Coffee gear and discussion thread

Kitchen Knife Forums

Help Support Kitchen Knife Forums:

Craig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
268
Reaction score
0
This isn't terribly new for me, but here's my coffee gear.

Grinder (Hario ceramic burr grinder):

CMHC-4C.jpg


Maker (Bodum vacuum):

cona3.jpg


Next step is a roaster, I suppose. One of these days.
 

Jim

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
1,840
Reaction score
4
I love my Vac pot!
You really must start to roast your own, nothing like it!
 

Craig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
268
Reaction score
0
The Behmor roaster is the size of a large toaster oven, and is the best home roaster available, in my experience.

Yeah, I want something smaller than that.

Well, I really just want a bigger kitchen with one of those in it. But you know.
 

Jim

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
1,840
Reaction score
4
Roasting in a kitchen without a serious range hood can be very smokey
 

Kyle

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2011
Messages
506
Reaction score
1
We really need a coffee/gear thread. I'm not a huge coffee nerd, but I certainly appreciate a good cup of coffee. I can still stomach some office Folgers, so I'm not quite to snobbery levels yet. Right now I'm just buying bulk coffee and coarse grinding at the store and then brewing in a French press.

I know, I need a grinder but I haven't been ready to plunk down the money. I'll probably go with a manual burr grinder, I don't have the budget for a good automatic. Plus I usually only make coffee on the weekends, so the extra effort doesn't bother me.

I've also been thinking of replacing the French press, it's just a cheapy I bought for $10 at Bed Bath & Beyond. I've heard really good things about the AeroPress but I don't know much else about it. Maybe I'll look into the vacuum pot that Craig posted. Is there anything else I should look into? One of the things that draws me to the AeroPress is I've heard it's good for brewing ahead of time and then serving as iced coffee later, which I do like to drink during the summer, but I don't know much about that.
 

WildBoar

Home cook, knife accumulator
KKF Supporting Member
Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
5,666
Reaction score
2,694
Location
NoVa (US)
eBay is good for finding a smaller commercial-grade burr grinder at a substantial discount from new. Depending on your local, CraigsList can be pretty good as well. Always lots of small shops going out of business or owners retiring.
 

so_sleepy

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
155
Reaction score
1
The Aeropress makes coffee concentrate, I use it to make iced coffee drinks. I use a Chemex for my drip coffee and prefer the results.
 

Andrew H

The alleles created by mutation may be beneficial
Joined
Apr 1, 2011
Messages
1,920
Reaction score
1
I use a Chemex for my drip coffee and prefer the results.
IMHO chemex is the only way to go for drip. I've never tried roasting my own - mainly because I've been spoiled with intelligentsia coffee. Family friend works there, he gets to travel to all of their farms and "check" on the beans, lucky bastard.
 

Lars

Founding Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
3,116
Reaction score
17,592
Location
Denmark
The Aeropress is very versatile - I just had a very nice cup of light roasted Kieni from Kenya.

Here is the recipe(the Aeropress is used upside down):
17g of coffee ground just a little coarser than a traditional filter brew.
200g of water @ 95 celsius.
30 sec steep time, turn it over and press.
Turned out a very clean, well balanced cup of coffee.

For espresso and milk based drinks I use a Dalla Corte mini and a Ditting KE640 grinder.
 

rahimlee54

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
657
Reaction score
10
Is there something I can look for at a store that tells me if they brew good coffee. I have never been a fan of coffee as of yet, but I want to give it a good try before I write it off completely. So any suggestions as to what to look for and try would be helpful.

Thanks
Jared
 

Lars

Founding Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
3,116
Reaction score
17,592
Location
Denmark
Is there something I can look for at a store that tells me if they brew good coffee.

Look for a place that serves black coffee brewed to order. No pour over machine allowed..

Good coffee should taste great, with lots of flavours and not be served too hot.

Espresso can be great but is kind of an acquired taste.

Milk based drinks are more like cocktails, they taste great, but you don't taste the coffee so much..
 

StephanFowler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
168
Reaction score
0
there's a place local here that only serves french press, you order a coffee and press it yourself at the table.
 

so_sleepy

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
155
Reaction score
1
Is there something I can look for at a store that tells me if they brew good coffee.

Ask if they roast their own coffee or get it from a local roaster. Coffee is getting past its prime about a week after roasting. If the menu has a selection of single-origin coffees, it is an indication they take it more seriously (or take themselves too seriously).

That said, coffee has a variety of flavors based on origin and the roast. I like coffee a lot, but that doesn't mean i automatically enjoy every product no matter how exotic or expensive.
 

Craig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
268
Reaction score
0
there's a place local here that only serves french press, you order a coffee and press it yourself at the table.

I'm not sure I like that setup, though it's obviously better than most places. Do they pour the water for you? If so, do they do it at the table? I would worry that they pour the water then let it sit for an unknown amount of time before it gets to you, so you don't know how long to steep for. For similar reasons, I'm not much of a fan of French Press' in general. I prefer to have my coffee and tea removed from the liquid entirely.

Ask if they roast their own coffee or get it from a local roaster. Coffee is getting past its prime about a week after roasting. If the menu has a selection of single-origin coffees, it is an indication they take it more seriously (or take themselves too seriously).

That said, coffee has a variety of flavors based on origin and the roast. I like coffee a lot, but that doesn't mean i automatically enjoy every product no matter how exotic or expensive.

When people who really don't know coffee ask me that question, I usually just tell them to look for a place with the illy sign in the window and to ask for an Americano instead of just a coffee. The above steps only make sense for people who are already into decent coffee, imo.
 

l r harner

Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
550
Reaction score
0
The Aeropress makes coffee concentrate, I use it to make iced coffee drinks. I use a Chemex for my drip coffee and prefer the results.

funny i thought it jsut made a nice strong cup
i use 2 scoops of grounds fill the press to the top swish the mix let settle out and then press i do top off the cup cause its not all the way full
love the cup of coffee it makes (tho no one lieks to drink coffee like this at the house sept for me )
 

StephanFowler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
168
Reaction score
0
I'm not sure I like that setup, though it's obviously better than most places. Do they pour the water for you? If so, do they do it at the table? I would worry that they pour the water then let it sit for an unknown amount of time before it gets to you, so you don't know how long to steep for. For similar reasons, I'm not much of a fan of French Press' in general. I prefer to have my coffee and tea removed from the liquid entirely.

They roast their own beans daily, and they pour each order immediately when you ask for it and your handed your mug and the french press to go to your table..




http://www.drinkcoffeedogood.com/ <--- this place


it's funny because the building their in used to be a luthier's shop that my dad would take his '64 Martin to for tune up work, they had a beautiful assortment of very very nice guitars. I'd been going there since I was a young teenager. so it's a weird memory lane type thing for me to go there.
 

so_sleepy

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
155
Reaction score
1
funny i thought it jsut made a nice strong cup
i use 2 scoops of grounds fill the press to the top swish the mix let settle out and then press i do top off the cup cause its not all the way full
love the cup of coffee it makes (tho no one lieks to drink coffee like this at the house sept for me )

yep, that is exactly how to do it. two scoops should be right for around 10 ounces of coffee once you top it off. It's just right for a good sized mug of coffee. Sweet Maria's directions are better than the manufacturer:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/aeropress/aeropress_instructions.php
 

Craig

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2011
Messages
268
Reaction score
0
They roast their own beans daily, and they pour each order immediately when you ask for it and your handed your mug and the french press to go to your table..




http://www.drinkcoffeedogood.com/ <--- this place


it's funny because the building their in used to be a luthier's shop that my dad would take his '64 Martin to for tune up work, they had a beautiful assortment of very very nice guitars. I'd been going there since I was a young teenager. so it's a weird memory lane type thing for me to go there.

Oh, that's fine then. I've been some places where you order from the table and they eventually bring you a press, which annoys me.
 

obtuse

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
949
Reaction score
1
My favorite brew methods include the Bonmac no.2 single hole dripper, the Hario V60 no.2 dripper and the Aeropress. For the drippers I use a grind between filter and espresso, medium fine. I use about 22-26 grams of coffee per 10oz cup; I like the added strength and body. I use a Hario Bueno kettle and ride the bloom for a 3:30-4:30 minute pour; cooler water temperature is key for this, 190°F to 180°F. I can't stand the taste of astringent or overly bitter coffee. I'm still playing with the Aeropress, but I usually use the inverted method and let it steep for 2-3 minutes&#8212;I also can't stand the taste of overdosed, underextracted coffee. I'm getting ride of my Chemex because the Hario V60 has a design I like better. I seldom use a french press, but when I do I use a 6 min steep time and insulate my press. Going to finally order my Behmor today! Cheers
 

wenus2

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Messages
910
Reaction score
1
I haven't hardly touched my Aeropress since I picked up a Clever Coffee dripper about a year ago. I only use it on the go with a hand grinder or on lazy days where I don't feel up to washing the vac pot, otherwise I use a Yama TCA-5 vacuum brewer about 90% of the time. I don't feel like anything else touches that brewing method for a straight cup, but it can be a PITA some days.

Cold brew is great, whoever said they wanted iced coffee. I love cold brew all summer, it's actually one of the few things I'll splash an inch of milk into. You can brew it up thick like tar :) Ice dripped is also fantastic stuff, a whole different experience in coffee. The equipment is kinda spendy, but if you ever happen in a place that offers it, don't pass it by.

Congrats on the Behmor Obtuse, don't forget to download the "behmorthing." It goes a long way to helping keep track of what/how you are roasting.
 

SpikeC

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
3,766
Reaction score
16
I start my day with an americano from my La Pavoni Strativari. I souped up a Kitchenaid Proline grinder with Mazzer Mini burrs, and it does a very nice job of grinding.
When I need to make a pot for some reason I use a Technivorm Mocca Master. It is a very simple machine and does a great job of temperature control of the water.
I get my beans from Stumptown Roasters, they roast the beans a mile from my house and date the bags with the roasting date, so you know how fresh it is and whether you need to let it rest before brewing.
 

obtuse

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
949
Reaction score
1
One day I want to add a syphon to my brew lineup! wensus2, what do you use for cold brewing? I have not tried a cold brewed coffee. I remember working for a place that sold the Toddy.
 

Jim

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
1,840
Reaction score
4
displayimage.php





Fun with COFFEE



displayimage.php

displayimage.php
 
Last edited:

Rotary

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2011
Messages
66
Reaction score
0
Jim,

Do you like your Technivorm? I've been toying with the idea of getting one for my wife, who's a total coffee nut.
 

Jim

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
1,840
Reaction score
4
Jim,

Do you like your Technivorm? I've been toying with the idea of getting one for my wife, who's a total coffee nut.

I never regreted buying it. Works well.
 

Eamon Burke

Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
4,931
Reaction score
13
I grind my beans with a cheap grinder, and a mortar and pestal before that. I put the ground up beans in a saucepan of 200F water, let it sit, stir it, let it sit, and strain it into a cup.
 

obtuse

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
949
Reaction score
1
I grind my beans with a cheap grinder, and a mortar and pestal before that. I put the ground up beans in a saucepan of 200F water, let it sit, stir it, let it sit, and strain it into a cup.

I played around with a version of that. Total immersion brewing in a vacuum carafe, for 3-4 minutes, then poured through a chemex filter. I found it takes as much tweaking as any other brew method. I prefer pouring water out of a fancy kettle.
 

SpikeC

Founding Member
Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
3,766
Reaction score
16
The Appaloosa horse club used to do a version of that on the annual trail ride, butt they put the coffee in a pair of panty hose and the water was 212º!
 
Top