Coffee!

[Lascaux]

yes i cant stand these coffee machines you get. terrible things. im not really much of a fan of espressos either. i prefer full bodied single origin coffees, and french press rather than filter.

i have a really old alessi espresso that you stick on a hob, where the water steams up slowly. makes beautiful espresso.

ive got a cheapish burr grinder that does the job well and a lovely 20's hand grinder thats perfect for espresso grinds

are those chemex jugs for filters?

[Lee Nub]

Some great info there mate, very interesting

[SeanP]

I'd like to try some of this cuban coffee as well, if I can find where to get it.

La Casa del Habano in Teddington has cuban coffee. Never tired it, only know they sell it. http://www.havahavana.com/coffee-bea...ns-ground&pg=1

Right down the road in Teddington is Astrora Coffee (http://www.astrora.co.uk/index.htm). Excelent coffee roasted on premises. Great staff and friendly service.

[monkey66]

The chemex is a glass jug with a very good paper filter.

[Boss Hog]

Not a fan of these pods then Monkey?

Someone told me the best place to keep it once it was freshly ground was in the freezer? Any truth to that or is it an old wives tail.

[monkey66]

Never put coffee in the fridge or freezer, just a cool dry place.

[Lascaux]

been looking at home roasters and may well get one of these roasters in the new year, look quite decent:

https://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/Behmor-Home-Coffee-Roaster.html

[monkey66]

Don't mind the Netspresso pods. Will do a better job than a cheap 'proper' espresso machine.

To get the best out of the pods stop the pour as soon as the coffee turns pale ('starts to blonde'). This means a much shorter coffee but taste's much better. I spent a couple of weeks on hol with a Netspresso and was making shots as above utilising 2 pods per drink (a blue and a gold if I remember correctly gave quite a nice blend).

[monkey66]

Home roasting is a whole nother pastime. Read the forums to see the reviews. So far mixed for the Behemor. I know some guys who are home roast mad and do get some fantastic results but this is usually the result of years of practice. The big plus of home roasting is far cheaper and green (unroasted) beans can keep for years.

[Lascaux]

thanks monkey, will check the forums out. the price difference on HasBean for green beans in bulk is incredible... makes the home roaster a steal really.

[SeanP]

I know this is probably a big no no in the world of the coffee elite but I hear you can roast with a hot air popcorn maker. Anyone try it? Just curious as to the results you would get.

[TomUfer]

wow
how complicated is the roasting process? do you just oven roast or over the hob?

I use an appliance built for roasting beans. It is not hard at all. In fact once you start, you'll be spoiled forever!

[Robusto]

I can't add anything expert here.

All I'll say is that I bought a couple of vacuum packs of Cuban coffee back for the hell of it and that flavour has got me back into drinking coffee.

I drink volumes of Assam tea, so this coffee thing is pretty unusual for me.

I'm a bit of a latte whimp, but I do find a large latte goes very very well with a good cigar.

[Lascaux]

its astounding how quickly coffee looses flavour, and just how terrible all coffee is in the supermarket compared to freshly roast, freshly ground. i was really into my coffee at last edinburgh fringe. they have a great little roaster called artisan roast that was my mecca. kept me going the whole festival and the quality was astounding.
sparked my interest off agian the other day when i had a cup of excellence in monmouths, i was buying top coffee in supermarkets and its pisswater compared to that...

sadly when im out teaching at schools i havent got the equip to make some nice coffee so i thermos it, and it makes all coffee taste crap

that roaster is on my christmas list now!

[monkey66]

you can roast coffee in popcorn roasters, it's just not very good.


Spot on Lusi!

its astounding how quickly coffee looses flavour, and just how terrible all coffee is in the supermarket compared to freshly roast, freshly ground. i was really into my coffee at last edinburgh fringe. they have a great little roaster called artisan roast that was my mecca. kept me going the whole festival and the quality was astounding.
sparked my interest off agian the other day when i had a cup of excellence in monmouths, i was buying top coffee in supermarkets and its pisswater compared to that...

sadly when im out teaching at schools i havent got the equip to make some nice coffee so i thermos it, and it makes all coffee taste crap

that roaster is on my christmas list now!