Coffee Catch-All

That inverted Aeropress method seems handier to prevent leaking while it brews, but not fundamentally different from the regular method. Just a cool variant I think.

Hipster coffee!

What do people here think of Intelligentsia Coffee? Back when I was really drinking a lot of coffee (now it's almost exclusively tea), it was always a go-to. We got Stumptown here a couple of years ago, and I've really loved it the times I've had it (pour-over at the local bookshop).

concentric wrote:

What do people here think of Intelligentsia Coffee? Back when I was really drinking a lot of coffee (now it's almost exclusively tea), it was always a go-to. We got Stumptown here a couple of years ago, and I've really loved it the times I've had it (pour-over at the local bookshop).

I live right outside of LA, where Intelligentsia has three cafes. They are very consistent, not excellent, but open late and rarely disappoint. There are many better options for both real-time drinks as well as beans in LA. I occasionally pick up a bag of Black Cat to help me dial in new brewing tools because I know the taste so well.

That inverted Aeropress method

Aka, "a French press".

Seriously, that's what that is.

I learned, recently, why folks may prefer an Aeropress to a French press... sludge. I'd always discounted that as a factor, until I tried using pre-ground coffee in a press.

That was not a good idea. The sludge was thick, and gross, and just nasty. If you use a French press, grind your own coffee, with a nice coarse grind, or the results will be unpleasant. If you've only ever tried a French press with pre-ground coffee, well, of course you'd prefer an Aeropress!

With the proper grind, a cup out of a French press will have just a little bit of coffee grounds left in the bottom. I guess you could call them 'leavings', because it's very fine, and there's so little. You can't taste it, only see it, and it rinses right out.

You could use paper filters with pre-ground beans, I suppose, but one of the things I like about the French press is the reusable metal screen.

Preground coffee is already a crime against nature.

hbi2k wrote:

Preground coffee is already a crime against nature.

Yeah, I bought some by mistake, and didn't want to waste them.

After the first batch, I ran the rest through a regular drip machine.

Today I learned, I am not a coffee connoisseur. I'm a filthy coffee casual.

Zoso1701 wrote:

Today I learned, I am not a coffee connoisseur. I'm a filthy coffee casual.

+1

PaladinTom wrote:

Anyone have any tips or recommendations for some good beans? I'm a relative noob.

If you have the option of a local roaster, go with that.

Leer_Dayne wrote:
concentric wrote:

What do people here think of Intelligentsia Coffee? Back when I was really drinking a lot of coffee (now it's almost exclusively tea), it was always a go-to. We got Stumptown here a couple of years ago, and I've really loved it the times I've had it (pour-over at the local bookshop).

I live right outside of LA, where Intelligentsia has three cafes. They are very consistent, not excellent, but open late and rarely disappoint. There are many better options for both real-time drinks as well as beans in LA. I occasionally pick up a bag of Black Cat to help me dial in new brewing tools because I know the taste so well.

Intelligentsia is still the baseline for good, local coffee back here in Chicago (where they're from). I don't know if there's a quality difference between here and their other locations, though. In a pinch, I'll still snag a bag of their beans from a grocery store (most local chains here carry Intelligentsia beans), but I'd pretty much have to pass better and competitive options in my own neighborhood on the way to a grocery store.

Malor wrote:
That inverted Aeropress method

Aka, "a French press".

Seriously, that's what that is.

I learned, recently, why folks may prefer an Aeropress to a French press... sludge.

The filter is the difference. I shy away from filters, because I want more of the beans' oil.

Plain and simple. When you have been a barista for 14 years in stand, present ground and any other 'present prepared' cooffeee just don't cut it!

Took the plunge and ordered a bunch of equipment yesterday for pour over. I have insisted for years that I don't like coffee, but recently realized that I just don't like drip or pod machine coffee. Onward and upwards.

TONX!

Had some cold-brewed Stumptown with breakfast this morning. I was in heaven!

I was over-served this morning—albeit by my own hand—and am now a jittery mess.

Boy, I love coffee.

I'm looking to spice up my at-home coffee experiences. I grind my own beans and use a cheap French press but I'm looking to branch out with at-home ice coffees, etc. Tips? Pointers? Read the OP?

Strangeblades wrote:

I'm looking to spice up my at-home coffee experiences. I grind my own beans and use a cheap French press but I'm looking to branch out with at-home ice coffees, etc. Tips? Pointers? Read the OP? ;)

For iced coffee, I don't really think that you can go better than a Toddy Coldbrew System. Boogle convinced me to get one, and I love the damn thing.

I agree with the cold brew recommendation. I use a hario mizudashi myself and I love it.

Use the same grind you would for your French press.

I'll 3rd the cold brew. It makes amazing coffee, and satisfies my inner lazy bastard because I get up in the morning and just pull some cold brew out of the fridge.

I just make cold brew in my french press. Haven't tried anything fancier.

In other news my wife got me a coffee subscription for my birthday. 2 bags of coffee from different independent roasters every month.

This is gonna sound like a dumb question. How do you cold brew? Just use cold water? Brew it hot and store it cold?

Strangeblades wrote:

This is gonna sound like a dumb question. How do you cold brew? Just use cold water? Brew it hot and store it cold?

I'm only familiar with the Toddy system. Steep coarse ground coffee in room temperature or colder water for 24 to 48 hours. Because of the colder extraction, the acid level is a lot lower, which makes it good for sensitive stomachs.

Strangeblades wrote:

This is gonna sound like a dumb question. How do you cold brew? Just use cold water? Brew it hot and store it cold?

It's just water and time (about 12 hours). I use filtered, room-temp water, coarse ground coffee, and do all my "brewing" by leaving my french press on my kitchen counter overnight.

The only real trick is figuring out the ratio of water to coffee that works for you. Cold brewed coffee is designed to be served with ice, so you want to make it stronger than you would your traditional brew. You can start with about a 1:4 coffee to water ratio and work your way from there (that would be about 1/3 cup of coffee to 1 1/2 cups of water).

I just put the french press in the fridge overnight and plunge it in the morning.

And then you've got the real next-level stuff..
http://www.funraniumlabs.com/the-bla...

Tanglebones wrote:

And then you've got the real next-level stuff..
http://www.funraniumlabs.com/the-bla...

Thanks for the tips peeps. Thanks for the link Tangle. It's inspiring me to do more with coffee. I don't cook but I love coffee.

Maq wrote:

I just put the french press in the fridge overnight and plunge it in the morning.

+1.

Maq wrote:

I just put the french press in the fridge overnight and plunge it in the morning.

At the risk of blasphemy in the coffee thread, this is also by far the best way to make iced tea. Lots of tea flavor, none of the tannins.

As the weather changes more coffee is needed. We're doing one of the irregular coffee exchanges over in this thread if you want in:
http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/1...