HomeRoast Digest


Topic: different methods of coffee enjoyment (11 msgs / 334 lines)
1) From: Photogal1966
Just wanted to get some feedback from the list (as if I don't already have an 
overflowing mailbox... hehe).
I know that coffee is prepared and enjoyed many different ways the world 
over, from the drip pots to expresso and more.
What are the different ways YOU have prepared and enjoyed coffee? Is there a 
way that you have tried that you will NEVER do again? What is your absolute 
must have favorite method?
Personally, I have just begun roasting at home and currently use a Melitta 
home roaster (waiting for the laughter and the "wait until she gets a real 
roaster comments" to subside... hehe). I sometimes use just a plain old drip 
pot, but I really prefer my French press. I enjoy my coffee with a touch of 
half and half or perhaps some whole milk. Away from home, I will usually have 
whatever the coffee shop I stop at is serving for the coffee of the day. 
Sometimes a latte or an Americano is my choice.
I am really enjoying everyone's posts, and thanks in advance for the 
feedback!
Andrea
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2) From: Al Raden
In order, starting with favorite:
1.  espresso
2.  Americano
3.  vacuum pot
4.  press pot
5.  single cup drip
6.  ibrik
- al r.
Photogal1966 wrote:
<Snip>
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3) From: Timothy A Reed
On Sat, 09 Mar 2002 15:11:58 -0500 Al Raden  writes:
<Snip>
Hey, didn't we just do something like this? :)
In order, starting with most frequent:
1 - espresso (made by me)
2 - press
3 - espresso (at a friend's place)
4 - espresso (at a coffeeshop)
5 - vacpot
6 - autodrip brewer (at a different friend's place)
7 - cappuccino (made by me)
-Tim
In your heart you wonder which of these is true
The road that leads to nowhere
The road that leads to you
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4) From: Steve
Andrea,
Welcome to the list! Before everyone fills up our mailbox... you may want to
search the archives. This question was asked about a month ago with probably
40 or 50 responses. I think most people were amazed that there are more drip
users that any other type with espresso one that most of us don't do.
steve

5) From: Photogal1966
"... you may want to
search the archives. This question was asked about a month ago with probably
40 or 50 responses. I think most people were amazed that there are more drip
users that any other type with espresso one that most of us don't do."
Of course...  I will blame my recent bouts with TMJ-induced headaches for my 
lack of brain-power. Sigh. Hey, at least my doc didn't tell me I had to give 
up coffee! *eg*
Thanks,
Andrea
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6) From: HV
At 15:05 -0500 9-3-02, you wrote:
<Snip>
Here's the list from a student who's in the progress of very quickly 
stuffing his house full of coffee gadgetry (some 50-odd brewers & counting) 
- more or less in order, from absolute fave to less cool:
1. ristretto & 'spresso
2. moka pot
3. vac pot
4. cafetiere (press pot 'mericans?)
5. cafe crema
6. Turkish (cq. Greek, Arab, etc.) coffee
7. Filtre Belgique/napoletana/Vientamese dripper ("slow drip" method, all 
more or less the same)
8. Chemex & Melitta drip
9. hot & cold brewed concentrates (both for "instant" hot coffee & iced drinks)
10. percolator
Still left to try: cloth drip.
Don't really know whether there's a method that I'll never try again. While 
perc definitely isn't my fave, the smell of brewed coffee filling the house 
does have its charm.
Cheers,
HV
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7) From: John Blumel
On 3/9/02 2:26 PM, Steve wrote:
<Snip>
Well, I was just over athttp://www.themeyers.org/HomeRoast/index.htm
browsing through this thread 
http://www.themeyers.org/HomeRoast/Topic2854.htm)-- nothing better to 
do while I'm waiting for the rain to pass so I can go out and roast -- 
and I noticed that, at least if those who indicated percentages are 
representative, that most have one primary method that they use 80% or > 
of the time and then one or more secondary methods that make up varying 
percentages of use. (Ignoring, of course, those who will give up their 
espresso machine when it is pried from their cold dead fingers.)
So I was curious as to whether those of you who do use multiple brew 
methods actually buy specific coffees for these different methods or 
whether you pretty much just buy based on your primary method and make do 
with what you have for the others? Likewise, do you do special roasts for 
your secondary methods or do you just roast and use what you've got for 
the other methods? Or, are none of these things factors in what coffee 
you buy and how you roast it?
John Blumel
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8) From: Ed Needham
Andrea...
I used a Melitta Aromaroast for a number of years, and got pretty good at it.
You can improve the roast by doing a couple of simple things.  Extend the
roast chamber by using a Campbell's soup can or something similar with both
ends cut out of it.  This allows you to put more beans in the hopper and get
a hotter roast temp in the process.  Use the handle of a wooden spoon to stir
the beans if they stall, and tilt the roaster a few degrees (I set one side
on the electric stove burner--don't turn it on ).  This allows for a
circular movement in the roast chamber and aids in the agitation of a larger
amount of beans.  Use the air flow slider to set the air on full volume at
the very start and reduce it as much as you can and still keep the beans
agitating.  as the beans roast, they will lose moisture and weight and you
will be able to reduce the airflow several times to optimize the heat.  You
should be able to get a fairly even roast by doing this.  Don't let the bean
agitation stall for even a couple of seconds or you'll get an uneven roast
(not always bad...can add complexity to some beans).
Now...I've stepped up to a Hearthware precision and it is a world of
difference.  The Melitta is very underpowered in the heat and the fan design.
The HWP seems to have some reserve in both areas and will produce a great
roast much more consistently.  The HWP is surely not as good of a deal as the
Melitta (mine was about $12 at a closeout store and I bought several for
Christmas presents one year--none have ever been used as far as I know).  My
HWP was $129.  I think they have gone down from that price.
I have returned the HWP for replacement three times due to faulty
manufacturing, but the one I have now seems to be reliable.  Good luck with
your Melitta.  I think good things are beginning to happen with home coffee
roasters.
Regards,
Ed Needham
ed

9) From: Ryuji Suzuki -- JF7WEX
From: Photogal1966
Subject: +different methods of coffee enjoyment
Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2002 15:05:46 EST
Are you a photographer??
<Snip>
I usually use cotton cloth drip and ok-quality pump espresso machine.
Sometimes Chemex paper drip. I often make morning coffee with an
electric drip machine with timer.
I will never buy a moka-pot or a steam-boiler type espresso machine again.
I tried french press and SwissGold filters. I'm not too impressed by
them and they are sitting in my shelf.
<Snip>
I don't add anything to coffee, but I like to eat yogurt and something
like dried raisin or figs for snack with coffee...
--
Ryuji Suzuki
"I can't believe I'm here.
People always say that I'm a long way from normal."
(Bob Dylan, Normal, Illinois, 13 February 1999)
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10) From: Timothy A Reed
On Sat, 9 Mar 2002 16:23:08 -0600 John Blumel  writes:
<Snip>
do 
<Snip>
For my press, I like brighter coffees (Kenya, Yirg, various Centrals,
etc) that don't always work well in espresso.  I generally don't care for
Indonesians (Sulawesi being a notable exception) as single-origin coffees
in the press.  However, for espresso, this tends to change somewhat; I
then lean toward the milder Centrals and certain Indonesians.  One of the
best espressos I've had was made by a friend who I got into homeroasting,
and it consisted of 40/40/20 Timor/PNG/aged Sumatra!  There are a few
(notably Yemens and DP Eths) that work for both brewing methods.
<Snip>
just roast and use what you've got for 
<Snip>
For me, presspot coffees tend to be roasted City, while espresso tends to
be roasted Vienna-ish.  I think this is more a reflection of the types of
coffee, rather than the brewing method when the press is being used.
-Tim
In your heart you wonder which of these is true
The road that leads to nowhere
The road that leads to you
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11) From: HV
Hiya John,
At 16:23 -0600 9-3-02, you wrote:
<Snip>
For me the fun is in grabbing whichever brewer I feel like using at a 
particular moment & that varies a lot. Though I hardly ever use the perc & 
I don't pull out the drip brewers too often either, I don't think there's 
one specific method that I use 80% of the time.
<Snip>
Hmmm, when making the "shopping list", I don't actually select coffees for 
specific methods of brewing - the focus is more on whether it'll be 
interesting enough to warrant the purchase. Sometimes it's because I know a 
certain coffee, sometimes 'cuz it sounds like it'll be worth buying.
'Course, one generally knows which type of roast works best in which 
brewer. Eg. high acidity coffees generally don't do well in vac pots, so, 
if I have, say, a Guat that I'd want to use for vac pot, I'll roast it a 
tad darker. When I used the HWP all the time, I used to have five or six 
jars with different coffees at different roast styles, making it easy to 
pick a combination of bean & brewer that works ok.
Things have changed since I'm mainly using the Hottop now. A 300g batch 
will last about a week & I tend to roast it so it'll be suitable for 
different methods, which usually translates into a darker style than I used 
to have.
Cheers,
HV
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