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Coffee Snobs


Atlanta Cracker
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I drink the heck out of some coffee and I don't generally get too picky about it. At home I use a Senseo coffee maker with Wolfgang Puck Columbian Blend pods. It's pretty decent and very convenient but it definitely isn't great or anything.

 

 

So I have been thinking of getting a French press to supplement, especially on weekends when I have extra time. I am curious, for those who use a French Press what brand do you use and what type of bean and grinder works well? Anyone use a fancy espresso machine or anything? Make my life better people. I know you can do it!

 

 

TIA

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for me, the best cup is basically an americano....hot water from espresso machine about a third to half full in a big mug. then two two-shot pulls of espresso. usually use fresh-ground coffee from my capresso burr grinder, fine-to-very-fine grind. basically you end up with a fairly strong cup of black coffee, with the flavors of espresso. delicious. sometimes I'll do some steamed and/or frothed milk for more of a capp., but usually just black.

 

another alternative is the french press, set to the coarsest grind. I like the french press, but it's pretty messy and time consuming, and still not nearly as good as something coming out of an espresso machine. also, don't go that route unless you're ok with some sediment in your coffee.

 

and then there's what I actually do most mornings (since it's quiet and you don't want to wake sleeping kids), which is drip from my bunn, using pre-ground coffee from a can. lavazza blu is an espresso grind, but it actually works great for drip as well, and is really delicious for canned coffee. almost as good as illy, but a lot cheaper.

Edited by Azazello1313
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You have to get a burr coffee grinder rather than a blade. It makes a big difference, especially since you can change the coarseness of the grind. For a french press you definitely want to use the coarsest setting. I'm fond of the Fair Trade Coffees from Wegmans, I particularly groove on the Jamaica Mid Day. Just remember that the lighter roasts have more caffeine than the darker roasts.

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No a fan of French press. Too grainy. I have had SB ground to the coarsest but still grainy.

 

I don't mind the sediment, but I know some do. one thing you can do is put a paper filter over the plunger thing and just push it down a little more slowly. that catches a lot of the fines that slip through the steel mesh. you lose some of the flavorful oils that are distinctive of french press/espresso, but not as much as you might think. it still tastes like french press coffee if you can get past the lack of feeling like you have sand in your mouth :wacko:

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I don't mind the sediment, but I know some do. one thing you can do is put a paper filter over the plunger thing and just push it down a little more slowly. that catches a lot of the fines that slip through the steel mesh. you lose some of the flavorful oils that are distinctive of french press/espresso, but not as much as you might think. it still tastes like french press coffee if you can get past the lack of feeling like you have sand in your mouth :wacko:

 

 

there are also small sieves that you can use while pouring directly into your cup

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I love using the french press. It is the easiest way to gaurentee the perfect water temperature for extracting the most flavor from beans. The reason for the coarse grind is not so it doesn't go through the mesh plunger, but because the most intense coffee flavor is on the outside of the bean. Allowing the coarse-ground beans to sit in the almost boiling water for 4.5-5 minutes is the best way to extract all that roasted flavor from the outside of the bean.

 

Try some different regions for different results. 100% Certified Kona is always good and a little floral. coffee from Sulawesi is awesome and earthy. Ethiopia has some good coffee as well. Check out paradiseroasters.com

 

Also, if you can find REAL Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee than I would suggest that. It comes at the steap price of $40-$45 a pound but it is worth every cent especially if you are brewing in a French Press.

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I will say unequivocally that properly brewed pressed coffee tastes noticeably different (and better) than a drip method. I've used various types of French presses, and favorites are the Planetary Designs travel mug, which can actually store a single serving of coffee in it, and the vacuum-insulated Thermos press, which keeps about 28 oz (not 34) of coffee warm for a couple of hours.

 

The best five or six cups of coffee I've ever had came from a place called "Savaya" in Tucson, AZ. They had their bean roaster right there next to the coffee bar, and anything that was 3-5 days post-roast was out of this world. Ground-to-serve and pressed on the spot. Roast date is one of the biggest taste factors, but obviously one of the most difficult to control for most consumers.

 

Here's a caveat to both of the above statements: I absolutely, positively love my Keurig, as long as it's brewing either Newman's Own Organic Extra Bold or Green Mountain Sumatra. For some reason, I don't really like ANY of the other million K-cup varieties. But even aside from the amazing, wonderful, blessed convenience of it, there's definitely something to be said for finding a coffee flavor (or two) you like and duplicating it 100 percent EVERY MORNING. When I think about such things, I realize how lucky I am in my life. :wacko:

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