Best way to make coffee?

[Tanj]

Over roasted drip with sweetened condensed milk Vietnamese style.

Beans should also have previously been pooped by a civet.

 

[prodromos]

Over roasted drip with sweetened condensed milk Vietnamese style.

Beans should also have previously been pooped by a civet.

I've tried those beans. I can't really say that I could tell the difference from any other coffee I've tried. At 10 times the price, it needs to taste 10 times better

 

[Ada Lovelace]

My vote in the poll would be misleading because neither my favorite method nor my runner up are included in it. I love cold brew coffee. Even on days when it drops below 60 degrees (and therefore as a SoCal native constitutes freezing), I prefer my coffee cold so that at least if I'm shivering I won't spill hot liquid on myself. At home we have an automatic cold brew coffeemaker, but the simple one I bought from a Japanese market for like $18 does the job pleasingly well. You fill the pitcher with cold water; put coffee in the infuser and then pop it into the pitcher; pour a bit of water on top and stir; then lid it, and put it in the refrigerator. Voila, when you wake up in the morning it is there ready to greet you. I also make coffee ice cubes, so that when the ice melts rather than diluting the coffee it invigorates it. The only drawback for this method that you must make it in advance because it needs to be refrigerated overnight.

If I don't have any cold brew coffee ready, then I'll make a hot cup using the pour over method. Some people prefer it because they believe slowly pouring the hot water over the coffee produces a superior taste, but I just like it because it's more entertaining.

From the options in the poll the order of preference is instant coffee (explanation in a second), French press, espresso, percolator, K Cup and then auto drip at the back of the pack. I brought back instant coffee from South Africa that is totally on point. In the US the options are often dismal or mediocre (overpriced Starbucks instant) but in other countries where instant coffee is far more popular, there's much better choices. There are some decent coffee concentrates (Trader Joe's has one that is a solid 4 stars out of five from me) you can use to make cold coffee faster.

Wow, I write unnecessarily long posts when I'm procrastinating, haha.

 

[Radagast]

I think it's what you call an 'espresso'.

Espresso is the way to make coffee. It requires a machine that will pump hot water through tightly packed coffee grounds under high pressure:

 

[Tanj]

I've tried those beans. I can't really say that I could tell the difference from any other coffee I've tried. At 10 times the price, it needs to taste 10 times better

Maybe you got hoodwinked and your beans came from...somewhere else. At any rate I was lying, I never tried the civet beans for that reason, who's to say they came from where they claim they came from. It is Vietnam after all.

 

[brinny]

What is your favorite way to make coffee? I like the convenience of K-cups, but it's pretty expensive and wasteful using them. And once you start using the reusable cups, it loses it's advantages over other systems. My usual way to make my coffee is in a percolator. Makes good strong coffee and no need for filters or other throwaways. The whole thing washes out and is ready to go again.

I've never used a french press. And instant coffee is nasty.

What kind of percolator do you use?

I agree about instant coffee.

 

[Radagast]

I agree about instant coffee.

Instant "coffee" is an abomination.

 

[brinny]

Instant "coffee" is an abomination.

LOL! i agree. i have a horrible jar of it that tastes like anything but coffee.

 

[prodromos]

Maybe you got hoodwinked and your beans came from...somewhere else. At any rate I was lying, I never tried the civet beans for that reason, who's to say they came from where they claim they came from. It is Vietnam after all.

The trouble with Kopi Luwak is that once the locals understood how valuable it was, it didn't take long before civets were caged and force fed coffee beans. So instead of the civets 'selecting' the best beans, they have to eat whatever they are fed.
Capitalism at its best.

 

[Tanj]

The trouble with Kopi Luwak is that once the locals understood how valuable it was, it didn't take long before civets were caged and force fed coffee beans. So instead of the civets 'selecting' the best beans, they have to eat whatever they are fed.
Capitalism at its best.

You have to wonder who did it first though. Who looked at a pile of civet doo doo and said to themselves "Hmm, that would make a good brew" How many animals did they try before reaching the civet?

 

[prodromos]

You have to wonder who did it first though. Who looked at a pile of civet doo doo and said to themselves "Hmm, that would make a good brew" How many animals did they try before reaching the civet?

I wonder if any of them used dried cow manure as fuel when making that brew?

 

[Occams Barber]

QUOTE="Radagast, post: 71905077, member: 20522"]Espresso is the way to make coffee. It requires a machine that will pump hot water through tightly packed coffee grounds under high pressure:

[/QUOTE]

I agree. Good espresso machines make the best coffee.

For the second best I use a stovetop 'espresso' or 'dripolater'. The boiling water (in the bottom section) is forced up through packed coffee (middle section) and exits via a metal tube into the top section.
It makes one tiny, super strong, black coffee.

 

[Radagast]

For the second best I use a stovetop 'espresso' or 'dripolater'. The boiling water (in the bottom section) is forced up through packed coffee (middle section) and exits via a metal tube into the top section.

Not quite the same as a "real" espresso, because it doesn't have the same pressure. But still a nice cuppa.

And it makes what to me always seems like a friendly sound when the coffee's ready.

 

[Dave-W]

I would suggest using hot water.

It is far superior to free-basing it with ether. (we did that in college chem class)

 

[Go Braves]

Dumb question for y'all. Is espresso made with the same coffee as you'd brew coffee with, it's just prepared differently?

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Open can, add hot water to can, let sit for five minutes, strain into cup.

 

[Belk]

I swear by my Breville Grind Control. It's a bit expensive but it contains it's own burr grinder so you get fresh ground beans automatically feed into your coffee maker.

 

[MissRowy]

I have instant coffee because I don't have the time to make coffee. I wouldn't mind buying my own grinder but at the moment its not an option.

 

[Occams Barber]

I have instant coffee because I don't have the time to make coffee. I wouldn't mind buying my own grinder but at the moment its not an option.

If you use a French Press/plunger the process is very similar to making instant coffee; i.e., spoon in the coffee, pour on boiling water and stir. For French Press coffee add- wait a couple of minutes, push down the plunger, pour into a cup.

The difference in taste is well worth waiting a couple of minutes.
OB

 

[Tallguy88]

What kind of percolator do you use?

I agree about instant coffee.

I use an electric Hamilton beach percolator