Coffee Drinkers

[Beer_is_good_for_you]

Used to always use creamer or milk and a little sugar. A few months back (long after switching to better coffee) I tried it black and, well, haven't gone back. :cross:

 

[CoalCracker]

I love pumpkin pie bars. I eat the hell outta them when they are around!!

 

[Bensiff]

I got tired of $13 a pound for good stuff so dropped $500 on a Gene Cafe roaster a few years back and cut the cost of beans in half...my wife made sure to get everyone to laugh at me for saving money by spending $500 on a roaster, funny thing is that that roaster has now paid for itself...guess that isn't funny so no on says anything about that. I buy all my beans from Sweet Marias, its great because we always get to enjoy new flavors as new crops come in. I run it through a Baratza Vario and serve it black every morning, no better way to start a day.

 

[CoalCracker]

The french press and coffee have been delivered and are waiting for me to get home. Can't wait to try it. Gotta get me one of these now.

http://www.troegs.com/tasting_room_general_store/shop_our_online_gift_shop.aspx?item=166

 

[Bensiff]

The french press and coffee have been delivered and are waiting for me to get home. Can't wait to try it. Gotta get me one of these now.

http://www.troegs.com/tasting_room_general_store/shop_our_online_gift_shop.aspx?item=166

Next you will have to get a quality grinder if you don't already have one. They aren't cheap but they make a heck of a difference.

 

[CoalCracker]

Yea that will probably be the next purchase. Or, I'll put it on the wedding registry. I have to have something on there too right?

 

[tre9er]

I got a B&D burr grinder for about $40...not sure if it's robbing me of anything, seems to work just like a burr grinder should, by chipping the beans down to small enough particles to fall into the container...sorta like a Corona Mill.

 

[Bensiff]

Yea that will probably be the next purchase. Or, I'll put it on the wedding registry. I have to have something on there too right?

I did a ton of homework when I bought mine and found that most grinders are pretty crappy until you get into hundreds of dollars so ended up getting the Baratza Vario, its an awesome machine for home and can grind all they way down to Turkish. If you decide to spend that kind of coin just a heads up that they offer refurbished units on their website that will save you a ton of money and they have great customer service.

Oh yeah, congrats on getting married.

 

[WesleyS]

I got a B&D burr grinder for about $40...not sure if it's robbing me of anything, seems to work just like a burr grinder should, by chipping the beans down to small enough particles to fall into the container...sorta like a Corona Mill.

Dang it all! Now I'm going to be grinding beans in my corona mill just to see if it works.

 

[EllisTX]

Back when I had a Tassimo I would do espresso all day. Got too expensive so now I just find the darkest locally roasted coffee possible and go the drip route. I'd like to get another french press since my last one was abused by my wife till it broke.

 

[jsguitar]

I'm right with you guys. I got way into it sometime back and got a Quickmill Anita espresso machine, Mazzer mini grinder. Now I also have a Behmor roaster and a Bunn VPR airpot machine. I get lazy on the roasting sometimes and just buy some good coffee somewhere. A good local place in the KC area is Broadway Roasting Co. but I like Metropolis and others as well.

 

[headbanger]

Do yourself a favor... Technivorm Mochamaster. Best 300 bucks you will ever spend on coffee.

 

[tre9er]

Dang it all! Now I'm going to be grinding beans in my corona mill just to see if it works.

I have very little doubt that it will

 

[CoalCracker]

Made some coffee in the press this weekend. Made the Cafe du monde. Wasn't a huge fan of that. However with ice and sweetened condensed milk. Holy mother it's good. I brought the press to work with me with some Sumatran coffee. Made it too weak this morning though. I have to get the scoops down.

 

[tre9er]

Made some coffee in the press this weekend. Made the Cafe du monde. Wasn't a huge fan of that. However with ice and sweetened condensed milk. Holy mother it's good. I brought the press to work with me with some Sumatran coffee. Made it too weak this morning though. I have to get the scoops down.

I use 6 scoops for a full press, FWIW.

 

[NervousDad]

Made some coffee in the press this weekend. Made the Cafe du monde. Wasn't a huge fan of that. However with ice and sweetened condensed milk. Holy mother it's good. I brought the press to work with me with some Sumatran coffee. Made it too weak this morning though. I have to get the scoops down.

Yeah that coffee need the condensed milk the chicory is way too bitter on it's own.

 

[TxBrew]

You must race around like you did an 8 ball!! I drink about three 16oz cups a day. Could probably drink more if I would sleep at night. I cut it off at 3ish.

Not at all. I'm used to it. I stop at 6pm to be in bed by 10.

I love iced Vietnamese style, with Café Du Monde Coffee & Chicory with condensed milk. It will wake you up!

That it will. I go through phases in the summer where I exclusively drink Vietnamese coffee. Cafe Bustelo works well with this method. I like Du Monde in a press, but for Vietnamese the chicory is lost.

I just used a heavy cast iron pan and the shake technique. Unfortunately, I am at the other side of the spectrum from coffee snob. I will drink anything, just so long as it is coffee and it is hot.

I will too. Above all I' am addicted to caffeine. I prefer quality, but I will drink day old drip cold if I have to.

I have a Gaggia Classic with grinder.

http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/classic.cfm

One of the best machines I've ever used.

 

[jammin]

I like straight espresso. I drink it all day every day. Last count was 12 shots a day. I'm starting to slow down though. I'm on 8 so far for the day.

do you have an espresso machine, TxBrew?


edit: just saw that you have a Gaggia Classic. Cool!

I roast my own beans and brew a lot of espresso at home too.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I got a B&D burr grinder for about $40...not sure if it's robbing me of anything, seems to work just like a burr grinder should, by chipping the beans down to small enough particles to fall into the container...sorta like a Corona Mill.

I'd recommend getting a burr grinder. You'll see a big difference compared to other types of grinders. I forget the name of the one I use but it's around $60 and made a big difference in my brews. I also do the french press. Do some googling on burr coffee grinders and you'll get a lot of info.

 

[tre9er]

I'd recommend getting a burr grinder. You'll see a big difference compared to other types of grinders. I forget the name of the one I use but it's around $60 and made a big difference in my brews. I also do the french press. Do some googling on burr coffee grinders and you'll get a lot of info.

(re-read my post...I DO have a burr grinder...just a cheap B&D model, though)

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

(re-read my post...I DO have a burr grinder...just a cheap B&D model, though)

I was reaffirming your statement. I should have +1'd you

 

[TxBrew]

do you have an espresso machine, TxBrew?


edit: just saw that you have a Gaggia Classic. Cool!

I roast my own beans and brew a lot of espresso at home too.



View attachment 78789

Nice! Manuel?

 

[jammin]

Nice! Manuel?

Yes sir. Can even run line pressure (3 bar) to start or finish a shot.

 

[estricklin]

The first step to good coffee, is a Bunn coffee maker.

 

[jwwbrennan]

I roast with a Behmor 1600, grind with a Rancilio Rocky and put espresso in cups with a Rancilio Sylvia. It's a dependably good combination. We get green beans in large quantities as they improve with age (for the first year as reports would have it).

 

[Bensiff]

I roast with a Behmor 1600, grind with a Rancilio Rocky and put espresso in cups with a Rancilio Sylvia. It's a dependably good combination. We get green beans in large quantities as they improve with age (for the first year as reports would have it).

Huh, that is exactly opposite of my understanding on green beans. I have always heard that the fresher the better. But, with good packaging and freezer storage they have a respectably shelf life.

 

[TxBrew]

Huh, that is exactly opposite of my understanding on green beans. I have always heard that the fresher the better. But, with good packaging and freezer storage they have a respectably shelf life.

I've read mixed reviews on whether they should be allowed to sit, or fresher the better.

I'm still of the mind that fresher is better.

 

[Bensiff]

I've read mixed reviews on whether they should be allowed to sit, or fresher the better.

I'm still of the mind that fresher is better.

This is what I have gone off of so far, from Sweet Maria's:

Q: How long does unroasted coffee last for?
A: The flavor of unroasted coffee is fairly stable when stored in a cool, dry place. Green coffee will not have a drop in cup quality from about 6 months up to 1 year from arrival date (every coffee we sell has an arrival date in the review).

It doesn't really impact me though, I tend to buy all my green beans in either 2-5 lb quantities so I go through them well before 6 months. Probably good, if I bought in bulk and had to vacuum pack and freeze my hops would be none too happy to try sharing space

 

[QuaffableQuips]

In general, fresher is better, but the time between roasting and tasting is much more critical than the time that the green beans sit.

Coffee that was harvested last year and roasted two days ago (assuming good handling and storage) will almost always taste better than coffee that was roasted six weeks ago from this year's harvest.

 

[Bensiff]

In general, fresher is better, but the time between roasting and tasting is much more critical than the time that the green beans sit.

Coffee that was harvested last year and roasted two days ago (assuming good handling and storage) will almost always taste better than coffee that was roasted six weeks ago from this year's harvest.

Can't argue with that. I don't think I drink coffee more than a week old anymore. Tasting the difference from day to day as it progresses is one of my favorite aspects of roasting. I think I like days 2-3 the best on most coffees.