Coffee stuff

[mywifeknowseverythin]

For those of you who are into coffee, I found this little article that might interest some of you.

I admit it. I am a coffee snob. I try not to be obnoxious about it, but let the record show: I enjoy a really great cup of coffee. But pay $4 a cup for it? No way. Even snobs have their limits.

Over the years, I’ve learned that a really good cup of coffee has less to do with money and more to do with knowledge and care. In fact—and this is the amazing thing—the more I learn, the less I spend.

BEANS. Purchase whole bean coffee as soon after it has been roasted as possible. Freshness is the key to a superb cup of coffee. Purchase in small amounts—only as much as you can use within 2 weeks of being roasted.

RATIO. The perfect ratio of coffee beans (prior to grinding) and water is: One-half cup whole beans to 8 cups of water.

GRIND. Grind your beans as close to brew time as possible. A burr or mill grinder that crushes the beans is preferable to a blade grinder that cuts them. Once ground, coffee should be used immediately.

WATER. If your water is highly chlorinated use bottled or filtered water. It must be right at 200 F, just short of boiling temperature, when it hits the dry grinds. This is critical to creating a great cup of coffee. Consume immediately.

STORE. The enemies of roasted coffee beans are air, moisture, heat and light—in that order. Keep your beans in an airtight container that is not close to moisture (sink, dishwasher), heat (oven, stove) or light (countertop). Do not store your daily coffee in the refrigerator or freezer because contact with moisture causes it to deteriorate. For larger quantities of roasted beans that you cannot use within 2 weeks, wrap in airtight bags and store for up to a month in the freezer—making sure the beans are completely protected against moisture. Once removed from the freezer, do not return.

BUY. Most supermarkets offer high-quality, roasted coffee beans for $.60 to $1 per ounce ($9.50 - $16.00 per pound). Ouch! Discount warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s and B.J.’s have considerably less expensive coffee at about $9 a pound for name brands like Starbuck’s and Peet’s. Still, that’s too rich for my blood.

ROAST. I roast my own coffee for two reasons: It is infinitely better tasting and half the price. I purchase green coffee beans by mail order for about $4 - $6 a pound, depending on current conditions and variety. I started out roasting in a popcorn popper (West Bend’s Poppery II is ideal) and have graduated to a small coffee roaster. My favorite resource for everything from roasting instructions to green coffee beans is http://www.u-roast-em.com/. Owner Jim Cameron has a wealth of knowledge and is anxious to share.

You won’t believe how easy it is to roast coffee. And enjoyable, too. I roast only one-week’s worth at a time—about twenty minutes. Green coffee beans have an indefinite, useful shelf life of at least a year, and probably two or longer. But I’ll never know. Coffee beans just don’t last that long around my house!

[Guest Fox300exchic]

My grandmother lives off coffee!

[quadmaniac]

This is great info, I've been actually struggling for 2 weeks now trying to brew different coffees to get a good taste. Purchased 5 different kinds, went to a new coffee maker from a perculator, and found that bottled water tastes better then my tap water. Instant coffee still tastes better to me for some reaon, but my brewing is getting better. I'll try some of those techniques you mentioned.

[mywifeknowseverythin]

Glad I could be of some help....However,,,I dont do anything that is Mentioned here....My Dad sent me this because he hates the way I drink the stuff....I fill my Coffee Filter 3/4 Full or so to 12 Cups of water and Walk away....Brand Doesnt matter....It pretty much all tastes the same to me at that Consistency....Whatever is Cheaper when I hit the Store is what I buy!!! The guys at work have Made the Coffee maker OFF LIMITS to me...Last time I made coffee 2 Guys got the Shakes and Puked....

[quadmaniac]

Haha...funny. I like it dark too.

[CK1999_400ex]

the post miner lives on coffee on his long nites of digging and posting

[Ajmboy]

An opportunity to revive a very old topic… 

I was about to start a new topic and found this one. I’m curious for those of you reading this and like coffee, what brand and type of coffee do you prefer? One of the gifts for Xmas was a coffee maker. Typical ninja with a warming plate. Use a paper filter or use the one that’s built in.

We typically go with instant, Tasters Choice French Roast, we like it. I buy it online when CVS runs a special for $6.99 each. Otherwise we buy some grounds and use a percolator. Most recently it’s been Starbucks pike… something or another. Dunkin’ grounds are also good. I’ve never had luck or really enjoyed Folgers and Maxwell House, maybe I need to try again… 

[jb68]

I actually enjoy the taste of Walmarts house brand dark roast. 

[Ajmboy]

I actually just started using Mcdonalds McCafe regular roast and its pretty good. Got it at walmart.

[Riki]

what kind of coffee makes would you recommend?

[Winnem]

Wow. This is so useful information. Coffee is a very important thing in my life. 

Thank you for the post 🤘

[johniii]

Folgers, easy to make. 🤣 drink way to much. 

[Winnem]

Word 🤣🤣

[4Trax]

We prefer Mcdonalds or Tim Hortons but also mostly use Kirkland dark roast from Costco

[Vlaco]

`Just wanted to share my Go Juice recipe. Whatever coffee you like, 14 grams of unsalted butter, 28 grams of coconut oil and 35% cream to your liking. This will wake you up, keep you going and keep you warm on a cold Canadian prairie winter morning. Give it a try. 

[mga]

recently, a neighbor brought us coffee from....Wendy's!  And i have to admit, it was smooth, and had great taste. There was nothing bitter about it.

[Mrdoodle]

My wife and I were in Puerto Rico a couple months ago. They have an INSANE amount of different coffies that are grown locally. We brought almost 20lbs home. I was sure the feds were going to do a cavity search. We made it through scott free. If you're ever there. You gotta do the Bicardi rum tour. And a couple coffee farms. Awesome trip! 

[Danno12]

Some good info in that article. I'm going to have to change how I store my beans. Thank you@

[Martin82]

Same for me , good article , i love good Italian coffee. Lavazza is good.

[jen]

America and Canada is the only place to drink coffee.  In Europe (the continent ) i could never get American coffee ..they called drip coffee. In the morning they did have expresso that was watered down.  The rest of the day it was expresso....AGGHHHH!

In Mexico (my Mexican is not  that good)  they would ask if I wanted Cafe Leche?  Yes coffee with cream.  They took Taster's Choice instant coffee ( i found out later) and poured in hot Carnations Milk...NO water....OMG!

Actually it wasn't bad.

Tim Horton's Coffee is my favorite.   

[Ajmboy]

On 1/9/2024 at 10:06 PM, Ajmboy said:

I actually just started using Mcdonalds McCafe regular roast and it’spretty good. Got it at walmart.

This has become a staple in our house, we now buy tubs of it… lol

[jen]

Yes McD's coffee is good...if i buy coffee that's the one i look for.   A friend claims that McD's coffee is Tim Horton's coffee.  Not sure about that.  But taking the coffee off as soon as it is finished makes it better..  I think McD's does that.

[WeeBee]

I've been a fan of Folgers Classic Roast since the Mid/ Late 1970s -

[jen]

I stayed a couple nights at a huge  NATO work compound in Croatia until I could get a Hotel.  They had " Nuked' milk and cream that did not have to be Refridgerated that i kept in my room for coffee.  However now I inly drink Black Coffee.

[jen]

I only use bean coffee.  Tim Hortons of course,  I have a Burr grinder that is very loud but has consistent grind, I think.  At the cottage I have a blade grinder.  I have to watch consistency of the grind with it. However, it's OK.

[jen]

Compounds in coffee show Benefits of drinking coffee...The New England Journal of Medicine shows that these compounds may improve the gut microbiome (made up of healthy bacteria that aid in digestion and boost immunity) and reduce what's called oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals outnumber antioxidants in a way that leads to disease-causing cellular damage in the body. “The beans also have a deep rich hue," Kirkpatrick says,  "and we know that the deeper the color of a plant, the more benefits we can expect for health.” Those benefits, research shows, translate into everything from lowering your risk of diabetes to potentially boosting your brain health.