Summer break for Max

[vinylweatherman]

That Aeropress looks like a nifty pot. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive at Amazon, and it's not pricy.

Do you use the paper filters or did you purchase one of the reusable metal disks? The disks will let more of the oils into the coffee.

I'm no coffee snob, and certainly no fan of starbucks. But freshly ground beans make a world of difference with even a supermarket brand of whole bean coffee and an automatic drip coffee pot.

I had a quick look, and it seems this is one point where it performs less well than the French press. There also seems to be an inverted method, where you hold it upside down in order to get the oils that float to the top the first thing that goes through the filter (it looks fiddly, and potentially very messy).

The metal disks may be the best compromise in this respect, better than one blogger's suggestion to buy FDA grade polyester and cut it into the right shape (hopefully).

It seems opinions are divided, some preferring more oils even though there will be more bitterness and "fines", and others preferring the less bitter and clear coffee from the Aeropress, even though less of the oils make it through.

I bet someone is now looking at combining the best parts of both methods into a new device, maybe the "French Aeropress"

 

[maxd]

Ok, in no particular order:

• storing coffee in the freezer is kind of okay in the short term, definitely bad news over the long stretch. Thing is moisture kills coffee beans and grounds, and moving something in and out of the freezer creates moisture so ... if we're talking a day or two then the damage may be minimal ... but what's the point because (assuming we're talking whole beans) the coffee doesn't die off that quickly anyway (fresh-roasted beans are good for about 10 days before they start to fade badly). If we're talking in and out of the freezer over many days or even weeks then you're just killing your coffee faster and more thoroughly than it would perish if you left it in a sealed container in a dark cupboard. So overall the freezer thing is probably a waste of time, coffee and money. I used to do it with whole beans, I don't do it any more. Your call.
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• Amazon (US, UK, Germany, wherever) is a good source for the Aeropress. Generally good prices too, should be around US$25-35 though prices vary widely.
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• I use the metal filter in the Aeropress because I detest paper filters in general and you can't get organic/bleach-free filters for the Aeropress (yet). There are two metal Aeropress filters available, Standard and Fine. I have both and prefer the Fine, perhaps because it let's me use a finer grind of coffee and shorter steep times. FWIW, I get very little or no bitterness and no fines (sludge) when I use a fine grind (slightly finer than espresso grind if that helps you any).
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• I have no proof but I'd say you get more of the "oils" out of your coffee in the Aeropress than you do a French Press, but not enormously so. I think the key here is that the Aeropress process is under some pressure, the French Press not really so. In truth coffee "oils" are the flavour in coffee and since my Aeropress coffee tastes better than my French Press coffee I'm claiming you get more of the tasty stuff ("oils") with Aeropress than French Press. That said the French Press -- with fresh coffee and good water -- is still a pretty damn good way to make coffee so I'm not poo-pooing it by any means.
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• More on paper VS metal filters: paper absorbs oil; coffee oils = coffee flavour; metal does not absorb oils so I'm guessing I get more of my flavour/oils with the metal filter than the paper. That said, one of the best coffee guys on the planet (Tom at
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  ) has said he doesn't like the metal Aeropress filter and uses the papers. Not sure which metal filter he used, I suspect it was the Standard one since the Fine only recently became available, but I'm guessing.
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• Aeropress inverted or no? I've done it both ways, vaguely prefer the inverted method. It is a little more fiddly but so are the buttons on my pants and I manage them okay so what the hell. In practice it's what you feel better doing and what suits your coffee rituals that counts, the real difference between the two methods is hair-splitting and quibbling over minutia if you ask me. FWIW, Tom at Sweet Maria's doesn't like the look of the inverted method either.
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• Speaking of Tom at Sweet Maria's, he has pictures and a video or two on the Aeropress. Links are on this page:
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  Don't sweat what Tom says about the "old" VS the "new" Aeropresses. Turns out they switched over in 2009 so all the old stock is almost certainly long gone. Ask me if you want to know the full and gory details (I spend a few days researching it and ... anyway, I received mine and everything was fine).
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• Bitterness in coffee comes from over-extraction which is a function of grind, steep time and water temperature. If you use a courser grind you can use longer steep times, finer grind use shorter steep time. I go for finer grinds and shorter steep times because that also yields less caffeine, hence my preference for the Fine filter in the Aeropress. Water temp seems best around 175 F or 85ish C. Hotter will increase the likelihood of over-extraction, cooler will give you under-extraction = weaker coffee and wasted yummy coffee flavour.
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• In general I'd say what most people don't know or don't understand about coffee "oils" would fill volumes. Everyone talks like an expert but most know bugger all, they're just repeating some crap they heard which sounds good to them and is now their new coffee gospel. The bottom line is how it tastes in the cup and feels in your belly. Whatever your coffee source and method of delivery you should experiment and see what's best for you given the gear you use. Everything else is theoretical BS. Coffee geeks, including me, are like any other geek: they'll pontificate until your arms fall off if you let them. Listen for a bit, learn what you think you need, then show them the hand. If you need more later just ask. Trust me, they'll keep talking.
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• I'm pretty adamant about fresh-ground coffee being the only way to go. Great, but what grinder? There are hundreds out there, costing anything from a tenner to ... hundreds, so what to choose? It's easy: if you're making a single cup or shot a few times a day I'd say go for a good hand grinder. The Porlex Mini and the Porlex Tall are superb little pieces of kit and deserve to be given serious consideration. I love them because they'll grind for anything from percolator (course) to turkish (super-fine, like dust), they are sturdy as hell and they're relatively inexpensive. I've had several "quality" hand grinders over the years, including a couple of the famous "box" grinders from Zassenhaus, and ... my Zass is now a spice grinder and I'm happy with that. In my opinion the modern fit-to-purpose coffee grinders like Porlex and (from what I hear) Hario have eclipsed the old traditionals like Zass, etc, particularly in terms of being able to grind super fine -- "turkish" grind -- and produce a more consistent grind. FYI here's the Porlex at Sweet Maria's:
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  . No offence to Tom/SM but here in Europe I found it for about $30 with a little judicious shopping around on the web. However ...
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• If you brew for the family and/or friends then you'll want a grinder that can efficiently handle more volume. As far as hand grinders go I understand that Hario is a good brand though they won't do turkish grind and a few of their models are supposedly duds. That said both the Porlex and Hario are manual grinders so if that turns you off then go for something electric. I've had a few electrics, liked none, junked them all in the end. But then I can afford to grind by hand because it's only me I'm grinding for (my wife hates coffee though she likes the smell, fortunately). As far as top-end electrics go -- and we're talking 100s of US$ here -- I'd say ... read the next item.
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• Looking for some kind of coffee gear but have no idea where to start? I'd say check out what Tom@Sweet Maria recommends (again,
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  ). If it's hardware you're looking for go to the Coffee Merch section of the site. I've followed a number of his recommendations on various things and he hasn't steered me wrong yet, I'd trust whatever he has to say on the subject of coffee or coffee gear.
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• There are a number of exceptional coffee-talk forums you can check out if you're into that whole scene. I like coffeegeek.com, toomuchcoffee.com, and coffeeforums.co.uk but doubtless there are others. Google is your friend however mind-numbingly verbose and unfocused it may be.
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• Speaking of web shopping, there are a number of superb coffee suppliers on the web if you don't have access to a good local roaster (or can't be arsed). The US, UK and Australia are particularly well endowed in this regard, as are the Netherlands, Norway and Germany from what I can tell. Don't assume that mail order is a bad way to go, it's often not at all true. Look for a supplier that roasts __when__ you order and ships same-day. Fresh-roasted coffee needs to "breath" for a day or two anyway -- most coffee tastes weird and flat if it hasn't rested for 24-72 hours -- so the shipping time is not wasted time. I've used Peet's in the US, excellent stuff, and if I was still there would order from Sweet Maria's in a heartbeat. In the UK I've had superb roasted beans from coffeebeanshopltd.co.uk; I understand Rave Coffee, Has Beans and others are equally good but watch out for shipping costs because they vary widely and can become insane. Here on the continent I've ordered green beans from ongebrand.nl and wouldn't hesitate to do so again. As to roasters here in Paris there are many fine establishments and I liked their stuff so much -- almost universally under-roasted IMHO -- I started ordering green beans and roasting my own.

 

[Nifty29]

PS - It's not like I can't afford an Aeropress and a grinder -see winner screenshots

Couldn't help yourself could ya?

It would be nice if occasionally you'd not brag about your "wins". It doesn't make it any bigger you know.....otherwise those " enlarge it" spammers would be on to it.

It's interesting to note you're a coffee expert too.....you learn something every day.

 

[vinylweatherman]

Couldn't help yourself could ya?

It would be nice if occasionally you'd not brag about your "wins". It doesn't make it any bigger you know.....otherwise those " enlarge it" spammers would be on to it.

It's interesting to note you're a coffee expert too.....you learn something every day.

I only do it to rattle your cage

You will be overjoyed to know that I have had an about turn in luck recently, and it has started going back the other way. An inability to find the cashout button at a peak or two didn't help either I am having my mouse serviced today to ensure it happens less often. I am using my gambling 4 button Rat as stand in

One doesn't need to be a coffee expert to know that Starbucks are not very good.

 

[colly]

Well deserved break, Max - perhaps to somewhere a little cooler than Paris?

Warmth AND Paris- sounds like heaven to me (and Paris is so classic its always cool!!)
Wherever you are going enjoy it and relax!

 

[Jasminebed]

Gotta plug this family owned business. I lived upstairs from them for 3 years, and they were the first roasting coffee in my town. Although the website says over twenty years, it's now closer to thirty, as I know it preceded my pregnancy, now 28 years ago. My personal favourite is Mr. Cooke's Special Blend. Canadian Shipping only.

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[Nifty29]

Fantastic read Max.

I'm gettin' me one of them thar aeropresses.

Tell me....how do you have your coffee? Milk? Sugar? Alcohol? (My sister makes a great coffee with frangelico liqueur and cream).

I'm always interested in New uses for coffee. I recently discovered the superb taste of chocolate coated coffee beans!

 

[maxd]

....how do you have your coffee?

Black. Always black, though if you've got an Italian place that knows their beans it's hard to beat espresso con panne (that's an espresso shot with a dollop of whipped cream).

 

[vinylweatherman]

Fantastic read Max.

I'm gettin' me one of them thar aeropresses.

Tell me....how do you have your coffee? Milk? Sugar? Alcohol? (My sister makes a great coffee with frangelico liqueur and cream).

I'm always interested in New uses for coffee. I recently discovered the superb taste of chocolate coated coffee beans!

Shove it up your ass?


No, I'm actually being serious

The "coffee enema" is being offered by many "alternative medicine" clinics as a way to detoxify the bowel, and thus the whole body. Taking coffee this way costs even more than taking it via the usual route at a Starbucks.

Traditional medics say at best it does nothing, and at worst it can be dangerous.

 

[maxd]

Nifty, VWM ... WTF? If you want to peck at each other please piss off and do it elsewhere. Jeez! You're ruining a good coffee buzz.

 

[Jasminebed]

Oh, coffee is my "secret ingredient" for pot roast. Just replace the water with regular brewed coffee and you will have rich dark gravy that tastes nothing like coffee at all.

For the best pot roast, place your roast on a rack in a pot, and keep the liquid simmering under the roast, adding more water as needed.

I do mine stovetop, although the oven works fine too.

 

[maxd]

Oh, coffee is my "secret ingredient" for pot roast. Just replace the water with regular brewed coffee and you will have rich dark gravy that tastes nothing like coffee at all.

Wow, never heard that one before! Don't imagine you need a special blend for that, eh? Sadly, as a vegetarian I will never have the opportunity to try such a tantalising creation. Oh the sacrifices we make.

 

[Casinomeister]

Off to the attic with ye