Coffee!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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).

[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]

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

[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]

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

[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.

[Lee Nub]

Some great info there mate, very interesting

[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?

[monkey66]

What he said ....hasbean and squaremile are probably the best coffee you can buy in the UK.

The most important things to know about coffee:
1. Only grind per usage (shot/pot). The difference between freshly ground and ground an hour ago is night and day.
2. Buying coffee from the above suppliers means it has been freshly roasted. Coffee has an envelope which is 4-12 days after roast when it is good (varies depending on storage/beans/roast level). I never drink coffee more then 12 days post-roast. There is an exception to this which is the first hour after older roasted beans are open. Can be quite acceptable in the first hour but by the next day will be gone. Do not use beans less than 4 days after roast as will be very poor.
3. The grinder is as important as the coffee machine (if not more so). You can achieve excellent coffee with Fresh beans, a good burr grinder and a simple drip machine.
4. Temp is critical to all coffee brewing. Specifically not too hot. If you are using a pour-over type method never use boiling water, always let the kettle rest for a few mins (90-95 degC is ideal).


Overall achieving a really good cup of coffee is even more involved than a good cigar. You need: Good beans, properly roasted, 4-10 days old, freshly ground, decent grinder, decent brew method.

Check out:

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com/index.php

http://www.home-barista.com/

http://www.coffeegeek.com/

For a great brewing solution take a look at the Chemex range (a Chemex jug, fresh roasted beans and a fairly basic ?100 burr grinder can make great coffee)

https://www.hasbean.co.uk/brands/Chemex.html

NB - cheap espresso machines are a false economy, you are better off with a Netspresso. Entry level to make decent espresso/cappa's is ?600 machine and ?250 grinder.

hasbean.co.uk has loads of great coffee .. single origins, blends you name it - and Steve is a kind fellow too

your own barista world champion James Hoffmann also has a site that sells coffee, and I believe it would be worth a shot, shop.squaremilecoffee.com

I drink a blend I concocted myself, consisting of 40% Guatemala Huehuetenango, 40% Brazil Yellow Bourbon and 20% Indonesia Mandheling .. roasted on a Gene Cafe and used for my morning espresso and cappuccino

[Lee Nub]

Sounds good mate

[Bogner]

hasbean.co.uk has loads of great coffee .. single origins, blends you name it - and Steve is a kind fellow too

your own barista world champion James Hoffmann also has a site that sells coffee, and I believe it would be worth a shot, shop.squaremilecoffee.com

I drink a blend I concocted myself, consisting of 40% Guatemala Huehuetenango, 40% Brazil Yellow Bourbon and 20% Indonesia Mandheling .. roasted on a Gene Cafe and used for my morning espresso and cappuccino

[Pantomimehorse]

I pick my beans up in Drury Covent Garden http://www.drury.uk.com/

but keep meaning to walk a few streets down and check out monmouth