enough to use up coffee before it goes stale
Grinding beans and using a coffee maker takes too damn long
Cleaning a grinder and coffee maker takes too damn long
I suck at measuring how much coffee I need
I'm too cheap to buy Peets even though I love it (and I can't use it fast enough)

And most importantly - I love good coffee but I can make do with crap, as long as it wakes me up. ;)

[Capt Jack]

Ive been using this (http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm) off and on at work and love the thing. given to me by a friend who used the site for buying frisbee's for his dog and snagged it on a lark, its the best coffee maker Ive used in longer than I can say.

for $30, I cant imagine finding a better maker for as cheap

you can get em here (http://www.localsonlycoffee.com/product_p/aer01.htm)

[Not Afraid]

I drink at most 2 cups of coffee a day. Chris has been making espresso in the mornings so I usually make my own small pot of coffee. I use the Peets French Roast, already ground, that I keep in the freezer. I let it brew while I take a shower then I put it in my snappy red thermal cup an I'm off to work and happy camper.

Now, if I could only find a healthy breakfast solution that was just as portable!

[Stan4dSteph]

I just used up the last of my Peets the other day. Major Dickinson because it's Lance's coffee of choice. Yes, I am a tool.

I've been doing plunger coffee lately when it's just me drinking because I find that it comes out better in smaller amounts than using my filter coffeemaker.

[€uroMeinke]

I got the wrong grind for my French Pess at work - much too fine, I need to bring it home for the espresso machine. I think I'll be visiting Peet's tomorrow after my Jury Duty

[blueerica]

I just got back from Vegas and will post on this tomorrow.

Guys - I'm gonna set y'all straight! And stuffs...

[blueerica]

I am so very very very very sorry for not writing to this sooner. I caught myself in a spiral of getting myself back on the right footing after 5 glorious days off doing - well, doing whatever the hell it was I pleased. But now that I'm back to reality, I'm going to expound upon a few points.

French Press (or basically anything without a paper filter) will equal the most complex tasting coffee for the palate. Any time you have coffee passing through a paper filter, you're losing oils, and potentially adding paper fibers if the filter hasn't been rinsed properly, which is somewhat difficult to do for a smaller coffee maker, such as a Mr. Coffee. French Presses or "Press Pots" as they're sometimes referred to at Peet's, are relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, and you can have a great cup of coffee within 3 minutes with a little care and perhaps some practice.


Here's how to brew coffee with a French Press using layman's terms and not the technical stuff that I could refer to it at (and if anyone were to practice it with technicality would just stress themselves out before getting that wonderful cup of coffee):

Materials:
French Press/Press Pot
Hot water (Enough to fill the Press Pot to about an inch from the top, or wherever the "band" is)
Coarsely ground coffee
Another container the size of the press pot or bigger is awfully handy, unless you want to make more water.

However you do it, get some water to boiling. Or super f*cking hot. Fill the FP (sans plunger) with said water. The idea behind this is to warm the vessel with which you will brew your coffee. Brewing coffee in a cold vessel will result in flavor loss. I didn't believe it until I tried it at work, and it's totally true.

After a few seconds or so, pour that water into another container for continued use. Scoop the appropriate amount of grounds into the press pot (we'll discuss this later) and re-add the water from the other container (which will have likely cooled to the appropriate coffee making temperature - just about 20-degrees off boiling) until it's about 1/3 to 1/2 full. Swish the coffee around by gently twirling the cup or take a spoon and stir. Allow the coffee to "bloom" for a moment, and fill the water until you reach the top of the band, or whatever your French press deems "full."

The whole process at the point of the water being poured onto the grounds is 3 minutes. Don't let it go longer. That's just right.

French presses are available in many sizes; 3-cup (which is about 1 small/med american cup) 8-cup (about 2 med sized cups) and 12 cup (3-4 med cup) sizes are very common. They're easy to clean, and while my description above looks lengthy, the process is very quick and easy.
About every other time I use my little 3-cup model, I disassemble it and wash it more thoroughly. Each part is easy to replace, though won't likely need it.

Some people just aren't into the idea of the french press, and I understand. There are a number of other kinds of
coffee makers, even some that don't use paper filters, such as the percolator. (I'm a big fan of Bialetti's really fricking cute percs). BTD suggested purocaf. It might be a good idea once in a while, though perhaps slightly impractical for the casual coffee drinker. Giving it a good scrub once in a while, and decalcifying the pot and the non-paper part of the filter might also do the trick.

Peet's recommends using filtered water. As pure as you can get it. Personally, I never saw a problem using tap, though now with my palate refined, I do notice a difference.

Also, there's the issue of "How much coffee do I put in?" Peet's suggested amount of coffee per 6 oz of water is 2 tablespoons. HoLy Sh*T, you say? Yeah, I say that, too, every time I think about it. Honestly, it's a bit much for me at home, though for some reason it tastes just fine at work. I'm not sure why. I cut back slightly from that, and tend to make it 3 for every 12 oz of water. Don't tell them I said that.


Part of what happens with the coffee is personal preference, and I find that my tastes evolve with time, and sometimes I might be more into one thing, and then my palate drifts. When I first started working for Peet's I really liked the earthy, berry goodness of our Kenyan coffee... Mmm... I still like it, but lately, I've been very into some of our Indo-pacifics for their woodsiness, and the Latin-Americans - Smooth, rich, just really freaking MMMpfh! Let me regain my composure...

MBC, I know you live near a Peet's (right?) so what I'm going to suggest is that you purchase your coffee in smaller amounts if you find yourself
with coffee hanging around for more than a week (maybe a week for pre-ground coffee, and a week and a half to two weeks for whole-bean). Peet's does not suggest freezing. This is better than having beans sitting around outside for over a couple of weeks, but in general, freezing does remove some of the flavors of coffee. I would only recommend freezing if you don't have the opportunity to buy your coffee freshly roasted, or it's some super rare coffee that you don't want to run through in a timely fashion. Coffee is best kept for short periods of time after roasting in an air-tight container, especially once ground. Whole beans can withstand a LOT more, and can even handle some air.

Don't touch your beans! Don't even touch the inside of the bag in which you get your coffee. Even the cleanest hands will have oils, etc that will break down the flavor of the coffee. This doesn't mean don latex, but just use some caution while scooping. I'd recommend a coffee scoop instead of a regular spoon, to help prevent a lot of spillage.

Ideally, you'll be taking home whole beans and grinding them yourself, to ensure maximum freshness. What I recommend is having the store grind your beans a few times so you can really see what the coffee should look like, and then buy yourself a spice/coffee grinder (many companies make them, and they're relatively inexpensive), and just experiment.

Cleaning your grinder can be done in a few different ways, and just send me a tell if you need info on that. I recommend using a separate grinder for spices and coffees (for reasons I hope are as obvious as they seem).

Coffees - from Fine to Coarse:

Turkish (1) -- Perc/Espresso (3-4) - Cone (5) -- Basket (7) ------ French (12-13)


Before you know it, you'll have the amounts down to just eyeballing it, and really, that's they way to go with it. Becoming comfortable is paramount (IMHO).

Anyhow, I know that was complicated, but I hope it helps some.


PM me if you have any other kinds of questions. Please, please, please don't hesitate to use the french press. It's a thing of beauty, and really, you get the greatest coffee from it. Full and complex on the palate! Even the most simple coffees (like an Arabian Mocha Java) will come alive when you have all the elements in place.

Maybe I should bring all my coffee tools and do a LoT coffee demo live! ;)

[blueerica]

Awww, Jeebuz that was long!

[Gemini Cricket]

Me no likey coffee. Bleh.

But I do know a couple that has their own coffee plantation in Kona.
www.aikanekonacoffee.com/
Their coffee won some sort of award and I hear it's excellent. AND some of the coffee you may drink from them may have been handpicked by Gemini Juan Valdez Cricket himself.
'Come up to the plantation, see Kona, Brad!' they said and then I spent 6 hours helping them pick fu cking coffee beans... Pshaw! :D

[blueerica]

Best Kona (IMO) comes from a single plantation. Makes it taste more pure, IMO.... Mmmm...

Kona...

MMMmmm....

[scaeagles]

Me no likey coffee. Bleh.

Agreed. A foul beverage if there ever was one.

[Not Afraid]

I just made a pot at home and, boy, am I a tad bit happier.

[blueerica]

You should all come to my work this afternoon. Surely a great stop on the way to meeting Wendy & crew!

[Prudence]

The best cup of coffee is any cup *I* don't have to drink. I can't even stand the smell of it. That was the primary reason Ryan got a French press - not as much smell as a Mr. Coffee. The fact that it apparently tastes better (new! Tastier dirt!) is just an added bonus for him.

[Kevy Baby]

I am so very very very very sorry for not writing to this sooner. I caught myself in a spiral of getting myself back on the right footing after 5 glorious days off doing - well, doing whatever the hell it was I pleased. But now that I'm back to reality, I'm going to expound upon a few points...Thanks for the quick outline. When will we get something more specific?

[€uroMeinke]

Also, there's the issue of "How much coffee do I put in?" Peet's suggested amount of coffee per 6 oz of water is 2 tablespoons. HoLy Sh*T, you say? Yeah, I say that, too, every time I think about it. Honestly, it's a bit much for me at home, though for some reason it tastes just fine at work. I'm not sure why. I cut back slightly from that, and tend to make it 3 for every 12 oz of water. Don't tell them I said that.

I've discover with the French press at work, Peet's 2 tablespoon recommendation while seemingly excesive, make for the better cup of coffee - I tend to scale back a bit on the home drip machine, but for some reason less beans just takes away the body.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Wow, Erica! Thanks so much for writing all of that out. I knew this was the right place to ask. :)

Looks like I need to head over to Peet's this weekend and get started.

And for all of you that don't like coffee, what the hell is wrong with you?

;)

[€uroMeinke]

Ack! - I just shattered my work French Press :(

I must find some time this weekend to pick up a new one, or come Monday I shall be doomed

[Matterhorn Fan]

Aww...now I think I may want coffee.

[Not Afraid]

How in the hell do you shatter your work FP? Which one was it? Are you using the carabiner one?

[tracilicious]

Are there differences in quality as far as french presses go? I was thinking of making Michael a coffee station for his office with a french press, a grinder, a coffee canister and a few nice mugs for our anniversary. How do you heat the water for the french press?

[€uroMeinke]

How in the hell do you shatter your work FP? Which one was it? Are you using the carabiner one?

It was a cheep one I got at Ikea - so no big deal expense-wise

How do you heat the water for the french press?

I brought in my own hot pot as the alternatives I had was using the hot water tap on the bottled water dispenser (not nearly hot enough) or the microwave (too much a bother).

I picked up some cheep latte cups and saucers at Ikea which work great for me, I have a pair to I can share with anyone visiting my cube.

[Scrooge McSam]

Is there a Peet's in the DL general area or will a road trip be required to sample this famous local brew?

[FEJ]

I started ts. Dietrichs is not the Dietrichs I grew up with, but I am REALLY anxious to try Martin's new store, Keen. I've heard good things so far.


KEEN is great. I go there often. It is neat to see Martin there also. :D

[Stan4dSteph]

How do you heat the water for the french press?Cordless electric kettle! :D

[tracilicious]

How is it electric if there is no cord?

I saw an awesome tea press whilst looking for a french press. It rocked. I'll see if I can find the link again.

[Stan4dSteph]

How is it electric if there is no cord? It fits onto a base that powers it while boiling, then you lift it off to pour. Target has many varieties. Here's an example (http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1151121481/ref=sr_1_1/601-1583698-1142539?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B0002PYONC). I fell in love with this appliance while in New Zealand, and now don't know what I'd do without it. I have been mocked for my love. Mine automatically shuts off when it boils so it won't boil dry.

[Matterhorn Fan]

I saw an awesome tea press whilst looking for a french press. It rocked. I'll see if I can find the link again.Try this (http://store.teavana.com/brewandtouch.html) for tea. They're not joking when they call it perfect.

I do wish it came totally apart for the occasional good cleaning, but that would just make it more perfect.

[Prudence]

I don't even have to click on the link to know that Matterhorn Fan is talking about. Yes, it is perfect. Perfect, perfect, perfect, how did I live without this perfect.

Add the electric kettle and it's a whole new world of tea.

Which reminds me that I need to send Ryan out for more. I'm out of all my favorites.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Prudence--they have something new on the website (I haven't been into the store in too long): http://store.teavana.com/easyteasteeper.html

It says the filter comes out for cleaning, but it's not very stylish, is it? And apparently it's only "easy," not "perfect." (eep! and it doesn't fit on their mugs. I wouldn't use their mugs, but still. That seems odd).


I have a Revere-ware kettle on my stove. It's the small size, so it heats pretty fast, and I like to hear a teakettle whistle.

[Prudence]

Weird. Well, it looks like a teacup and all, I guess. I don't think I'll be trading in my perfect tea maker.

I like the electric kettle because if the auto shut off. With actual tea kettles Ryan tends to put them on to boil and wander off. (sigh.)

[Matterhorn Fan]

I wander off, too. But when it's ready it screams at me to come back. The system works for me.

I have a Hot Shot, but I don't use it that much. I don't like giving up the counter space for it.

[tracilicious]

That's cool, MF. This (http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=2&GID=7&LID=519&HID=10280%2D10&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=C2VCL9XRCNMW9MRQC4PFNTBS48500439) is what I saw before. Pretty sleek.

[Prudence]

I wander off, too. But when it's ready it screams at me to come back. The system works for me.


Well, you probably don't wander off and put on noise cancellation headphones turned up to the max. :rolleyes:

[Drince88]

That's cool, MF. This (http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=2&GID=7&LID=519&HID=10280%2D10&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=C2VCL9XRCNMW9MRQC4PFNTBS48500439) is what I saw before. Pretty sleek.
I REALLY want that! But sleek doesn't begin to describe it!

[Matterhorn Fan]

That's pretty cool. Is "press" just part of the name (because it's mimicing a French press?), or does it actually press the tea? Tea doesn't need to be pressed; it just needs to be taken out of the water. Hmmm.

Well, I'm not messing with perfection. ;) And Prudence--I don't have noise cancelling headphones, so no problems there.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Bumpin da thread to give my first french press coffee report. :)

Went to Ikea today and picked up one of their cheapie models. Then we stopped over at Peet's and got a 1/2 pound of their limited "Las Hermanas" coffee to christen it. I told the guy at the counter that I just bought a french press and he proceeded to give me a refresher course in how to use it. Also ground some beans to different levels of courseness to show me just about where the grind should be (pencil shavings, as he put it). It was very helpful.

Upon arriving at home, I gave the first batch a shot and am now drinking a damn good cup of coffee. I agree with Erica that Peet's recommended ration of coffee to water might be a tad strong. I went with it because I really like strong coffee but I'm halfway through this cup and am feeling a bit too jittery. I'll definitely go with Erica's suggested ratio next time. Still, it is absolutely the best cup of coffee I've ever made at home and is exactly what I was hoping for when starting this thread.

So thanks again for all your input. I really appreciate everyone's help!

(hmm, I wonder if this is what speed feels like) :)

[lashbear]

I'm so excited by this thread that I'm off for a bracing cup of International Roast.


*Blech*

BTW: In Aussieland we call a french press a "Plunger" - I've used one for years - the queens in the Mardi Gras Workshop put me onto it.

I like to use a home grinder for the beans, for the flavour is truly much better. I also find that the flavour is heightened by adding a shot of Galliano :D

[blueerica]

Is there a Peet's in the DL general area or will a road trip be required to sample this famous local brew?

NOoooo!!!

Why did this thread fall away from my view before you came out here. I could have had you stop by my Peet's! Oh, criminey! I could have brought you coffee!

*cries to herself*

[Scrooge McSam]

Pfft! Worry not... that kind of thing happens sometimes.

Besides, it's not like I'm not ever coming back, ya know ;)