[airforcetwo]

If so, what's your favorite? French Press? Espresso? Latte?

I never used to be that much of a fan of brewed coffee, always liked cappuccinos etc. But since I learned how to make filtered coffee correctly, I can't pick between the two

[epicurian]

I love it all. Right now I'm drinking a long espresso.

[gmphmac]

I'm a hardcore coffee drinker! No morning is complete without a cup of the finest Illy espresso.

[vosne]

http://www.garlandsorganic.co.uk/ima...achu-pichu.jpg

This, nice and strong.

[earthling13]

We are occasional coffee drinkers at home and always use a cafetiere. We like to buy a different coffee each time but always in the 4/5 range. Always strong and no milk, just a tiny bit of sugar.

I never have coffee in a restaurant any more as its usually overpriced rubbish and I can't be bothered with places like Costa and Starbucks because, unless I've just eaten, I'd rather have a cup of tea.

[airforcetwo]

I'm in the coffee industry and where I live there must be over 100 places to get a cup of coffee. 99 of them are terrible

It surprises me how many people open a coffee shop without any effort to understand what good coffee is. I don't take sugar in my coffee, unless I'm in one of those 99 cafes.

If anyone is interested in coffee I've made a few youtube videos about roasting etc.. http://www.smokeybarn.co.uk/blog

[airforcetwo]

Originally Posted by earthling13

We like to buy a different coffee each time but always in the 4/5 range. Always strong and no milk, just a tiny bit of sugar.

Black coffee - the right way to go! If you get hold of some genuine fresh roasted beans (less than 2 weeks old - usually online), you could edge out that half sugar and start to pick out all the subtle flavors that good coffees have.

Oh and ignore the strength indicators! They're a bit meaningless

If you like cafetiere coffee, have you tried something like a Hario V60? it's a really cheap form of filter, but it doesn't leave the 'chalkiness' of coffee grounds in the cup.

[earthling13]

Originally Posted by airforcetwo

Black coffee - the right way to go! If you get hold of some genuine fresh roasted beans (less than 2 weeks old - usually online), you could edge out that half sugar and start to pick out all the subtle flavors that good coffees have.

Oh and ignore the strength indicators! They're a bit meaningless

If you like cafetiere coffee, have you tried something like a Hario V60? it's a really cheap form of filter, but it doesn't leave the 'chalkiness' of coffee grounds in the cup.

I will try the fresh beans one day. I remember back in the 60s my mum would buy fresh beans in a local dept store and they had a grinder so you could grind them yourself in the shop. She'd put then in a metal percolator and that would sit on the oven top all day. Of course, as a child, I couldn't stand the overpowering smell of fresh ground coffee.


BTW It's not even close to half a spoon of sugar, more like an eighth and I'm sure it will go altogether eventually.

[epicurian]

I recently got back from the west coast of the U.S. and tomorrow I'll be brewing my last carafe of the Ethiopia Mordecofe from Stumptown Rosaters in Portland, and I'm a little bit sad.

Stumptown, by the way, are part of the third wave of coffee geeks and obsessives and buy their green beans via direct trade, as opposed to fair trade, meaning they completely cut out the middle man and the roasters have personal relationships with the growers. It's not uncommon for them to pay four times more than the going fair trade price, and to work with growers to improve farming conditions for both the workers and the beans. Obviously, the cost is passed on to the consumer, but the quality of the finished product is totally worth it, and rightly or wrongly, I've always been a little dubious of the costly certification required by the Fair Trade organization, and the fact they require growers to be members of a co-op.

NY Times article about Direct Trade


Stumptown instructions on how to prepare the perfect press pot

(and I swear I don't own shares in stumptown )

[airforcetwo]

Good points there.

Fair trade is just a 'tip', a token gesture, paid to the farmers out of pity.

Where as, quality raw coffees are expensive for roasters to buy and the farmers make good money from it, hence there is no token gesture needed, though this isn't always necessarily through 'direct' trade, we have importers that do a lot of valuable and ethical work on our behalf, and yes we also pay about 4 times the base rate!

The moral of the story, fair trade or not, cheap coffee = poor taste, in more ways than one!

[big_hard_lad]

Any ever tried AeroPress? Always wanted to give it a go...never got around to it.

[alanwarwic]

Originally Posted by airforcetwo

I'm in the coffee industry

Can't say I never noticed.

rolleyes:

[diablo]

I have several types of coffee maker but I usually just put a Lyons coffee bag into an insulated glass and microwave for 3 minutes.

[amyawake]

I like mocha coffee - tend to make it with organic instant coffee and organic cocoa, premixed with some sugar. Pour over heated milk.

Boiling water makes coffee bitter - according to a coffee expert and I notice the taste improves if just coming up to boiling (e.g. with instant coffee).

Camp coffee (i.e. with chicory) makes a great iced coffee. Equal parts chilled water and cold milk.

[swingaleg]

I like Tesco French blend made in a cafetaire

I used to get M&S French Blend but can't find it any more

[dollylovesshoes]

I always order from here www.hasbeancofffee.co.uk

I have a grind to brew coffee machine so I always buy the beans and they are lovely and fresh!

[1Mickey]

Originally Posted by dollylovesshoes

I always order from here www.hasbeancofffee.co.uk

I have a grind to brew coffee machine so I always buy the beans and they are lovely and fresh!

I've got one too but i wouldn't pay that much for the beans.I get 908g for £15 -17 roast and post. Or if i'm a bit skint(or if i've been drinking a lot of coffee lately) and have enough to last a couple of days i get slightly cheaper and afew days less fresh coffee for £12.99 per kg,which doesn't taste quite as good as the next day stuff but is still a lot fresher than illy and the other mass produced rubbish you get in supermarkets and coffee shops.

[Orangemaid]

i use Nescafe..But i whisk it up and make frothy coffee..I cant stand those coffee machines, with the coffee they use, so i make it my whisked way

[SherbetLemon]

Reminds me of when I took my dear old dad into M&S' cafe last year. All he wanted was a cup of coffee, but they had a list of about a dozen types of coffee and he hadn't a clue what any of them were. Not being a coffee drinker myself, I wasn't much better (mocha & cappuccino were the only ones that spring to mind that I'd heard of) In the end I got him a cappuccino because that's the one I hear everyone harping on about - and he hated it. Whatever happened to getting a regular cup of coffee?!

[epicurian]

Originally Posted by SherbetLemon

Reminds me of when I took my dear old dad into M&S' cafe last year. All he wanted was a cup of coffee, but they had a list of about a dozen types of coffee and he hadn't a clue what any of them were. Not being a coffee drinker myself, I wasn't much better (mocha & cappuccino were the only ones that spring to mind that I'd heard of) In the end I got him a cappuccino because that's the one I hear everyone harping on about - and he hated it. Whatever happened to getting a regular cup of coffee?!

It's called filter coffee on their menu... though I'm sure if you had asked for a regular cup of coffee that would have worked to.

[swingaleg]

Originally Posted by SherbetLemon

Reminds me of when I took my dear old dad into M&S' cafe last year. All he wanted was a cup of coffee, but they had a list of about a dozen types of coffee and he hadn't a clue what any of them were. Not being a coffee drinker myself, I wasn't much better (mocha & cappuccino were the only ones that spring to mind that I'd heard of) In the end I got him a cappuccino because that's the one I hear everyone harping on about - and he hated it. Whatever happened to getting a regular cup of coffee?!

Yeah I know what you mean..........

The only time I went in a Starbucks I asked for Expresso to take away and got one of those thimble full ones.....

I pretended it was what I wanted, took it home, poured it in a cup and filled it up from the kettle.............

I usually go to Pret's for takeaway coffee..........well, I did until the recession when it seemed extravagent to pay two quid for coffee to take home when I've got plenty in at home..........and I usually get cappucino. I think their 'regular cuppa' is caled 'American'

[epicurian]

Originally Posted by swingaleg

Yeah I know what you mean..........

The only time I went in a Starbucks I asked for Expresso to take away and got one of those thimble full ones.....

I pretended it was what I wanted, took it home, poured it in a cup and filled it up from the kettle.............

I usually go to Pret's for takeaway coffee..........well, I did until the recession when it seemed extravagent to pay two quid for coffee to take home when I've got plenty in at home..........and I usually get cappucino. I think their 'regular cuppa' is caled 'American'

I think just like at M&S, the regular coffee at Pret is called filter coffee. An Americano is espresso diluted with hot water.

I had a very similar experience I the first time I ever ordered espresso. I had no idea what I was going to get, but I sure didn't expect that little bitty ounce of super strong liquid. I was about 14 years old and I'm pretty sure the guy behind the counter knew I was clueless, but I did my best to play it cool.

[noise747]

i love my coffee, i got myself a Gaggia classic a few months back, i also had to get a new grinder as well since my blade grinder was not good enough for espresso makers.

Reading this thread got me to go and make a coffee. the espresso part I can do now, the frothing part I am out of practice with.

I get my coffee beans from J. Atkinson at the moment I have got Espresso Lusso and Rainforest Alliance Blend. i use the second one in my French press.

I like to look around for different suppliers and thinks to dollylovesshoes, i have another one.

One day I may get a roaster and do my own.

The problem with a lot of coffee from supermarkets is that they are too old and been in storage for too long. Saying that I do like Taylor Hot Lava Java now and again.

Nero coffee is not bad as one of the chain coffee houses, but I been told of a small local one here in a side street that makes great coffee, so one day I will have to have a look.

i think thankfully in the main this country have gone away from the Mellow birds type of coffee and getting more into the we want something better game.

i know some people think that they are cheating, but even the capsule machines are better than instant coffee, i also got a dolce-gusto and the coffee is pretty good from it to be honest if you want a quick coffee. i don't use it as much now I got the Gaggia, but if i am in work early it is great then as it gives me a coffee shot in double quick time.

Sales of these type of machines are doing well, which is nice as it does show people want better coffee.

[1Mickey]

Originally Posted by swingaleg

Yeah I know what you mean..........

The only time I went in a Starbucks I asked for Expresso to take away and got one of those thimble full ones.....

I pretended it was what I wanted, took it home, poured it in a cup and filled it up from the kettle.............

I usually go to Pret's for takeaway coffee..........well, I did until the recession when it seemed extravagent to pay two quid for coffee to take home when I've got plenty in at home..........and I usually get cappucino. I think their 'regular cuppa' is caled 'American'

An espresso is roughly a quarter of a cup(cup not mug).A full cup or mug of coffee is normally called an Americano in coffee shops.

[DaisyBumbleroot]

Originally Posted by big_hard_lad

Any ever tried AeroPress? Always wanted to give it a go...never got around to it.

My sister brought one from the USA and showed by coffee loving husband - he loved it! She's getting him one for Xmas now


I also bought my husband some civet poo coffee, he wasn't impressed but I also bought him some blue mountain (?) and he thought that was delicious