This is off topic, but if the Moderator Dude allows it, I have a few questions about coffee for my friends here.
Several of you have mentioned making special coffee, being into it.
So I want to ask a few things.
We found a Thai coffee bean (Arabica, I think) grown on the mountains near us. And it is eally tasty. So much so, that it (and my new restrictive diet) has made me want to find something sorta special to drink. I am drinking it BLACK, no milk or sugar.
So we got a French press to make it in. That is better than a percolator, right?
I know we need to grind our own beans, which I will work on, but for the moment I keep the ground coffee we bought in the freezer to keep it as fresh as possible until used.
But I don't really need to ROAST my own beans do I?
OK, this really throws me. I read on the net that I should use 4 parts water to 1 part coffee to brew. I have kitchen scales and IF that is by weight, there is NO WAY. I am not making espresso here, just a cuppa.
So for a French press, making like 2 cups of coffee, how much ground (medium/coarse) coffee do I need for those 2 cups?
I am heating both the cups and the press and I am brewing for 4 mins.
Any suggestions, recommendations, rules, changes, all comments appreciated.
And drink your coffee while listening to gretat music on your GEt speaker systems!!!!
God Bless, Wayne

Hey, Wayne

I can't really help you with "gourmet" coffee stuff. But, I have played around with various ways to brew good coffee (which I love in the AM). I don't know about other ratios, but I have found that using about 3 tablespoons of freshly ground coffee per 4 cups of water works for me. Now and then I add ground cinnamon to the coffee grounds before brewing... it adds a smoothness I like.

Good luck! I'l be looking for any/all suggestions here on "how to do it".

Rick

Wayne,

I'm glad you've found a great local source for coffee. If you can get it whole bean and freshly roasted (i.e. Within the past few weeks) then you're golden. Once you start shipping roasted coffee into your location from out of country, well that may be another issue. Green beans are good for several months, once roasted they are best within the first few weeks.

Store your beans in a dark and cool location. Conventional wisdom warns against freezing or refrigerating the coffee. Is messes with the internal structure, moisture, and gasses. If your house is quite warm, you may be able to get away with storing the coffee in the free die, but do not freeze it.

Regarding brewing methods, there are many. My favorites are the Kalita Wave and Chemex pour over coffee makers. Different coffees taste better with different brewing methods and this takes a bit of trial and error to find which method you prefer. The Kalita Wave is my favorite. I used to use a French press but moved away from this method after finding the pour over devices. You can find a bunch of YouTube videos on the proper brewing technique, to include water to coffee ratios. These tend to vary by the device you are using.

It's best to make sure you are using a conical bean grinder and to grind immediately prior to brewing. The size of the grind will depend on brewing method as well. With a French press, you want to grind pretty course. Water temperature is typically best around 200 to 206 Fahrenheit.

That's probably enough for now. I've got to hit the rack. 0400 will come early! I look forward to talking more about this topic. Feel free to send me a PM with any questions.

Cheers,

T Cobe

OK, great, thanks guys for the info!!!
Sorry for it being so far off topic, thanks to the Moderator Dude to allow it.
Firsts point taken,: buy beans already roasted and grind them myself (will have to buy a grinder so that may take some time).
Second: Don't freeze the beans. Will managed to keep them in a sealed, dry place, it will not be exactly cool, this is Thailand after all.,
Third: Grind them right before brewing.
I watched the Kalita Wave pour over vimeo, but will stay with my French press for now.
Fourth, I guess once I get the grinder and grind correctly, then I must experiment (and weigh carefully) to find out the exact amounts for my taste.
I think it will be kind of fun, and rewarding. And IF I can make a cuppa more tasty than what I am getting now, will be an added blessing.
Let me know any further ideas, suggestions, thoughts, and I will work on it from this end.
God Bless,
Wayne
Some are peaberry beans like this, I have not tried them yet.
I also included a coupla pics of what we can grow REALLY well here, these are behind our house. You DON"T want to make coffee outta them, these are spicy!!!!

I buy whole bean coffee from Trader Joe's and use it weekly. Supposedly, coffee degrades after only 2 weeks, even if it's in a container. I have a $300 Breville coffee maker that has a grinder. I use about 1 Tablespoon per "cup" of coffee, and the reason why cup is in quotes is because a coffee cup is 6 oz, not 8 [fluid ounces]. I drink it black, no sugar, no milk, nothing.

You want fresh beans, purified water (not ultra-clean), and the right temperature.

Does a trip to "Duncan Donuts" count???

Rick