coffee - how anal are you?

[Ken Gargett]

i thoroughly enjoy good coffee though will confess i an an amateur in many respects.

over at a good mate of mine's on the weekend - we were off to a christmas wine lunch - and he'd promised me a great coffee. he is really serious about his coffee (completely anal if you like).

we did not get into many aspects - too little time - but it starts with him weighing the beans (he keeps them in the freezer - so do i) and, if i remember correctly, 22.4 grams exactly is required. his grinder is apparently a form of spice grinder (it is about half the size of a small fridge and calibrated to the micron, i believe). the coffee is then tamped down, not as i would by tamping down by hand, but he uses some form of aussie invention which screws down gently and thereby tamps down in perfect unison.

i forget his machine but it is the size of a car - i should mention that this bloke, after many years of hard work and struggle, invented quite a famous anti-cancer treatment which made him a very wealthy man (he is extremely anti-mushrooms as all his lab work with rats etc suggested there was little that was quite so carcigenic as mushrooms) and when he didn't like a previous coffee machine which cost about three times the price of my car, he simply bought another even more expensive one which had to be imported - and we did not even touch on use of milk etc.

he makes all his coffee this way. i'm careful in my own way but nothing like this.

needless to say, it was a sensational coffee (although i would estimate a coffee at his place is about $100 a cup by the time it is all worked out.

anyone else this anal/careful/dedicated to the art?

[IPORTER]

Wouldn't have the patience (or coin) for that set up although appreciate his dedication to the art. Having said that I do like a good brew; proper ground coffee, black or with just a drop of milk. That, a good rum and a select cigar. Doesn't get any better.

[JR Kipling]

I imagine I have gotten as much pleasure out of a cup of coffee as your friend. The best coffee I’ve had is when high up in the mountains bowhunting for elk. Forcing myself out of a warm sleeping bag and tent, and into the icy chill of an early morning still black before sunrise, I get the campfire going. I set a coffee pot on the fire, one of the old fashioned perculator types. I am soon greeted by the sound and wonderful aroma of fresh black coffee. When good and dark, I pour myself a mug and enjoy the warmth it gives my hands on that chilly morning. That tiny bit of remaining shivers leaves me, as I gratefully sip and the hot liquid warms my body.

That first early morning cup, high in the mountains on a chilly autumn day is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. 

[Ken Gargett]

1 minute ago, JR Kipling said:

I imagine I have gotten as much pleasure out of a cup of coffee as your friend. The best coffee I’ve had is when high up in the mountains bowhunting for elk. Forcing myself out of a warm sleeping bag and tent, and into the icy chill of an early morning still black before sunrise, I get the campfire going. I set a coffee pot on the fire, one of the old fashioned perculator types. I am soon greeted by the sound and wonderful aroma of fresh black coffee. When good and dark, I pour myself a mug and enjoy the warmth it gives my hands on that chilly morning. That tiny bit of remaining shivers leaves me, as I gratefully sip and the hot liquid warms my body.

That first early morning cup, high in the mountains on a chilly morning is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted. 

no argument that circumstances, perhaps with whom you are sharing it, location, timing all play a role in enjoying a good coffee but that is slightly different to what i was getting at. my thoughts were more at the effort and expense gone to, in order to make the coffee. or indeed in respect of any hobby/interest?

[JR Kipling]

Yes, I understand what you meant. I really don’t do anything much in terms of special arrangements for making coffee at home. Good coffee is available from many baristas in the surrounding area. I do partake in their offerings.

I guess my point was that ‘pleasure’ actually is contained within the experiencer who appreciates it.

[Ken Gargett]

Just now, JR Kipling said:

Yes, I understand what you meant. I really don’t do anything much in terms of special arrangements for making coffee at home. Good coffee is available from many baristas in the surrounding area. I do partake in their offerings.

I guess my point was that ‘pleasure’ actually is contained within the experiencer who appreciates it.

fully understand.

[JR Kipling]

Sorry Ken, I didn’t mean to take the thread too far off topic. This time of year often brings up the subject of consumerism. But it sounds like your friend can well afford the time, effort, and expense to pursue ‘the perfect cup of coffee’ for him. Nothing wrong with that.

[Ken Gargett]

Just now, JR Kipling said:

Sorry Ken, I didn’t mean to take the thread too far off topic. This time of year often brings up the subject of consumerism. But it sounds like your friend can well afford the time, effort, and expense to pursue ‘the perfect cup of coffee’ for him. Nothing wrong with that.

not a problem in the least.

[Warren]

Would his initials be I F by any means

[JR Kipling]

I’m not really a wine drinker (more of a beer, scotch and bourbon guy), but enjoy your comments about wine in the YouTube cigar reviews. It’s a pleasure to hear someone speak about a topic they are passionate about. And I’m sure I would enjoy talking to your friend about his pursuit of that perfect cup of coffee.

[Ken Gargett]

2 minutes ago, Warren said:

Would his initials be I F by any means

no. and i have no idea who that might be, do i?

[Warren]

7 minutes ago, Ken Gargett said:

no. and i have no idea who that might be, do i?

Professor Ian Frazer. He developed a vaccine for cervical cancer.

[CaptainQuintero]

As long as it's half milk with 1 sugar I'm easy 

 

[Fuzz]

27 minutes ago, CaptainQuintero said:

As long as it's half milk with 1 sugar I'm easy 

 

That's not coffee, that's flavoured milk.

[kalibratecuba]

Let's see if I'm that anal. Coffee beans shouldn't be frozen, it messes with the oils and chemical composition of the beans. I don't roast my own beans, but buy just roasted from down the street. The pour over method allows me to do the weighing that your friend does and also water temp control and distribution. I use a Breville most days. They think coffee might cause my kidney stones. I'm going to spin that as a bonus byproduct. I'm not giving up coffee. Best accompaniment to a cigar too!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

[BogeyBob]

A good cup of Joe is the only way I can start the day.  Bad cup, and watch out, its like Bad Karma! 

My palate has been spoiled. The last few yews it must be a Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, ground fresh just prior to brewing.

[Smokin911]

I love coffee,  and am enjoying my second cup this morning.  I have at least 2 cups every morning to start the engine.

This mornings coffee made by the French press method.  Excellent and many say the best.   Coffee beans are Sumatra fresh ground this morning.  I don't freeze beans,  but store in air tight container in a dark closet.

Usually we make our coffee at home with a Jura(Swiss)  super automatic espresso machine.  A great machine which will spoil you and we've had since 2010,  but, alas, it is in the shop. 

[ElPuro]

I try to use only French Press with freshly roasted, fresh-ground beans from a small, local roasterie (?). 

[Colt45]

I drink mainly drip / press and like a good cup, but don't go to great lengths. I think espresso based coffee takes a bit more care / technique.

[BrightonCorgi]

Have owned a Rancilio Espresso machine for 20+ years and don't use it that often.  As I got older, my caffeine tolerance has lowered to just one cup of coffee a day.  Making espresso's is messy.  If anything, I would turn the machine on, on the weekends and leave it on.  Guests come by and then the machine is ready to go.  Adjusting the grinder between espresso and french press (our morning routine) is a pain as well.  We buy our beans from Costco.  The savings alone on the beans more than pays for the membership.  Figure a lb a week of beans and we save $4 pound vs the super market.   

[retrofail]

I guess I’m the extreme opposite. After years and years of drinking the mud served in Army mess halls, my only requirements are that it’s hot and black. 

While I can appreciate the effort many put forth for a cup of joe, I don’t envy the hassle. 

Cheers! 

[Puros Y Vino]

Nope. I do love my espresso but I'm not into the "weights & measures" of the practice.  I confess, I am a Nespresso user at home and find it to be excellent.  Abroad, I enjoy authentic, non chain espresso.  I have yet to have a bad espresso in Italy, France or Cuba yet.  The odd time I grind some Turquino beans to make stovetop espresso, I do find my grinder lacking.  And from what a half dozen baristas I've known tell me, the grind is more important than the brew.  I am not about to invest serious $'s into a top notch grinder though.

[BrightonCorgi]

Once you've measure your coffee device once, you should need not ever measure again.  The visual line of where the coffee sits after the initial perfect measure is enough.

[JamesKPolkEsq]

If one is in search of optimum flavor, one should not freeze whole coffee beans!! Buy as fresh as you can if you’re concerned with exceptional coffee.

If you must buy pre ground beans (which age terribly), store these in an air tight container in the freezer.

Buy whole beans as close to the roasted date as possible and enjoy them often!

[Buck14]

Coffee ONLY two ways -

1 French Press 

Whole beans stored in Refridgerator

Freshly ground

1 2/3 rds Tablespoons of ground coffee per 8 oz of near boiling water,.

Stir slowly with only plastic or wooden spoon

4 minutes

2 Turkish Cezve

Too complicated to list the steps,