Espresso Love

Had I used a bit of foresight, I would've created a category on this site called "Ken Tries New Things (and likes them)" because I've certainly done a fair amount of new things and then chronicled the experiences here. Now, I've never done anything for the express purpose of writing about it but I have tried things, liked them and then realized it might be of marginal interest to some of you and decided to share. For example, in the early days of this blog, I wondered aloud what all the fuss was about with the iPod, two iPods later, I'm hooked and don't know how I managed without one.  My latest discovery: coffee.  Yes, coffee.

Maybe it's that I've never had a traditional 9-5 job or perhaps I'm just lazy but I've never gotten into coffee as I've never really needed it.  Even as a late night/overnight guy, where a constant cup of coffee would seem as logical as a pair of headphones, I never succumbed to it but I do love Red Bull.  I've had stretches of my adult life when I could count in years how long it had been since I even had a sip of coffee.  What finally hooked me you ask?  Italy.  Getting hooked on coffee (specifically cappuccino) in Italy is akin to driving a car for the first time behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 or taking your first plane flight aboard a G5, there's no comparison.  I still haven't completely yielded to the java monkey but I've found myself actually wanting a cup now and then as opposed to politely accepting when one is offered and actually suggesting a trip to Starbucks now and then.  I still haven't found a cappuccino that approaches what I had in Italy--including making it at home with a cappuccino maker--but I guess that's the fun of it, trying new places to find that perfect cup.

That's where I turn to you.  Tell me how you take your coffee, where you go and what kind you make at home.  We're still trying to perfect the foam at home, with lackluster results so far. Enlighten me.

Comments

[Scotty]

I take my coffee black. When I make it at home I grind the beans extra thin which makes it stronger. We have a Strack and Van Til grocery store by us and they sell an inexpensive fair trade coffee that is very good. I also order coffee on-line from a place that roasts the beans right before they send it to you. I can't remember the name of the place but I think there are several companies that do that. They sell bean roasters so you can do it at home as well. I drink at least a pot of coffee everyday. I can quit anytime I want. I don't have a problem if thats what your thinking. Its under control. No really it is. Whatever.

[Jeff]

I have been a coffee freak for years. It has to be light roast and made properly under high pressure - though I occasionally I will suffer the american drip style. Beans should be freshly ground with no milk, no sugar, and none of those dreadful flavors. And don't even joke around with brown rocks (instant) or decaf!

Trouble is, I've just had to give it all up because I recently figured out that caffeine and the lack of it gives me huge mood swings - so am down to a cup a week at most. It's so sad what you have to give up as you get older...

[molly]

I drink mine black as well, but I pretty much only like Intelligentsia brand. Good local flavor.

[JeffB]

Welcome to the dark side! I don't drink a lot of coffee, but I do *love* a few good cups of jo a day. Myself, I drink it with just a touch of milk for my tummy (used to drink it black for years). If you ever see me adding sugar to the coffee, that means I think it's bad, but I don't let on other than that. I will, however, add sugar to European-styled espresso, and it's just a good thing.

Some standard things you should know: You have to use good water when brewing at home. No tap water. Makes a big difference. Ideally, use a brown paper filter. Grind your beans just before brewing.

As far as your personal taste, this is the fun part, finding where your exact coffee preferences are. There are good beans and bad beans at any coffee place. It's not simply that you like beans from one place but not from another, it's which beans at which places. I used to make a list of my favorite beans from each place that sells. It's like finding good wine, but the year usually doesn't matter (but once in a while does). I tend to like dark roast coffee, but not too dark. Light coffee makes me crabby and hurts my stomach. The darker roasts are also less caffeinated. Even a good espresso roast can be great for coffee brewing.

Where the beans come from can be a big deal. Some people like South American coffees. These people are freaks. I like African and South Pacific coffees the most, but am willing to dabble.

How much coffee per cup is an important thing to find out. I hate weak coffee, but some people actually prefer it. When brewing for many people, always brew strong coffee, since you can always water it down to anyone's taste, but you can't make it stronger. Myself, I like one heaping scoop of beans (before grinding) per cup (as listed on the coffee machine, not actual cups -- it's about 2 coffee machine cups per 1 real cup usually).

A couple of health notes: Gold filters let the bad cholesterol oils through, brown (unbleached) paper filters are the best. While coffee from press pots is really great tasting, it's very bad for your cholesterol levels and should be an occasional treat, not your main technique. (I've known people go from very bad levels to normal levels when they went off the press pot, so it's no small effect, at least in some people.)

Sorry, I could ramble on for many more paragraphs but will spare you.

[Jay]

I never realized how bad the coffee I make is until reading Jeff B's post. I've been using LA tap water, white filters, and ground coffee. Probably doesn't get much worse than that. Thanks for the tips, my home brew is going to receive an extreme makeover.

[JeffB]

haha. I haven't tasted the LA tap water, but in Chicago using better water is a must. My guess is using better water will help. The brown filters are more for keeping bleaches out of your body, not really for taste. But at least the fresh grinding should enhance things.

[JeffB]

By the way, by "better water" I don't mean bottled water, an industry that is evil. Filtered water is fine, or the purified water you can get at some grocery stores in those 5 gallon jugs.