Two of my favorite things (Early Intel Mac edition).

[Certificate of Excellence]

The primary method I've heard of is just adding a dash of cold water to try to settle the grounds. I'm now wondering about the socks thing--if what I think I remember is what I actually read/heard once... Could well be a single case of a single college guy who figured "this will work." LOL (And maybe even thinks: "Maybe using yesterday's sweaty sock will add a new dimension of taste to my coffee!" LOL)

4.1%? Wow. I knew it was bad--but I hadn't thought it was 4.1% bad!

I watch the prime rate closely and as I saw it increase from 3% to 9% over the past couple years I knew the Fed interest mean was pushing north as the prime rate typically is 2-3 points higher than the Federal funds rate and the FFR is directly impacted by reported Federal inflation ie: increase in inflation = increase in FFR = an increase in prime rate.

LOL Of course you can just go to the grocery and see the invisible, taxation without representation increase there.

*Posted on my trusty 2009 mbp. Subsequently pulling double duty streaming Traditional Christmas tunes through my Bose blue tooth speaker. I figure I'll get some Xmas lights up on this badboy this week sometime as well. 🎄

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

The primary method I've heard of is just adding a dash of cold water to try to settle the grounds. I'm now wondering about the socks thing--if what I think I remember is what I actually read/heard once... Could well be a single case of a single college guy who figured "this will work." LOL (And maybe even thinks: "Maybe using yesterday's sweaty sock will add a new dimension of taste to my coffee!" LOL)

Yanno, I have my fire pit loaded up outside. I am half tempted to use one of my wife's nylon leggings to suspend some grinds in my campfire pot n make some coffee.

It sounds like it should work pretty well.

 

[WriteNow]

LOL Of course you can just go to the grocery and see the invisible, taxation without representation increase there.

No kidding. I get a reminder on a trip-by-trip basis!

And I'm sure I'm not alone. I'd guess a lot of people who had "inflation" as a top concern for the election were more likely influenced by grocery prices than they were any mere statistic.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

No kidding. I get a reminder on a trip-by-trip basis!

And I'm sure I'm not alone. I'd guess a lot of people who had "inflation" as a top concern for the election were more likely influenced by grocery prices than they were any mere statistic.

The election was surprising. I thought it would be closer than it was but when daily habits get pinched like food with stagnant wages, folks feel it and vote. I'm bummed because the local coffee I buy for my DD brewer went up over four dollars in the past two years for the 5# bag I buy. It's not going to stop me from buying it because local coffee rocks and I want to keep my money in my community but when demand drops because folks cant afford stuff and the cost to run a business increases due to poor policy, prices go up to compensate.

Anyhow, I drank all of my coffee today but because of the increase in cost to me, I have switched my afternoon coffee cravings to affordable value line instants. I save my local bean for AM brews and dinner/gatherings with friends/family.

*Typed on my trusty 2008 unibody macbook running Lubuntu.

 

[WriteNow]

The election was surprising. I thought it would be closer than it was

I was, too--I half expected, half dreaded it would drag out forever--possibly with multiple court battles--before we had results.

but when daily habits get pinched like food with stagnant wages, folks feel it and vote.

Indeed.

Anyhow, I drank all of my coffee today but because of the increase in cost to me, I have switched my afternoon coffee cravings to affordable value line instants.

(Actually, I don't see why it has to be either/or... A balance of "keep it cheap" sometimes and "the good coffee" sometimes can make real sense. Particularly with today's economic realities.)

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I was, too--I half expected, half dreaded it would drag out forever--possibly with multiple court battles--before we had results.



Indeed.





(Actually, I don't see why it has to be either/or... A balance of "keep it cheap" sometimes and "the good coffee" sometimes can make real sense. Particularly with today's economic realities.)

What I have been attempting recently as colder weather has moved in was to switch those afternoon coffees to some sort of hot tea. I have many teas around. My favorites are English breakfast, Earlgrey etc. so have been enjoying those hot vs using them for brewed iced teas as I usually do.

Anyways, as long as I get my caffeine LOL. Typed on my EI 2009 mbp.

 

[eyoungren]

In our daily routine there is 8 to 10 cups of coffee brewed each morning. The bulk of that goes into my wife's morning cup and her YETI mug for her consumption at work during the day. I get whatever remains. On weekends, it's 7 cups on Saturday and 7 cups on Sunday. That's split between us.

Since my wife discovered that I make better coffee than she does and the task fell to me, we maintain a strict one level scoop of coffee per cup of water…+ one. So, 10 cups of water, 11 scoops and so on.

Some mornings I will hit Starbucks or Scooters after dropping my daughter off at school. There are sometimes coffee shop visits on the weekends as well. Towards the afternoon is when the Keurig gets its workout. If I use it in the morning, then I only brew 8 cups during the week and 6 on the weekend (Saturday/Sunday).

I'm bringing this all up because there is a reason we have specific blends at differing price points for the weekday coffee and the weekend coffee. The more expensive stuff is brewed on the weekend, when we can enjoy it. Versus the daily "get us going" coffee that basically my wife downs in one draught. I mix it up by the quality of the Keurig K-Cups I buy. That's largely dependent on what's in the canister for the weekend coffee.

Finally, we have a bunch of instant brands and I keep a few cans of the Starbucks Double Espresso drinks around as well.

If I'm drinking tea, that's a conscious choice resulting in a specific action.

It usually all works out.

 

[WriteNow]

I drink tea, as well. At one point in my life, due to circumstances of the time, it became my primary hot drink. I probably had a period of drinking little or no coffee.

I was into loose leaf tea when I was a teenager. (Yes, I was probably a strange teenager. Is this a surprise, given what I'm like now? LOL) My grandmother came out to visit during this period. My mother reported that my grandmother wanted a cup of tea one afternoon. She was probably offered one of my teas. My grandmother took one look at the assortment, which probably included Lapsang Souchong, and demanded: "Where you keep your real tea?"

Next visit, Grandma brought a stash of store brand tea bags to use if she wanted tea. LOL

These days, I use regular tea bags... Much, much easier to get, although I get brands above rock bottom. Although I wonder with the way prices are going if I won't have to embrace the store brand equivalent of Lipton. Sigh. At least, Grandma, if she were still alive, would approve of that move!

 

[WriteNow]

Since my wife discovered that I make better coffee than she does

Or else she figures: "My coffee is just as good, but it's so convenient having someone else make it each day!" LOL

we maintain a strict one level scoop of coffee per cup of water…+ one. So, 10 cups of water, 11 scoops and so on.

Kind of like one measure that was once suggested for tea: 1 per cup + 1 for the pot!

 

[eyoungren]

Or else she figures: "My coffee is just as good, but it's so convenient having someone else make it each day!" LOL

We got married in November 1997 and at that time it was whomever wanted coffee made the pot. She (like most people I have seen) tend to just scoop, dump and brew.

Me? I level my scoops. Then I level the grounds in the basket. I use filtered water. Granted, we got rid of the Brita a long time ago for the grocery store water machine (we have our own 5 gallon bottles and a water dispenser) or the automated water dispenser down the street, but it's still filtered.

That little bit of obsessing meant I 'won' the position of chief coffeemaker. She decided. It was not a hill I wanted to die on. She won.

Kind of like one measure that was once suggested for tea: 1 per cup + 1 for the pot!

Before we got married, one night prior to work I found a bag of Swedish coffee in the cupboard at home. This is early in the game, so I have no freaking clue what I'm doing. I assumed it was instant coffee. It was not.

So, a few spoons of 'instant' into my single coffee cup later and I was drinking my Swedish brew. Later on that night at work I got the jitters because I'd seriously caffeinated myself! Turns out it was just finely ground coffee for a regular drip coffeemaker and I'd put in two or three spoons for ONE cup!

And all of a sudden, I realized why the instructions on the bag were so confusing!!! The bag listed the European/Swedish method of coffeemaking (1 to 1) for a drip coffeemaker and I'd thought I'd really give myself a caffeine hit by dumping in an extra spoon!

So, that's where I learned that 1 to 1 method. And I learned it the hard way.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I use filtered water from my refrigerator dispenser and level scoops as well but do not do a 1-1 ratio across all beans. I tend to do about the equivalent of 6 rounded tbs or 7 level to a 12C pot with my daily bean which is a medium breakfast roast with low acidity and some citrus notes. It depends on the bean Im drinking, its roast, acidity etc. I tend to go through a few test pots with new coffees before I really dial it in.

There is a tea room in town down in the north valley that sells some amazing loose tea leaves that I like to visit once in a while. There's one I really like (name eludes me at the moment) which IIRC is a black tea that has a very pleasant smokey note coupled with some sweet floral character - almost rose like but not quite there. Anyhow, I ran out of that earlier in the year and with kiddos etc I just havent made the time to go get more. There was another tea shop close to my home called Figments but Covid 19 killed it - they did not reopen sadly.

 

[eyoungren]

I use filtered water from my refrigerator dispenser and level scoops as well but do not do a 1-1 ratio across all beans. I tend to do about the equivalent of 6 rounded tbs or 7 level to a 12C pot with my daily bean which is a medium breakfast roast with low acidity and some citrus notes. It depends on the bean Im drinking, its roast, acidity etc. I tend to go through a few test pots with new coffees before I really dial it in.

There is a tea room in town down in the north valley that sells some amazing loose tea leaves that I like to visit once in a while. There's one I really like (name eludes me at the moment) which IIRC is a black tea that has a very pleasant smokey note coupled with some sweet floral character - almost rose like but not quite there. Anyhow, I ran out of that earlier in the year and with kiddos etc I just havent made the time to go get more. There was another tea shop close to my home called Figments but Covid 19 killed it - they did not reopen sadly.

I'm usually adjusting only if a particular coffee tends to be acidic on the first run. However, for us, having to adjust usually means we've found a blend we really aren't going to like. We are partial to dark roasts, although we will venture into medium roasts if there's a particularly good blend. Light roasts are out.

One of the first things we had to learn when we moved to Phoenix back in 2000 was that no amount of filtering from a Brita or other brand was going to work. Phoenix (and the larger Valley) gets most of its water through canals. Which means algae. While the various municipal water authorities state that the water is within safe limits, they do not, never have and never will treat the water to remove the algae taste.

So that algae taste is there and as I said, no amount of filtering it with your basic store bought filter will get rid of it. It's bad enough on its own, the first time we had algae-tasting coffee it was just horrible. We, like most everyone else out here switched to bottled water. That's commercially filtered water which removes the algae taste. We've been here 24 years and have still never gotten used to it.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

I'm usually adjusting only if a particular coffee tends to be acidic on the first run. However, for us, having to adjust usually means we've found a blend we really aren't going to like. We are partial to dark roasts, although we will venture into medium roasts if there's a particularly good blend. Light roasts are out.

One of the first things we had to learn when we moved to Phoenix back in 2000 was that no amount of filtering from a Brita or other brand was going to work. Phoenix (and the larger Valley) gets most of its water through canals. Which means algae. While the various municipal water authorities state that the water is within safe limits, they do not, never have and never will treat the water to remove the algae taste.

So that algae taste is there and as I said, no amount of filtering it with your basic store bought filter will get rid of it. It's bad enough on its own, the first time we had algae-tasting coffee it was just horrible. We, like most everyone else out here switched to bottled water. That's commercially filtered water which removes the algae taste. We've been here 24 years and have still never gotten used to it.

Wow, the last time I was in Phoenix was for a rock n roll show (we were touring through to west coast) around the TOTC and I remember it being like 104F at 2am after the show which blew my mind at the time. Being young and dumb, I did NOT drink enough water and got heat stroke and was so sick for the next coupla days. I do not recall the algae taste, then again water wasnt really on the menu evidently.

 

[eyoungren]

Wow, the last time I was in Phoenix was for a rock n roll show (we were touring through to west coast) around the TOTC and I remember it being like 104F at 2am after the show which blew my mind at the time. Being young and dumb, I did NOT drink enough water and got heat stroke and was so sick for the next coupla days. I do not recall the algae taste, then again water wasnt really on the menu evidently.

It might have been more noticeable for us because for 20 years I lived in a rural community that had its own water supply from the local mountains. My wife joined me there for the final few years.

And, like anything, it gets better or worse during different times of the year. For my kids, who were both born in Arizona, it is distinctly noticeable because for their entire lives (at least at home) their drinking water has come from a dispenser.

You can tell what restaurants are cheaping out and which aren't by the taste of the water when they bring it to you. It has gotten tolerable. There are some mornings where I have not filled up the water bottle so I need to save all the water remaining for the coffee. In those instances, I will take my morning medication with tap water. But my kids whine when they actually have to drink tap water, LOL.

Its just the aftertaste though. There is no algae actually in the water itself, but that's what is left behind after treating.

And yeah, about the heat. It's called urban heat island(s). What happens is that all the concrete, asphalt and buildings absorb the day's heat quickly, but at night only slowly release that heat. So, citing your example, at 2am the urban environment is still releasing the previous day's heat. At that time of year, nothing gets to cool down before sunrise. Once the sun is up, the cycle repeats. Hence 104º at 2am.

 

[WriteNow]

Someone I know who lived in AZ for a few years in the 80s told me stories about driving in the very early morning when she and her husband had to make something like a couple of hour trip. It was still hot--but a lot more bearable than later in the day. (I suspect, given they were young--with probably limited means--and this took place decades back, that it's very possible they didn't have AC in the car.)

 

[WriteNow]

I took a look on-line at cheap coffee makers at Walmart. They do have a $10 option that I think is probably a house brand. Some good reviews, and several people were happy enough to buy more than one. But, of course, there are those who weren't happy. One amused me in suggesting that one should spend "the extra money for Mr. Coffee." Mr. Coffee doens't strike me as an exotic buy--indeed, if it weren't for things like the $10 Walmart option, I'd guess Mr. Coffee would be pretty much rock bottom these days.

 

[eyoungren]

Someone I know who lived in AZ for a few years in the 80s told me stories about driving in the very early morning when she and her husband had to make something like a couple of hour trip. It was still hot--but a lot more bearable than later in the day. (I suspect, given they were young--with probably limited means--and this took place decades back, that it's very possible they didn't have AC in the car.)

Yes, the construction industry in particular, tends to be done with their day (during summer) around 8 or 9am. In the last couple of years too, Phoenix Fire has been closing the local hiking trails at Camelback Mountain when temps reach a certain point. People get the idea they can go for a walk with minimal water and no preparation. And its Phoenix Fire that gets called to rescue them off the side of the mountain.

You really want to have any outside work, walks, exercise, etc, done before 10am around here.

 

[WriteNow]

A while back, I'd mentioned that my coffee maker went to the kitchen counter in the sky. My Inner Sloth wanted to get an automatic drip maker in service again. Well, this week I finally got half of that: the drip part. The automatic part, though, is sadly lacking, since I have to heat and pour the water manually.

I remembered a Melitta pour over (basically plastic cone that can sit on a cup) that I had. I dug it out and put it into service. I didn't expect much, because I recalled not liking it very much years back. But it seems to be working OK. I'm wondering if the issue that I had years back was with the filters. I used standard cone filters when I first tried this years back, and those filters were probably the brown ones, which I subsequently have decided don't work as well for me as white filters. Now I'm using the basket type filters, folded to fit. I'm tempted to get white paper cone filters to try in comparison...but I hesitate. I'm cheap. I have a supply of basket filters and they seem to work fine. But...I wonder.

Years back, there were periods when I used pour over makers--although the style I used was different. Basically a basket with a permanent filter screen that held the coffee. On top, there was a cup with holes for the water (presumably this spread the water flow out and regulated the speed that the water went through). The whole thing sat on my cup. They worked well enough as I recall, but cleanup was not as easy as it is with disposable filters.

The first coffee I used with the Melitta last week was a nearly empty bag of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. Christmas, I suspect--I got it on clearance for $2.30 after Christmas. I am generally not a huge fan of flavored coffee, but who can resist a deal like that? It was OK...but not something I'd particularly want to buy again. My big complaint was that at times I thought it was a bit more bitter than I wanted with the French press pot--but, then again, bitter describes some of the feelings I have about the holiday season these days, so bitter coffee is probably a good match.

 

[DouglasCarroll]

Hi everyone!

Incidentally if anyone here loves coffee from a French press you might think of trying paper filters. I make my Coffee every morning and use paper filters and it's great. I've also introduced friends to these and they LOVE them as well. Makes your coffee taste smoother and "supposedly" filtering your coffee helps keep down cholesterol (seriously, look it up) plus it's easy to dispose of, just dump them when done and no grounds everywhere. Anyways, for anyone interested look up "Caffi coffee filters french press" on Amazon or wherever you like to purchase from.

 

[eyoungren]

…

 

[eyoungren]

A while back, I'd mentioned that my coffee maker went to the kitchen counter in the sky. My Inner Sloth wanted to get an automatic drip maker in service again. Well, this week I finally got half of that: the drip part. The automatic part, though, is sadly lacking, since I have to heat and pour the water manually.

I remembered a Melitta pour over (basically plastic cone that can sit on a cup) that I had. I dug it out and put it into service. I didn't expect much, because I recalled not liking it very much years back. But it seems to be working OK. I'm wondering if the issue that I had years back was with the filters. I used standard cone filters when I first tried this years back, and those filters were probably the brown ones, which I subsequently have decided don't work as well for me as white filters. Now I'm using the basket type filters, folded to fit. I'm tempted to get white paper cone filters to try in comparison...but I hesitate. I'm cheap. I have a supply of basket filters and they seem to work fine. But...I wonder.

Years back, there were periods when I used pour over makers--although the style I used was different. Basically a basket with a permanent filter screen that held the coffee. On top, there was a cup with holes for the water (presumably this spread the water flow out and regulated the speed that the water went through). The whole thing sat on my cup. They worked well enough as I recall, but cleanup was not as easy as it is with disposable filters.

The first coffee I used with the Melitta last week was a nearly empty bag of Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. Christmas, I suspect--I got it on clearance for $2.30 after Christmas. I am generally not a huge fan of flavored coffee, but who can resist a deal like that? It was OK...but not something I'd particularly want to buy again. My big complaint was that at times I thought it was a bit more bitter than I wanted with the French press pot--but, then again, bitter describes some of the feelings I have about the holiday season these days, so bitter coffee is probably a good match.

I have yet to try a pour-over. Not that I'm avoiding one, but generally if I'm visiting Starbucks or some other coffee shop I'm there for an espresso based drink. And, given the volume of coffee consumed by my wife and I each day a drip coffeemaker is essential. Particularly in the morning. That said, I can't dislike what I haven't tried so the jury is still out for me on this.

My wife has me pick up some SB Peppermint Mocha a few weeks back. For some reason I knew it wouldn't be good. After one pot, she hasn't pressed me to make any more and she hasn't used it herself. So, still sitting on the counter - almost full bag. There are some flavored coffees I do like, but it seems to me that whenever a coffee seller tries to reproduce a blend for home use that is based off an in store espresso drink, it always fails. So, I wasn't expecting much here anyway. And I wasn't wrong.

 

[eyoungren]

Hi everyone!

Incidentally if anyone here loves coffee from a French press you might think of trying paper filters. I make my Coffee every morning and use paper filters and it's great. I've also introduced friends to these and they LOVE them as well. Makes your coffee taste smoother and "supposedly" filtering your coffee helps keep down cholesterol (seriously, look it up) plus it's easy to dispose of, just dump them when done and no grounds everywhere. Anyways, for anyone interested look up "Caffi coffee filters french press" on Amazon or wherever you like to purchase from.

View attachment 2471622

Thank you! I will try this soon. A while back I was trying to make using a French Press work and failing (coffee was always watery). Going to give this a shot and see if there is any difference.

 

[WriteNow]

A while back I was trying to make using a French Press work and failing (coffee was always watery).

I have to wonder if the filters would help that, although they definitely would make cleanup easier.

One thing that seemed to help me was remembering to mix the grounds and water a bit with a spoon.

 

[WriteNow]

And, given the volume of coffee consumed by my wife and I each day a drip coffeemaker is essential.

That makes sense. Although they do make--or have made--pour overs that are designed to make several cups. Melitta has--or had--one that came with a carafe IIRC. But automatic drip is a lot more convenient.

Of course, none of this has to be either/or. One can have automatic drip for convenience. And then other coffee makers for one when wants somethng different and isn't pressed for time. My first exposure to French press was when my mother got a French press pot. She continued using automatic drip as the primary coffee maker, and French press was used on special occasions.

 

[mortlocli]

My current coffee adventures:
Been working thru the movies in the book:101 gangster movies.. when in a 1950s french movie Rififi, a scene in a cafe. They order three coffees, which appear with a stainless container on each cup presumably holding the coffee grinds.

I've been using a capsule coffee machine a friend gave me. Like the straight black coffee but hate another bit of plastic into the environment factor. Also like how quick it heats up.

So my latest fix - a teapot !!
One of those small porcelain ones with a stainless steel lid..and a fine mesh filter inside.

Ground coffee in there.. no plastic - just coffee.

That movie is on the internet archive if interested:

Rififi - Du rififi chez les hommes (restored, colorized, Eng sub) (1955, crime, imdb score: 8.1) : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Rififi (French: Du rififi chez les hommes) is a 1955 French crime film adaptation of Auguste Le Breton's novel of the same name. Directed by American...

archive.org