Espresso Enthusiasts

[Scepticalscribe]

Have just now, this very minute, made a pot (in my raspberry coloured beautiful Le Creuset French Press) of freshly ground coffee: But not - I hasten to add - beans that have been ground, and used - within a celestial or cosmic speed of 15, or 30 seconds - have you guys any idea how long it takes this desk warrior to actually grind my beans in the OE Lido 2 grinder? Yes, the one that looks like an outsized chess piece and is built like a tank? One of the reasons I stopped drinking espresso is that grinding beans to that consistency is up there with peeling mushrooms - namely, something that life is not long enough to view with unabashed delight.

Anyway, the Ethiopian beans (two types, although one was a blend....) are steeping, now, as I write, while I await the arrival of my friends from Bristol.

Three mugs are also heating, full of hot water, two (volcanic flame orange) from Le Creuset - I only bought two - and one, a most unusual one, a mug that is glazed with a dark navy colour, a large, solid mug - that I bought years ago in the Stalin museum, in Gori, Georgia. It features a picture of the monster, complete with a mention of his name (in Georgian and English, - Russian is absent), for those who have missed the point.

A black Japanese teapot is also playing host to hot water, in case one of my guests would prefer tea.

 

[AVBeatMan]

I have just finished a most wonderful cup of coffee. The best cup I've had since breaking my one and a half year coffee fast.

For those who are using a French press and looking for a bold dark blend I can highly recommend the Intelligentsia El Diablo Dark Roast Blend.

What a treat!

Do you take it with milk? I enjoy a latte but am slowly weening myself to drink my coffee black. So for the best way I've found is to make it a little weaker. Just wondering?

 

[Shrink]

Do you take it with milk? I enjoy a latte but am slowly weening myself to drink my coffee black. So for the best way I've found is to make it a little weaker. Just wondering?

I only drink my coffee black. I prefer it as dark and bold as possible, although I have enjoyed a medium roast blend from Blue Bottle recently.

But my current favorite is a dark roast blend from Intelligentsia drunk black.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Do you take it with milk? I enjoy a latte but am slowly weening myself to drink my coffee black. So for the best way I've found is to make it a little weaker. Just wondering?

No, I don't take it with milk...I prefer it black. Generally speaking I prefer my coffee a


I only drink my coffee black. I prefer it as dark and bold as possible, although I have enjoyed a medium roast blend from Blue Bottle recently.

But my current favorite is a dark roast blend from Intelligentsia drunk black.

I can drink it black (usually in countries where dairy products are simply not to be had), but, given a choice, tend to prefer it with a little milk.

At home, the milk is usually organic, and sometimes (when I can lay hands on the stuff) both organic and raw.

This morning, one of my guests, a very cherished old friend, requested heated milk with the freshly made coffee. So, I put a saucepan (of organic milk, yes, the full fat stuff, none of this skimmed tasteless nonsense for me), on my nice Rangemaster cooker to heat.

Delicious.

When drinking espresso, if the option exists, I will add a teaspoon of milk; if not, well, such is life. I will happily drink it black.

 

[JamesMike]

I have just finished a most wonderful cup of coffee. The best cup I've had since breaking my one and a half year coffee fast.

For those who are using a French press and looking for a bold dark blend I can highly recommend the Intelligentsia El Diablo Dark Roast Blend.

What a treat!

Shrink, where is that from?

Has anyone mixed Ethiopian and Rwanda beans?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Shrink, where is that from?

Has anyone mixed Ethiopian and Rwanda beans?

Yes, I have. I have tried it in the past year, tinkering with coffees from other African countries, as I was hoping to find a suitable blending partner for Ethiopian coffees.

It depends on what taste you want from the finished product. Ethiopian coffees are lightly roasted - and have such a distinct taste profile (those clear, clean, bright notes that I have come to love) that they can be easily overpowered.

Anyway, I had thought that they would - or could - go well together; however, if you wish the characteristics of the Ethiopian coffee to still come through, I would not recommend a 50/50 blend. (And yes, I have tried it).

That is because the Ethiopian would be overpowered, - or rather - its distinct characteristics would not come through fully.

Therefore, my personal recommendation would be a 60/40 blend (with the majority in favour of Ethiopian), or even two thirds, one third as a blend, two thirds Ethiopian, one third Rwandan. That could work nicely.

 

[0388631]

Sceptical, I have a question for you. I overheard someone at my local roaster stating they used thin muslin cloth as a filter that they'd wash under hot water each day. Is this common in purist circles or an outdated technique?

 

[mobilehaathi]

Sceptical, I have a question for you. I overheard someone at my local roaster stating they used thin muslin cloth as a filter that they'd wash under hot water each day. Is this common in purist circles or an outdated technique?

Oh, cloth filters are still used. I used one for quite a while until it needed to be discarded. Hmm, maybe I'll try it again.

 

[Shrink]

Shrink, where is that from?

Has anyone mixed Ethiopian and Rwanda beans?

I bought this blend from http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/product/coffee/el-diablo-dark-roast.

According to request of information from the site about the blend, I received the following reply...

"Thanks for reaching out! As you can see from our product page, the coffees that go into this Dark Roast rotate seasonally; http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/product/coffee/el-diablo-dark-roast . The current blend that we have in stock is comprised of African beans sourced from Tanzania & Zambia."

 

[0388631]

Oh, cloth filters are still used. I used one for quite a while until it needed to be discarded. Hmm, maybe I'll try it again.

How do you wash it? Odorless soap? It's inert, so it would be a wise choice instead of using a synthetic that could possibly react with the 200-205* water.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sceptical, I have a question for you. I overheard someone at my local roaster stating they used thin muslin cloth as a filter that they'd wash under hot water each day. Is this common in purist circles or an outdated technique?

Not this dilettante.

My idea with coffee is to try to uncomplicate things, rather than over-complicate things.

For the Hario dripper, I use unbleached filter paper (organic, blah, blah), but believe me, I am not addicted to house work of any description, and any extra labour - or anything that adds to my daily mental labour, or requires extra thought and bandwidth in the planning department of my head - does not receive a rousing welcome.

Good luck to those who do that; and @mobilehaathi - when and where and in what capacity is muslin used?

Re cooking, the only time I have found myself using muslin cloth was when I made my own marmalade (Seville oranges, lemon and grapefruit, and a lot less sugar than the recipe from the 60s my mother dug out had suggested; delicious).

 

[mobilehaathi]

How do you wash it? Odorless soap? It's inert, so it would be a wise choice instead of using a synthetic that could possibly react with the 200-205* water.

Hot water and the occasional drop of unscented soap. It can change the brewing process a bit from a standard paper filter, as it changes the length of time the grounds stay in contact with the water, but I always had nice cups!

 

[Shrink]

I don't know if any of y'all are interested in Kickstarter campaigns.

I found this one interesting...https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simplijenni/simplipress

I'm not paying enormous attention to the claims of better tasting coffee just because of the press, nor of its claims for very short brew times. But it is possible that using a somewhat finer grind will extract more flavor, and I do think that the clean up feature is of interest.

Anyway, I presented to you for your consideration

 

[0388631]

Hot water and the occasional drop of unscented soap. It can change the brewing process a bit from a standard paper filter, as it changes the length of time the grounds stay in contact with the water, but I always had nice cups!

I've always used a gold tone filter for my drip machine. Tastes more like FP. I'm going to have to give that a try though. Is there a place I can order from or do I need to construct my own?

 

[mobilehaathi]

I've always used a gold tone filter for my drip machine. Tastes more like FP. I'm going to have to give that a try though. Is there a place I can order from or do I need to construct my own?

I had bought mine from a food co-op a while ago, but I'm sure you can find them online.

 

[Shrink]

I just came upon this site...http://www.highwirecoffee.com

They roast twice a week...so the coffee is pretty fresh.

Does anyone have any experience with this roaster?

 

[D.T.]

I bought this blend from http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/product/coffee/el-diablo-dark-roast.

Holy smokes ... followed link ... immediately placed order

[edit]

No PP or AP, will need to explore other options, sounded amazing!

 

[mobilehaathi]

I just came upon this site...http://www.highwirecoffee.com

They roast twice a week...so the coffee is pretty fresh.

Does anyone have any experience with this roaster?

Ahh, I walked by their Berkeley location a while ago and have wanted to check it out...hmmm.

 

[Shrink]

Ahh, I walked by their Berkeley location a while ago and have wanted to check it out...hmmm.

Do give them a try and let us all know if the coffee is any good.

Your judgement is golden to us all.

Sort of...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I just came upon this site...http://www.highwirecoffee.com

They roast twice a week...so the coffee is pretty fresh.

Does anyone have any experience with this roaster?

I must say that it looks fascinating.

I like their naming system for their blends, but a pity they don't mention what the blends are actually made from.

Anyway, they have rather good Ethiopians, so I won't deny I'm tempted.

Ahh, I walked by their Berkeley location a while ago and have wanted to check it out...hmmm.

Let me know how you find them when you do manage to pay them a visit.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Have just finished a very nice pot (Le Creuset French Press) of two different Ethiopian blends of coffee with Decent Brother.

As it is Sunday, and there are no pressing deadlines (other than the metronome timing of the visits of the carers to my mother), I had plenty of time to grind the beans (in my manual OE Lido grinder), heat the mugs (Le Creuset) and the coffee pot.

So, all was as it should be, and quite lovely, it was, too.

 

[Shrink]

Have just finished a very nice pot (Le Creuset French Press) of two different Ethiopian blends of coffee with Decent Brother.

As it is Sunday, and there are no pressing deadlines (other than the metronome timing of the visits of the carers to my mother), I had plenty of time to grind the beans (in my manual OE Lido grinder), heat the mugs (Le Creuset) and the coffee pot.

So, all was as it should be, and quite lovely, it was, too.

So nice to hear that you are having a quiet and peaceful day. For all the wonderful work that you do, you certainly deserve a day to yourself...especially when it includes a nice pot of coffee.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

So nice to hear that you are having a quiet and peaceful day. For all the wonderful work that you do, you certainly deserve a day to yourself...especially when it includes a nice pot of coffee.

Sunday is usually fairly quiet, as the carer has most of the day off.

In recent months, I have taken to employing a wonderfully experienced lady to come in for several hours a few times a week (generally Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

However, she seems to have succumbed to my cold (well my flu/pneumonia) - and visited her doctor and was prescribed antibiotics on Friday. So, I have had to arrange extra supplementary cover over the weekend - and, if I am realistic, for the coming week as well.

Nevertheless, when Decent brother shows up, it is nice to share a pot of coffee, and have a good lunch, and chat. As I mentioned earlier, he rose early and did the heavy duty shopping (plenty of mineral water and the like), and also - without needing to be asked - did the washing up afterwards.

A good guy.

 

[Shrink]

Now that I am drinking two big cups of coffee a day, instead of one cup, I am using up my coffee beans much more quickly.

Maybe twice as fast as before.

(I figured that out all by myself. Even though I have a broken neck, my head is still tenuously attached to my body and I'm still pretty bright. )

I decided I would try some coffee from the site mentioned above.

As I prefer a dark roast, I'm going to try http://www.highwirecoffee.com/collections/coffee/products/french-roast.

After I try it I will report back.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Now that I am drinking two big cups of coffee a day, instead of one cup, I am using up my coffee beans much more quickly.

Maybe twice as fast as before.

(I figured that out all by myself. Even though I have a broken neck, my head is still tenuously attached to my body and I'm still pretty bright. )

I decided I would try some coffee from the site mentioned above.

As I prefer a dark roast, I'm going to try http://www.highwirecoffee.com/collections/coffee/products/french-roast.

After I try it I will report back.

Do, please, let us know how you find it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.

Having perused the site, I must say that I think that the art work on the labels is very attractive, while the names on the coffees themselves are wonderfully beguiling.