how to brew a perfect cup of coffee!!!

[meemee]

i am traditionally a tea maker and drinker. i know a lot about teas.

but its only lately i have discovered coffee and actually enjoy the bitter taste.

i never drink it for the caffeine

i drink it for the taste.

so my question is how do i brew that great cup of coffee. a friend gave me a wire mesh coffee maker that doesnt require a filter. i really only need 3 to 4 oz of coffee. i still need to add milk. lots of milk.

so i want to learn the art of coffee making without using a machine.

how do i do that?

what is the art to making a good cup of coffee. what is the science behind it.

[ShadowMoon]

My favorite coffee maker is a Chemex. All it requires is it's own cone filter, coarse ground coffee and hot water. The taste and feel of the coffee from a Chemex is unlike anything I've ever had. (in a good way )

My DP is a coffee roaster at an independent shop and swears by them. Here's the link:

http://www.chemexcoffeemaker.com/Home.htm

Coffee made in a French Press is also quite good but it leaves a film or "sludge," which, IMO, takes away from the coffee itself. The Chemex doesn't produce a film at all.

[tifpaul]

I am, like the OP, new to coffee drinking and new to craving the bitter and the strong. I don't know anything about the mesh deal you have - is it the kind that sits right on top of the cup? I think that would be something neat to have, because you could take it anywhere.

I use an insulated French Press, which I like a lot. I can have a cup right away. Or if people need me, it stays hot hot hot for almost an hour. It's a sleek looking stainless steel deal. I took it with me on my vacations this summer - OK, that sounds like we were off in Europe, we were just visiting relatives but there were two trips! - and I was really happy I lugged it along.

That being said, I am intrigued by the chemex. It looks awesome and it's beautiful too. I have not noticed a film, but if I'm not careful, some grinds can get into the cup.

May I suggest using half and half? That way you can get lots of "milk" but not cool down the coffee too much. Did I mentioned I'm obsessed with it being properly hot??

One other "new to coffee" suggestion. When I want a cup of coffee and we are out, I'm usually unsatisfied with the thermos coffee. It's not strong enough - and not always fresh. Plus it's been sitting in a plastic thermos. So I usually ask for an Americano, which is espresso with hot water added. It's always freshly made.

I don't know any of the science, but this is what has worked for me.

[mum4vr]

Hi! Great thread!

OK, I am not new to coffee, but I love love love it.

For company, I use a glass percolator like this <http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction:view_item&auction_id=106164 1> and only use a few extra scoops of coffee, haha.

For myself, I take out the stem and basket, and just add (a LOT of) coffee to boiling water, and strain thru a tea strainer (to avoid crossing flavors, you need a dedicated strainer for each, coffee and tea).

This is KEY! Milk or half and half MUST be heated separately. It changes the flavor, texture and temp if you just add cold milk.

For iced coffee, I freeze coffee cubes the day ahead (be sure it is plain coffee-- sweetened coffee does NOT freeze well, and gets a gross texture) and blend with milk and a little fresh coffee (which I sweeten).

For breakfast, sometimes I make 3x or 4x strength coffee and sweeten-- it becomes syrup when you have 3x coffee and 3x sugar for the normal amount of water-- I store this in the fridge and add it to protein powder and milk in the morning.

For me, it is not a perfect cup, tho unless it was brewed with a cardamom pod and maybe also a few cinnamon chips.

Enjoy!

[mum4vr]

The chemex looks like the same principle as the bodum which has been around for years. Now I want one...

and I hate relying on gadgetty things when I could do the same thing w a pot of water and a tea strainer.

Sorry-- struggling to overcome consumerism, and those are really pretty, and I am sure they make a great cup of coffee!

heeheehee

[meemee]

hehehehe

i see i am in perfect company you guys know exactly what i am talking about.

so many times my friends have to wait while i add just the right amount of sugar and milk while keeping it hot.

so here are my questions.

1. how much coffee to how much water?
2. how fast should the water go thru the coffee
3. how do you brew the cardamom pod with the coffee? do you add it to the heating water?
4. can you make coffee this way. bring water to a boil, add coffee and then simmer for 4 mins then strain thru a sieve?

mum4vr - your link does not work

and oooooooh on the chemex. i saw that at a friends house and had no idea what it was. it was beautiful looking. i thought she used it for herbs. i had no idea it was of all things a COFFEE MAKER. sooo doesnt look like one.

ok so on the chemex - do you put that thing on the stove or do you pour hot water into it.

did i tell you guys i like coffee so much now that i actually eat em. i get the strong roasted coffee beans. and have some gourmet milk chocolate chips. i take a handful of coffee and about 5 chips - my sweetness level and munch on it. YUUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!

ooooooooooooh you are soooooooo right?!!!! i added hot half and half and milk and it makes a difference. i am still trying to figure out my favourite blend of how much and what kind of bitterness.

[ollyoxenfree]

The most important thing is to start with great coffee beans, freshly roasted. You can even roast them yourself! It's best if you can grind them fresh for each pot you make.

I use a stove-top espresso maker.

I like to heat and froth the milk. You can put the milk in a mason jar (fill it no more than half-way), put on the lid and shake it for about 30 seconds until frothy, and then warm it briefly in the microwave.

Then I pour the coffee and the milk together into a mug.

Enjoy!

[mamadelbosque]

My parents & dh swear by french press' all you do is boil water and pour it in with coffee grounds and let it brew, then push a screen down to strain out the grounds and pour out. They make ones that go in special cups, though most are glass... thermos makes one thats insulated (and stainless steel... much less breakable. My dad & dh call it 'emily proof' - I've broken several while washing them...). They're nice cause' you can make one-4 cups so easily. Good luck!!

[amma_mama]

The Chemex looks interesting - I wish that thye had a little more on the web site to show what the different parts looks like (I assume it comes apart?), and how to actually brew coffee in it. I am sure it comes with instructions, but I would want to see it first...

For everyday coffee, I use a french press. I actually like the sludge as I became hooked on coffee in the Middle East where turkish coffee is the norm. I keep one press at my office because our office coffee totally sucks. I do heat up my milk or cream in the microwave first. Because I use milk (and sugar), I make my coffee super strong using a bold or extra bold roast (usually Frent Roast). I would like to invest in a grinder at home but have not gotten around to it yet.

When I have a bit more time at home, I use my stove-top moka pot, which comes as close as one can to espresso without an expensive espresso make (and far better than a cheapie espresso maker). It also has far less caffeine than the french press method, as the water passes through the grounds so quickly in the moka pot.

[ShadowMoon]

The Chemex I have is simply the glass pot. The only "parts" it has is a wooden piece that ties on to the neck, (to keep your hand from burning from the hot liquid inside), and a glass cover for the top to keep the coffee hot inside, and the filters which you buy separately. There is also another version that has a glass handle instead of the wood piece.

It has it's own filters that fit like a cone in the top. You put the ground coffee in there and pour hot water over it, causing the grounds to "bloom." You usually do this twice and the coffee drips into the chamber below. It's very simple and it does come with instructions.

[lilyka]

My two favorite methods is a french press and just doing a pour over brew. You will need a filter, add some grounds and pour boiling water over the filter slowly. You can buy a simple filter basket (makes it safe) for a couple of bucks. We used to do this when I worked at starbucks. So fast and easy and yummy. if you go into a starbucks and ask them to show it to you they will probably let you see it and explain it to you. It will make sense when you see it. hmm this site http://www.zokacoffee.com/brewing-co...er-filter.html makes it seem really complicated but it is not. at least you can see the little filter holder. here, the second picture is really good. Thats what we used. except we would just set it right on the cup instead of using the stand. That article also has a lot of good information.

I have also been lusting after one of these....Mukka