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Official Coffee Thread

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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
NS. What do you do to make the best cup of coffee. We all know there is no right answer here (although plenty of wrong answers).

Discuss beans, grinders, machines, etc...

go!
Mar 6 2012 1:40PM
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C-Weezy
Posts: 786 - Karma: 50
lolz Keurig...Verismo bitches.
Mar 5 2013 8:51AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
yes. there is a big advantage. for french press you need a consistent coarse grind which is not easy to do. If you are getting it ground at a coffee shop they are probably doing a good job and it would probably be better than using a bad grinder on the spot for awhile. Not for 20 days though. If you aren't getting a nice thick bloom when you poor the water in then it means that the beans are no longer fresh.

I would highly recommend getting a hand grinder and doing the proper mods. It takes no time at all to grind each morning beecause the grounds are so coarse. Either that or i'm sure your coffee shop would not mind grinding half of your bah at a time.
Mar 5 2013 9:01AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
The Hario Skerton (or whatever it's called) is an excellent hand grinder for the price.
Mar 5 2013 9:12AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
You should try an Americano. Watered down espresso, tastes way better than brewed coffee, in my humble opinion.
Mar 5 2013 9:56AM
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nagger
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 882
I'm drinking coffee
kinda shitty coffee
Mar 5 2013 10:14AM
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gnar_points
Posts: 94 - Karma: 140
Gimme Coffee in Ithaca, NY (also new locations in Williamsburg and Manhattan):

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Mar 5 2013 10:19AM
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PartyHon
Posts: 2019 - Karma: 425
COMMINUTY COFFEE. is wat i drink. pretty decent and not expensive
Mar 5 2013 10:30AM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
@Lawrence, have you ever been to Vienna? if so, ever had Julius Meinl's coffee?
Mar 5 2013 12:49PM
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tommyp1ckles
Posts: 1337 - Karma: 55
it looks like something you smoke crack out of.
Mar 5 2013 12:56PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Nope, so nope.
Mar 5 2013 1:00PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
is iced coffee a no-no?
Mar 5 2013 1:19PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Not if done properly.

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Mar 5 2013 1:34PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
too inconsistent, impossible to keep heat where it's needed for the perfect amount of time. Other methods are much more repeatable.
Mar 5 2013 2:06PM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
definitely check it out if you're ever around there, best coffee I've ever tasted and all i drink at home
Mar 5 2013 2:14PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,342
I failed at titrations in chem in highschool, so I'd fail at making a cup of coffee with that contraption.

on another note heres how I feel everytime I see this thread..

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Mar 5 2013 2:15PM
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Bart.Man
Posts: 1742 - Karma: 1,951
Coffee is my crack.
Mar 6 2013 9:46PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
So I've been forcing myself to try coffee lately. I've only had about 4 cups of really shitty coffee from my dining hall. Going to a coffee shop all day tomoro to study and write a paper, so I plan on sampling a bunch of drinks. Any suggestions?
Mar 21 2013 12:49AM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
Get a coffee
Mar 21 2013 9:51AM
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~bagelz~
Posts: 1105 - Karma: 1,067
i live in Italy. best fucking coffee ever
Mar 21 2013 9:59AM
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Petey.
Posts: 5736 - Karma: 4,881
Don't ruin your coffee like every other college kid who thinks it's cool to dump 8+ packets of sugar into your drink, first of all.

Second, if you get cream, cool, but don't add so much that it ruins the flavor and kills the warmth.

You probably know this already I'm just so tired of seeing my roommate load his coffees up with so much shit that it's not even coffee anymore, then saying "I just can't drink coffee without this stuff!"

You should find a nice dark roast and try it black. I prefer my medium/light roasts with a small amount of cream, maybe a little sugar sometimes.
Mar 21 2013 10:01AM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Try espresso drinks, specifically an anericano
Mar 21 2013 10:07AM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
Get a light or medium roast ICED coffee...I feel like that's a good way to transition into drinking hot, dark roast good coffee. Add a little bit of milk, some sugar and enjoy. That's how I started drinking coffee a couple of summers ago when doing some good ol fashion manuel labor. Then you slowly transition to hot coffee and dark roasts with no cream or sugar. I drink boston bean co. medium/dark roast daily now



Also, be sure you're close to a bathroom because you're going to shit your brains out
Mar 21 2013 10:11AM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
americano with a dash of milk if you want (not cream), no sugar, or a cappucino if you can get a decent one. the iced coffee idea is a good one too, i find i can drink black coffee way easier that way (personally i perefer a dash of milk in hot coffee though). or just a good old fashioned espresso, no milk or sugar. if its a good one you dont need either.

anything like that is good though as long as you dont start drinking certain coffee thinking its like a "beginners drink" or whatever. just drink proper coffee and you'll get used to it pretty quickly and you won't waste time drinking skinny triple caramel mocha latte thisisn'tevenafuckingcoffeeanymore-accinos and garbage like that.

also dont drink strong coffe on an empty stomach or you'll have a baaaaad tiiiiime.
Mar 21 2013 10:48AM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,122
One of my friends is like this. To the extreme. It's almost embarrassing to get coffee with him. I'm not sure what "one" sugar is, but I'm pretty sure that he has at least 4. It's like drinking a fucking red bull at that point.

if you think coffee is so bad that you need to add that much sugar to it, then why would you drink it in the first place?
Mar 21 2013 11:00AM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
sounds good. I actually like it black, maybe a little cream or milk, but no need for sugar. also i do like iced coffee, but ill admit that the stuff i've had is Dunkin donuts, which is like water milk and sugar with a little bit of coffee added.

the coffee i've had is just soooo watered down, i feel like i want a more rich flavor. alright so imma start with an americano, then try something like a macchiato or latte. gonna head down there now
Mar 21 2013 11:29AM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
if you guys dont care, then i apologize. but im gonna post anyway.

tried an americano. i think it was 2 shots of espresso with about 12 oz of hot water. it was good but i could have gone with less water.

sippin on a cappucino right now. its really good, but i think i prefer more coffee and less milk/cream taste.

going home tomoro for the week so i'll be able to make my own and hopefully experiment with different things. also have 5 gallons of home made beer (irish red ale) waiting for me :)
Mar 21 2013 3:09PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
cappuccino should only be about 4 oz of milk to 2 oz of espresso for a 6oz total drink. generally the smallest milk-based espresso drink offered at most shops. try a macchiato if the capp had too much milk. Usually these two are drinks that use the milk to bring out favorable qualities in certain beans that don't feature particularly well as espresso only. generally I'll use beans that have a nuttier profile and dry finish with milk drinks, and the more juicy, fruit-like, acidic, and sweet finishing beans will be served as espresso.
Mar 21 2013 3:13PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
ya i'd say thats about what it was. I don't think my stomach can handle another drink, im already feeling the urge to use the bathroom haha. the caffeine is nice tho. macchiato definitely sounds appealing, i'll give that a try next time. thanks for the input Dan
Mar 21 2013 3:19PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
Maybe you should just go for straight espresso?
Mar 21 2013 3:20PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
That's 1-5 ratio, I'm no fan of Americano, but that wasn't even one, this was a weakano.

You can also try a Caffè macchiato, (sometimes called espresso macchiato) 'Macchiato' simply means 'marked' or 'stained', and in the case of caffè macchiato, this means 'espresso stained/marked with milk'.

In Italy a macchiato is thick milk foam in a small glass or cup with a shot of espresso poured through the centre of the foam leaving a rich coffee "mark" in the foam as it passes through.

Ratio 1:1 coffee to foam, or less foam.
Mar 21 2013 3:22PM
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Mr.Sloth
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 13,469
I had a perfect one in Seattle, still haven't made one for myself...
Mar 21 2013 3:24PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
definitely next on my list.

i'm enjoying this little experiment haha.

is there any way to make a decent espresso at home for very cheap?
Mar 21 2013 3:34PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
How much is thou willing too spend?
Mar 21 2013 3:37PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
less than $20
Mar 21 2013 3:42PM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
500-600 dollars gets you a functioning espresso machine. I'd recommend the crossland cc1. the only downside is the steam isn't strong because it's a HX machine and not a double boiler, but that's a small price to pay for, well, a small price machine.
Mar 21 2013 3:44PM
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Bmo.
Posts: 4907 - Karma: 2,667
oh. thats a little out of my price range haha. almost 3x the balance in my bank account
Mar 21 2013 3:46PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Click for larger image


Aeropress is 35 bucks, add 50 for a Hario grinder.

Doesn't make an espresso, but always you to experiment in the most ways for the cheapest price.
Mar 21 2013 3:47PM
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cbj
Posts: 2114 - Karma: 1,136
I don't usually drink coffee, but when I do it is black, no additives
Mar 21 2013 3:49PM
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CliffyByro
Posts: 5678 - Karma: 3,903
wow i never knew that haha. anytime I've had a macchiato its just been espresso with a drop of milk, not like that. in France its called a noisette, and its the first coffee i ever drank (as opposed to tasting other peoples) and it was the fucking bomb
Mar 21 2013 9:02PM
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Bart.Man
Posts: 1742 - Karma: 1,951
Friend of a friend brought me some of the Sisters morning roast. Shit's bomb!


The reason I bump this thread though is: I'm looking in to stepping up my coffee game by buying a consumer grade espresso machine, but here's the kick- I would prefer one <$200. Any NS coffee heads out there have a recommendation for a solid machine? Or is this a completely unrealistic goal to find a decent one under 200?
Apr 11 2013 2:12AM
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Dan.
Posts: 7201 - Karma: 1,126
completely unrealistic. again, 600ish is about the pricefloor on anything that will make remotely drinkable espresso.
Apr 11 2013 12:47PM
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fortyvalve
Posts: 1442 - Karma: 1,570
if anyones ever on the road in MA near Shelburne Falls (if you're coming from CT it's actually a shortcut to Mt Snow) stop at Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters, best coffee ever.
Apr 11 2013 1:21PM
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introvert
Posts: 4718 - Karma: 1,482
iced coffee ftw
Apr 11 2013 1:25PM
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Ski_the_east01
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 2,304
rt. 2! Also anyone travelling across the state of Mass that wants to avoid the abortion that is the Masspike take rt.2 its so much faster/easier plus you can swing by shelburne falls and get some bomb coffee
Apr 11 2013 1:27PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I love coffee but never have to buy it and brew it myself (University cafeteria=shit but my parents get decent stuff while I'm at home)

What are some good beans I could get at most supermarkets? I like my coffee black so good beans are important

That said I just had a cup Tully's or whatever it's called up at the mountain and I don't know if it was because I was so cold or what but that's one of the better cups of coffee that I can remember
Apr 11 2013 1:59PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
You might find a 2nd hand Via Venezia with upgraded unpressurized portafilter and a 2nd hand Baratza Encore grinder.

But 200 is not really realistic.
Apr 11 2013 2:19PM
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Bart.Man
Posts: 1742 - Karma: 1,951
That's what I was afraid of, but I'm glad I asked before buying some shitty equipment.

Also, please suggest me a hand grinder, I've been looking and I'm going to buy one this summer.
Apr 11 2013 10:32PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Hario Skerton is nice, has ceramic conical burs, goes from extremly fine to just coarse enough for French press.

Click for larger image
Apr 12 2013 2:24AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Damn... That's not a lot but here you go. It ain't the best, but it'll get you in the door haha


Or you could go even cheaper and get a little Bialetti moka pot for probably half that. I know it's not a fancy machine but it'll get the job done and it's better than not having espresso in your face.
Apr 12 2013 9:05AM
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Huck_Norris
Posts: 11487 - Karma: 18,627
Also I realize that while technically it isn't espresso when you make it in a moka, it is a great way to get a nice dark roast and rich crema without all the fuss and money involved in the full process of a true espresso- which would probably be lost on a beginner anyways.
Apr 12 2013 9:08AM
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