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Author Topic: The Coffee Thread!!!  (Read 13344 times)

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Questhate

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2012, 06:34:56 PM »

So, I did some ordering on a starter coffee roasting kit.

The popcorn poppers seem to be a recommended coffee roaster for beginners getting into the hobby. The most recommended model is the Westbend Air Poppery II, which is now discontinued. Luckily I found one for $25 on Etsy. I should receive it by this weekend, so let's see how it goes.

Also ordered an AeroPress and a manual burr grinder. I usually just use a french press for my coffee, but friends have been happy with their Aeropress, which brews a coffee concentrate that you dilute with hot water, so figured I'd give it a shot.

Hopefully I'll get some roasting time in this weekend so I can update this thread with pictures.
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rhythmdevils

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2012, 08:04:12 PM »

Awesome marvin!  Looking forward to seeing how it goes
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omegakitty

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2012, 08:28:41 PM »

So, I did some ordering on a starter coffee roasting kit.

The popcorn poppers seem to be a recommended coffee roaster for beginners getting into the hobby. The most recommended model is the Westbend Air Poppery II, which is now discontinued. Luckily I found one for $25 on Etsy. I should receive it by this weekend, so let's see how it goes.

Also ordered an AeroPress and a manual burr grinder. I usually just use a french press for my coffee, but friends have been happy with their Aeropress, which brews a coffee concentrate that you dilute with hot water, so figured I'd give it a shot.

Hopefully I'll get some roasting time in this weekend so I can update this thread with pictures.

Not sure what beans you are using, but try one scoop and two scoop in the Aero and let us know what you prefer. For me even a single scoop makes damn strong Americanos. I'm a bit surprised Aero's default recommendation is to use 2 scoops.

Water temperature is also more important with the Aero, I recommend a digital thermometer.
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Hammy

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2012, 08:43:36 PM »

I like the Aeropress.  Easy and convenient for home.  I use it to make an americano style coffee.  I have a Hario Skerton hand grinder.  Works well for the Aeropress.  But not an ideal grinder to do a coarse grind for French press.  For the Areopress it works well.

The Aeropress instructions that come with it opt for using lots of coffee and lower temperature water and a short brew time.  Shorter brew time and lower temp water means you need more coffee.  I tend to go with less coffee, higher temp water and slightly longer brew time.
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Anaxilus.

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2012, 10:41:59 PM »

Thought I'd link this:

http://www.uci.edu/features/2009/01/feature_coffeemyths_090120.php

One of the most popular classes taught at my old school over the last 10 years or so.
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omegakitty

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #15 on: December 11, 2012, 11:04:19 PM »

I like the Aeropress.  Easy and convenient for home.  I use it to make an americano style coffee.  I have a Hario Skerton hand grinder.  Works well for the Aeropress.  But not an ideal grinder to do a coarse grind for French press.  For the Areopress it works well.

The Aeropress instructions that come with it opt for using lots of coffee and lower temperature water and a short brew time.  Shorter brew time and lower temp water means you need more coffee.  I tend to go with less coffee, higher temp water and slightly longer brew time.

Yep, I do ~190 F in the Aero. Though I also like more acidity that is extracted with hotter water.
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Hammy

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #16 on: December 12, 2012, 01:55:45 AM »

I think the instructions that come with the Aeropress are assuming people will be using grocery store quality coffee or Starbucks quality coffee.  For that quality of coffee the lots of coffee, low water temp, and short brew time recipe would be best.  But for good coffee you can use less coffee, higher temp water, and longer brew times without making the coffee bitter or too acidic. 

If you look at some of the Aeropress brewing techniques used in coffee shops and recommended by baristas you find they typically use 18-22 g of coffee, 7-8 oz of 190-200 degree water, and brew times of a minute or more.
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omegakitty

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #17 on: December 12, 2012, 03:02:10 AM »

Hammy have you used a moka pot plus steamer to make cappuccino? I am thinking about getting some as X-Mas gifts for fellow addicts that don't want to lay out the cash for a Breville or similar.
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rhythmdevils

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #18 on: December 12, 2012, 03:37:29 AM »

The best coffee I ever had was from a roaster who sold his beans at the farmers market in Ashland Oregon.  Not sure if he's still up there, but he was a real artist.  Talked about coffee like people talk about wine.  And I had the same experience of not needing sugar.  I actually began eating the roasted beans plain.  He had one variety that had a blueberry aftertaste that was amazing.  I double blinded myself against Peetes and found that I wasn't just getting dooped by the guy's potbelly and sexy rancher hat. 
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Kirosia

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Re: The Coffee Thread!!!
« Reply #19 on: December 13, 2012, 01:05:42 AM »



Kirosia don't really use it much to be honest, though he may reconsider since his job requires lots of caffeine.
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