Are you a fan of those expensive expresso machines? Are they worth the money? I was recently given a simple coffee pot by an Italian friend, the kind which you use to heat up water on the stove and the steam is pushed up through a flue in the centre, dissolving ground coffee on its way up. I find the coffee produced this way far more aromatic than any other methods I have used. Does anyone think the same?
2006-09-27 10:43:30 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
I think the main thing with making coffee is to pay attention the whole way through the process. Grinding the whole beans and all the rest of that is lovely, but if you keep your ground coffee tightly wrapped and in a cool place (in Texas, that means the freezer), you can still enjoy wonderful coffee. The method you use to make the coffee is less important than the attention you pay. I like the old percolators myself, but find that the cafetiere is just as effective. I've never used a machine - that takes too much of the personal touch away. You do need to make sure that you use the right amount of coffee for each method, though.
Just thinking about it makes me want a fresh cup right now!
2006-09-27 10:57:28 · answer #1 · answered by Delora Gloria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are talking about a perculator. This method of brewing coffee is not a good one as the water boils the coffee too much and chars it. You will probably find it has a burnt flavour. I consider the best way of brewing coffee is to add 15 grams of coffee to 15floz of water into a bowl. Stir the coffee and leave for four minutes then using spoons scrape off the crust of the coffee from the top and decant into a mug, careful it will be hot. The optimum water temperature is 96 degrees and should not be boiling. This is a very time consuming method but the coffee does taste the best. A filter machine with a shower head will also get a good extraction but these machines can be expensive.
2006-09-28 10:25:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some of the best coffee I've had came from the vacuum brewing method. However, the quality and freshness of the beans plays a big role (often more important than the machine used).
Also, espresso shouldn't be directly compared to coffee as it's made with a different method which produces a different end product.
2006-09-27 17:56:22 · answer #3 · answered by Andrew C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best method involves have a freshly ground coffee (the rougher the ground the less body and bitter). The coffee must be freshly roasted (no older than 2 weeks) and the beans need to be pre pressured, pre heated and water must pass through them as soon as possible.
The most convenient way to do this at home is a one button espresso machine. They are costly but it is worth every cent
2006-09-30 20:24:09 · answer #4 · answered by wmachanik 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love coffee prepared the old fashion way: hand-ground whole beans brewed in the plunger.
In Holland the Senseo coffee pad machine is also popular. I think that's also good coffee.
2006-09-27 17:45:39 · answer #5 · answered by Mizz G 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Percolator. It is what our grandmothers and before used. Glad to hear it's back. I remember smelling coffee in my grandmother's house. That pot went straight from the stove to the side table.
French press is very easy for rich coffee.
But I have found that the results depend upon the beans not the brewing system. Buy well, drink well.
2006-09-27 17:48:23 · answer #6 · answered by Liligirl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Filter coffee is great and the Bodum method. We have had expesive machines in the past but they are just not worth it. Personally I don't like espresso coffee it is to bitter
2006-09-27 17:48:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boil water with several scoops of real ground coffee in it. Strain as you pour it into a server or cup. Very direct method of preparation, no special or expensive equipment, easy cleanup of utensils.
This is a "German style" approach to coffee making a native German taught me. She liked it heavy with sugar, no cream. Dense and tasty brew.
2006-09-27 17:48:45 · answer #8 · answered by martino 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i must admit that for all the coffee machines that do it all for you i have yet to taste wnything from them that beats a bodum where you push the plunger through. ok it takes longer but its worth it for the flavour.
2006-09-27 17:46:06 · answer #9 · answered by bella 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
perculated coffee is the best and is worth the money, anything else is a compromise.An exellent perculated brew is if you put a cap full of Nelsons blood (rum) in it is the tops
2006-09-27 17:56:31 · answer #10 · answered by paul t 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋