Basic Coffee Recommendations?

[GreekGodX]

Yea the local roaster is a great idea. I would go down to 55grams try that. Then down to 50grams. That little trial and error would probably do the trick.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by GreekGodX

Yea the local roaster is a great idea. I would go down to 55grams try that. Then down to 50grams. That little trial and error would probably do the trick.

BlackBear Coffee Micro Roastery Recommends 53.2 Gm/40Oz. Think I'll Try That. 63Gm. Is Still A Little Strong. Thanks, Christos!
http://www.blackbearcoffee.com/resources/83

[Ashcan Bill]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

How did making a pot of drip coffee get so involved?

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

Like guys "over think" their cigars?

Yeah, I'm pretty much mystified. I've used a simple Bunn drip maker for well over thirty years now. I'm on my third one now. My Solis grinder is somewhere between ten and fifteen years old. Whenever I try a new brand of beans, I usually manage to figure out how much I need in a pot after a few tries. Don't own a coffee measuring device, I eyeball it.

Just never found it to be all that complicated.

Right now I'm drinking a cup made from San Francisco Bay French Roast. Strong, rich, no bitterness. Satisfies my simple tastes.

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by longknocker

BlackBear Coffee Micro Roastery Recommends 53.2 Gm/40Oz. Think I'll Try That. 63Gm. Is Still A Little Strong. Thanks, Christos!
http://www.blackbearcoffee.com/resources/83

I Know This Sounds A Little Weak To The Coffee Experts, But It Suits My Tastes. 1 Tablespoon Coffee/6OZ. H20= 37Gm. Coffee For My Technivorm Model. Works Great! Thanks, Again, For All The Great Advice, My Friends!

[kydsid]

Greg another thing I noticed with my, automated pour over machine (I don't say drip machine because the technivorum and a few others are so far ahead of cheap drip machines) is that water quality matters. I filter all my water prior to use in mine, or use bottled water. There is a difference in taste imo. And even if there isn't it's better for the life of the machine to use good water to prevent scale or other issues.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by kydsid

water quality matters.

This is a really good point, I use bottled water for my coffee.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

This is a really good point, I use bottled water for my coffee.

Don't use distilled water. Some mineral content is need for flavor so says my co-worker who's super into coffee. Minerals help "pull" some of the coffee material that adds to flavor.

We are lucky in Boston that our tap water is very good and no need to filter or use bottled water

[longknocker]

I Always Use Filtered Water From My GE Filtered Ice/Water Dispenser From My Fridge. I Tried Actually "Weighing" My Coffee This Afternoon & Found Out 60Gm. Of The Particular Coffee I Was Using Was Only 4 Level Coffee Scoops!!! Guess I Need To Weigh Each Time For Awhile. Coffee Was Much Smoother & Richer. Thanks For All The Advice, My Friends; Keep It Coming!

[GreekGodX]

Originally Posted by longknocker

I Always Use Filtered Water From My GE Filtered Ice/Water Dispenser From My Fridge. I Tried Actually "Weighing" My Coffee This Afternoon & Found Out 60Gm. Of The Particular Coffee I Was Using Was Only 4 Level Coffee Scoops!!! Guess I Need To Weigh Each Time For Awhile. Coffee Was Much Smoother & Richer. Thanks For All The Advice, My Friends; Keep It Coming!

I found out a long time ago measuring cups are not very accurate. I always go by weight.

[pektel]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Don't use distilled water. Some mineral content is need for flavor so says my co-worker who's super into coffee. Minerals help "pull" some of the coffee material that adds to flavor.

We are lucky in Boston that our tap water is very good and no need to filter or use bottled water

That's interesting. My tap water is no where near acceptable for coffee, so I use the RO faucet on the sink. I use that water for everything. But I don't think RO water has minerals in it.

[kydsid]

Originally Posted by pektel

That's interesting. My tap water is no where near acceptable for coffee, so I use the RO faucet on the sink. I use that water for everything. But I don't think RO water has minerals in it.

RO water has minerals. Much much less than other sources but more than distilled and enough for coffee. This was at least the line we used along with some data when I sold culligan ro systems.

[replicant_argent]

Originally Posted by pektel

That's interesting. My tap water is no where near acceptable for coffee, so I use the RO faucet on the sink. I use that water for everything. But I don't think RO water has minerals in it.

RO water does not.


Having been a "water guy" (selling RO, iron treatment and softeners) and having some training and certs in it, I remember at least a little bit
People who will try to tell you "RO is bad for you" probably don't have a smidgen of actual knowledge or training, but may have read some creative intrawebz sites.

Filtered water is good. It will take out off flavors, some chemicals, turbidity, improving taste and aesthetics. Change those filters out, and sanitize the system if possible, at regular intervals if allowed by design of the equipment.

I use RO for all consumables, ice to cooking to coffee. I have been told my coffee doesn't suck, to paraphrase more than a compliment or two fired my way.

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Don't use distilled water. Some mineral content is need for flavor so says my co-worker who's super into coffee. Minerals help "pull" some of the coffee material that adds to flavor.

We are lucky in Boston that our tap water is very good and no need to filter or use bottled water

No I use bottled (Filtered water)

[Sawyer]

My favorite grocery store coffee is Eight O' Clock. It is nothing special but it does the trick for a backup.

[pektel]

If I drank a lot of coffee, I'd probably spend the cash on a good machine. But since I only drink a cup or two at a time, the French press works great.

The only thing I've spent over $100 on is a breville smart grinder. I don't grind until the water gets to temp. That's about as technical as I get with my coffee.

I try to keep the KISS principle at the forefront of daily routine activities. But it did take effort/trial and error before figuring out the most efficient way to do things. I've even gone so far as to figuring out the quickest-moving traffic lane to drive in through different parts of town to spend the least amount of time driving.

Now that I think about it, efficiency ain't so simple after all...

[Stevez]

Greg, I've read this thread over and over because I feel I am in the exact place you were when you started. I've used the Technivorm for about 2 months and tried different grind levels, different coffees like Starbucks, Eight O'clock, Heine Brothers and more. I don't have any way of measuring grams, but sounds like I need to try and be more precise. I have eyeballed it only, more, less, different grind levels and none seem "rich" enough. Kind of bland; not bitter, just bland. What kind of a scale do you use to measure grams? Thanks. Steve

[longknocker]

Originally Posted by Stevez

Greg, I've read this thread over and over because I feel I am in the exact place you were when you started. I've used the Technivorm for about 2 months and tried different grind levels, different coffees like Starbucks, Eight O'clock, Heine Brothers and more. I don't have any way of measuring grams, but sounds like I need to try and be more precise. I have eyeballed it only, more, less, different grind levels and none seem "rich" enough. Kind of bland; not bitter, just bland. What kind of a scale do you use to measure grams? Thanks. Steve

"37 Grams" With A Full Pot (40 Ounces) Measured On A Oxo Kitchen Scale:http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-Stai...+scale+digital

Works Great Every Morning!

[Garbandz]

If I could not make a good cup of coffee with it in two months,I would throw it out.
Sounds like the water is either not hot enough or it is running past the coffee too fast to extract any flavor.
I have an espresso machine,moca pot,french press, and a drip machine,and have no trouble with any of them.
The espresso took a few trials to dial in,a little advice from a pro and I was good to go......

[cigarmonkel]

I just tried the salt thing and my god... it actually works. I've also heard of putting grass fed butter with your ground coffee. My roommate said he tried it over christmas and it was amazing. He said it was like a concentrated caffeine high or compared it to taking a small dose of a "study buddy" without feeling all hopped up. Not sure if anyone else has heard of this and I'm not sure if normal butter will work or not.

[Gogi73]

cigarmonkel I tried it actually with grass fed butter and with coconut oil (1.tsp for a cup) and it is great. You can add cream/milk if you like.
Some call it bulletproof coffee, I guess it makes you immortal