Coffee, grind your own?

[ThemThereEyes]

I'm also a bean snob and buy my beans from a local in Charlotte who's as picky as I am. It's also the only shop here I'll buy a cup of straight coffee from. The other shops in Charlotte either have burnt (Starbucks) or skunky coffee.

I'm glad someone else noticed that! When I mentioned it to people before (not the baristas) they couldn't taste it.

 

[DeaconKC]

Wow, finally decided to try a French Press. It's a bit of a mess to clean up, but definitely worth the effort.

 

[Jeff M]

After using a French press to brew my coffee for many years, have recently switched over to a vacuum brewer;

http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/vacuum-brewers.html?source=side

using the Yama 5 cup brewer (which actually brews 2 cups...unless you like really tiny cups of coffee) with a Cona glass rod.
This method brews the coffee at the perfect temperature, produces great flavor and a very clean cup.
According to Sweet Marias, it actually was the predominant infusion brewing method during the early bo mid 1900's.
"Vntage" Cory vacuum brewers and components are frequently for sale on eBay...I own a couple from around the 1940-1950's.

I am a bit of a coffee fanatic....roast my own beans, use them up within a week, grind with a mill grinder just before adding the beans to the water.
I get my green beans and equipment from Sweet Maria's.com...a fantastic site for green beans, merchandise and information for those who love their coffee;

http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php

Roasting your own beans is very very simple...quick...enjoyable...allows you to roast the coffe to what YOU like best. There is a BIG difference between the burnt asphalt flavor that most coffee roasters seem to stive for (like Starbucks) that all tastes the same, to the flavor of a freshly roasted high quality bean..which can be fruity, nutty, like molases, earthy, bright, smooth, light or heavy body depending on the bean and how you roast it.
The equipment can be as simple and inexpensive as a heavy frying pan with spatula or a what is basically a popcorn popper pan up to a fully automated and timed home roasting machine.


(Haven't read the entire thread, so I don't know if this site has been already mentioned. )

 

[CodeRed]

Anyone try stumptown beans yet?

 

[jayinhk]

I get my beans from a local roaster who has a constantly changing variety of excellent single origin beans. You specify the roast level you want, and they roast when you order. They take PayPal and mail them to me across town here in Hong Kong, which takes around 24 hours. They have an excellent espresso setup in there too, but the place is so small, you can't really hang out in there for long!

I have a simple Kenwood burr grinder that has served me well for years. It won't grind uniformly enough for espresso, but it more than does the job for a French press. The difference in flavor between coffeeground in a blade grinder vs. a burr grinder is enormous!

 

[kyboots]

I have always been a bit of a coffee snob too with my beans and grinding, etc. But I have always felt the French Press to be the best at making fresh coffee. Even though it is a mess I agree to clean up I still prefer it. There was a period when Bunn made some popular alternatives to the press, but in the long run we always wind up back with the French press. StarBucks uses a type of French Press when you order something they don't have made, but it is not used correctly by most. Having had the discount card complimentary since it began; I finally gave in and quit going there completely. Saving a ton of money!! But not getting a good coffee fix during the day! HELP!--John

 

[jayinhk]

I have always been a bit of a coffee snob too with my beans and grinding, etc. But I have always felt the French Press to be the best at making fresh coffee. Even though it is a mess I agree to clean up I still prefer it. There was a period when Bunn made some popular alternatives to the press, but in the long run we always wind up back with the French press. StarBucks uses a type of French Press when you order something they don't have made, but it is not used correctly by most. Having had the discount card complimentary since it began; I finally gave in and quit going there completely. Saving a ton of money!! But not getting a good coffee fix during the day! HELP!--John

Grind beans in the morning. Buy a small French press. You can get hot water anywhere, so you never have to be without your fix.

 

[skyvue]

Grind beans in the morning. Buy a small French press. You can get hot water anywhere, so you never have to be without your fix.

If one is going to buy a small French press for the workplace, might as well buy an extra small grinder, too. There's nothing like freshly ground beans, after all.

 

[bretron]

Anyone try stumptown beans yet?

PDX in the buildin! This is my favorite NW roaster bar none

 

[Gregg Axley]

Freshmarket has a lot of nice beans.
I agree with grinding your own, I do this on Sat and Sun for weekend coffee, and use Community Coffee Dark Roast for the week.
Lately I've had Cafe L'Rounge(?) which has a hint of orange to it, and some sort of chocolate cherry blend.
Personally I think the coffee maker has something to do with the taste. I bought a Bunn several years ago and really love it, after going through numerous drip style makers.

 

[Tomasso]

I am a bit of a coffee fanatic....roast my own beans, use them up within a week

I caught some coffee expert on NPR a couple weeks ago and he told of a blind tasting session they held involving other expert tasters and to their surprise they found that the highest marks went to beans which were approximately 2 weeks old; followed by freshly roasted and month old.

 

[ButteMT61]

I caught some coffee expert on NPR a couple weeks ago and he told of a blind tasting session they held involving other expert tasters and to their surprise they found that the highest marks went to beans which were approximately 2 weeks old; followed by freshly roasted and month old.

Experts. Just like the wine experts. Every time I bought one some expert said was great, I hated it. Half the fun is the doing, and the smelling. Experts are free to do as they see fit, I'll stick with my novice palette.

 

[Gregg Axley]

Just like the wine experts. Every time I bought one some expert said was great, I hated it. Half the fun is the doing, and the smelling. Experts are free to do as they see fit, I'll stick with my novice palette.

Agreed. If I taste everything the expert says, especially tobacco and leather (in my wine), I've apparently had too much to drink.
I've also found with coffee, that I need to grind it really fine, and add 1 scoop more than required, in order to actually taste the flavoring.
My grinder is a Krups, but I actually have a manual one with WHC written in cursive on the handle.

 

[ButteMT61]

Agreed. If I taste everything the expert says, especially tobacco and leather (in my wine), I've apparently had too much to drink. I've also found with coffee, that I need to grind it really fine, and add 1 scoop more than required, in order to actually taste the flavoring.My grinder is a Krups, but I actually have a manual one with WHC written in cursive on the handle.

Same here. My tastes do not follow rules set forth by such folks. I grind mine finer and use more. I use cold, Arrowhead water and heated mugs. This expert likes it that way

 

[Tomasso]

Experts. Just like the wine experts. Every time I bought one some expert said was great, I hated it. Half the fun is the doing, and the smelling. Experts are free to do as they see fit, I'll stick with my novice palette.

The 'blind tasting' was the key point of my post. I'm a big fan of them. I like to know how things rate with knowledgeable people regardless of price, makers reputation, etc.....

 

[ButteMT61]

The 'blind tasting' was the key point of my post. I'm a big fan of them. I like to know how things rate with knowledgeable people regardless of price, makers reputation, etc.....

I understand what you're saying. But in fact, it's a matter of taste, not what's the best car for 2012 under $20k. Taste is highly subjective and part of what makes it taste better or more enjoyable is the grinding, etc. Most likely, if I were blindfolded, I couldn't tell the diff between any of them. I just dislike "expert opinion" on things of personal taste. Many items would fall under that category, if you know what I mean.

 

[Tomasso]

I just dislike "expert opinion" on things of personal taste. Many items would fall under that category, if you know what I mean.

Sure, like hats and leather jackets.....Why would one take advantage of the opinions of the many FLounge experts when they could just run out and buy some overpriced drek at the local mall.

 

[ButteMT61]

Sure, like hats and leather jackets.....Why would one take advantage of the opinions of the many FLounge experts when they could just run out and buy some overpriced drek at the local mall.

Those items are like the car. Something well-made isn't really subjective. Style, smell, taste are

 

[Tomasso]

Style, smell, taste are

Well I guess you don't consult restaurant guide books (Michelin, Zagat, Fodor, etc..) or locals when traveling to places you've never been to before. Just wing it, aye........

 

[ButteMT61]

Well I guess you don't consult restaurant guide books (Michelin, Zagat, Fodor, etc..) or locals when traveling to places you've never been to before. Just wing it, aye........

Absolutely! What fun is it to ask people how to do everything? Sheesh. Mistakes is for learnin'. It's the journey.