Coffee - gween tea

[NoReturn]

It may have something to do with how coarse the grind is. Different brewing methods need different prep. With cold brew you want a coarser grind to keep things from overextracting due to the extended steep. It could also just be your coffee straight up not working well for cold brew.

I posted that 6 months ago, so today-me can actually tell you you're correct. It was that coffee. Switched it up a couple times and now I've got a method and beans that work much better.

 

[Gravityqueen4life]

Had to give up my love for coffee since it ruins my sleep. (I must be allergic to that shit). Green Tea and Eral Gray for me form now on.

 

[NoReturn]

Had to give up my love for coffee since it ruins my sleep. (I must be allergic to that shit). Green Tea and Eral Gray for me form now on.

I've noticed some people get the same issues with tea that others report with coffee. It's probably something genetic, right?

 

[Zhores Medvedev]

I've noticed some people get the same issues with tea that others report with coffee. It's probably something genetic, right?

A lot of the time it is. A friend of mine drank coffee his whole life until his mom got one of those ancestry tests that showed all of the genetic sensitivities his family had. Caffeine was one of them, so he cut it out and he immediately felt about a thousand times better

 

[Sirius]

My old Keurig is on its last legs, don't know what to replace it with though. Are Nespresso machines okay? I don't need absolutely top-tier coffee, but I feel like the Keurig stuff isn't very good.
Could probably spend $150-200.

 

[Zhores Medvedev]

My old Keurig is on its last legs, don't know what to replace it with though. Are Nespresso machines okay? I don't need absolutely top-tier coffee, but I feel like the Keurig stuff isn't very good.

Nespressos are pretty good IMO. Definitely an upgrade in my opinion

 

[OutInTheRain]

My old Keurig is on its last legs, don't know what to replace it with though. Are Nespresso machines okay? I don't need absolutely top-tier coffee, but I feel like the Keurig stuff isn't very good.
Could probably spend $150-200.

We have a Nespresso at work. It's pretty good and I use them to make Americanos for myself.

 

[Rich Evans Ayypologist]

After posting in the Quarterpounder thread about his coffee grift, it occurred to me that I should look for a coffee thread here.

I've bought my way through an espresso machine, stovetop moka pot, french press, cold-brew pitcher (not quite as good as cheesecloth-straining, but less cleanup), and I have an eye to get a vacuum and a turkish pot at some point. I assume vacuum pots are mostly just an expensive, pretentious toy - but if the flavor profile is different from an espresso machine, I'd still like to have the option. Sortof like how the moka pots are a lot richer, sharper of a flavor of espresso than a proper machine (if much more inconvenient).

 

[Coffee Druid]

I've been using a cheap Delonghi espresso machine for awhile now and it gets the job done. I don't use the milk frothing wand in part since I'm too lazy to clean several pieces after each use. I'm trying to test different brands of ground espresso to find which ones I prefer. My local grocery store has bulk coffee beans and grinder machines but they're built on lies. I need very finely ground coffee for espresso. Even on the finest/Turkish setting it only grinds course (like pour-over grade). I think right now I've been buying tins of Lavazza grounds and they're just fine.

Coffee doesn't really make me awake, nor does it really mess up my sleep. Either I've built up a resistance from drinking it everyday (perhaps my username is appropriate) or I'm just not inclined to it. I just really like the taste and the ritual.

 

[Rich Evans Ayypologist]

I don't use the milk frothing wand in part since I'm too lazy to clean several pieces after each use.

For the most part, you don't need to do this every time. It's enough to just clean the residual milk off of the wand, and even then you can get away with letting it sit between uses (assuming daily use). You do want to maybe once a week or two just run hot water through the wand to clear any internal blockages, but it's not an involved effort. So long as you're keeping up with descaling every month or two, it shouldn't run into much trouble. You'll also probably fuck up using the wand at first, but it becomes super-intuitive after a while. When I first started, I had it too close to the wall of the frothing pitcher, and it was making this horrible resonant sound that was so loud I had to use earplugs. Obviously, that's just holding it like a retard.

Just-milk usually has an uninteresting taste unless you're making macchiato, so I often-enough will use a little syrup. Torani is cheap-enough, easy to find, and suitable for starter-level, but Monin is the good stuff. I normally put it in the steamed milk before hitting it with a frothing wand, but I like the physical sensation of milk-foam so even then that's skippable. I also highly recommend espresso pucks if you don't already have one - they make cleanup of the tamper between uses a godsend. They're supposed to affect the balanced pour of it, too, but I think that's just marketing BS.

I'm trying to test different brands of ground espresso to find which ones I prefer

I'd say they're all going to create fairly weak espresso, because that's just the nature of pre-ground coffee that appears in supermarkets. But you're right that the majority of coffee grinders don't do the trick - they're built around pourover coffee, and they're both unfit for either coarse methods (cold-brew, french-press) or fine espresso.

I dropped a decent chunk of change on a conical burr grinder, which has variable settings for coarse->fine (though I still prefer a hand-grinder for coarse). They go on sale kindof regularly, though, so like any expensive coffee purchase you want to wait until it's randomly got a discount slapped onto it if you spring for it. The other annoying consideration is that if you go off-brand (which you should, the on-brand coffee appliances all have ridiculous markups), getting replacement parts can be a real pain in the ass. As a result you want to be semi-regular in upkeep on the grinder - oiling the gears, running some SuperGrindz through.

It's a bit of work, but it's worth it. The taste of freshly-ground espresso is rich and vibrant, and you can absolutely notice the flavor of different blends peeking through. I still think stovetop moka gets this flavor stronger with a nicer texture, but the machines still do a great job.

Coffee doesn't really make me awake, nor does it really mess up my sleep.

It wakes me up and it does fuck with my sleep, but that's why I stock both regular and decaff coffee for when the craving strikes after noon, lol.

 

[Coffee Druid]

I also highly recommend espresso pucks if you don't already have one

Very educational post altogether. But there's so many accessory products like that to consider too. I'm limited by budget at the moment, so I work with what I have. When I get the means to though, I'm definitely going to have a home barista setup for myself and make my friends coffee when they're over too. I'll put it right next to my future minibar

I think my next purchase will be a burr grinder for sure. Having a hand cranked grinder sounds kind of nice even if it's more work, like the ritual idea I mentioned above. Savor the process like some people do with matcha.

I also enjoy making my own syrups, so experimenting with all the flavors of coffee drinks is a fun idea.

 

[Rich Evans Ayypologist]

Having a hand cranked grinder sounds kind of nice even if it's more work, like the ritual idea I mentioned above

My only warning is that it sounds like more fun than it is. They're really only useful for the coarse grinds, and you'll wind up grinding for like 5 minutes (or at least it feels that way) to get enough for a french press or a cold-brew. I do think it produces a better coarse grind than a machine, but it's something to be aware of.

If you're hosting friends, you'll almost want to pre-grind anything coarse, because the hand-crank is pretty loud and everyone will stare at you while you pointedly interrupt their conversations.

 

[God of Nothing]

in the market for a coffee maker
already have a french press and it's not bad: i just think a good old pot of coffee is more convenient and tastes richer

 

[Neodanthril]

i was never much of a coffee person until i bought a french press and a grinder. nowhere near as bitter as drip

 

[God of Nothing]

i was never much of a coffee person until i bought a french press and a grinder. nowhere near as bitter as drip

i like the bitterness

 

[DuckofDoom]

in the market for a coffee maker
already have a french press and it's not bad: i just think a good old pot of coffee is more convenient and tastes richer

If you're in the market for a higher-end coffee maker, I highly recommend the Technivorm Moccamaster. I've had mine for years and it has been a fantastic little machine. I never really appreciated the flavor you can get from medium and light roasts until I started using it.
The manufacturer sells replacements for just about every part of the machine, so if something does eventually break, you can actually repair it, instead of just getting a new one. On top of that, there's no extraneous electronics that can fail, and absolutely no "smart" or app control BS.
I recommend the model that has a thermal carafe, instead of the plain glass one, just for the sake of durability.

 

[- -]

2.5 scoops of medium roast filter coffee with some milk on top, just so the color changes a little and so I don't need to wait for it to cool down. Not too bitter but enough for starbucks fags to not fuck with it.

I typically enjoy it with cinnamon rolls or oat biscuits

 

[Friend of Dorothy Parker]

If you're in the market for a higher-end coffee maker, I highly recommend the Technivorm Moccamaster. I've had mine for years and it has been a fantastic little machine. I never really appreciated the flavor you can get from medium and light roasts until I started using it.
The manufacturer sells replacements for just about every part of the machine, so if something does eventually break, you can actually repair it, instead of just getting a new one. On top of that, there's no extraneous electronics that can fail, and absolutely no "smart" or app control BS.
I recommend the model that has a thermal carafe, instead of the plain glass one, just for the sake of durability.

I was just about to post this exact machine! Mine is well over a decade old and looks and performs like new. I have the thermal carafe and second your recommendation for that option over the glass. The carafe is borosilicate glass inside steel.

The Technivorm Moccamasters are handmade in the Netherlands and are very, very simple - there is one button, no bells, no whistles. Some have a warming plate, but I just like the simple carafe approch. Design-wise, it's kind of inside-out construction, in that the parts a lot of coffeemakers hide are visible (you can watch the water movement). They also come with a 5-year warranty, which is pretty long (though as I've said mine's been flawless a lot longer than that). And tgey are fast. I usually make just 2-4 cups at a time, and it's done in like 2 minutes.

1. FAST BREWING TIME

Simple to use with a quiet brew process, the KBGT makes a full carafe of coffee in 4-6 minutes.

2. CONSISTENT TEMPERATURE

The copper boiling element rapidly heats water to a brewing temperature of 196°F - 205°F and automatically shuts off when the water reservoir is empty.

3. PRECISE ENGINEERING

The boiling action moves the water up the glass tube, where it flows into the outlet arm and pulses over the brew basket, blooming the coffee grounds in a manual pour-over coffee style.

4. OPTIMIZED COFFEE EXTRACTION

The cone-shaped brew basket steeps the coffee grounds, extracting the coffee's full flavor and maximizing its complexity, taste, and aroma.

5. THERMAL CARAFE

The glass-lined stainless steel carafe maintains coffee quality, integrity, and taste for up to an hour. Every thermal carafe comes with a Brew-Thru Lid and Travel Lid.

I have a burr grinder (Breville) and it's very good. I also keep a can of Illy (or Lavazzo or similar) espresso around. It's fantastic, and I use it like regular coffee; I also grind my whole bean coffee very fine - just a preference.

 

[Fabio Socialist]

My only warning is that it sounds like more fun than it is. They're really only useful for the coarse grinds, and you'll wind up grinding for like 5 minutes (or at least it feels that way) to get enough for a french press or a cold-brew. I do think it produces a better coarse grind than a machine, but it's something to be aware of.

You'll take my Porlex from my cold dead hands. Bless those inventive little Japs.

If you're hosting friends, you'll almost want to pre-grind anything coarse, because the hand-crank is pretty loud and everyone will stare at you while you pointedly interrupt their conversations.

So, no different from my usual hosted gatherings.

Had one friend staying over who preferred my French press to my Aeropress or the Moka pot. One day he was standing in the kitchen grinding away, bemoaning his lot in life, grunting and dramatically sighing like a lovesick teenager, until I informed him that "it builds character".

 

[Smoltine Kiminal]

My old Keurig is on its last legs, don't know what to replace it with though. Are Nespresso machines okay? I don't need absolutely top-tier coffee, but I feel like the Keurig stuff isn't very good.
Could probably spend $150-200.

im a big fan of the simplicity of the french press
the quality of the brew is TOP
a french press is very cheap too, cleaning is fast, needs no filters or any other consumable except for the coffee itself
the hot water does not come into contact with any plastics, silicone, aluminum, rubber gaskets and so on, so its very healthy aswell