Does anyone love drinking extreme amounts of high quality coffee? who uses a french press and roasts there own beans? Its amazing and makes starbucks seem like dunkin donuts or folgers?
2006-09-28 20:03:41 · 7 answers · asked by coffee 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Oh yes... and agree completely about Skcubrats.
I haven't yet gone to the extreme of roasting my own beans, in part because I have lived for the past 20 years in cities with really good local roasting companies (the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Oregon). I should probably try it once just so I know what I'm missing, then I'll know what the tradeoffs are between roasting green coffee beans in small batches versus just heading to the local Peet's or Rose City Roasting Company. (But when I used to live in Sunnyvale, there was a business near my house that roasted coffee on the premises, a different varietal every day, and that was almost literally all we used. So... yeah, I suspect I'd notice the difference, and care about it. Hmmmmmm, Santa? :-)
I have, three French press coffee makers, one small one, one large Bodum, and one Italian-made "Veneto" which is naturally the prettiest to look at.
But... as much as I love French press coffee for its richness and "chewy" texture, I prefer the clarity of filtered drip coffee for my daily brew. As a compromise with my wife, we use an automatic electric coffee brewer that drips into a thermal carafe -- but when I want the Real Thing, I use a Chemex. That's the one that looks like an hourglass open at the top, uses conical filters that look like something out of Dr. Science's set, and requires you to pour boiling water into it. It takes Technique: you need to pour a little water over the beans first to get them to "bloom," then when that water has soaked into the beans, you pour on the rest. You fill the filter bowl one final time when the level of the brewed coffee reaches the "button," then wait for it to finish dripping. It is wonderful.
When you're in the mood for a drip/filtered coffee, give this a try. They're available in various sizes. I like them because the filter is designed for SLOW filtration -- more extraction, richer flavor.
Also, a trick I learned from a master roaster some twelve years or so ago -- the reason that coffee tastes better when it's allowed to stand for a few minutes is because the specific gravity goes up as it cools. So your mouth can detect the slight increase in density, and this adds to the whole experience. I find that pouring a cup and letting it stand for about two minutes is the best.
Oh, right -- I'm drinking Peet's Ethiopian Super Natural today, a rich, slightly winey brew with great acid balance and a dark, rich finish. Though of course calling anything "Ethiopian Super Natural" is dangerous around me... the first time I saw the label, I immediately had the following exchange pop into my mind:
"I am de ghost of Selassie Past."
"Haile Selassie?"
"No, only moderately."
"Ah, you mus' be de ghost of Bob Marley."
"Ja, mon."
...And on like that. And that was BEFORE having any coffee, which really is my only excuse.
All the best!
2006-09-29 08:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by Scott F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't drink extreme amounts of high quality coffee...but I do enjoy high quality coffee. I don't have a french press, nor do I roast my own beans. But, I have always wanted to invest in both.
Starbucks is OK. I think that they are overrated....they are definitely better than Folgers and DD's coffee...but I am fortunate to have a local beanery that blows Starbuck's coffee away.
2006-09-28 20:08:43 · answer #2 · answered by What, what, what?? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I drink coffee from the minute I get up until the minute I fall asleep. I do use a French press (got a Bodum one on sale for $11!! at a local coffee shop that was going out of business a few months ago). Unfortunately (sigh) I don't drink "high quality" coffee. I'd love to, but my budget doesn't allow it (at least not on a regular basis). Usually I drink Maxwell House or Folgers.
2006-09-29 05:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love good quality coffee, but not extreme amounts. I like to grind the beans and I use a French Press occasionally.
I never go to Starbucks! Tim Hortons is very good!
2006-09-28 20:10:03 · answer #4 · answered by *ღ♥۩ THEMIS ۩♥ღ* 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer a small amount of high quality coffee so that my tastebuds aren't overwhelmed and I can appreciate the experience. I'm not into the whole bean-roasting scenario, but I've had coffee made by those who do, and yes, it is marvelous.
To me, Starbucks makes lukewarm dishwater seem palatable.
2006-09-28 20:23:59 · answer #5 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like high quality latte from Starbucks. Only the smallest serving is sufficient for me!
2006-09-28 20:42:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sure
2006-09-28 20:13:21 · answer #7 · answered by mizsinister 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋