The coffee lover thread

Yeah, we have a Nespresso machine, but it’s so freaking expensive if you’re using it every day, several times a day with a household of five coffee drinkers

 

It was expensive just for me.

 

From Bodhi Leaf in Lake Forest... First time in there, but it won't be the last. I tried an espresso while I was there, and ended up taking a bag home.

Not exactly the blend they were serving, but the young lady who pulled the shot recommended it from their large selection. And she really seemed to know her coffee...

 

Drinking my brother's stupid French Press brew right now. Pretty damned good, I must say.

 

Recent yums
2 espressos and 1 single origin.


Christmas gifts ..
Hmm... Deathwish...

 

I have a couple of friends that have one. They talk about how they take it to some shop in San Francisco to get parts/repaired.
I think it's more of a cult.

 

Some awesome beans made some yummy esspresso, not to mention the cool bag

 

Cool bag, but 2 tablespoons per six ounce cup? riiiight. Spoken by those who want to sell coffee, not enjoy it. Starbucks' formula. That's about 4x too much, if it's ground fine. 6 or 7 scoops for a 12 "cup" pot (fine grind, cone paper filter) seems to be the sweet spot for tasty coffee that isn't sludge. But let me guess, coffee snobs are like IPA snobs, if slightly bitter is good, then extremely bitter is better - and more macho.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go mount my 840 mm handlebar to my bike to help steer my 2.8" tires. Go big or go home!

 

Been loving this for a few months now. The GF likes dark & bold stuff, I like medium roasts, but we both enjoy this. She picks up a few bags whenever she heads back home to visit her Mom.

 

For coffee snobs bitter is bad... balance is good

Often acidity is confused with bitter when it comes to coffee....The big chain(s) push / sell bitter (massed farmed / produced, cheaper production, easier to make) and often cover it milk and sugar, their beans are basically burnt! and unfortunately along the way many have associated good coffee with that bitter taste. Somewhat related what is often misunderstood is French Roast / Dark Roast etc... is "stronger" with respect to caffeine but the fact is the opposite is generally true, lighter roast has more caffeine.

The 2 Tablespoons to 6 Oz is probably for pour over and is typically not ground fine... the key is the next line "Ratios can Change" depending on the brew method.
Any Brew Method is a combination Of Bean + Roast, Grind Size, Water Temp, Pressure / No Pressure and Ratio To Water, Time and Volume.... but that is a bit too much to put on a bag

The trend (which I enjoy and probably does not matter to most) in coffee and espressos is away from super dark / bitter and more towards medium to light...not that I don't occasionally like a nice dark cup with some dessert.

Original traditional Viennese Espresso is very dark and pretty bitter (done right good bitter) and why the US Soldiers in WWII didn't like it ... Plus those tiny cups are just dang silly ... so they had the cafes add water to it and "The Americano" was born.

Today modern espressos are medium roast (actually roasted specifically per bean type / varietal / origin) and less bitter and tend to have a more balance 2+ note flavors and can have a caramel, chocolate or even fruit notes

Off to have a Cap and remember ... Pinkies Up!!!!

Ahh you will note I did not properly Micro Foam my milk ... so sad ....





Have I bored anyone to sleep yet... if so you know the solution!

 

Thanks for the tutorial. Quite informative. "I learned something here today."

When I mentioned "bitter" in my post above, I was referring to IPAs, which are measured in International Bitterness Units. I wasn't referring to coffee necessarily, but I do think trend followers tend to feel that if a little is a good thing, a lot is better and more impressive to others who share the trendy passion. Just an observation. I do recognize the difference between genuine connoisseurship and simple trendiness. Sounds like you represent the former!

 

Ahh and IBU I learned something too!

And totally get it / your sense of humor / observations ...

Because Moar is *always* better right?

Even though I like to connisuer some things I still completely appreciate The Colin the Chicken scene in Portlandia....

 

Ohh and I think it's it illegal to mention Portlandia on a bike site without angry biker

 

Love bodhi leaf! One of my favorite local roasters

 

I was just talking about this scene this morning! One of my favorite pieces of satire ever!

 

Bitter does not have to be bad... as long as it's balanced! I've had higher IBU IPAs that I normally wouldn't get that were delicious. It's because they were made well and balanced with the right kind of malt/yeast/water and were great! Modern Times does that with their IPAs and I love 'em all!
Coffee is the same way... a bitter note isn't bad, it just has to be balanced with other goodness!

I think @bvader needed a proper chart...

 

Stopped in for a cappuccino at the Lake Forest store the other day...

 

After 20 or so cans of the el Caribe, I've moved on to something a little more traditional... And my wife will drink this one, as she doesn't think it smells like moldy gym socks.

Ground for espresso, and pretty inexpensive, it does well in the super automatic...

 

I'm so glad I do this the easy way...

 

The power went out in the middle of the night so this morning, it still being out, I couldn't make my coffee. Figuring an extra early ride would send the Jones away for a while, I went out and got back early, the power was up and my wife had made the morning brew, weakly, Trader Joe's Wake Up Blend, more like Roll Over and Hit the Snooze Button blend. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

 

The morning after Hurricane Charley I was rummaging in the garage for cans of Sterno. Thank God my wife was a Girl Scout and had provisions stashed away! Coffee was made for the whole neighborhood as we surveyed the damage.

I always keep a couple cans around now... Just in case.

 

Drinking Sterno, even after a hurricane, is contraindicated.

 

You might try my backup plans. #1. Coleman percolater. #2. Straight hot tap water, black instant. #3. Water heater out, cold coffee with ice tricks your mind that you like it. I can drink day old, I don't care

 

Yeah I was writing quick should have said bad bitter / burnt bitter / unbalanced bitter / unintentional bitter is bad....

Intentional / balanced bitter can be good...or great...

Burnt coffee bitter...uck..

Properly made Viennese esspresso... Excellent...

Excellent dark roast south american coffees ... awesome

Flow chart is hilarious

 

In 2014 Before pourovers got popular amazing cup of coffee in Costa Rica brewed the traditional way after an amazing local dinner.

 

yesterday, braving the patio heat, roasted several batches of Brazil natural, Honduras natural, El Salvador natural and Ethiopia dry processed...

 

I missed out on the Aeropress deal at Amazon for cheap today... :-(

 

This comes highly recommended by a trusted friend.

 

Whoa! I’m awake, jeez!

 

Finally! Someone with common sense. Every time I see this thread pop up I wonder, "What the hail are they still talking about?" It's bean juice, Geez!




Okay, I'll see myself out now.