Best way to make decent coffee at home?

[tejon]

I'm not a coffee drinker in any way. Too bitter (to me) unless enough sugar and cream is added to render it not coffee any longer. Because I'm not a big fan, I don't have a coffee maker of any sort in my kitchen. I have a jar of instant that gets pulled out when I need some for cooking purposes, but that's it.

I'm having friends visit from out of town next week, and it dawned on me that they do enjoy coffee. I don't want them to have to stumble out the door first thing in the morning, headed for the local Starbucks, and feel it would be good to actually have the means to make something other than instant at home. However, I won't be using it daily and don't want to spend a lot of money on an occasionally used appliance.

So what are my options here? How would you go about making a reasonably decent cup of coffee at home without expensive equipment? I can get freshly ground coffee and keep it in the freezer, but beyond that I'm unsure. French press? Cowboy coffee?

Edited October 22, 2006 by tejon (log)

[johnsmith45678]

I'd say cowboy coffee is probably the way to go -- make the coffee in a pot on the stove, strain and serve.

If you're planning on keeping the coffee long-term in the freezer, I'd also say go with whole beans, but then you'll need a grinder too.

[C. sapidus]

So what are my options here? How would you go about making a reasonably decent cup of coffee at home without expensive equipment? I can get freshly ground coffee and keep it in the freezer, but beyond that I'm unsure. French press? Cowboy coffee?

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Get a Melitta pour-over filter: 10 cups of coffee for the low, low price of $12.99. Best bang for the buck around. Caveat: I have only used the 2-cup Melitta units, but they make very good drip coffee.

Link: Melitta manual coffee makers

[JAZ]

A french press is a good option, but I'll second the Melitta suggestion. It's what I used for years, and it's great and easy. All you need is paper filters and a kettle to boil water, and you're set.

If you have a thermal carafe, you can buy a Melitta cone to fit, without buying the pot as well.

[tejon]

I have a coffee grinder now, though it gets used to grind spices and small amounts of grain. Not sure I can get it clean enough that it wouldn't flavor the coffee, but I could try.

The Melitta coffee makers look perfect. Though I do have a further question. I know how to work a regular drip machine - pour cold water in, put ground coffee in the filter, turn it on, wait. So do I just pour boiling hot water into the filter on top of the Melitta? Is it really that simple?

[johnsmith45678]

I have a coffee grinder now, though it gets used to grind spices and small amounts of grain. Not sure I can get it clean enough that it wouldn't flavor the coffee, but I could try.

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IIRC, using the same grinder for spices and coffee is not recommended. I think it's the other way around -- all your spices with have a coffee flavor.

[C. sapidus]

I have a coffee grinder now, though it gets used to grind spices and small amounts of grain. Not sure I can get it clean enough that it wouldn't flavor the coffee, but I could try.

Try grinding some raw rice. I do that when switching between grinding spices and grinding coffee.

The Melitta coffee makers look perfect. Though I do have a further question. I know how to work a regular drip machine - pour cold water in, put ground coffee in the filter, turn it on, wait. So do I just pour boiling hot water into the filter on top of the Melitta? Is it really that simple?

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More than you ever wanted to know: CoffeeGeek guide to using a pour-over filter (link).

[sanrensho]

The Melitta coffee makers look perfect. Though I do have a further question. I know how to work a regular drip machine - pour cold water in, put ground coffee in the filter, turn it on, wait. So do I just pour boiling hot water into the filter on top of the Melitta? Is it really that simple?

Yes, it is really that simple. And I third the Melitta filter suggestion. Note that some coffee drinkers do not like the sludge that can result with French press pots. Like myself, for instance.

Instead of using your spice grinder, I would recommend either picking up another grinder or getting the smallest amount of freshly roasted beans pre-ground by your roaster. For myself and my wife, I usually buy only 1/4 lb of roasted beans at a time. Of course, it helps that our local roaster has an outlet only a few blocks from my house.

Edited October 22, 2006 by sanrensho (log)

[tejon]

I could definitely buy just a bit of freshly ground coffee as needed. Though I'll give grinding raw rice a try as well - might be fun to use the grinder for it's original purpose from time to time.

Bruce - thanks for the link. Looks like making coffee should be pretty simple and painless. It'll be nice to have something other than instant to offer guests. Looking forward to that brewing coffee smell, too. Now, if it only tasted like it smells I'd be a convert!

[sanrensho]

If your guests are heavy coffee drinkers and/or your schedules don't match, you might want to consider saving labor by brewing over a thermal carafe, vacuum pot, thermos, etc.

Edited October 22, 2006 by sanrensho (log)

[Jay Francis]

Ah yes. Coffee. I am convinced, to the point of fanaticism, that the ONLY way to make a decent cup of coffee at home is with the Chemex (you can find good deals on Chemex units on Ebay).

1. The filter papers are superb (with a French press, you always get a bit of dusty grit) resulting in a clean perfect liquid.

2. You can control the water temperature since you bring your water to a boil separately. I prefer a water temperature of 160 F.

[weinoo]

Now, if it only tasted like it smells I'd be a convert!

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Perhaps it will taste better if it's made correctly!

And, if I was using that same grinder, I'd make sure to grind some beans after cleaning it with rice, but throw the first batch of ground beans away! Just to make it as clean and coffee ready as possible. Grind the beans to a fine enough consistency, just not to a powder.

Make sure to use enough coffee - "bitter" coffee is generally coffee that is brewed with too little coffee. Or boiled. Or kept on a hot plate - (btw, that's 2 tablespoons of grounds for each 6 oz. cup or so).

Preheat your coffee pot - I just fill it with hot water. Preheat your coffee cups...same deal. I also prewet the melitta filter by running water through it. Make sure the water is below the boil when pouring over the grounds...just pour in half a cup or so to initially wet the grounds (20 - 30 sec). Then, reheat the water to just below the boil and finish pouring over the now wet grounds. Stir gently before serving - the strongest stuff is on the bottom.

Now, enjoy a decent cup of joe!

[tejon]

Thanks for the specifics, weinoo. I do know that brewing a decent cup of coffee takes some care, and knew I'd get what I needed here.

sanrensho, that's an excellent idea.

Sadly, I've had it made well and still just don't like it at all. The usual response, when I state that I don't like it, is "you just haven't had really good coffee!". At this point I'm presented with the perfect cup of joe, along with someone waiting for me to fall in love. Hasn't happened. Coffee is just too bitter for me, too strong and not in a pleasant way. I respect those who love it and understand that I'm in the minority, enough that I'd like to provide good coffee to people who visit my house, but I'm content to inhale that lovely aroma and let it be.

Edited October 22, 2006 by tejon (log)

[tejon]

Ah yes. Coffee. I am convinced, to the point of fanaticism, that the ONLY way to make a decent cup of coffee at home is with the Chemex (you can find good deals on Chemex units on Ebay). 

1.  The filter papers are superb (with a French press, you always get a bit of dusty grit) resulting in a clean perfect liquid.

2.  You can control the water temperature since you bring your water to a boil separately. I prefer a water temperature of 160 F.

←

Oh, my - I just went looking and those Chemex coffee makers are gorgeous! Even found one with filters. Hmmm....

[Mayhaw Man]

I have found this maker to be the perfect combination. It has the convenience of an electric drip machine, but is, in fact, a melitta drip style brewer. I love the thing. In fact, I like it so much that it is now in three different places I regularly stay.

http://www.digitalkitchenstore.com/me5b.html

It's crazy cheap, works like a champ, takes melitta #2 filters, and makes great coffee.

[Joe Blowe]

One word: AeroPress.

I've been using one for over a month now (the product has only been out for less than a year at this point), and it has completely changed my view of coffee!! I can't stop evangelizing about the thing! You can serve up a fresh cup within a minute (I have a Zojirushi hot water dispenser on throughout the day), make your coffee as strong (or weak) as you want, use it to make milk-based froo-froo drinks, and use it to make "espresso" for recipes that call for it (probably the biggest selling point to eGulleters, IMO).

Be sure to search this very forum for mentions of AeroPress, and be sure to check out the mother of all AeroPress threads over at coffeegeek.com.

[Mottmott]

Ah yes. Coffee. I am convinced, to the point of fanaticism, that the ONLY way to make a decent cup of coffee at home is with the Chemex (you can find good deals on Chemex units on Ebay). 

1.  The filter papers are superb (with a French press, you always get a bit of dusty grit) resulting in a clean perfect liquid.

2.  You can control the water temperature since you bring your water to a boil separately. I prefer a water temperature of 160 F.

←

Oh, my - I just went looking and those Chemex coffee makers are gorgeous! Even found one with filters. Hmmm....

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Another thumb on the scale. I've used the chemex since the 60's. I love them. I emphasize them, as I've had some breakage. But they make such great coffee and look beautiful on the table to serve from, having left the grinds behind, that I just replace them when they break. I've even had more than one size when I was more of a party animal.

I also have a french press for one. Living alone, I use that for my AM cup. To my taste, it makes good coffee, but not as good as the chemex.

I always use fresh beans, grinding them as needed. i buy the beans in small amounts, but still keep them in the freezer in the original package inside a zip lock bag to keep the aroma from permeating other foods.