Best small appliance parts & accessories according to redditors
We found 2,493 Reddit comments discussing the best small appliance parts & accessories. We ranked the 708 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Hijacking top comment to recommend this product.
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY/ref=asc_df_B0014J7FUY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309735741984&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2266436962078040546&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004361&hvtargid=aud-800703102928:pla-347658283862&psc=1
If OP wants to keep the coffee maker in good condition this is necessary anyway.
I used to work in coffee and this is the industry standard.
Just so you know, you can cut off amazon links after the /dp/###### part
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY
You can even remove the description line, if you really decide to care.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
I know right? I have a toaster oven now but these would have been perfect in college.
found them!
http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372171456&sr=8-1&keywords=reusable+toaster+bags
Get one of these. It's a lot better than the regular paddle. I use it 3-4 times a week.
Aeropress is another great (and cheap) piece of gear. You can't go wrong with a french press, though.
I use a reuseable metal-mesh K-cup, they are made and sold by the same company...
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396239942&sr=8-2&keywords=refillable+k+cup
Aeropress
One
Two
Three
Four
Get some beans, and you'll have better coffee than 95% of campus.
If you want to move to a Chemex instead of the aeropress, you totally could, but remembering dorm life, I'd absolutely pick an Aeropress.
Careful where you tread, your curiosity can lead to an expensive hobby. A lot of us started our coffee obsessions with those resusable k-cup pods. When you use your own coffee beans, the first thing you'll notice is that the coffee is much fresher than what comes in those pods. Eventually, you'll be grinding your locally roasted coffee beans and start to wonder, "why am I even using this keurig machine in the first place? All I need is the hot water from it." After all, that resusable k-cup pod is the same concept as the pour-over device thats been used for ages.
I don't hate the pods, I think they introduce a lot of people to coffee. I'm not fond of the potential environmental impact of the disposable keurig cups. Depending on your situation, a keurig machine may still be your best option, but I'd regret not telling you to investigate the aeropress as well as your local coffee scene. Have fun.
Here's a few things I think most Coffee lovers would enjoy.
Gear
For home espresso enthusiasts
Mugs
Books
Misc.
edit: continually adding things as I think of them
You can also eliminate the url altogether. Put what ever text you want in brackets in front of the url info, then parentheses around the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
[amazon link](url address)
amazon link
People do realize they can use their own coffee grounds for the keurig, right?
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
Edit: I'm not trying to discredit you or the article, but there is a perfectly fine green solution already available and not mentioned by either you or the article.
The angle makes it weird-looking but it's actually one of these guys. Probably like 3-4x the volume of a Keurig cup.
Reusable K-cup thingy you can fill with your own coffee.
This is greenwashing at its finest, they are only compostable in a municipal facility so if your area doesn't collect compostable waste and you try stick them in your compost heap they aren't going to break down. Buy a brewing basket, I've had mine for over 5 years and it's still going strong, one cup at a time.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Finum-Brewing-Basket-Permanent-Filter/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=single+cup+coffee+filter&qid=1568014539&s=gateway&sr=8-8
Aeropress makes great coffee.
One hitter does what you think.
AeroPress. http://amzn.com/B0018RY8H0
Wife & I broke five or six french presses in the first few years we were married. We finally bought a "Columbia Press" since they're stainless steel, but they're pricey. I like AeroPress coffee better anyhow.
I gotta plug this bad boy every time I come across a coffee thread.
Have had the same Aeropress for just about two years now, only had to buy extra filters once, and they give you a gagillion of them. Also, you can reuse the filters a few times.
Makes great, smooth tasting coffee, and only requires some hot water. Highly recommended!
Will you have the ability to boil water?
If you can, I'd reccomend an Aeropress or a french press. Both are more than capable of brewing a very good cup of coffee, and take up very little space (a serious plus in a dorm room).
There is a lot of good information on both brew methods in the Beginner's Guide on the right side of your screen. Also more scattered around the sub-reddit if you are willing to sift through old posts.
You should check out an Aeropress before making your decision. Those are super simple to use, they make great coffee, and they're easier to clean than a French press. Also, if you use a French press with finely ground coffee you'll get sludge in the bottom of every cup, which is pretty gross. To really make good French press coffee requires a decent burr grinder that will set you back at least another $100.
Amazon link if you want to check it out
But I have all sorts of coffee making equipment (French Press, Drip machine, multiple pour-over cones, a Chemex, a vacuum pot...) and the Aeropress is seriously great. It makes great coffee and is probably the fastest of all the methods.
Aerobie Aeropress - $26 - plastic brew system which uses hand-generated pressure and hot water to extract coffee. It is considered very hard to get a bad cup of coffee with this system.
I like the EkoBrew reusable k-cup ($8 on Amazon here). Just buy whatever coffee you like and save money!
For the best actual quality of beans, roasting and brewing technique, I have to go with Portola Coffee Lab.
http://www.portolacoffeelab.com/
It's not exactly the best "coffee shop" feel, but the actual coffee is so damn good. Highly recommend the siphon brew method... not many other places have it available. Also the cold brew is really good too (it's not the same thing as iced coffee). Also there's a beer & waffle place around the corner which is amazing (and heart attack inducing).
Keen is also SUPER good and a lot less pretentious.
I drink a lot of damn coffee. If you want to make coffee yourself at home, I highly recommend an Aeropress
In all honesty, if I was faced with a decision about what brand of instant coffee to buy, I'd drink tea.
That being said Tom Petty liked Maxwell House. Not instant, I know, but it's something.
I know you said you aren't looking to buy any coffee makers, but Aeropress is only $30 and I've used mine for going on 5 years now.
Do a pour over with freshly ground coffee on a v60 filter. Very fast, cheap, and fresh. You wont need milk or sugar.
Alright, /u/EmmaBourbon, here we go.. Upvotes for everyone!
Drink better coffee.
I started drinking black coffee when a friend bought me a grinder and an Aeropress. I started buying different beans from gocoffeego and now get 2 bags a month. Have never looked back to cream and sugar.
>You can make better coffee if you're into that sort of thing.
no shit. it's about convenience. being able to pop in a pod for tea, hot chocolate or coffee and having it available in a couple minutes is pretty fantastic.
> Also the pods are very difficult to recycle and only parts of it are recyclable.
Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter
From reading this subreddit for a couple days, this sounds like what /r/coffee would recommend:
A solution already exists http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405527393&sr=8-3&keywords=toaster+bag
That's a pretty terrible grinder. Coffee snobs won't like it.
In this price range, for a coffee geek, you're better off getting them a nice cup, like this or a manual grinder like this. An AeroPress would be amazing as well.
Zelda?
For personal coffee, I like the aeropress ($25 on Amazon.)
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
It takes a little more attention than an automatic coffee machine, but is quite quick and easy to clean (especially if you have an electric kettle.)
More importantly, it makes superb coffee. I keep one at work despite (or because) of the fact there is a fancy Keurig available.
What about an Aeropress? Downside: Probably more parts (though doubtably more volume) than a simple French press.
They're great. More of an "entry-level" item for moving into good coffee. Like only $25, brews in about a minute, and makes one cup. I mainly use a French press, but I still use my old aeropress a few times a month.
I bought a $5 metal filter so i didn't have to keep buying the paper ones. Also, Google the "inverted method" for using an aeropress. The book doesn't tell you, but it's really the superior way to use the product.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Don't bother with chain coffee. Get yourself an Aeropress. This is the easiest method I've found to get a GREAT cup of coffee. Your grinder, if you're just beginning, doesn't matter. Get a cheap $20 blade grinder. Get some quality beans of a light-to-mild roast from your grocery's whole-bean coffee.
Using the aeropress' scoop, get 1 and one half scoop's full of whole beans and throw them in your grinder. Grind them for 10-15 seconds until they're all ground but not looking like dust. Assemble the aeropress with the filter and screen on (should be self explanatory) and position it on top of your cup. Dump your grounds in, and fill it up to the 4 position with boiling water. Start stirring with the included paddle. While you're stirring water will come out the bottom, keep stirring until it goes down to the 3, and fill back up to 4 with boiling water again. Keep stirring. When it goes down to between 2 and 3, position the plunger and press the coffee out.
This all takes about 2 minutes and makes great coffee alone. You may not be ready for black coffee yet, that's fine. Toss this in a bullet blender with a tablespoon of coconut oil and a little cream and blend it. That, my friend, is (almost) bulletproof coffee, and it's fucking amazing.
Grinder
>Capresso Infinity - $89
>
>or
>
>Hario Mini Mill Slim - $30 - If you don't mind hand-grinding your beans
Coffee Maker
>Aeropress - $23 - Balanced flavour, easy cleanup
>
>or
>
>Hario v60 - $19 - If you enjoy the process of preparing your coffee, and enjoy a brighter (more acidity) cup of coffee.
>
>or
>
>A french press - $20 and up - If you want to make more coffee at a time than the Aeropress, don't mind a "thicker" (more coffee particulate and oils in the cup) coffee, and are not opposed to having a little bit more clean-up.
You'll need a kettle for any of these brew methods; a programmable/temperature controlled kettle like this one ($95) is ideal for manual brew methods, but any kettle (and a thermometer if you'd like to get fussy) will do just fine.
Personally I would get the Capresso and the Aeropress if I were you. It's a very balanced and forgiving brew method that can make coffee a few different ways (eg. paper filter for a "brighter" cup, metal for a thicker one). Set aside the rest of your budget and find a good coffee roaster near you!
I've traveled with this setup for years on the road and it has yet to let me down. It makes a better cup of coffee than you get in most speciality shops.
The K-cups for tea are generally garbage compared to good loose tea, and way, WAY more expensive. I use my Keurig all the time for tea in 2 ways -
Run it with no K-cup as a quick way to get hot water into your cup or single-serve reusable pot/steeper.
Buy a reusable filter and use it for tea instead of coffee.
Beginner's Kit around here is pretty much going to be a grinder, scale, and Aeropress.
For a grinder, unless you want to jump into the depths of coffee, I'd probably suggest a Porlex, or either a Hario Mini Mill or Skerton.
For a beginner's scale, you can use whatever you have on hand, if you already own one. If you need one, American Weighs are highly recommended.
And the Aeropress! Despite all of the gear I've picked up, I still come back to this method. It's clean, simple, and fast.
But don't forget the fresh coffee. That's going to make the biggest difference.
After much experimentation, you have a few options:
Many places off-campus & within a reasonable walk serve coffee, but I don't know of any other notable options.
At home, I use an incredibly inexpensive coffee maker: Aerobie Aeropress, with a Hario Hand Mill, both of which are highly-recommended by /r/coffee. I haven't been able to find an amazing place to buy unground coffee beans near campus yet, and I tend to buy beans when in Toronto.
Hope this helps.
You'll be in Seattle, what's the problem again? Oh, funds.
For dorm use a French Press and an electric kettle + a manual grinder should do you and not break the bank.
If espresso is more your thing, look into the aeropress, but the grinder and kettle recommendations stand.
I'd go for an Aeropress, a decent hand grinder and an electric kettle. You will have far superior coffee, you can use the kettle to make all sorts of food (boxed mac and cheese, ramen noodles, cous cous, etc.), you will save some money and you will be able to explore all sorts of amazing freshly roasted beans.
Ok OP, you are going to go next level on this. You also are gonna want a box or two of these.
Turkey
This is how you are going to make that turkey. Brown that shit on the hot plate. You might brine the turkey first. Figure out who makes doughnuts in your area, they get their glaze in a food safe bucket you can throw that turkey in with brine to refrigerate if you have to.
Dressing
You are gonna use grandma's recipe for dressing (ignoring the stuffing part):
Turkey Dressing "Mollie Gordon" Style
Dry bread in a large bowl for several days and break it up into small pieces. Cook the sausage, liver, heart, gizzard in water for 15 minutes (If the sausage has a casing peel it off after cooking)and chop it up in a food processor. Chop celery, onion, parsley. Mix all together adding broth from sausage etc, eggs, and can of chicken broth and seasoning. Clean turkey, stuff, and close with lances. (Or do as I do, place a spoonful in the bird and cook the rest in a large pan on the side, this is foodsafe.) Salt skin. Roast turkey for 4 hours, bast every 15 minutes after turkey browns, lay cloth over skin. Extra dressing should be roasted for one hour separate from turkey.
You might have to do it in 2-3 batches at 4 hours in the crockpot or so, but that shit will turn out stellar like that and it reheats amazing.
Mashed Potatoes
Peel, pressure cook, butter, heavy cream and mash that shit. Shouldn't be hard. Do this ahead of time, tie the liner and refrigerate. Microwave to serve.
Gravy
You can use a pan on the electric griddle to reduce the turkey juices. Add a corn starch slurry. Go!
Broccoli and Rice Stuff
Make this. It's stupid good and easy.
Pumpkin Pie
Make this. I made it when I bought pumpkin for mead making. It also is ultra yummy.
Rolls
You can knead these by hand and should. If you do not, I will consider you weak and less of a man/woman/inanimate object/cis-walrus.
Encore doesn't come with a ceramic burr set. It's steel so that's not good. Hope s/he dried it off right away instead of letting it air dry.
Definitely unnecessary to replace it. You can replace the burr for much cheaper than replacement if worst comes to worst. I would open it up (lots of youtube videos on how to do it from baratza themselves) and clean out the lower burr chamber and the chute. Then buy some grindz and run it through. Run some coffee through it and it should be fine. This is assuming your burr is ok. If not, well you can always take it as a good chance to upgrade your burrs to the M2 ones.
Instant is the fastest; Starbucks Via is pretty good, could be too strong for some. It's annoying that it only comes in single packets (in London you can buy tins of it).
Espresso is fast. A handheld espresso like the MiniPresso can make it very quickly. However, it only makes one shot at a time, so to make 4 doubles it takes quite a bit of time to reset for each shot.
Aeropress is likewise fast, but again suffers from the ability to make large amounts at once.
A larger French press can make a decent amount of coffee at once, needing to steep for about 3-4 minutes, and resets pretty quickly. The GSI Java Press comes in a 50oz and is made of Lexan (or was, not sure what it the BPA free is made of now). I've got a couple of older ones and they work well enough.
Or cowboy coffee and a fine strainer.
I think everyone does. Seriously!
EDIT: You can buy the toastabags here.
Total: $91, spend all remaining moneys on beans
Can I recommend using an Aeropress?
In my opinion it's better tasting than a french press and its super easy to clean; just twist off the cap, push the finished puck of grinds out into the garbage, then rinse with water, disassemble and leave to dry.
Edit: Cheaper links for press, and filters
This or cowboy coffee
If you're making coffee at home frequently, I really recommend getting a cleaning product like Cafiza.
Coffee stains the way it does due to a build-up of its oils that aren't so soluble in water. What Cafiza does is react with the oils to turn them into "soap". So it's really the most effective tool for removing coffee stains, and it won't add any residual soap stains or flavor or anything like that.
You just add a very small amount of Cafiza to hot water and place the stained equipment in it. Be sure to rinse very thoroughly after a brief soak. And don't touch the hot Cafiza water. Your equipment will be cleaner than it has been in ages, and a canister should last you a very, very long time.
You'd be amazed at how clean you can get that with no effort just by just putting it in the dishwasher. Or a quick soak in some Cafiza which you probably have just lying around. ;)
Kohls really pisses me off with this shit. I wanted a grinder attachment for my Kitchenaid bowl mixer, so I can grind my own meats, it's this guy right here: http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-FGA-Grinder-Attachment-Mixers/dp/B00004SGFH
Well anyway I heard Kohls was having a 20% off sale on kitchenwares, so I popped on down to my local store to see it "marked down" to $50 from $60. Two things pissed me off about that. First off the math is flat-out fucking wrong. Yeah $60 is 20% more than $50, but 20% of $60 is $12, so it shoulda been $48 if they're gonna call it 20% off. The fact that it was only $10 off the "original price" while being marketed as 20% discount just screams to me that some jerkass with barely a middle-school understanding of maths just added 20% to the actual original retail price and called it the "original price" and "20% off". Second, at that time the damn grinder was $50 all day long at Sears or Walmart, no sales no discount. I knowthis because I'd been wanting one for some time but felt it wasn't worth $50 to me.
Hey man, your choice, but can you at least use one of these instead of the little plastic cups they use? Those things are hell for the environment, and usually end up floating in oceans, choking and killing sea life. The reusable k cups also end up being cheaper over time as well because buying a tin of coffee give you more bang for your buck.
Can't go wrong with a finium brewing basket.
Hario Skerton: Baseline manual grinder
Baratza Encore: Baseline electric grinder
Hario v60
Kalita Wave
Clever Dripper
Pick a grinder, pick one of the pourover methods (or get a French Press) and filters, and you're set. You can get a gooseneck kettle if you want for a better pour.
Ok, so my friend has these and they work surprisingly well. Not quite the same as the inner part of the bread isn't toasted, but it's good in a pinch.
The AeroPress. Cheapest and easiest espresso maker ever. Works very well, and saves unknown amounts of time and money.
Aeropress - $25
Hario Mini - $25
Elec Kettle - $15
Total: $65 for a decent college budget brew station
I agree with the Roasterie. They also sell the 'AeroPress' which makes the best cup of coffee I've ever had. It's less about the roast than technique I think. They sell it fro the same price as amazon so there's that. https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
I think the same thing every morning when I make a cup.
FYI, you should invest in this
There's a product called Cafiza that's used to clean out espresso machines. But I occasionally use a spoonful of it on my mug every so often since I don't like all the gunk coating the insides either. All you do is add a spoonful or two of the Cafiza, some water, let it soak for about 20 minutes, and then toss the water and rinse it. All the coffee stains wipe right off and my mug looks like new every time. This stuff was made to take coffee stains out and a little bit goes a long way.
You could try a reusable pod like this one if it works with your office's keurig.
Keeping it under $70 at that point is gonna get tricky if you need to buy all those things, too. But here's what I'd recommend.
-Hario hand grinder ($30)
-Any digital scale, maybe upgrade eventually ($14)
-Any kettle, something like this should be like $10 at Walmart or something
-Aeropress ($33)
That's $87. If you just heat water in a microwave container if you already have that, that'll save you $10.
Or swap the Aeropress for this. melitta pour over ($6) and some filters ($6). These make good coffee, too, and will save $21 off the price of the aeropress (though you'll need more filters eventually)
Many of these you'll eventually want to upgrade to something better. But these will get you started.
Well if the product isn't designed with exacting tolerance that's what happens also the able is cheaper Able Brewing DISK Coffee Filter for AeroPress Coffee & Espresso Maker - stainless steel reusable- made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_QMCrub1MM4HXJ
Probably the single biggest thing that'll reduce acidity is brewing at a lower, more controlled temperature. If you don't have one already, get a variable-temp kettle and try brewing at 180ish F. You can also get pH test strips on Amazon if you want to science the fuck out of it and actually measure the effect different brewing parameters have on the final acidity.
Upgrading from a blade grinder to burr grinder will help as well. Blade grinders smash the beans together, heating them up and causing them to roast a bit extra. Burr grinders also give you a much more consistent grind size, which will give you a more consistent brew. This is the one I have, but there are cheaper but still good options too.
I'm a card-carrying member of the cult of Aeropress if you want an alternative to your French press.
If you have a spare Tuesday, go down to Conduit Coffee on Westlake near the Fremont Bridge. They have a weekly open house where the owner talks shop and runs a coffee tasting. If you tell them you want low-acid coffee they could probably suggest some beans for you. They also do subscription deliveries by bicycle, which is how I get my beans.
Hey there. I'll give you a little summary of what I think most people on here will tell you in response to your questions.
Books: Blue Bottle ,Coffee Comprehensive and Uncommon Grounds are all good books to cover most of coffee and its processes.
This Capresso Infinity is considered a pretty decent burr grinder for the price. It will not do espresso but will be good enough for most other coffee brewing methods.
Getting a set up that is acceptable for "real" espresso is kind of expensive. A Gaggia classic is considered the bare minimum espresso machine for a "real" espresso. A Baratza Virtuoso is considered bare minimum for a decent espresso grinder. Now, you can (and many people do) find these items used, which obviously reduces the cost greatly. But depending on your area, finding these items up on craigslist or similar sites can be pretty rare.
I'm not from Rhode Island, but googling local roasters will provide some results. As for online ordering, tonx, blue bottle and stumptown are favorites around here for their price and quality. Beans are broken down on what region they came from, how they were processed and how dark they are roasted. Each region has different flavor profiles in their beans. African beans are known for being more fruity than other beans, for example. A little warning, most people on this subreddit believe Starbuck's espresso roast coffee to be too dark. However, many of Starbuck's light/Medium roast coffees have been reviewed as pretty decent. Most websites that sell the beans will list a flavor profile of the beans. The basic saying on this subreddit is that if you have crappy beans, no matter what, your coffee will be crappy. If you are going to overspend anywhere in the process, overspend on quality beans.
The espresso machines that you will be using at starbucks are machines that will basically produce espresso at the push of a button. They will grind, tamp and extract the espresso without any input from you. You should just know right off the bat that there is a whole other world to espresso making that is the exact opposite, with people grinding the beans to the right size, tamping by hand, and extracting shots with a lever that controls pressure. Neither way is right or wrong, you should just know that there are many different types of espresso machines and baristas.
I'll share a little bit of advise, take from it what you will. I was an ambitious college student coffee drinker just like you. I asked for a Breville espresso machine as my first real coffee making device (even before a grinder, how silly of me). I just wanted an espresso machine because that was all I was getting from these coffee shops. Since then I've gotten a nice grinder, a melitta pour over, french press, gooseneck kettle, aeropress, V60, moka pot, and chemex. I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't turned on my espresso machine in over a year. There is so much more to coffee than espresso. There are so many methods to brew coffee that are cheaper, more complex and more interesting. If I had a chance to do it all over again, I'd buy the burr grinder I linked, and an Aeropress or any french press (Starbucks sells some pretty nice ones. You could get one with an employee discount) and just learn to love coffee on its own, without frothed milk and flavorings.
There is a ton of info on this subreddit if you stick around for awhile. Questions like yours are posted all the time and answered by very knowledgable people. Your enthusiasm for coffee is extremely exciting to see. Please don't let any of my advise subtract from your enthusiasm. Everyone takes a different path while exploring coffee. That's part of the excitement. You will learn a lot at Starbucks and you will learn a lot if you stay here. Enjoy your stay.
I bought all my glass droppers, mason jars, spice jars, and syrup bottles from Specialty Bottle. But you could get away with just getting two dozen 12-16oz mason jars and do everything with them.
I use 8oz mason jars when making bitters, since I like to make small batches with 4-6oz final product. This way I can make some more often. I do have to reduce most all recipes to 25-50% of the ingredients. Since I make bitters in smaller batches I use a 250ml glass beaker during the phase of simmering the ingredients in water. If I made larger batches I would just use a small pot.
For syrups I bought some 8oz swingtop bottles to store them in. I also don't use any special spouts. I also bought some 16oz mason jars that I use for making the syrups.
For filtration, I've never been please with the results from cheesecloth. You can reuse them, i just find the results are not up to par, and the process much messier. I use an Aeropress. If you stack the filters 2-4 thick, and run it through a couple times with light pressure it works really well.
A cheaper option, although it takes much longer, is to use a coffee filter. It will get clogged up and go much slower, at that point I would get a new filter.
As far as other tools, measuring devices are a must, I have 1/32 tsp on up. A Mortar and pestle are great, but you can just smash up the ingredients with any tools you have. I've put the spices between two spoons and squeezed really hard to crack them.
Honestly all you need is measuring tools, mason jars (lots of them), coffee filters, basic utensils, and ingredients.
Eu! Ando para fazer um post sobre café no /r/portugal há algum tempo. Para além de expresso, costumo beber café de balão, aeropress e por vezes "pour over" num cone antigo da Melitta.
Em Lisboa tens 3 sitios onde podes beber café bom:
Copenhagen Coffe Lab Lisbon
A Fábrica
Wish Slow Coffee House
E na Ericeira tens o Kfé
Conheço os 3 de Lisboa e sei que tanto no Copenhagen Coffee Lab como na Fábrica podes comprar café em saco e equipamento.
Para mim o melhor kit para começar é um Aeropress e um moinho "Hario Mini Mill". Comprei ambos no Copenhagen Coffee Lab e levo-os sempre comigo quando viajo.
Se tiveres alguma questão, coloca.
__
PS: Para quem não gosta de café de filtro, vão a estes sítios beber um expresso e descobrirão que o delta do dia-a-dia não é assim tão bom.
I dont know this specific model but this is my absolute favorite attachment: https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFE5T-Beater-Tilt-Head-Mixers/dp/B004A15870
Also there are so many random things you can use this machine for- one of my faves is shredding chicken for chicken salad. It takes 30 seconds and is 100% worth cleaning the bowl. Happy cooking!
A reusable filter like this eliminates the waste of the k-cups and allows you to use your own coffee grounds. I personally think it makes too weak of a cup though, considering the amount of grounds in it, especially if you chose the higher volume outputs (8 or 10oz).
Definitely consider buying an Aeropress if you want to experience a huge increase in coffee quality. It tastes a million times better than the Keurig, and are basically the same thing in terms of one cup convenience.
When my office got it's first Keurig I was hestiant at first, then I discovered this little gem and now I enjoy the occasional cup when I am too busy to make a French Press for myself.
(2/2)
​
LIST OF PARTS/BUILD LIST TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE:
Gaggia Classic: new they come in around $3-$400, but you can pick up a refurb from Whole Latte Love for about $290, or even cheaper on the used market (I picked one up that was basically just out of the box for half a decade but never used for $250. After some cleaning she was in perfect condition)
https://www.wholelattelove.com/refurbished-gaggia-classic-brushed-ss-espresso-machine?source=googleps&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2eCjlYLJ4AIVrr3tCh1zHg6yEAYYBCABEgIaVvD_BwE
Mr Shades PID Kit: £89 - and worth every penny. How to get in touch with Mr Shades to get it I already explained above
https://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?27931-MrShades-Gaggia-Classic-PID-Kit-Complete-PID-kit-with-full-guide-%A389
Baratza Sette 270WI: They come in at around $550 new for the latest, and most updated WI model (that we think is the move for overall durability and ease of use). There are other 270 and W models all available for cheaper, but the most desirable WI model dskot got refurbished from Baratza’s site for $450, but only when they have them available.
https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-270Wi-Grind-Weight-Conical-Grinder/dp/B01G82WTZ2/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?hvadid=267969625121&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12162448283058120052&hvtargid=kwd-470582918388&keywords=baratza+sette+270wi&qid=1550621304&s=gateway&sr=8-3-spons&tag=googhydr-20&psc=1&smid=A302OQK4GZWXCC
20g VST PF Basket: $20 - Competition grade baskets from VST just help to take out another potential layer of uneven extraction, closer examined by having bottomless PF’s. We’ve also noticed this just helps the consistency of shots a little better, but like I said earlier, we’re not certain if it was more due to the PID or the basket, as we put them in at the same time. Not meant to be a scientific review, all you gotta know is this thing will help your extractions.
https://store.vstapps.com/products/vst-precision-filter-baskets
Tamper: $57 (or much cheaper) We would recommend getting a precision tamp to work better within the VST basket, which is precision machined to 58.4mm. Just fits together a lot nicer than a standard 58mm tamp, and will prevent any further potential for uneven distribution, but realistically, you can get just any 58mm tamper. I got the Cafelat precision zebra wood tamp linked below, but recently upgraded to the Eazytamp 5 star pro because I’m lazy and find myself tamping unevenly, but this is just part of my OD nature in doing things. There are cheaper options depending on the wood you choose from them, just look on amazon to whatever fits your preference. Just whatever you do, DO NOT drop your tamper on the floor or counter. I learned the hard way on accident and had to buy another because they will dent/bend and any chance of precision is now out the window, but thats my fault, and not just because of the type of metal they use.
https://www.amazon.com/Cafelat-Zebra-Wood-Tamper-58-35mm/dp/B01MG3ZDKH/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=cafelat+tamper&qid=1550621500&s=gateway&sr=8-6
EVERYTHING BEYOND THIS POINT IS OPTIONAL, BUT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HELPING YOU MAKE GREAT, AND CONSISTENT EXTRACTIONS
Distribution tool: $18 - We both went the cheap route, and got the OCD knockoff tool from amazon. There are a handful of other options from the Pullman, OCD, BT Wedge, and so on, but are all very expensive, and for $18, we didn’t think it could be a bad move. Major differences are the 3 fins vs 4 fins on the OCD, and also very likely any type of precision milling will not be there on the knockoff, but realistically, they do the same thing, and we’ve both been able to get near perfect center streams almost every time within 10-15 sec of extraction. Only reason why it would take longer or wouldn’t go perfect center is bc I’ll occasionally lop side my tamp, or in the beginning when we didn’t necessarily understand how to properly use the tool yet (Once height is dialed, I use 6 counterclockwise turns to distribute, followed by 4 clockwise turns to smooth the top. There are plenty of videos and tutorials online on how to get your tool dialed in if you decide to get one)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Bottomless PF (PortaFilter): $35-65 Few different options here - just make sure you get one that will work with the Gaggia classic, or most Gaggia machines as they have different flange positions than most other machines or E61 group heads. Cheaper/simple black version is on the first link, but if you’d prefer to go down the same route I did and get the walnut handle, I bought the one off of ebay from Portugal. I know there are a few other links on the web for a walnut handled PF for the Gaggia, but I only care to include things from experience, and even though I can’t really tell you if it’s legit/high-quality wood or not, I’m more than happy with it and it’s looks.
https://www.amazon.com/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-Filter-Basket/dp/B00KRR4K2K/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=176952831569&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9021717&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4233166420998163957&hvtargid=kwd-46401287557&keywords=gaggia+classic+bottomless+portafilter&qid=1550622553&s=gateway&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Bottomless-Portafilter-Gaggia-6-6-mm-Wings-Walnut-Wood-Handle/222827423587?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Rancilio Silvia Steam wand: $25 - a very easy mod (just an unscrew and trade of the nut to connect it to the machine, (don’t use the extra washer from the Rancilio wand)) to upgrade the machines milk steaming capabilities. Also plenty of videos online how to do so. I decided to go with the Silvia wand instead of the pannerello for the extra durability (full metal wand vs plastic part trade off) and also easier to keep the Silvia wand clean and sanitary. Up to your personal preference, I get good results with the Silvia wand but have heard and seen good things from the pannerello alternative.
Acaia Lunar: $225 - will probably put you over the top of the $1k range, and isn’t directly necessary, but is a very useful tool to time your shots accurately, as well as have a very accurate scale setup to weigh everything out. Great for logging your shots and helping to develop recipes for different beans. You can essentially do the same thing with a normal scale sensate down to .1 grams, and then either a timer or your phones timer, but if you have the bread for the lunar, it’s definitely well worth it with it also being water resistant (they say in a video you can’t list something as waterproof unless it can operate under water, and you obviously can’t get an accurate reading of coffee weight while the thing would be underwater).
And finally, if you care to go down the exact same route I did with wrapping it, you can basically buy any type of automotive 3M wrap (color and finish of your choice) and just take off all the components and wrap the front facade. Little tedious, but if you like the look it’s well worth it.
That should basically do it for the full writeup of where we’re at with our home setups, and hopefully can aid in giving you some insight to what you might want to do with yours. Might be a lot to digest, but hopefully we included enough detail and info to get you started. If not, feel free to ask either of us any questions, or if you’d care for any of our suggestions on if any piece of this caffeinated puzzle would be worth it or not, just shoot away in the comments.
Outside of that, happy extracting :)
​
(2/2)
Well, your questions are all valid and I can only provide you with what I did in Northern New York, near Lake Placid (Winter Olympics 1932 & 1980).
​
Firstly, review this website, which has numerous recipes, and I have have tried three of them. http://lpoli.50webs.com/Sausage%20recipes.htm#DRY
Then to answer your questions:
📷
PREP: 30 MINS. COOK: 30 MINS. YIELD: 7 SAUSAGES (70 SERVINGS)
This classic French sausage is a great entry point for the novice to charcuterie. The technique is straightforward, the seasonings simple, and the curing can be done in a relatively forgiving environment, like a basement or garage, not requiring specialized equipment.
As with all cured meats, though, some specialized ingredients are involved, like dextrose, curing salt (also known as Insta Cure or Prague powder), and casings. Curing salt contains sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, which stave off the development of the bacteria that cause botulism, and is therefore essential to the safety of this recipe.
A stand mixer with a meat grinding attachment will work fine for this recipe. Remember to keep everything very cold at all times. The meat should always be cold enough that it hurts your hands to handle too long. If it begins to warm, get everything in the coldest part of the refrigerator or even the freezer for a few minutes, repeating as necessary.
As the sausage hangs, the meat ferments. White mold will form on the outside of the casing. This is normal, and desirable. After about three weeks, you'll have a firm salami-like sausage with balanced flavor and a sour tang from fermentation. Simply slice and enjoy with some crisp French bread and cornichon pickles. The French also enjoy it with very sharp Dijon mustard.
What You'll Need
How to Make It
As far as I know, there aren't any mini-fridges specifically designed for curing meats. The closest I have found is a digitally controllable wine fridge. The downside is that it only goes up to 65ºF, but I ferment my salami at 70ºF. I've written a blog post about modifying my fridge for curing.
As for meat grinding, if you already have a kitchen-aid, the best thing to start with is the meat grinder attachment. Don't bother getting the stuffer attachment because it's terrible. It's really worth the money to buy a dedicated stuffer. I use this one, but I'm considering upgrading to the 15lb stuffer.
As for books, I like The Art of Making Fermented Sausages and Charcuterie. But note that The Art of Making Fermented Sausages uses T-SPX bacteria in it's recipes where Charcuterie uses F-RM-52. Curing with T-SPX takes around 30 days, where F-RM-52 is around 2 weeks (IIRC). I haven't tried curing with F-RM-52 yet. The Art of Making Fermented Sausages is very "food science" based, so it contains charts and graphs about pH levels and how they related to humidity and temp, etc. Charcuterie has more recipes than just Salami, and is more similar to a recipe book.
Good luck!
A reusable K-Cup filter, filled with good, fresh ground coffee from your favorite roaster! You can get a small hand-cranked grinder if you want to kick up the freshness factor.
I work at a retail chain selling these things and I always recommend the reusable filters. http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
The K cup packs are bad coffee and too expensive. With this I get whatever coffee I want and I can make it as strong or as watery as I want. After a few times you figure out how much you want.
Saves a ton of money paying for the 10$ Dunkin Donuts coffee at walmart for something like 50 cups or 20$ for 16 pack for 16 cups.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
Best $10 Ever Spent
I use the 33.9oz container of Folgers from the local grocer which gives me roughly 200 cups of coffee for about $10, about $0.05 a cup
What are you looking for and what does he like? You can get a standard infuser like this one that I use.
Or you could get him a "reverse french press". The reverse french press is one of the best and easiest ways to brew. It lets the leaves float in the water, but allows easy extraction of the water into a mug (it is much harder with a regular french press because pressing down the leaves can cause them to expel a lot of bitter flavor into the water).
Generally speaking, avoid anything that will smash the leaves, or will not let them float easily. If he generally uses a big teapot, make sure to get something for that. If he typically uses just a mug, the two things I listed will work great. I even use my regular infuser in my large tea pitcher/pot.
But, if you give me a price range and a general idea of what you would like him to have, what he already has or what kind of things he likes, I can definitely help you out. I love tea myself, and would hope that my wife would ask someone knowledgeable when she goes to buy something for me.
OH! And if you're looking to get the best bang for your buck, avoid teavanna. They're not bad they're just overpriced.
That grinder will possibly give you issues with pour over. V60 is really picky too, and you will probably want a gooseneck kettle to use with it to make it much easier to get a good cup. The potential issue with that grinder (or similarly priced ones, which are all knock-offs of another hand grinder) is that it might give you a really inconsistent grind with a lot of fines, which could cause your pour over brew times to vary wildly and take far too long (ruining your coffee).
How much coffee do you want to make at once? If only one cup, here's what I recommend:
If you want a larger amount of coffee (though you might find making your own coffee with fresh beans gives you more of a kick of caffeine than a cup from McD), then pour over is a good way to go, but will probably require more and better equipment in order for it to not suck. The V60 is the pickiest pour over about grind consistency. I don't make large batches, so maybe someone else can chime in with recommendations for devices that might handle a lower quality grind. But no matter what, a better grinder will improve both your ability to make pour over, and the taste of the coffee. If you want to stick with pour over, here's what I recommend for equipment in order for it to not be hard and get coffee that doesn't suck out of it:
And I would recommend going with white/bleached filters instead of the natural/brown ones. The nat/brown ones always have a strong paper taste you can't really get rid of.
non affiliate link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136
if you click an affiliate link, anything you add to your cart in the next 24 hours will make that dude money. don't click affiliate links.
Haro Mini Mill Grinder
French Press Travel Mug or Areopress Coffee Maker
Digital scale able to measure 0.1g
Your favorite kettle/hotpot/other water heating method
I'd recommend an Aeropress wholeheartedly. Combine it with an electric kettle or microwave to get some hot water and you're in business.
I've been eyeing this kettle and it just dropped to a much more tempting price on Amazon recently: Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle by Bonavita http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_czhTtb0342HQB
Aeropress: Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker by AeroPress http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_OAhTtb19EX9SZ
The Aeropress Coffee Maker I learned about these from a friend who is a coffee pro in our overly caffeinated city and they come highly recommended by all the fancy schmancy baristas around here. I am obsessed with mine, it makes "espresso" (really just very concentrated coffee, but it tastes great) and you can use it to do drip-style coffee or make it into lattes, etc. It comes out delicious, I haven't had a bitter cup since I switched! I gave one to my mom last year and it was such a successful gift pretty much everyone on my list is getting one this year!
Your best bet for dorm room drinks is going to be an Aeropress. It's a weird plastic tube that you use to push hot water through coffee. People here swear by them, and I do too. They don't make espresso, but they can make a terrific cup of coffee as well as a coffee 'concentrate' that can be used as a worthy espresso substitute. In terms of milk, it's really easy to froth milk in a french press. You just put warm milk in a french press and pump the plunger up and down a few times.
Grinding your own beans, if you want to make good tasting drinks, is unfortunately unavoidable. When was first getting into coffee I quickly became bummed out that the expensive and most important part of the process wasn't the exotic, perfectly roasted beans, nor was it the beautiful brewing devices, but instead... the grinder. Fortunately, a basic hand grinder will last you a long time and won't cost too much.
Aeropress - $28
Hand Grinder - $24
French Press - $17
In total that's about $70 worth of stuff. Add a bag of beans and you're at around $80-85 (hey, Christmas is fast approaching!).
Oh, and flavors like french vanilla and pumpkin spice don't really occur naturally in beans, at least not the way you're going to get them somewhere like Starbucks. Cafes typically use syrups, either artificial or natural, to get those flavors.
Would $3.50 for a plastic pour cone be within your budget?
Yeah, no. You don't use hotel coffee makers. That's just a rule of life. Don't even check them. Just don't use them. They're all disgusting. Buy a travel kettle and AeroPress and just bring it with you if you travel enough to need to worry about making coffee in a hotel room.
*edit: Changed french press to AeroPress. Wasn't thinking about the grinder.
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
This guy is great, and clearly very kind. On a side note: Grind is good for fine tuning, but you can go too fine and too coarse with any given brewing method. Going too fine can yield over-extracted coffee, which will taste (among a wide variety of possible over-extracted flavors) bitter. Under extraction with too coarse of grind will be obvious- your coffee is weak and watery, possibly with a grassy taste.
If you do have a coffee shop/roastery in your town, make some face to face friends to talk shop with (the employees, if they aren't asses). Having friends with coffee interests makes coffee way more fun. Like most hobbies, a social aspect adds a lot of depth and increases the steepness of your learning curve.
Lastly, I highly recommend the aeropress as a starting method. It's just as easy and cheap as a french press, and I find the result is much more wonderful. I recognize that others might disagree, but disagreements are part of the fun of it. Good luck, and like AVgvstvs_Caesar, feel free to PM me with questions.
I use these re-usable cups, where you add in your own coffee and just dump it out when you're done. That way I don't have to pay the inflated prices for the K-cups and it's more green.
And 200 cups for $15? Are you re-using your coffee grounds 6x over? No coffee I know of is that cheap.
I use a finum basket to brew in a mug. It provides plenty of space for the tea to expand, and the mesh is fine enough that you won't have any particles to deal with in your tea.
> pretty no frills diffuser
Please elaborate.
If it's not a mesh basket one like this, I'd call that a more urgent priority than a gaiwan.
I'm not a very interesting person
A strainer (Preferably one with a very fine mesh so you don't get too much grit at the bottom of your mug/pot), an electric kettle (preferably one with different temperature settings for different teas), and if you want to make two or three mugs of tea at a time, maybe a teapot or two. For storing tea and keeping it fresh long-term, you will either want to get double-lidded tins, or I prefer dark glass jars, such as amber glass or violet glass.
If you want to get into gongfu style brewing, that's a whole other animal in terms of equipment.
Edit: oh, and if you want to be extra fancy about weighing out exactly how much tea you are using, a pocket scale is also a nice thing to have.
Everyone keeps saying aeropress, but I think that's overkill. Here's a really good review of a lot of the options: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/coffee_beautiful_cup.html#.U1E-2fldWSo
I just started using the MSR filter basket. I just make cowboy coffee and filter out the grounds. It takes a little practice to get it exactly how you like it, but it makes really good coffee for basically no size or weight penalty.
So you might just want to get him one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I68NCS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I've found it a bit difficult to clean, but these Finum basket infusers have a VERY fine mesh, you can't drink your tea while it's in place but they do filter out even the smallest bits of leaf very effectively.
Top secret source for Kalita Wave - get it before the feds shut 'em down!
Most specialty coffee shops use this stuff Cafiza to clean coffee gear:
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Cafiza-Espresso-Machine-Cleaner/dp/B001418KNS
You'd only need a pinch of it or so. Add hot water and let it soak. It should almost definitely get rid of any of the onion oil/smell.
This shit is incredible:
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning/dp/B001418KNS
Try the [aeropress] (https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK). 30 bucks and it makes pretty good espresso-like coffee.
GRIND manual coffee grinder
BOIL immersion heater
BREW french press or an aeropress.
With the french press, you can boil the water right inside of it using the heat stick. With the aeropress, you'll need another container.
I'm really lazy with coffee and just got this. It's so rad, you can make up to a quad shot espresso in under 2 mins.
$150 is a good amount really, much more generous than other people who are like "I have $30, how do I make cafe-grade espresso at home???"
My list for you:
I won't explain WHY these are really good kits for getting started with, you can just search on this sub and there will be hundreds of articles on that.
And I should stress again, good beans are important. As a Starbucks Barista I am 100% coughing up to the fact that most of our coffee's are charcoal. Use them if you like them, but if you can get something better then you should really be doing so.
People on /r/coffee seem to really be into the Aerobie Aeropress. I don't know a lot about it, but I've heard nothing but good things.
Linking OP's problem here...
Chances are 9/10 that the CPU is not "busy", but instead bumping up against a mutex lock. Welcome to the world of high-performance ZFS, where pushing forward the state-of-the-art is often a game of mutex whac-a-mole!
Here's the relevant CPU note from the post:
> did a perf top and it shows most of the kernel time spent in _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore in z_wr_int_4 and osq_lock in z_wr_iss.
Seeing "lock" in the name of any kernel process is often a helpful clue. So let's do some research: what is "z_wr_iss"? What is "osq_lock"?
I decided to pull down the OpenZFS source code and learn by searching/reading. Lots more reading than I can outline here.
txgsync: ~/devel$ git clone https://github.com/openzfs/openzfs.git
txgsync: ~/devel$ cd openzfs/
txgsync: ~/devel/openzfs$ grep -ri z_wr_iss
txgsync: ~/devel/openzfs$ grep -ri osq_lock
Well, that was a bust. It's not in the upstream OpenZFS code. What about the zfsonlinux code?
txgsync: ~/devel$ git clone https://github.com/zfsonlinux/zfs.git
txgsync: ~/devel$ cd zfs
txgsync: ~/devel/zfs$ grep -ri z_wr_iss
txgsync: ~/devel/zfs$ grep -ri osq_lock
Still no joy. OK, time for the big search: is it in the Linux kernel source code?
txgsync: ~/devel$ cd linux-4.4-rc8/
txgsync: ~/devel/linux-4.4-rc8$ grep -ri osq_lock
Time for a cup of coffee; even on a pair of fast, read-optimized SSDs, digging through millions of lines of code with "grep" takes several minutes.
include/linux/osq_lock.h:#ifndef LINUX_OSQ_LOCK_H
include/linux/osq_lock.h:#define LINUX_OSQ_LOCK_H
include/linux/osq_lock.h:#define OSQ_LOCK_UNLOCKED { ATOMIC_INIT(OSQ_UNLOCKED_VAL) }
include/linux/osq_lock.h:static inline void osq_lock_init(struct optimistic_spin_queue lock)
include/linux/osq_lock.h:extern bool osq_lock(struct optimistic_spin_queue lock);
include/linux/rwsem.h:#include <linux/osq_lock.h>
include/linux/rwsem.h:#define __RWSEM_OPT_INIT(lockname) , .osq = OSQ_LOCK_UNLOCKED, .owner = NULL
include/linux/mutex.h:#include <linux/osq_lock.h>
kernel/locking/Makefile:obj-$(CONFIG_LOCK_SPIN_ON_OWNER) += osq_lock.o
kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c:#include <linux/osq_lock.h>
kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c: osq_lock_init(&sem->osq);
kernel/locking/rwsem-xadd.c: if (!osq_lock(&sem->osq))
kernel/locking/mutex.c:#include <linux/osq_lock.h>
kernel/locking/mutex.c: osq_lock_init(&lock->osq);
kernel/locking/mutex.c: if (!osq_lock(&lock->osq))
kernel/locking/osq_lock.c:#include <linux/osq_lock.h>
kernel/locking/osq_lock.c:bool osq_lock(struct optimistic_spin_queue lock)
For those who don't read C well -- and I number myself among that distinguished group! -- here's a super-quick primer: if you see a file with ".h" at the end of the name, that's a "Header" file. Basically, it defines variables that are used elsewhere in the code. It's really useful to look at headers, because often they have helpful comments to tell you what the purpose of the variable is. If you see a file with ".c" at the end, that's the code that does the work rather than just defining stuff.
It's z_wr_iss that's driving the mutex lock; there's a good chance I can ignore the locking code itself (which is probably fine; at least I hope it is, because ZFS on Linux is probably easier to push through a fix than core kernel IO locking semantics) if I can figure out why we're competing over the lock (which is the actual problem). Back to grep...
txgsync: ~/devel/linux-4.4-rc8$ grep -ri z_wr_iss
MOAR COFFEE! This takes forever. Next hobby project: grok up my source code trees in ~devel; grep takes way too long.
...
...
And the search came up empty. Hmm. Maybe _iss is a structure that's created only when it's running, and doesn't actually exist in the code? I probably should understand what I'm pecking at a little better. Let's go back to the ZFS On Linux code:
mbarnson@txgsync: ~/devel/zfs$ grep -r z_wr
module/zfs/zio.c: "z_null", "z_rd", "z_wr", "z_fr", "z_cl", "z_ioctl"
Another clue! We've figured out the Linux Kernel name of the mutex we're stuck on, and that z_wr is a structure in "zio.c". Now this code looks pretty familiar to me. Let's go dive into the ZFS On Linux code and see why z_wr might be hung up on a mutex lock of type "_iss".
txgsync: ~/devel/zfs$ cd module/zfs/
txgsync: ~/devel/zfs/module/zfs$ vi zio.c
z_wr is a type of IO descriptor:
/
const char zio_type_name[ZIO_TYPES] = {
"z_null", "z_rd", "z_wr", "z_fr", "z_cl", "z_ioctl"
};
What about that z_wr_iss thing? And competition with z_wr_int_4? I've gotta leave that unanswered for now, because it's Saturday and I have a lawn to mow.
It seems there are a few obvious -- if tentative -- conclusions:
It's just a hypothesis, but I think it may have some legs and needs to be ruled out before other causes can be ruled in.
I was willing to dive into this a bit because I'm in the midst of some similar tests myself, and am also puzzled why the IO performance of Solaris zones so far out-strips ZFSoL under Xen; even after reading Brendan Gregg's explanation of Zones vs. KVM vs. Xen I obviously don't quite "get it" yet. I probably need to spend more time with my hands in the guts of things to know what I'm talking about.
TL;DR: You're probably tripping over a Linux kernel mutex lock that is waiting on a Xen ring buffer polling cycle; this might not have much to do with ZFS per se. Debugging Xen I/O scheduling is hard. Please file a bug.
ADDENDUM: The Oracle Cloud storage is mostly on the ZFS Storage Appliances. Why not buy a big IaaS instance from Oracle instead and know that it's ZFS under the hood at the base of the stack? The storage back-end systems have 1.5TB RAM, abundant L2ARC, huge & fast SSD SLOG, and lots of 10K drives as the backing store. We've carefully engineered our storage back-ends for huge IOPS. We're doubling-down on that approach with Solaris Zones and Docker in the Cloud with Oracle OpenStack for Solaris and Linux this year, and actively disrupting ourselves to make your life better. I administer the architecture & performance of this storage for a living, so if you're not happy with performance in the Oracle Cloud, your problem is right in my wheelhouse.
Disclaimer: I'm an Oracle employee. My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Oracle or its affiliates.
The Keurig refillable cup is a terrible design. I've never had a problem with overflow, but it's cumbersome to use, and it's annoying to have to stash the k-cup holder.
I also have an Ekobrew cup that works great. It's a direct replacement for the standard k-cup, you just fill it, snap the lid closed, and pop it into the holder just like you would a regular k-cup. Tough to beat for $10.
Am I the only one that uses these?! I mean, I love it.
I have one of these in my office, because no one here ever finishes a stupid pot of coffee and it gets moldy and gross. For like a week we used the k-cups that came with the machine, but we are all poor and didn't want to have to go buy a ton of those supper expensive (and as you so mentioned non-recyclable) pieces of trash, so we all just use the reusable cup. It was pretty cheap, easy to use and once you get the proportion of coffee you want in it, works AWESOME! I highly suggest you go buy one now if you have one of these machines.
http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413766490&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=crock+pot+liners
http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376460808&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=crock+pot+liner
The bag is the first thing to go in the pot. It prevents the pot from getting a build up of food while cooking. They are amazing!
Since I'm a coffee nerd as well, if you're looking to get into coffee for god sakes save for a good grinder. Visit /r/coffee and browse around.
Minimum setup for decent coffee IMHO for a beginner
Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Porlex-JP-30-Stainless-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0002JZCF2/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499788564&amp;sr=8-12&amp;keywords=hand+coffee+grinder
Kalita Wave for Pour-over: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-05033-Wave-185-Drippers/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499788582&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave
Goose neck kettle: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499788593&amp;sr=8-7&amp;keywords=gooseneck+kettle
Alternatively to the wave,
Aeropress - https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499788632&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
Clever - https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Coffee-Dripper-Large-Ounces/dp/B00EOM5RN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499788656&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=clever+coffee+dripper
Personal notes:
I've used all 3 types of coffee makers above and I still prefer my Kalita wave/v60. If I'm pressed for time and don't really want to think, the Clever.
It depends what you're looking for and what your budget is. Personally, I make my coffee with an AeroPress, which makes a beautiful, clean-tasting cup of coffee. I actually use a super fancy grain grinder leftover from the prepping days of Mormonism. Be sure that no matter what grinder you get that it's a burr grinder, not a blade grinder. A blade will give you inconsistent sizes which will lead to over- or under-extraction of the beans. If you want something relatively inexpensive but still good, you should get a manual grinder. The Hario Skerton or Mini Mill is a good place to start. But it really depends on your budget what you should get. Electric, you might go with the Baratza Encore. You might make your way over to /r/coffee for a better answer, but that's my advice.
If you are the only one partaking of the black gold, it's hard to beat Aeropress. Makes a fine cup of coffee and you don't need another appliance on the counter.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1499874593&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
have you tried the [Aeropress?] (http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1449845478&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress)
Get an [aeropress] (http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375298290&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=aero-press) and a [Hario Mini Mill] (http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375298338&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=hario+mini+mill). Virtually unbreakable and much easier to clean than a french press, and makes some great coffee. Make sure you can access a hot water kettle or something.
This third party one is better designed and cheaper than the official reusable filter.
you might want to look at these. reusable k-cups that you can use your own coffee with: http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW
You can buy plastic empty cups for a Keurig machine, and bring your own coffee to work. Much better and fresher than the coffee they make.
Today I learned these exist. Never again will I have to scrub my slow cooker for 30 minutes and still feel like it's not clean enough.
By the way, don't buy them on Amazon unless you really have to. You can get a pack of 4 for less than $2 at Walmart.
I have an Able Brewing filter, I really like it because it doesn't have the "crimped" edges that make other metal filters hard to screw in. Here it is on amazon for $12.50 USD
Depending on your budget, a mix of chuck and a flavorful cut like short rib, ribeye, or sirloin works well.
I have a different recommendation, though, if you're looking to make a great burger: grind the meat yourself. Lots of kitchen manufacturers like KitchenAid or Cuisinart make meat grinder attachments to their devices - I have this one and it works really well. Burgers made from fresh coarse-ground meat, loosely clumped together, will beat the crap out of grocery store meat that's been ground to a paste and sitting in a styrofoam container. I've found this is true for other uses of ground meat as well (tacos! stuffed peppers!), so I haven't bought ground meat in a few years. I'm somewhat of a kitchen gadget person, and my meat grinder is my single favorite gadget.
I have the grinder attachment for my Kitchenaid and it works great. No need to mess with the casing attachment if you're just looking for ground.
But as for looking in the grocery store, just slice off the casings and brown in a skillet with a little oil. Break it up as you cook. Dab with paper towels and put on your pizza before baking.
What's your budget? The kitchen aid grinder attachment is your best option. A hand crank grinder might be less, but not by much...
If you're concerned with the waste, buy one of these Reusable filters
Its the only thing i use in mine, and you can use whatever the fuck cheap coffee you want, and fill them a bit more full with decent coffee and it tastes better. Highly suggest it! We even dump our grounds out of it into a composter.
Finium mesh strainer is my favorite
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000I68NCS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1419017756&amp;sr=8-1
For the Canadians:
https://www.amazon.ca/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1511548749&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
YOU'RE not obligated to tip. You should make YOUR coffee at home.
i make my coffee at home with an aeropress, takes 5 minutes
Instead of a french press, consider an Aeropress . More portable and lower maintenance than a true french press, but the coffee is every bit as good.
If you really like coffee, Aeropress is the way to go.
You don't need that funnel or all of the filters for a weekend.
You don't have to spend that much for good coffee.
You can get a pour over dripper for $12 on Amazon
100 filters for $6
Electric kettle for $12
Manual coffee grinder for $10
Digital scale for $10
That's $50 for gear, (you can probably pick up some of that even cheaper if you look around) and then you can spend what you want on beans. I'm really into Stumptown coffee right now, which is $18 for 12oz. but you can definitely go a little cheaper or a lot more expensive depending on your tastes.
You can spend as much as you want making coffee, but I haven't noticed a discernible difference between coffee from that setup and coffee from a $500ish setup. A large part of what makes a cup of pour over good is the skill level of the person pouring it, and there's no reason to spend more than $75-$100 on gear until you reach a point where you know for sure your bottleneck is your equipment. I've been making my own coffee this way (as well as french press and espresso) for a few years and I still don't feel like I need to upgrade.
EDIT: Ignore the scale I linked, refer to /u/throwswithfats comment below instead.
What electric kettle do you have? Does it have variable temperature controls and/or a gooseneck spout?
The main ways to improve your setup are a better grinder, better coffee beans, and possibly a better kettle (I'd say, in that order). The other thing to think about is trying out some other brew methods, at least so you can learn about the differences and find out what your preferences are.
If I had your setup and up to $200 available to improve it, I think I'd look for a refurbished Baratza Encore ($99), a $10 - $15 electric scale accurate to within 0.1g, a clear plastic Hario V60 for $6 (along with filters for another $6). That's around $125, leaving extra to try out some nicer coffee beans. For example, Happy Mug has good quality coffee for $11 - $13 per pound plus $3 shipping.
Sure, I spent a year making all kinds of extracts and tinctures and reading endless forum discussions about it. There is a great technique called the Quick Wash Ethanol Extraction Technique. QWEET. There are other methods that work, too, but this one is my stand-by now. Feel free to ask if anything is unclear.
Anyway, you basically use 190 proof grain alcohol chilled to 0 degrees F in a freezer. You then decarboxylate your crumbled plant material for an hour at 240 degrees F in your oven, then freeze it, too.
In my recent batch I had a couple ounces of Charlotte's Web flower, so I crumbled that into a half gallon mason jar after the decarbing process, then put it into the freezer, too.
So you end up with two things in your freezer at zero degrees:
You should also have another 2 jars to collect the filtered extraction. They can be quart jars.
After things have chilled to temp, the process goes like this:
After that you can do a few things. It is technically already a tincture, but you can evaporate off some alcohol to concentrate it more. You can also turn it into thick oil or dabbing material by pouring it into a clear pyrex baking dish and letting all of the alcohol evaporate. The longer it sits the thicker it gets. You then use a razor to scrape it up.
For a truly ideal tincture I will evaporate off all of the alcohol as described, because frankly alcohol tinctures DO taste like shit. I scrape up the thickened oil and then dissolve it into 60 ml (two ounces) of MCT oil. It easily dissolves with just a bit of heat and stays that way, and there is very little taste at all. Now it can be used sublingually for maximum absorption. You can even get all fancy and add flavors. 2 or 3 drops of this oil-based flavoring is ideal.
I bring my pour over. You can look up a lot of different techniques on how to make it but it's mostly bs.
Just boil water, put your grounds in a paper filter inside the pour over funnel thing, set that on top of a cup. Once the water boils pour just enough to wet the grounds. Wait till you see the bubbling / expansion stop, then pour water slowly until you have enough coffee.
Very minimal setup, not sure why more people don't do it.
Edit: found a collapsible one from gsi
Toast-a-bags. This is reusable bag/pouch that you put your bread in before putting into the toaster. It protects your toast from all the nasties, while allowing it to toast. I know that is just one little part of your problem, but it does work for that.
http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0
This thing is the tits for the "slow down and have a cup": http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=lp_289749_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1408456330&amp;sr=1-1
But check the wiki :)
I do something similar. I put water in one mug, fats in another and microwave both. When fat is melted I take it out and continue microwaving the water while I blend the fats. By the time the water is done, my Aeropress (amazon link I don't sell these I just really love the product which is freaking amazing by the way) is ready for the hot water, then I just press the coffee/espresso directly into the blended fats and I'm ready to go. Only mess is one mug and the Aeropress which is incredibly simple to clean anyway. Total time from nothing to delicious bulletproof espresso is about 2 and a half minutes.
For your coffee making needs
Pfft. You need to get with the reverse french press.
Get a decent coffee machine, some beans and a grinder - then find a local roaster with a product that you really like.
Start with an aeropress if you don't want to splash out on an expensive machine initially
Aeropress is good, however I think the best way is one of the over the top rubberized ones. You just put it over the top of a cup, drop in a filter , and put your grounds in. I have one of these I use when I'm camping but I know I've seen some silicone ones as well out there just can't remember where:
HIC 2662 Coffee Filter Cone, Black, Number 2-Size Filter, Brews 2 to 6-Cups https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XhqYAbK11QJ9Z
Welcome!
For a newbie, I think a good first stop is the wiki. You can get a lot of info about different coffee accessories. As for a grinder, the cheapest recommended is the Hario Mini Mill or the Hario Skerton, and you can find more in wiki section on coffee gear.
As for storing beans, the Tightvac has great reviews on Amazon.
As for your caffeine addiction, you'll find that higher caffeine content is rarely discussed here, but Death Wish Coffee claims to have the coffee with the most caffeine. However, it only comes pre-ground, and is made from robusta beans, which many find don't taste as good as the more common Arabica. I have a bag right now and I think it's a fine cup (not excellent), if a bit dark for my tastes.
Hope this helps!
This won't be 100% relevant but I already have it typed so I'mma just copy paste it here and make some notes at the end:
>Well here's the thing about coffee, it's finicky stuff. Much moreso than most Americans would give it credit for. Automatic machines like you have can deliver quality coffee, but unless the one you have cost $200 or more, it won't really be up to the task of making cafe quality coffee. If you want coffee of the same quality (or even better) you'd find at a cafe, you're going to have to know a couple things. Don't worry, I'll tl;dr this with a few specifics at the end, but right now I'm going to go over the things that affect how coffee tastes:
>Bean quality: probably the most esoteric and taste-dependent part of coffee, it's not much worth getting into grading, processing, etc, just suffice it to say that folger's is definitely not using top-rate beans and they're mixing robusta (high caffeine, very bitter) in with arabica (moderate caffeine, much better flavor), whereas a decent coffee shop is using 100% arabica
>Freshness: Coffee goes stale quick and the flavors dull within about three weeks, a month tops after roasting. Those mass market beans are months old by the time you get them off the shelf. The good news is that there's almost definitely a roaster near you who sells decent beans that are nice and fresh roasted. The bad news is that the cheapest decent coffee you'll find is ~$10/lb most places.
>Grind: piggybacking on my last point, coffee, even when sealed in those cans, goes stale VERY fast after being ground (like, within an hour), so buy whole bean and grind it yourself right before brewing
>Grind consistency: if the grind isn't uniform, the coffee won't extract evenly and will taste off. The normal blade grinders you think of when you think "coffee grinder" won't work, you'll need a burr grinder, whether hand crank or electric. Doesn't have to be fancy but it does have to be a burr grinder
>Brew ratio: coffee will optimally be brewed (for most methods) with 16 or 17g of water (a fat tablespoon) for each gram of coffee. You can guestimate it but digital kitchen scales that read in grams can be had for dirt cheap on amazon. IME people who don't know about brewing coffee tend to use way too little coffee for the amount they brew. This extracts too much from the grounds and makes it watery and bitter
>Brew time: each method has its own ideal brew time but for most, like pourover or french press, ~4 minutes is optimal
>Water temperature: Coffee should ideally be brewed between 195-205Fthis is where the vast majority of home drip machines fail, the reason that /r/coffee approved drip machines start off at like $200 is that they have big, heavy copper heaters that can reach ideal brew temp, most drip machines have crummy weak heating coils that end up brewing at lower temperatures and making the coffee taste flat and sour.
>#TL;DR
I know this seems overwhelming, so I'll give you a nice, easy starter kit and instructions how to use it to get you started. And I know you said your bank account was getting crushed, so I'll make this nice and wallet-friendly
>For a grinder, go with either this manual one which has the advantage of being really cheap and producing decent grinds, but will take some effort to grind your coffee (2-3 minutes) and setting the grind size can be a pain, or if you want to spend a little bit more and get an electric, go for this one, it's not the greatest in the world but for a starting point it works ok and it's darn cheap.
>You can either keep brewing with your auto drip or, if you're still not satisfied, get a french press. They're crazy easy to use (weigh coffee, put in press. Place press on scale and tare. Pour in water. wait four minutes. drink), and they can be had for damn cheap
>Then find someone who roasts coffee near you, get some beans, and enjoy!
>Anyway sorry to bombard you with the wall of text but coffee's a complicated thing and we're hobbyists (and snobs) around here. Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more questions
>EDIT: forgot to add in Todd Carmichael's awesome instruction video for the french press.
If you're brewing for one, though, I'd look at the Aeropress, the learning curve is a bit steeper than FP but it makes wicked good coffee, is extremely versatile, and (my favorite part) cleanup is super quick and easy. And if you're willing to shell out a little more for a grinder take a peek at the Baratza encore.
EDIT: link to the aeropress and just one of many, many recipes for it. I actually used that recipe just last night and it came out fantastic. Might make myself one right now, actually...
/u/AmNotLost covered the basics really well. I would recommend the Baratza Encore (you can sometimes find them refurbished on their website here).
The method of brewing depends on how you like your coffee. If you like a more big-bodied mouthfeel and are okay with some sediment in your coffee I would recommend a French Press. You can pick them up almost anywhere.
If you like a cleaner cup with more brightness and less sediment I would go with something that uses a paper filter. The Aeropress or Kalita Wave are my recommendations for this (important note: the Aeropress comes with filters, the Kalita Wave does not. You can buy them here).
Next: water. Use fresh, filtered water about 30-45 seconds off the boil to brew with. Water between 195F and 205F is recommended to brew with, and this should put you somewhere in that range.
Use fresh roasted coffee from a local roaster. If you're in even a semi-major city this shouldn't be too tough. If not, you may want to try ordering online. I have plenty of recommendations if you want. In fact, let me know and I can send you a bit of coffee for free to get you started.
Finally, and this cannot be stressed enough, drink what you like.
We here in /r/coffee typically gravitate toward more modern light roasted coffees. I definitely do myself. But if you try a bunch of coffees and still like the taste of medium/dark/burnt to a crisp coffee, then keep drinking it.
I hope this helps and is not too intimidating. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions or anything! I love helping people find the perfect cup of coffee. It is literally my job to do so.
I second the suggestion for an Aeropress:
If you're absolutely concerned about time, then you'll spend about one extra minute per cup with the Aeropress (plus getting the water hot, which I usually do via an electric kettle while I'm showering).
Aeropress steps:
p.s. $26 at Amazon
Best drip coffee maker I've ever owned: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1800TH-Coffee-Thermal-Carafe/dp/B005YQZNO8
I also recommend an Aeropress http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1394161699&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=Aeropress
I recently made some cultured butter using Brad's recipe. Pretty fantastic.
I strongly recommend picking up the meat grinder attachment for your KitchenAid as well. :)
I have the KitchenAid meat grinder attachment that works really well, I've so far ground about 150 lbs of meat through it. I primarily use it for sausage making but I've ground beef for burgers and meatballs too. My only gripe with the grinder is that while it works perfectly for meat cubes or strips if I have to grind something twice that's a bit of a chore.
Of course this only is useful if you already have a kitchenaid, otherwise a standalone electric would be cheaper.
Are you using a real Keurig filter or a knockoff? I've never had grounds in the cup and I've had the same Keurig reusable filter for a couple years. I almost never use the K-cups for my morning joe.
EDIT: I fill the filter to the top and tap it a little to settle the grounds a bit. Also, don't use too fine of a grind.
Stores sell loose coffee filters and cups for them.
The standard opinion toward the Keurig is not a positive one. The consensus is that the pods contain subpar, already stale coffee, and the machines are not capable of heating water to a high enough temperature to properly brew coffee.
But what really matters is if you like it - if coffee comes out that you enjoy drinking, fuck the haters, and keep using the Keurig. I personally dislike Keurigs, but I think that they are not quite as bad as the community makes them out to be.
Some companies do make reusable K-cups that you can put your own coffee in, but they don't fix the low water temperature issue, and apparently they don't keep a seal well either, leading to underextracted coffee.
Basically, experiment a little and find what you like. You may end up learning that the best coffee that a Keurig can make is coffee that you make without ever touching a Keurig. Remember: the only good coffee is coffee that you like - even if it's from a Keurig!
I think it is something else.
I think it is little gnome miners in your body farming bloody bits to feed to their pet dragon that sometimes causes you heartburn when its unhappy.
I hope you feel better inside pain is the worst.
Item
This strainer basket is the cheapest, easiest option. This infuser cup is a little more attractive and also easy. Then you just need tea, there are many great options on the vendor list on the right.
Edit: If you want to invest more, and in my opinion get more out of the experience, you could buy a gongfu tea set. This video explains tea brewing and gongfu. Yunnan Sourcing sells all the pieces of a gongfu set for good prices, but there are many other sources.
Agreed. I have two of these - one for home, one at the office. They're the perfect size for a single mug of tea. Finum Brewing Basket
For western style brewing (little bit of tea to lots of water for a longer time) a brew basket is a good way to go for a single person. The ones from Finum are great, but theres a bunch of different options out there . I have been using a Davids Tea one for the last while and have no complaints about it at all.
If you want to get into brewing with gongfu parameters (lots of tea, little water, quick infusion times) then I'd recommend picking up a cheap gaiwan in the 100ml range to start out and see if you're into it or not. All you really need is a gaiwan and a cup or mug to pour it into. If you want to you can get little tea cups, strainers, and a fairness pitcher, but none of that is actually "needed". I'd start out simple and cheap then re-evaluate if you find it's something you really enjoy. This was my first gaiwan - its nice looking but simple, affordable and well built. Comes with a saucer too which is a plus for me. After a year or so of use I realized a smaller one would be more suited for me and I picked up a 55ml one from Bitterleaf that I love to death. The size really comes down to how you want to drink and you might not know whats best for you until you just buy something and use it for a while.
For Life
Finum
Honestly something like this would be much better as it it half the cost and basket is bigger which allows more leaf expansion. I have the 300ml version that I like. Also consider a tea basket strainer like one of the following. Also reference the vendor list here for vendors in the EU.
https://www.hario.co.uk/collections/tea-tea-pots/products/hario-chacha-kyusu-maru-teapot-450ml
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KY69ZKH/
https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Stainless-Coffee-Infusing-Brewing/dp/B000J3JFJU/
I have been using this one and the mesh is amazing, no dust or anything getting through, and it is easy to clean.
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1452869656&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=brewing+basket
Eu pessoalmente uso Aeropress no meu uso diário, sendo este inclusive um dos métodos mais bem falados no /r/Coffee
Agora, entre cafeteira elétrica e coador, com certeza o coador, especialmente se utilizas coadores como o Hario V60. No coador tu perdes um pouco da praticidade das cafeteiras elétricas mas ganhas muito com o controle e qualidade na extração, além do custo ser muito menor e poder utilizar em qualquer lugar sem precisar de energia elétrica.
Muitas das cafeteiras elétricas não fervem a água na temperatura adequada e pela forma que deixam a água em contato com o café acaba extraindo mais amargor do que nos coadores.
Hey there, I'm not OP, but I got an aeropress for my coffee-snob brother a few years back and he continues to talk about how much he loves it (and he got one for his girlfriend for her birthday).
Not 100% sure model mixer you got but get one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFE5T-Beater-Tilt-Head-Mixers/dp/B004A15870
They make mixing soooo much easier!
Hence why I picked up a reusable k-cup that I can just rinse out and refill with whatever coffee I decide to buy from the store. Also about 60-80% cheaper than buying k-cups.
Slow Cooker Liners. I didn't believe in them at first, tried them and now they are a must.
Holy crap, I didn't know they had metal filters! That's amazing!
For those that are wondering, this one and this one are the two highest reviews that I've found.
I'll be picking one of these up as soon as possible, though I've always managed to get good extractions out of my Aeropress following this guide minus the swirling at the end, and it always works out pretty great. It's true though, the paper feels like it detracts from the overall body / "creaminess" of the cup, compared to other methods I've tried.
Not for long, though. =)
$30 on amazon right now.
I love the simplicity and versatility of the AeroPress, allows me to make coffee at work quickly. (Hospital employee)
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501379513&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
See, public shaming works!
For homemade budget "espresso," check out the Aeropress
How are you making it currently? It's the difference between getting all of the oils and body of the beans in a french press, versus filtering most of them out in an Aeropress. Have you considered a pour over?
Personally I use the french press and a hario v60. I like the french press because I don't have to worry about pouring and having the spiral and water amount and all just right. I can put coffee + water in the french press, then come back in a few minutes and pour it. But I don't like the oils and stuff, so I pour it into a v60 over my coffee cup and just come back a few minutes later when it's filtered through. Clean up with both of them is next to nothing, I just rinse them off and put them on a rack to dry during the week and clean them with soap on the weekends.
I just ordered an Aeropress to try it out, but my main beef with it is that I don't like putting boiling or piping hot liquids in plastic. My french press is glass + metal, and the Hario pour over is ceramic. But people rave about the Aeropress so I figured I'd try it out. FWIW, this is the Aeropress kit I bought. It was $20 yesterday.
I swear by an Aeropress. Perfect for a single cup of coffee, and it's plastic and durable. All you need is a small propane stove to heat up water and you're good to go.
Someone has already mentioned the collapsible pour-over from REI, which is what I would recommend along with another option: The Aeropress.
If you really like good coffee, you likely already know about the aeropress. It makes a good, concentrated, faux-spresso drink using a little water and coffee. Since it's made of plastic, it's ultralight. It does have a couple of pieces, but you don't really need all of them if you plan well.
Hope this helps!
Buy an aeropress. Single cup at a time. Makes awesome coffee. I've gone through a shitload of different coffee makers and its my favorite by far.
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Well, knowing your budget would be important, but trying to be cost sensitive, I found a refurbished Baratza Encore for $99, and the brew method many suggest for entry level is the aeropress which is on amazon for about $30. If that's still too steep a price, you can always start off with a decent hand grinder like the Hario Mini Mill which is also about $30 on amazon. The hand grinder is more cost effective, but obviously takes more time and effort than the electric. All of this is fairly good entry level equipment, and you can always trade up grinders, and try new brew methods further down the road if you so desire.
this
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this
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Any whole bean coffee of you choice (I like green).
This will delicious and still be way cheaper than paying for starbucks even semi regularly.
Get an Aeropress. Simple to use and makes an amazing cup of espresso. Plus the price is amazing. You really can't go wrong with it.
My beginner battle station.
Traveled down the coffee rabbit hole november and most of this stuff is from Christmas. The gear is, from left, a 250 ml graduated cylinder, a discontinued-found-at-thrift-store copco tea kettle, under it an old continental electric hot plate, next to it a hario slim mini mill grinder, an aeropress, and an aws 100 gram scale. I usually use 250 ml of water with 13-15 grams of coffee, grinded medium-fine, at 15 seconds off boil, steeping for 15 seconds and pressing twice that long. I'm planning on getting a bonavita variable temp soon too.
Try an aeropress easier to pack, hard plastic and amazing coffee
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK?pc_redir=1404880206&amp;robot_redir=1
I know what I'm about to say is against what you want in coffee, but the gold standard for people starting out, is the Skerton and the Aeropress.
Skerton: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001802PIQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1450636608&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=hario+skerton&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=415JCWEK1sL&amp;ref=plSrch
Aeropress: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1450636649&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SX200_QL40&amp;keywords=Aeropress&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=517aTTC-7pL&amp;ref=plSrch
Its no automatic all-in-one, but for the price, you really can't beat it for starters.
Despite spending upwards of 300$ of gear for coffee, out if the three brew methods I have, the aeropress is my go to.
Its very easy to use and there is a million different "ways" it can make coffee.
There is some effort per cup, you grind beans right before you brew and you have to find a recipe to go by, again, millions, but it makes a very very good cup.
Just my 2c
I know. I couldn't believe it. She was pretty darn happy. All the money saved can buy accessories. She already bought the silicone edged paddle.
Here's one on Amazon for $23.21 at the moment.
I currently use one of these machines.. :( I advise you not to get one just because of the quality of coffee it makes, and instead get an aeropress or something along those lines.
The only main difference between them is that some have timers, some are larger so they hold a taller mug, have a water well, etc. Purchase what suits you and what features are a necessity. The one thing though that makes this machine a bit better is to use a reusable cup like this. I have used this one for about a year and it saves a lot of $$ since K-cups are expensive and their coffee tastes really stale IMO.
Can't comment on how safe your tip is, but I thought you might like to know that these exist :)
I recommend purchasing a metal filter and making the determination yourself.
>similar to the french press
While it does have more body, I've never finished a cup and thought it was even close to my french press brew. You also can expect a small amount of sediment at the bottom of your cup. This will vary depending on grind size and uniformity.
Is this the metal filter you're using? If so, it matters which side is up when you put it in the strainer cap. Apparently, the holes in the metal filter are larger on one side than the other, so it will make a difference in the resistance you encounter (and the amount of oils that make their way into the cup). One side of the filter has tiny writing around the border, and this side should be up - i.e., the writing should be visible - when you put the filter in the strainer.
Caveat: I'm an espresso noob, but think I'm sufficiently well informed to address this.
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Your OXO conical burr grinder is at the low and cheap end of espresso-capable grinder, so it will likely become the first upgrade. I don't know if the one in the Barista Express is better, but upgrading it will only be possible by upgrading the whole expensive device. There are other grinder-related arguments against machines with built-in grinders.
The New Classic Gaggia (Pro), one of which I recently purchased for $418 after discount from Whole Latte Love, comes with a plastic tamper which you should not use. I bought an Apexstone leveler for $18 which sits on a $10 mat and does close to a perfect job [See caveat]. It's one of the best entry level machines because it does the basics very well - pushing sufficiently hot water [See caveat] through coffee in a proper filter basket (i.e. not the pressurised filter) in a proper 58mm plated brass portafilter. It also comes with a proper steam wand which can be used shortly after a press of one of the three buttons which operate the machine, which is normal for a single boiler machine.
Most of the modifications discussed relate to the not-New/pro Classic (which does not preclude modifying the New/Pro Classic).
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Before buying I was also watching the price of the Breville BES840CBXL for a long time since it's competitively priced and looks much nicer, matching my the Smart Grinder Pro, however others' experience with the product and both my and others' experience with the manufacturer recommend the Gaggia. Note that the cheaper Breville grinder - the Dose Control Pro - is the better choice between the two for just espresso.
Coffee Press - $45.07
My condolences.
This one won't break.
Almost all of the Keurigs and other K-Cup brewers will dispense just hot water, you just press the brew button without a K-cup in the brewer.
This is a reusable K-cup for using your own coffee.
Some other things to consider, is cup sizes and water capacity. Most brewers have more options on how much water to dispense for a cup of coffee. Which is handy when you want to make smaller or larger cups of coffee. Along with that, some have larger hoppers that hold water before it gets heated for making a beverage. The only real benefit of a large water tank is you don't have to fill it as often. If your boyfriend is only a light coffee drinker, the tank size wouldn't matter too much as it wouldn't get drained that often anyway.
All that being said, This is probably the least expensive one, only does 8 ounce cups, only holds enough water for one cup.
Something like This is your typical Keurig, 3 cup sizes (6,8,10 oz), 48 oz water reservoir
Personally, I have a model very similar to This one except I bought it from Costco. You can set it to automatically turn on and off in the morning on a timer, 5 cup sizes (4,6,8,10,12 oz) and a 72 ounce reservoir.
I would recommend looking at Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, etc. because you occasionally run into some deals. Good Luck.
Well roasted coffee and one of these
I think this is what you're talking about: refillable K-cup
They have a kurig insert that works with that brand that you can fill with any bagged coffee. Saves way more money.
In case anyone is interested. Target also has another brand but same idea.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
I use a Keurig
(http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=keurig+machine&amp;hl=en&amp;safe=off&amp;prmd=imvns&amp;bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&amp;biw=1280&amp;bih=821&amp;um=1&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;tbm=shop&amp;cid=4330306323317567334&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=yn0aUPHyJeHo6wG2uoHYCw&amp;ved=0CIgBEOUNMAA)
for times when I'm working on a project and just want to hit a button every few minutes and receive coffee and mornings when I'm desperate to get out the door. (This is changing, but it's the reason I got a Keurig and the logic has held up for quite a while.)
Main suggestion I'd give is to get one of their new system: http://www.keurig.com/vuesystem
-The cups contain more coffee.
-There is more selectability when it comes to size and brew strength.
-The cups are recyclable.
-If you like strong coffee, traditional Keurigs can't brew a full mug of it from one Kcup. Your cost skyrockets and convenience goes way down if you use two. The new ones are supposed to be better in this regard.
-Keurig and affiliated coffee makers are going to transition more and more to supporting the Vue over time. Selection still sucks for it in most grocery stores, but the balance is already tipping.
-Supposedly, it's easier to make your own cups with coffee that you like. If you do buy a 1st gen system, I'd recommend not buying the "Keurig My K-Cup". (http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI) I tried and tried but could not get any reasonable brew strength from it. Looking online, this seems to be a common problem. Again, if you do get a 1st gen system and want to make your own cups, look at some of the various products offered online or tutorials on how to reuse a regular Kcup.
-Also, if you buy a 1st gen system, look for brands that advertise "Extra Bold". Anything less will taste very watery on the largest cup setting.
-Don't buy tea with it. Complete waste of money. I never understood why they even bother. The quality is no better than bagged tea of the same brand and, if you want better; loose tea with a metal tea ball and a hotshot with an automatic start is just as convenient.
In any event, good luck!
We use these and they are great.
I use a Finum brewing basket and get virtually no dust. Even with yerba mate, much of which is finely powdered, I don't get too much residue. (On the other hand, the mesh is fine enough that it gets a bit clogged when I drink a lot of mate.)
First a tea clamp is not very good, you should get an infuser like this the clamp will not let leaves properly infuse. You can use that in a teapot just make sure you use enough tea (usually one teaspoon for one cup).Also a lot of teapot come with an infuser if you don't already have a teapot.
As other people said keep exploring what you already like so more green you could try more Japanese green or some Chinese green like Longjing (Dragon Well) and more Oolong but without knowing what Oolong you tried its hard to recommend anything.
Matcha is usually not bitter at all so my guess would be that your water was too hot you should try again with colder water (around 70°c)
I would recommend getting a single cup strainer like this one. I personally don't like grandpa style as I want more control over steeping times. I would buy that strainer, throw about 1 tablespoon of leaf per 8 oz of water into it, and pour water over it, then take out the basket once you're done steeping.
This looks identical to the Finum basket which is five bucks cheaper on amazon. I highly recommend it. It's the best infuser I've tried and I make loose tea every day.
Edit: Just weighed mine. 1 oz. with the top, 0.65 oz. without.
Steeping = leaving your tea leaves in hot water so you can get the flavour (and the caffeine) out of them. Different teas do best with different temperature and times. For green tea, you want around 165°F for 1 minute, or check the instructions your tea comes with. Adjust to your liking.
You can use teabags or "loose leaf", which is when the tea leaves come as they are. Both are easy to use and loose leaf can be cheaper, especially if you know where to look or order online. If you do decide to use loose leaf, you will need some kind of basket strainer or other infuser, to hold the leaf while it steeps so that you don't get bits of tea leaf in your cup. My personal favourite is this Finum Brewing Basket.
You don't need to use a teapot. I just brew and drink my tea out of a mug. The teapot I have is only used if I'm sharing tea with someone else.
For brands, check out the User's Choice list from the wiki. I started off buying from Adagio and Upton. Nowadays, I buy from Adagio, Verdant Tea, O-Cha, and Yunnan Sourcing, but all the shops in that list are good ones. As for supermarket brands... I don't really like any of them, because I don't like flavoured tea, and those non-flavoured teas tend to have been on the shelf long enough that they're a little stale. (Also I have a huge backlog >_>)
Some green teas worth trying out:
Hope this helps.
There is a whole world of gadgets you can get to make tea in! Our FAQ is really helpful here If you are just stepping into loose tea an infuser mug like this is a good place to start. They're not super expensive and they make tea just for you and if you decide you are done with tea forever you have a nice mug. This is a good one too.
Teapots come in a ton of shapes and sizes, I'd pick something that 1. Is not too big (cups of tea should be small not big imo) 2. Won't break easily 3. Is easy to clean.
Give this a read while you're at it.
EDIT: Points 2 and 3 mean stay away from glass pots if you're clumsy like me and is made of a material that won't degrade and absorb like plastic. Good old ceramics are your best bet unless you know what you are looking for in a clay pot.
I have two Finum brewing baskets: one for home, one for work.
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_2
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420989185&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=programmable+kettle
your mug is fine just the way it is, but it is better to heat tea in a kettle (electric or stovetop) to avoid superheating it and causing an explosion of water in your face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_OXM4mr_i0
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1420989221&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=tea+filter+basket
these are highly recommended.
.
https://www.davidstea.com/
Davids tea has AWESOME "dessert teas" which is what I think you are looking for.
They also have some KICKING tea mugs with stainless steel infusers that are similar to the finium, but they also come with a lid doubling as a coaster for the filter.
I don't typically sweeten teas unless they scream for it, so i can't help you there.
First off, water matters. So if you live in a place with really hard water, consider getting a filter or bottled water.
Second, you can use anything to boil water in. Doesn't matter if it's a kettle on a stove or a tempered glass cup in a microwaver.
Third, temperature REALLY matters. Brewing green tea for example at 212F is going to make the tea very bitter.
You can brew the tea in anything really. However, if you're using loose leaf (which I recommend you do; tea bags are low quality mostly) you should get a strainer or a brew basket like this: http://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS. Do keep in mind that steeping time matters as well. So use a timer or a clock or your phone to keep track of time.
Hands down best tea steeper: Finum Brewing Filter Basket with Lid and Drip Tray (large)
Believe me. Don't get any cute tea balls or devices. Novelty tea diffusers suck over time, as any tea enthusiast will find them clumsy and hard to clean in the long run. Trust me, this is the best one.
You could also get her a cute, large mug to go with and maybe a gift card to take her on a date to a place like David's Tea/teavana. That way she can pick out some new loose leaf teas to try, and you can see what flavours interest her.
A tea storage box is also a fantastic gift. Tea bags are inferior to loose leaf, but if you do get bags to fill the box, be sure to get some darjeeling or assam - the best teas in the world.
One thing that's rather overlooked in tea is a tea thermometer. Certain teas need particular temps to steep. I even have a chart printed on glossy photo paper we keep in a plastic sleeve and pinned to the inside of our cupboard (where we keep tea). It'd be a really sweet touch to include that costs practicly nothing.
I know tea. I've visited the tea gardens and tea factories. My great grandmother was a poor tea seller girl by the roadside and met my great grandfather who was a well-to-do soldier. The brigades would have to wait for a bridge to open and that's how they met. Its pretty romantic, lol.
But yeah, tea runs in my blood, so to speak. If you have any questions, feel free to fire away!
Save yourself some money up front and get an electric kettle and a Finum basket filter. Focus on what really matters - the tea. Here's a sample pack for you that gives a nice overview on tea styles.
I use one of these : https://smile.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/
and I just put it in a disposable coffee cup to catch any drippings between steepings. That way it doesn't sit in a puddle of liquid, and after I clean it out at the end of the day, it has space for air to circulate and properly dry out.
But if you want something nicer, a dark coffee cup would be better.
Many of us use something like this. I drink enough tea that it is way more economical to buy loose leaf and I can get any tea I want and have control over how I brew it with nothing getting in my teeth at all. I don't doubt that there are good bagged teas out there but I just don't think they are going to be better than the loose leaf I can get at a much more reasonable price per gram. And I do believe that there are teas that are loose leaf that are, to my palate, of higher quality than what can be found in bags at a grocery store. But I do grab bagged tea for vacation etc. and I certainly don't wrinkle my nose or sigh and exclaim how I wish I didn't have to drink this stuff. I like Twinings bags etc.
If you want easy, you can buy a mug strainer or empty tea bags to pack yourself:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001JPA3Y8
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JIRDSCC
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J3JFJU
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HW1C7VK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00027CM5C
Just re the caffeine, it does make tremors worse so put a lot of effort into getting rid of it or at least reducing way down.
I had to do that myself a few years ago, and didn't think I could do it. I only had one big strong cup of coffee in the morning, or sometimes black tea (during day or in morning), but I was really seriously attached to that dose (as well as flavor, ability to clear my throat/lungs/etc).
For me the hardest part turned out to be just finding a decaf coffee (and black tea) I could still drink and enjoy, but eventually did after reading many reviews online then trying a bunch of different ones.
The ones that work for me are Peet's Mocca Java Decaf coffee, and Luzianne (black) tea.
I buy the tea at amazon in "family size" bags, cut open the bags to pour into a jar, then make it strong and brew it in a Finum "brewing basket" or a single cup mini basket with hinged lid for a Keurig coffee machine.
I buy the coffee locally at Safeway (I'm in California) or at a Peet's store, but should be online too.
Here they are if you're interested:
https://amazon.com/Peets-Coffee-Mocca-Java-Ground-12-Ounce/dp/B00857ZBSG (btw, it's not really "chocolatey" or only a tiny hint)
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B008EJRS54
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J3JFJU
https://amazon.com/MaxBrew-Reusable-Filter-Keurig-Single/dp/B016TZKU54 (mine is black though)
Oh, and I no longer drink soft drinks because I eat low carb (LCHF in my case) which also helps with other health/etc problems (and no longer really get "hungry," and never shaky from hunger--and carbs). They either have a lot of sugar I don't want, or have various alternative sweeteners I can't stand the taste of. But before I started low-carb, the Decaf regular Coke tasted the best to me, and there are a few like Ginger Ale, etc, that at least don't have caffeine.
I now also drink other hot and cold beverages though, especially when I'm sipping or just want a taste in my mouth, etc. Had to figure those out too.
You should get a basket infuser like one of these:
1
2
These are large enough to let the leaves open up so you can the whole flavor. There are other options such as a gravity steeper or infuser thermoses, but these are a good place to start :)
I'm fairly serious about my tea (although still a lightweight around these parts) and drink pretty much exclusively iced black tea.
Short answer: Harney & Sons Malachi McCormick ("Decent Tea") if you're looking for just a better version of what you're drinking; a good Irish Breakfast tea if you're wanting to really start exploring. (H&S also does about the best Irish Breakfast I've managed to find.)
Long answer: Icing tea does a couple of things. It kills aromatics and kind of damps down the entire flavor profile. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means that you want to emphasize different flavors to make sure you have a nice cup of tea. This means what you don't want is a low-body aromatic tea; what you do want is something with a lot of body and a strong characteristic taste -- black breakfast teas and similar blends will do you no wrong, here. Irish Breakfast tea is a (very) full-bodied tea with strong assam notes that takes very well to being iced; if that's a new one to you it's going to come out as a bit of an experience, so go slow and give it a chance to grow on you. Most put milk and possibly a little sugar in it; I drink it black, but it's definitely an acquired taste. The "Decent Tea" blend at H&S
(Note that all tea if cooled too quickly -- like icing immediately after brewing -- will have solids precipitate out, turning the tea opaque. This doesn't affect flavor at all; some consider it unsightly, but I actually have kind of come to enjoy the grey-brown of a good Irish Breakfast or the more orange tint of a Scottish Breakfast. Don't let the appearance put you off. Cheaper teas frequently don't turn opaque as there are insufficient solids; sometimes they will merely turn 'cloudy'.)
Normal rule of thumb is one teaspoon of leaf per 'cup' -- for iced you want it a little stronger, so i'll fill an 18oz glass with ice and do two solid teaspoons (maybe just a bit more), ending up with something like 16oz of chilled tea, which should be about right.
Note that details of brewing will make a big difference too -- it's not nearly so sensitive as coffee, but details still matter. For black tea, you want to get water to a boil and on the leaves and steep for 5 minutes. Use filtered water for brewing and (ideally) for the ice -- this makes a big difference, as the dissolved minerals in tap water not only affect the taste but reduce the solubility of the tea. Put the leaves in something decent -- try to avoid using a tiny cheap tea ball or something. I use this basket for brewing in a 12oz wide-mouth mason jar, which I then pour directly over ice in a solo cup (or thermos or w/e for travel).
If any of that is daunting, though, jump in with what you have and you'll easily be able to improve on what you've been drinking thus far. Twinings has a decent irish breakfast blend in tea bags at most supermarkets that makes an okay cup if you're curious about the blend.
Let me know if you have any questions; I'm a huge iced tea fan and could likely talk about it indefinitely.
Fill with hot water and a little bit of Cafiza for 30 ish minutes, then swish a sponge around with the end of a stick or something. Works great at my coffee shop.
What's your water source? Hard water could lend itself to a salty taste.
Your machine might also need cleaning. Try running some vinegar through a few times then rinse it with water a few times maybe. Cafiza cleaning powder is even better.
Most likely it's the extraction though, like /u/hifideo said. Try adjusting dose, grind, time/water, and tamping pressure. You want it coming out like honey and to stop even after the stream turns blonde.
Get an Aeropress and a subscription to driftaway.coffee. They'll send you a sampler to figure out your taste profile. Then send you amazing coffee monthly.
Excellent - thanks for that link. My turn to share, related to coffee - get an AeroPress on Amazon. It will change your life as relates to coffee. Flavors you never knew existed will reveal themselves to you as in a dream. It's a game-changer, especially if you haven't historically been a fan of black coffee. I don't have anything to do with Aero other than that I've used it for several years and love it.
Why not an Aeropress? Easy, consistent, tasty, and cheap!
Here's the kit I got
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397195647&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=aeropress
You'll be in for a big, but pleasant, shock if you're going from instant coffee to something freshly and properly brewed. I say go for it - it's one of my favorite brewing devices for sure. Preground coffee will due for now, but if you want the full experience, I'd highly recommend a burr grinder as well. Alternatively, if you're more interested in brewing just one quick cup at a time, I'd recommend an Aeropress. The Chemex brews multiple cups at once and is slower, whereas the Aeropress does one at a time and is very fast. Both devices are inexpensive, simple to use, easy to clean, and will produce great coffee.
Looks like a coffee filter press: https://www.amazon.co.uk/AeroPress-82R08-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=asc_df_B0018RY8H0/?tag=googshopuk-21&amp;linkCode=df0&amp;hvadid=226302833456&amp;hvpos=1o3&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=1843388472086456956&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=&amp;hvdev=t&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9045888&amp;hvtargid=pla-351953890228&amp;psc=1&amp;th=1&amp;psc=1
Good for you.
Now, buy yourself an Aeropress and save yourself tons of money.
http://smile.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457403418&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress&amp;refinements=p_89%3AAeroPress
Aeropress
Grinders come down to price. Bare minimum Hario Skerton if you want electric I would go for Baratza Encore moving up in price Lido 2 or 3 or others of like the Helor other electrics would be Smart Grinder Pro or the Baratza Vario.
I have heard good things about coffee made with an AeroPress (here).
Or don't get a Keurig brand machine. If you absolutely must have the convenience of single-serving k-cups, there are 3rd party brewers that use the same form factor but without the lockout. They're only screwing themselves here.
If you're not a fan of the thin coffee that comes from K-cups, but you want single serving coffee, my advice is to get either a manual drip cone filter or an aeropress.
The aeropress makes the best coffee, hands down. However it takes a little more work, uses a little more grinds, and is a bit convoluted with all of the different parts. This is what I use at home on the weekends. The manual drip is what I use at work. I've got the routine down:
Los ingredientes:
Cafe de supermercado, compro el Senior molido. Encara bastante. Para cuando estoy apurado o para tener en la oficina
Para el cafe regular en casa, compro grano y lo muelo en el momento. Los Araucanos esta super en cuenta, creo que 450$ el kilo, el Palacio del Cafe es un poco mas caro.
Para el cafe especial para hacerse un gusto o impresionar visitas, Amor Perfecto es muy rico. Tambien se puede comprar Starbucks o alguna de las cafeterias especializadas que hay en la vuelta (The Lab) pero ahi se te va a alrededor de 1600$ el kilo.
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Para bonus extra, utilizar agua mineral sin gas para hacer un buen cafe, queda mejor que la de la canilla. No es tan caro tener un bidon a mano.
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El equipo:
En cuanto a equipo para prepararte un cafe, te recomiendo te traigas un molinillo como este
El metodo de extraccion tambien influye mucho, para mi el mejor es por lejos el espresso. Esta maquina sale unos mangos pero trae litros y litros de felicidad. Por supuesto que hay opciones mas caras y avanzadas.
Sino queres ponerte con una espresso, lo siguiente mejor que encontre (y lo que uso en la oficina) es la Aeropress . Hay gente que realmente ama este metodo y para prepararlo utilizan una balanza de presicion para medir la proporcion agua cafe (hay videos en youtube) yo la verdad no le doy tanta bola.
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Extra:
Si invertiste en una maquina espresso, te recomiendo comprarte un jarrito de metal para espumar leche y aprender a hacerlo bien. Saber hacer un buen capuchino vale la pena.
I just recently got the V60 for myself and I love it. I'm not by any means a perfectionist when it comes to my techniques, but I can most definitely notice the difference between this and my old brew methods (French Press / Drip).
I got the all glass setup with an all stainless steel electric kettle. It doesn't have variable temp, but I can guess well enough. I was going to go with a metal filter but decided against it. Natural filter papers are fine IMO.
Cleanup requires you to simply ditch the filter with grounds and then follow that up by rinsing out the containers. Not bad at all. In regards to your worry about knocking your current setup over, this setup (dripper and pot), are just set one on top of another. Just be weary of that as well.
Links if you're interested:
Hope this helps!
Sleeping: my husband and I have slept on a 4"-thick memory foam mattress topper for years. We find them to be very comfortable, definitely on the firm side but that's what we prefer. I love sleeping on memory foam. They're cheap as far as beds go, easy to pack up and move, and easy to fold in half to give you more floor space. I've only ever used them on carpet, though, directly on a hard floor I think wouldn't be very comfortable.
Regarding kitchenware: This really depends on how much cooking you like to do and plan to do. I do a significant amount of home cooking, and my bare-bones set up would be (and has been): chef's knife and paring knife, plastic cutting "board", (cast iron) frying pan, large and small saucepans, spatula, wooden spoon, ladle, set of mixing bowls, cookie sheet, set of measuring cups/spoons, dish towels. Possibly add a colander and a baking dish of some kind, oven mitts, a rice cooker or slow cooker IF they will save you a lot of time (not useful for making rice just occasionally), and a [French press](
http://www.amazon.com/French-Press-Coffee-Maker-20/dp/B0084ORV60/ref=sr_1_9?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1407221402&amp;sr=1-9&amp;keywords=french+press) or pour over coffee maker if you drink a lot of coffee.
I'd also recommend a table of some kind, either high or low, to eat at and use your laptops.
Or if you're into saving more money, one of these
> So I fill a mug with however much water I want to use (about 3/4 full) I pour this into a kettle and boil.
Once boiling, I add my measured kratom out (anywhere between 5-10 grams is what I personally use) and swirl it around to mix it.
Then I set it back on the stove on low-medium heat (3 on my stove, simmering) for 10 minutes.
While this is happening I set up said mug with one of these on top (something like this below)
https://www.amazon.com/HIC-2662-Coffee-Filter-Number/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1537229608&amp;sr=8-17&amp;keywords=pour+over+coffee+dripper
with a filter that fits that (normal coffee filter?) and after the ten minutes is up I drain the kratom/water mixture through that.
After about 5 minutes of letting all the liquid drain through, i push the rest of any remaining liquid through by pushing a spoon on the filter. I kind of wrap up the filter so as not to get any kratom powder in the mug, press liquid out with spoon.
Then I add some ice cubes and I drink! My SO works at a coffee shop, which is why I had the pour over thing handy. It might seem like a lot, but it really is easy.
Hope this is helpful!
Quick fix? Grilled cheese. We have Toastabags which makes it as easy as dropping the sandwich in the toaster.
I'd love to say a Cuban but I don't often have everything on hand for it. Takes planning.
you have the right sized toaster for these guys!
Coffeevac 1 lb - The Ultimate Vacuum Sealed Coffee Container, Black Cap & Body https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SpUuzbW6DQ7H3
Kilovac - 8 oz to 2.5 lbs Airtight Multi-Use Vacuum Seal Portable Storage Container for Dry Goods, Food, and Herbs - Clear Body/Cap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6ZYRWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_SduQxy3d9BcAI
Nothing special, they're made that way. There's a button that releases the air so that the lid can slide down and once you release the button the vacuum seal is created in order to get the lid off you simply push the button allows the air to escape. I've used both the gel and the Boveda packs in them and either work well.
Mason jar or vac seal containers like these.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_Lz72DbDQ8022Y
I have a glass one that's adjustable for keeping the higher quality whole beans at home. But for cheap coffee, it's surprisingly effective and can hold a pound.
If you care about not producing heaps of garbage from capsules you could get an aeropress:
https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Bitterness/dp/B0047BIWSK
I absolutely love mine:
- cheap
- take it everywhere you need it, even camping and traveling
- can get a metal filter and you won't even need new filters
- can also make normal coffee
- with a bit of experimenting you can make your espresso exactly how you want it to be
- doesn't take up space in the kitchen
- easy to clean
Downsides:
- needs a bit of experimenting
- can get annoying if you make for multiple people
- need to find good coffee beans
Had french presses, pad machines and Nespresso machines, and those metal cans to put over the stove. Can't imagine to switch back to any of those.
I almost missed it! I've got a few upgrade from my last post! Here is my gear.
From left to right:
What's next you ask? Well with my neck paycheck, I'm buying the following:
Any recommendations for other gear? Specifically, scale recs?
Edit: Added Amazon links for anyone interested.
Grinder: Hario Slim ~$25 or mini mill ~$29 (looks too expensive to go for the mini mill)
Option 1: Aeropress and filters, may be just under or around $50 with the grinder, might overshoot by a few bucks. ~$29 for Aeropress and paper filters, steel filter available but not within budget (~$15-18).
Option 2: melitta pourover cone and filters, need a pyrex to heat/pour your water, but every kitchen should have one of those anyway. ~$13 for cone and filters.
Looks like going the pourover route (before shipping and whatnot) will cost you a total of ~$38, while the Aeropress will be ~$54. The pourover route will mean you don't have as great a control over the brew (many people like an expensive gooseneck kettle, but whatever), but will be significantly under-budget. The Aeropress will be slightly over budget, but you won't have to worry about pour control.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
hmmm. could this be done with milk?
edit: also, how is this method compared to simply ingesting kratom?
Or an Aeropress for even better portability (I fucking love my Aeropress and use it on a daily basis).
Keurig can go fuck themselves.
Before you all jump in with the downvotes, no - not because of this: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2017/11/13/people-destroying-their-keurig-coffee-makers-after-company-pulls-ads-hannity-fox-show/857563001/
But in actuality - partly because of this fucking bullshit....but mostly because of this handy gadget
I bought a $500 espresso machine and it sits unused in a closet. What we're saying is that good home espresso machines are very expensive.
Now, if you want espresso like coffee, you might try a Vietnamese Coffee Maker.
You can try an aeropress, which I don't particularly care for, but makes small, strong coffees.
Now, I've heard good things about the mypressi, but haven't had a chance to try one. This is probably the cheapest decent espresso shot puller you can find.
For a true espresso machine, /r/coffee recommends the Baby Gaggia. I haven't tried this one, either.
Wow. I'm all over that. I'll definitely try. Also, I recently got this:
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1322702735&amp;sr=8-3
It makes the most mellow coffee ever, for cheap. No bitterness AT ALL. So if I have to suck it up and ditch the cream, maybe I can tolerate it black.
To go with a frugal theme, get an Aeropress. Seriously, it's awesome. You'll need a grinder capable of a fine grind as well, but this thing makes some of the best coffee I've ever had.
This guy?
Is it really that different than drip coffee? I see these suggested all the time, but I've never tried one.
French press coffee is really good. I like the stuff I get out of these even more:
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1393875606&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=aeropress+coffe+maker
The main difference between the two is that the french press can stuff tends to get bitter, while these ones don't.
Aeropress is easy to use and clean, and makes great coffee.
If your lady friend is below average height, she might need to put it in the sink or stand on a stool for some extra leverage to press it.
Boom:
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1473653815&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
it is a nice device. i use that and cold brew on a regular basis. another fun contraption, the aero press http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1406593005&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aero+press
another "somewhat espresso" device. you typically let the coffee and water sit for a minute, then you press down with lots of your bodyweight to push it through the filter over 40 seconds or so. i'm a big guy, and it still takes me about 30 seconds if i lean on it with my body. i couldn't tell you which one is "better", but the aero press might be better if you just want to make one cup at a time. the bialetti is better for making 2 cups at a time or so (or one super "lead in your pencil" cup).
Ok, no-one has given the right answer yet, which is clearly, unequivocally, the Aeropress. I've been through many different machines for making coffee, and this one is better than every single other previous device by a factor of at least 10. French press was the previous best alternative, and even it's not even close.
It's fast and simple to use, simple to clean, and produces the best tasting coffee you can possibly imagine. And it's only $25! You can't go wrong. Trust me.
* Edit: Fixed link
Aeropress and Hario Mini Mill.
This is what got me thru college. Just do it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JG1PXLC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Not quite the same scale as pictured (but I bet it is the same internals)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PLXTYCN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I think the picture is the same leveler I bought:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
And since I was uncertain about leveling vs tamping at the time:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MTJ9224/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
All three items are doing exactly what I want.
What I am using since starting my collection over the last 14 months:
Tamper
Tamping mat
Distribution tool
Decent Pitchers (got the 3 set)
My Weight Scale
Bottomless Portafilter for Gaggia Classic
What grinder are you using? That is something you should consider investing money in more-so than anything else.
I never got any splashing. I do have a pretty strict workflow though.
I single dose into my MonFlat into a LW blind shaker then I distribute into my basket and use a distribution tool ( https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Distributor-Leveler-tool-Distribution/dp/B077BZ4CV6/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1540521611&sr=1-4&keywords=distribution+tool) and then a eazytamp to ensure consistent pressure.
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With all of the above I get zero issues from my first naked shot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dwE995wNV8
Yes this shot is WAY too fast this was my first shot. It only gets better from here :)
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Congrats! I have the same machine (w/Sette 270) also bought second hand and it has served me very well. A few things that will help you with getting excellent shots consistently:
-Get a scale (if you don't have one already)! Preferably with .1 gr precision. This cheapo one I have isn't perfect but has worked for me: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073TVC1N8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Practice tamping on a bathroom scale (30lbs) so you can develop a feel for the right amount of pressure
-Grooming devices aren't crucial but I've found one to be helpful with distribution, here's an inexpensive one that's well-made: https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Distributor-Leveler-tool-Distribution/dp/B077BZ4CV6/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1538574694&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=espresso+tamper&psc=1
-Use fresh coffee, ideally no more than 2 weeks off roast. The more espresso you make the more you'll see the impact that freshness of the beans has on the resulting appearance, texture and taste.
-If you really want to get nerdy then buy a bottomless portafilter (I found mine cheaper on eBay). They are unforgiving of grinding/tamping issues and will give you an indication when something is off.
Have fun and enjoy the coffee!
I'll second the thermos french press. It's great! Vacuum insulated, and seems to be pretty indestructible, and is all metal where it counts.
Amazon link for ya: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004S1DB/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_uFbvtb0P55H4E
I don't know much about these topics, so sorry if these suggestions aren't helpful.
Does she have any nice yoga mats? Does she need any CDs to listen to?
Would she like to try a different kind of coffee? Maybe a French Press?
I like the Thermos Nissan 34-Ounce Vacuum Insulated Stainless-Steel Gourmet Coffee Press so much that I've given a few as gifts. The only mildly negative thing I'd say after over ten years of use is that as tempting as it is to leave the coffee in it as it is a Thermos, you really need to get the coffee off the grounds after about 5 minutes, (or else it will just keep getting more bitter). So, I brew in that stainless FP and then pour it into a Nissan Thermos, which will literally keep it hot for a day or more.
$30.77?
Here's the exact mixer I've got. Attached a few gift cards on black friday ended up moving it to
$150$200 and changed shipped from Macy's.This is the exact grinder attachment I've got. $36 at a kitchen supply store at the local outlet shopping center.
EDIT: still had the receipt in my email :P
The meat grinder we bought is the food grinder attachment for a kitchen aide mixer
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-FGA-Grinder-Attachment-Mixers/dp/B00004SGFH/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404688010&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=food+grinder
....It isn't fast, but with patience you can grind all you need....I told my wife that we could at a bare minimum match the prices that we are buying ground beef at and probably much more lean beef....A 5lb 70/30 chub package of ground beef right now is about $15. My wife buys the groceries except bbq meats and I know I can get a 15lb brisket for about $35 or so give or take a few bucks. I can live with a little more expensive ground beef if I know that the meat I am eating is from ONE cow rather than god knows how many different cows. Growing up my parents seldom ever bought meat from the store....We always had a hog or two and our beef was from our own farm. I can't really remember the difference except that farm fed pork and beef always seemed to taste better. Chickens too for that matter...but pork and chickens were never ground ourselves. We took them to a processing plant and they did it for us depending on what Dad asked for.
It could still have it. Better off just grinding your own meats. Just get one of these
VERY inexpensive. $39.99 for the grinder and $9.99 on Amazon for the sausage attachment.
Do you own a kitchen-aid mixer? I do, and I own the meat grinder attachment. It works wonderfully. Don't bother with the sausage stuffer though (if that's part of your plan), buy a dedicated one. On ebay you can also buy different bits to grind different sizes (although it comes with two).
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-FGA-Grinder-Attachment-Mixers/dp/B00004SGFH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1421515129&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kitchen+aid+grinder
Where are you seeing $100-200 for the attachments? This is what I have
I have the sausage attachment too, but the grinder is really where it's at.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004SGFH/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1498924989&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=kitchenaid+meat+grinder&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=31qqUD-laYL&amp;ref=plSrch
if it didn't come with one, get a meat grinder extension they are an amazing thing, as they can do many more thing than grind meat, though grinding your own meat is a pretty amazing experience. I've done potatoes and cheese processing in it as well as meats, and it turns out quite nice. My friend uses his for making wheat grass juice and other processing needs, where the juice is just needed. Just put a mesh strainer in the bowl part of the mix, and all the little tiny parts are caught and you are left with juice in the bowl.
Neat...
You can still make a good cup of coffee with the keurig.
Get a few of these, a hario hand grinder, and some good beans and you'll be pretty happy!
I'm interested in something like this.
You can do a grill out somewhere. People can provide their own meat and a potluck side and then you can grill it all for them or whatever. If you have a lake near by you can do this at a marina and people can go swimming in the lake too. My cousin had a food truck come to her house and cater our family reunion so you can also look into that. I think it was 20 dollars an adult though (includes feeding kids), so not super cheap but all you can eat and very convenient with no mess.
Happy early birthday and best of luck with this! As long as you get drunk it should be a success. Unless you're not into that then it is a disaster. Anyways, I would like this!
Make sure to buy one of the re-fillable pods that Keurig makes so you don't have to keep buying individual coffee pods. Saves a bunch of money. These machines are great for making a fast cup of coffee, but the pod cost sucks.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
You can fill these with any ground coffee of your choosing.
You can find them for Tassimo as well. You can make these as well using Youtube tutorials. edit: Got another 13 minutes for Youtube Tutorial?
Or you could just get a Mr Coffee which brews a cup in less than two minutes anyways.
Keurig 5048 My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter - Old Model https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Di6kzb4M8BW7V
I use this thing at home. It's not as convenient but I'm the only coffee drinker in my house and I just want to make one cup so it works for me.
As much as I loved using K-Cups, the price alone isn't worth the convenience. But I'm also glad I'm helping the environment by being frugal.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-Reusable-Coffee-Filter-Single/dp/B000DLB2FI
http://www.keurig.com/Accessories/Keurig%C2%AE-2-0-My-K-Cup%C2%AE-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/p/keurig-2-0-my-k-cup
I might be missing something but it appears these are for sale from Keurig for the older and the newer machines. Beyond the fact that people have been selling these on ebay for years....
Help me get why I care about this Vancouver company doing what is clearly being done anyway.
Link
Did anybody else post this yet? I'm not into this method of course, but for those out there that are...
Luckily there's a slurry of companies that make reusable k-cups, including Keurig themselves. I can't vouch for their quality compared to regular k-cups, let alone a regular old cup of coffee, but it certainly seems to solve the issues you have presented.
K-cup thing so I can use my own coffee and tea instead of buying over priced coffee and wasting all that plastic. :)
It's the weekend!!
Hario Mini Mill and an MSR MugMate or equivalent will be an excellent office set up. I use the Kyocera CM-45 which I love but tends to be more expensive and harder to find - and the MSR mugmate every day in my office. It's essentially french press coffee. Coarse grind, brew for 4 minutes, enjoy!
I'm not big on tea balls, I prefer a nice tea basket.
Adagio is a pretty solid tea site. I used to get Mighty Leaf (a local place sells it) until I read about Adagio on Reddit.
For a teaware splurge, I'd suggest a Zojirushi instant hot water heater. I've yet to see anyone unhappy with that purchase.
A good water filter, if you need one.
As for teapots, cups, etc: there's the practical answer and the fanciful answer.
The practical answer is: if you're new, you don't know what teas you'll enjoy, much less how you'd like to prepare them. A good, solid bet would be a basic mug infuser like this or [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Loose-Infuser-House-Again/dp/B01N1OTXHW), or a gaiwan, or a simple medium-size ceramic teapot. From there, you can figure out if you prefer a certain variety, then get the best type of gear to maximize the brew for that variety.
The fanciful answer is: really, you can brew any tea in any set up. So, if you really love the look of a Japanese kyusu, you can still use it to brew a strong western breakfast blend. Go for it.
I did see a good suggestion here, that a lot of people who like yixing teapots really just like the aesthetic of them (guilty as charged!), in which case you can find ceramic pots that can work for any style of brewing for any type of tea. You can find these at vendors like: teaware.house, Dazzle Deer, Taiwan Tea Crafts.
In my experience, flavored tea almost always smells better than it tastes unless you load it with sugar. On the other hand, high quality straight tea almost always tastes better than it smells. I've never heard this from anyone else, so it might just be me.
My first foray into the world of tea involved a microwave and a Bigelow variety pack. I can still remember how disgusting the green tea was. A microwave can get the job done, but I'd strongly recommend getting an electric kettle and a cheap thermometer (unless you get a variable temperature kettle). After a while, you'll get a feel for it and won't need the thermometer, but it's really helpful in the beginning to eliminate any doubt.
There are so many different ways to brew tea, and a lot of it comes down to personal preference. There's really no "best" method. The most important things are that the leaves have lots of room to expand, that the water isn't too hot, and that you don't leave the tea in for too long. Based on your post, I'd recommend this for now.
It sounds like your water temperature and steep time are alright, so the problem is likely the water or the tea. I'd experiment with bottled spring water. If it still tastes bad, the problem is the tea itself. I'd recommend getting a bunch of samples from a place like Adagio or Upton. Make sure to get black and oolong in addition to green, because no matter how well you brew plain green tea, it's still going to taste like grass (but without the feet), and maybe that's just not your thing. If you'd like some advice on which samples to get, just send me a message and I'd be happy to help.
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS ?
Agreed on the Finum. It's great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=twister_B07F4K3HXJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
So all you really need is a brew basket and a cup (and the brew basket is optional if you're willing to drink around the leaves). Also you'll need some tea.
I imagine you have a mug. As for a brew basket, something like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS) should be good. Just put leaves in a basket and add hot (usually not boiling) water.
When I started out, I bought a bunch of tea and samples from adagio.com. It's good to find what kinds of tea you like (there is black, green, white, oolong, puerh, yellow, but tons of subvarieties). It's been a while since I've purchased from adagio, so I'm not sure how they are now.
I like buying from verdant tea now. It's pricey and has a smaller selection, but it's delicious.
Best of luck!
First of all, if you're concerned about getting all of the flavor out of tea, you need to be brewing loose leaf, not bagged. Bagged teas are fine sometimes, but they have a fraction of the flavor of a good loose leaf tea. All you need to brew loose tea is hot water and a strainer to get the leaves out of the water. I use a brewing basket from Finum. you can buy it on Amazon, and Upton Tea sells it for a few dollars cheaper, but they charge shipping, so if you're not getting tea too, it's about the same. A lot of other tea shops also sell infusers, so you can probably add one to your order and get it all at once!
If you're shopping from Adagio, as /u/saltyteabag recommended, I suggest their Spiced Apple Chai, if you like apple cider type flavors. Brew that up and add some milk and a touch of honey and that's one of the most delicious drinks there is.
For regular tea (no flavors), I usually prefer Oolongs. Adagio has a good selection of those as well.
For a cold, what I like is some gunpowder green tea with peppermint and honey.
I just throw a spoon of tea and a spoon of peppermint leaves in a cup, drizzle with honey, and add hot water. Most of the leaves will sink to the bottom, and those that don't aren't bad to drink. That's one of my favorite ways to drink tea and relax. It's called "grandpa style" and it's mentioned in the FAQ in the sidebar (which I definitely recommend reading). It's easy and there's not a lot to mess up.
I get my peppermint leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs, as it's cheaper than buying it from some tea places, but Adagio has peppermint tea, and that would work fine.
The gunpowder green tea I used to get from Twinnings, but my local grocery store stopped carrying it. I got my last batch from Upton Tea, but Adagio also has gunpowder green tea.
Extremely fine wire mesh steeper, they are as fine as a piece of cloth and bend similar. If you don't powder your tea very fine nothing will escape. I got mine at the local tea store for a few bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1520780228&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=Finum
Here is one at amazon
While there is some high quality bagged tea out there, you really need to try out loose leaf. I'd even be willing to send you some of mine just to convince you! I use my kettle and one of these. It works for making one cup quickly and easily. I also happened to find a 4 cup teapot for $8. It's cheap, but it works for my current needs. I haven't tried Gaiwans yet so I can't tell you anything about them, though I believe you brew with them a bit differently.
I'd stick with loose leaf and one of these guys.
Like johnsgunn said, it's a decent way to get the right amount of hot water but Keurig is expensive, mediocre quality stuff.
First:
Dance bracelet
Maybe some bath products for relaxing/soaking her feet? Philosophy bubble bath, bath salts, arnica pain relief
Gift card for a pedi
&#x200B;
Second:
Mug and some of her favorite teas
Tea mug
Mini tea packs
Book about tea
Tea infusing basket
China cup and saucer
&#x200B;
Third:
Succulent garden
This planter and purchase a succulent for it
This planter
&#x200B;
Boss:
GoT cutting board
GoT tumbler
When I started with loose tea I got one of these and eventually got one of these. I mostly use the IngenuiTEA, but still use the Finum filter occasionally.
Finum basket and loose tea. Like so:
https://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1527093077&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=finum+brew+basket
Rooibus, Chamomile, Peppermint, Honeybush, Hibiscus - these are all caffeine-free teas and they come in many different blends. Check out Adagio Teas and order some samplers. You'll need a tea infuser/strainer as this is loose tea. I don't think any of these taste terribly "herbal" other than maybe chamomile. Their Foxtrot blend is pretty interesting.
There are a lot of very long comments here. To summarize:
It's good that you bought some loose leaf.
First, though, depending on the size of your tee ei, you should probably look into an upgrade, even for western-style brewing (lots of people love Finum: https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B000I68NCS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&amp;qid=1504620481&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=finum)
Second, keep trying new tea. Green teas are great, but there are many great prolongs, blacks, whites, puerh, and herbal tisanes.
Third, consider trying gongfu style (Chinese-style) brewing. For many of us, it was a revelation. In terms of convenience, o often don't have time for gongfu brewing, but it is a special treat when I do.
To echo everyone else, gaiwans are inexpensive and really great to use. I find making tea in mine a lot of fun :D If you would still like to brew western style, I'd recommend getting the Finum Brewing Basket, which is really easy to use and also not expensive ($10). I find that, although I prefer gongfu brewing, it demands more time and more attention, and isn't something I can do while I'm working. So I end up using the brewing basket and my gaiwan about equally.
*I'm not an expert but this is my personal experience!*
If you have teas that like to open up at all, getting stuffed into a tiny bag can prevent them from opening and steeping out all it's goodness! When I was first getting into tea I always made jasmine pearls loose in a teapot and it tasted amazing. Then I tried ordering one of those tiny novelty steepers to use at work and my tea tasted like nothing.. because the jasmine pearls had no space to open up!! and something like oolong? there's just no way it will be able to open up to its full potential in a tiny bag or steeper. It sounds to me like when the tea actually had room to open up and steep more in the bigger bag, it was getting over steeped at 5 minutes. When the tea was cramped in the smaller bag and wasn't steeping to it's full potential, you had to steep it longer to achieve a similar taste. It might be interesting to experiment steeping in a large basket or steeping free in the cup grandpa style to see if you get a similar effect!!
One caveat; I haven't had this problem with teas/tisanes like rooibos or certain black teas that already come in small fragments. If the tea itself doesn't expand a lot, the small steeper should be okay!
I just got my strainer basket that sits in the pot, then you just take it out once the tea is properly steeped. It works fantastically. That, or a mesh ball strainer for individual mugs seems to be the best way to do loose, for me.
You would probably be better off buying an infuser basket separately as any teapots I've seen with infuser baskets have always been on the small side. You could probably pick up a large teapot quite easily on ebay, as iamacowmoo suggested, and then get yourself one of these or something similar to pop into it.
Upton Tea Imports is super cheap, US seller. They got a huge selection and quality range.
Upton is cheaper than Adagio - a quick look comparing Adagio's cheapest black, it's $8 for 3oz vs Uptons 4.4oz for $5.80 to $7.40
I do rec buying a bunch of samples first, about everything has a 12g sample to try out, then next size is the 125g/4.4oz
edit, then yeah, get an in mug infuser, Finums are cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ and hyjack a tin/tupperware from a dollar store to put the bag of tea in. Or put $20-$30 towards a travel tea tumbler.
Hey man, great work so far. A few food tips from a guy closing in on two years of keto:
Good luck, and thanks for sharing your story so far :)
https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/
Tough, light, and really lets your tea bloom. The diffuser ball things are terrible.
For single cups, I use one of these. I'm very happy with it. It allows the leaves to float freely when steeping, then I just pull the filter out and the leaves are removed from the tea.
Try one of the basket shaped infusers, as large as will fit inside your mug. That way the tea will always have room to expand, and there are no open/close mechanisms to mess with. The one I have fits in my mugs as well as my small teapot, which is convenient.
edit: On Amazon at the moment the large infuser for $7.25 is actually cheaper than the standard one.
It's not the most convenient for travel, but when I'm brewing one mug at a time at home I strongly prefer my brewing basket. It's better than tea balls because it gives the leaves lots of space, then you just take it out and rest it in its own lid until you want to re-steep the leaves. When I'm done I dump it, rinse it, and every so often throw it in the dishwasher.
My husband prefers CTC assams so he uses this one. I also use it for my rooibos teas.
In my office where I have a smaller pot with a large opening I use this one that floats. At home I mostly use this one. It has larger holes but is much easier to clean than the mesh one. It fits the mouth of most of my tea pots.
That looks like a good starter green tea. I'm not sure how happy you'll be with "Mister tea" though. It doesn't leave a whole lot of room for the tea to expand, and that gunpowder green definitely will. The basket for your contigo mug looks pretty good. You may want to look in to a basket type infuser for normal mugs, as well. This ForLife infuser and this Finum basket are both pretty popular around here.
Welcome to the world of tea. Cheers!
On my wish list is the Kalita wave dripper, as I've heard the notes you get from using it are different from a Chemex (my brewer of choice). I also have an aeropress on the list too.
Also, there's nothing like a good espresso brush... they have to be replaced frequently (like once every two months or so), so having them as stocking stuffers is nice.
Lastly, my favorite tool is the Bonavita variable temperature kettle, which lets me get a consistent brew temp every time and has a gooseneck for a controlled pour.
This ships this week and it's $25 https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-Dripper-people-05033-japan/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1482788817&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave+185
The Clever
http://smile.amazon.com/Abid-NA-Clever-Coffee-Dripper/dp/B008LXDSE8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451915031&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=clever+coffee
Kalita Wave
http://smile.amazon.com/Kalita-Dripper-people-05033-japan/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451915053&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave
I just became the proud owner of a Chemex but my friends got the Kalita and Clever. All great methods that bring out different notes in the beans
Here's the thing..
Gooseneck kettle will last you forever and it is an absolute staple if you're going to invest in this hobby/truly enjoy this ritual.
I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501770513&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=hario+gooseneck+kettle
I also would recommend a scale that can weigh out by the .1 gram (or even more fine). Also a timer is important.
I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501770540&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=hario+food+scale
Kalita wave is very forgiving, great to learn on, and makes a wonderful cup of coffee. I use Kalita Wave each morning and Chemex on weekends.
Kalita Wave: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-05033-Wave-185-Drippers/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501770620&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave
Kalita Wave Filters: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-22199-Filters-White-Japan/dp/B00BJBOITS/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1501770637&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave+filters
Good luck buddy!
I would use this stuff to descale the machine. It goes into the water tank.
http://www.amazon.com/Durgol-Universal-Express-Multipurpose-Decalcifier/dp/B000NGQR4E?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=Durgol&amp;qid=1465490177&amp;ref_=sr_1_3&amp;sr=8-3
And use this stuff (NEVER IN THE WATER TANK!!!)
http://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Cafiza-Espresso-Machine-Cleaner/dp/B001418KNS?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=Cafiza&amp;qid=1465491567&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;sr=8-1
with a
Backflush insert like this every other week.
http://www.amazon.com/Espresso-Supply-58-Milimeter-Backflush-Insert/dp/B0016C8ZO4?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=Blond%20Portafilter&amp;qid=1465491618&amp;ref_=sr_1_sc_1&amp;sr=8-1-spell
you should soak everything in cafiza, and backflush with it as well.
Then run a half cup of minute rice ( specifically minute rice, not regular rice which doesn't soak up oils as well ) through your grinder.
Cafiza is $10 for a lifetime supply and the rice similarly
Cafiza
Dezcal
Backflush disk if you don't have one
Silvia group head gasket with new better shower screen
Boom, this will last you for ten years, and you have a new machine!
You don't need anything special to descale your kettle, just boil the water, add some vinegar and let it rest for an hour or so.
To clean your Chemex, you could try some backflushing chemicals like http://www.amazon.com/Urnex-02025-Cafiza-20oz-powder/dp/B001418KNS/ref=pd_sim_k_1 I know its more for espresso machines however it does get rid of all the oils on my portafilter so it should work on your Chemex?
Look into Cafiza. It's meant to dissolve oils left by coffee in espresso machines but I also used it to clean a Swell bottle that I forgot in my garage with milk and after cleaning with it, it doesn't smell like anything or have any taste. I tried bleach previously and boiling water to no avail.
This will melt the coffee off
https://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning/dp/B001418KNS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1521157376&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=cafiza
This is what most coffee shops actually use to clean their machines
http://www.amazon.com/Urnex-02025-Cafiza-20oz-powder/dp/B001418KNS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1342543094&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=espresso+cleaner
I use this to clean my piece. You put a spoonful in a zip lock bag with hot water and the piece you want to clean. Shake the bag around and in a minute or two, the water is completely black and bam, 95% clean. Grab a qtip and wipe away the extra gunk in the bowl and you're good to go.
I have a pretty deep chamber, so I also blow out the remaining gunk out into a tissue. Takes about 45 min (depending on the size of the piece). Looks brand new as the day you bought it afterwards.
Don't shy away from cleaning the grinder regularly. When they say "grinds" in the video they are talking about this sort of thing.
first of all, fresh beans will get you the most flavor. Go to your local cafe of roaster and ask them to grind some beans for you in a brew that you liked. you can even go to higher end grocery stores for this. places like kroger/walmart/etc have beans that have been sitting on the shelves for months, and in warehouses for God knows how long.
second, there's many methods to brew. If you like a large volume with good flavor, nothing wrong with a drip machine. A well-done pour-over will extract more flavors, but takes longer and requires more gear and money.
Aeropress is the cheapest, quickest, and best option for flavor (IMO) that you can buy and learn in 5 minutes. It makes wonderful coffee, but in smaller amounts so it might not be ideal if you want something to sip on.
All of this depends on your budget, check out /r/coffee for more detail on gear and different brewing methods
Its $30 on amazon
Get an aeropress. Use a popcorn popper to roast green coffee beans or find a local roaster with a good light roast, grind them up fairly fine, and use them within around two weeks before the oils go rancid. With the aeropress/fresh beans/filtered water, you'll really bring out the natural flavours in your coffee and most of the bitterness will be totally absent. By experimenting with different beans grown in different conditions you can really explore the drink and learn to appreciate it. After going down that rabbit hole I can't stand adulterating my coffee.
Nescafe is actually not horrible, it has far less acid in it than fresh coffee, but yeah. An Aeropress is dirt cheap and makes absolutely stunning coffee. https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Also, you can get an aftermarket filter so you don't have to keep getting paper filters: https://www.amazon.com/Altura-Mesh-Aeropress-Stainless-Reusable/dp/B00JVTQHVC/
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker - Quickly Makes Delicious Coffee without Bitterness - 1 to 3 Cups Per Pressing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3Ez5CbFHSRJKQ
Hey man, let me hit you with my personal coffee journey. It worked super well for me, and it starts pretty entry-level. I highly recommend.
So, first and foremost, you need to start with pourover. Here's a pretty cheap starter set. Then you'll also need a kitchen scale, here's one of the smallest, most accurate ones I've found.
I'd also recommend getting an automatic burr grinder, which isn't exactly entry level, so it could be a secondary purchase if you find that you really want to get ball-deep into coffee. I started off with the Infinity Grinder, which worked well for me until I got an espresso machine (more on that later). But for pourover and most other methods (aeropress, coffee maker, even shit like siphon coffee, it's perfectly fine). Having an electric grinder is just going to make your life easier overall. But if you don't want to jump right into that, you could use the grinder included in the set I listed (I've never used it - it's probably not great, but I'm sure it'll work).
And that's all you need to make one god damn good cup of coffee. I've spent thousands of dollars on coffee equipment over the years, but for me, the best way to brew a simple cup of coffee is using a pourover method. And it's incredibly fun!
Now, once you've got a few months of pourover under your belt, it may be time to move onto other methods of brewing. Grab yourself an Aeropress. Aeropress effectively is the midpoint between normal coffee and espresso. It absolutely does not make real espresso, regardless of what anyone tells you, but that doesn't mean what it makes isn't super delicious. Plus it lets you start experimenting with the closest thing you'll be able to get to cappuccinos, and other fun things like flavored lattes when you have company over and want to impress them with some tasty java.
The Aeropress is fantastic, and it's ridiculously easy to clean. It's a nice way to be able to travel with a decent coffee maker, too.
Then, once you've got a couple years of delicious coffee down, it's time to get into the big leagues. Espresso.
Holy fuck dude. Espresso is complicated, and you really have to throw away everything you thought you knew about coffee. I know how pretentious that sounds, but it's super true. What I went with was a Crossland CC1, which was mainly because I got it for cheap on Craigslist for $400. But, warning, the Infinity Grinder will not grind accurate enough for espresso. For that you'll need something like a Baratza Hario or Sette 270 (I went with the Sette 270).
Anyway, that's waaaaaaaaay in your future. I'd highly recommend just starting off with pourover and some great beans (check locally, or order from Intelligentsia).
Enjoy your journey, bro. It's a great world out there.
You're getting a lot of suggestions for a French press, but I'd recommend an Aeropress instead. Don't get me wrong, the French press makes good coffee, but for me it makes way too much and inevitably you get some grounds in your cup. If you're only going for a single cup and want something a little bit more espresso-esque without the grounds in your mug, the Aeropress is great. Combine that with a nice little burr grinder and a good electric kettle to boil your water (which your DH can use to make cocoa or Crio-Bru) and you're set. It's also nice because it's small and doesn't take up the kind of counter space that a Keurig does, so it also travels well (and it's plastic so you don't have to worry about it breaking in your luggage).
If you do go the Aerporess route throw out the instructions they send you and use the inverted method. I like my coffee a bit stronger and tend to do closer to 1:13 coffee to water ratio. I'd also recommend using a kitchen scale (which you can also use to make yourself a better cook in general, if that's your thing) as you'll get a more consistent cup that way.
Unless you have quite a bit of money and counter space to shell out for a quality machine, don't waste your time with any of the home "espresso" machines. Most of them can't actually get the pressure necessary to make a proper espresso and will either give you something you can make similarly with the Aeropress or French press or they come with pods with pre-ground, coffee, which is shit. The extra time to make a good cup "by hand" rather than using one of the automated machines is well worth the effort.
Regardless of the method you go for, whether you get a French press, an Aeropress, a Chemex pour-over, or a Mr. Coffee drip machine take the extra step of grinding your own beans at home. Coffee beans start losing their flavor as soon as they are roasted, but that can be mitigated by storing them in a cool place in an airtight container out of sunlight and grinding right before brewing. I buy my coffee in bulk at Costco and then vacuum pack my beans into about 1-2 weeks worth packages, but I'm pretentious. Most people will say get a burr grinder, and I tend to agree, but America's Test Kitchen tested to see if you could get a good cup with a blade grinder and it turns out you can (thought they only tested with a really high quality drip coffee maker and no other methods, so it isn't safe to extrapolate their results to other brewing methods).
Happy drinking!
Edit: Apparently I didn't finish a sentence.
Aeropress.
Coffee Bean Direct and Red Bird Coffee have good espresso for around $10 a lb.
I was big on the Aeropress and Moka Pot, but people are enamored with the Chemex pour-over.
Can't believe Aeropress ($30) hasn't been named yet! Has weight, sure, but you will not get a better strong cup of coffee (w/ a nice swirls of crema) outdoors. I use Trader Joe's Espresso Blend ($7/lb) finely ground. It's packable, the filters are almost infinitely reuseable, and it requires little cleaning. Worth every ounce!
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
If you're like me (poor college student), you can pick up an aeropress and a french press and make a decent latte. Many of us here own aeropresses as coffee makers, but I believe it is actually marketed as an espresso maker. It will make an ok espresso, but for a starving college student it's great. The french press can be used to froth warm milk.
Plus, even if you aren't satisfied with the quality, you have two great coffee making devices now! Just grab some fresh beans and join us!
EDIT: I didn't even think about a moka pot! That's better advice.
The Hario Slim is the grinder I use every day. And the Aeropress that I brew my coffee in. Amazon even links them all together in the "commonly bought together" thingus for $65.
Admittedly, $65 sounds like a lot to lay out for anything new. That said, it's very hard to screw up and the Hario/Aeropress duo are, I've found, quite reliable. Mine gets daily use.
A French Press, while terribly fancy, may be more work than you're willing to invest to start yourself off. The Aeropress, conversely, is simple to use, simple to clean up, and well supported by we coffee snobs.
The next thing you'd need are beans. Beans you can get lots of places. Something to be aware of, the reason we prefer going from the bean directly rather than just buying pre-ground is because once you grind the bean you really ought to use it with in a day or two. That tub of Maxwell House was ground up months before you ever opened it. It suffocated long ago and died.
There are numerous roasters that you can order from online with a pound of beans ranging from $13-17 or thereabouts. This is for beans that were usually roasted two or three days before they arrive at your house.
Personally, and not to seem like a shill, but I get my beans from SW Roasting, a fellow redditor. Their sampler pack of beans from multiple continents can be a great introduction and they offer a truly personal service.
If even that seems like a little much for a beginner, I've found the single origin beans on offer from Target's Archer Farms brand aren't terrible. They're cheap, around $9. They're not as freshly roasted as you'd get from one of the online roasters but they're still good.
Admittedly, the initial outlay might seem daunting but you will have set yourself well on your way to coffee snobbery with the rest of us. After that, it's just $15-20 a month for beans depending on how much you drink.
And, really, worlds beyond instant. Go ahead, get the things I mentioned or any of the other options my fellows have suggested. Then, make that instant coffee in a mug you threw in the microwave. Drink it black. Spit it out because you love your tastebuds and wish to apologize to them. Brew some good beans you ground yourself and taste a significant, staggering difference.
Both will be about the same, neither will be any good. the first steps to a good cup require three main things:
tl;dr the things you should do to up your coffee game the first level (in the order you should do them) are: 1. Find a new brewing method 2. Buy better beans 3. Get a grinder
call me a coffee snob but this is what i've been using at work and I think it makes better coffee than the French Press. I just bring ground coffee from home and use the electric kettle at work.
recipe for the bread pudding:
http://food52.com/recipes/3210-bourbon-chocolate-bread-pudding
recipe for the irish coffee: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/original-irish-coffee-recipe.html
For the coffee, I used freshly grounded beans in an aeropress and substituted the brown sugar for raw sugar. For the bread pudding, I didn't have day old bread cubes so I baked the fresh bread cubes in the oven at 300F for a few minutes to simulate staleness. It worked okay but some of the bread lost its shape from the mixing.
Here is the listing, and when I googled it this is what I got.
> The rubber like seal on the end of the plunger is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. Both materials are FDA approved for use in contact with food. Neither of the materials contain bisphenol-A (BPA) or any phthalates. We frequently get asked if we plan to make a glass or stainless steel AeroPress coffee maker.
I would recommend the aeropress. It has replaced my drip coffee maker. It takes as much time and attention as a drip machine, and produces phenomenal coffee. Also super easy clean up.
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1450115521&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
Is your goal French press specifically (as in, the coarse grind and long brew time that results in that characteristic slightly-grainy taste) - or is it more generally non-shitty coffee from an automatic machine?
The mechanics of French press make it hard to automate, so I'm not terribly surprised there's not a lot of robotic presses out there. If your goal is just good coffee without a long manual process, the best option I'm aware of are the automatic "pour-over" machines:
https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KCM0802OB-Coffee-Brewer-Black/dp/B00OQJ7X8S/
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1902DW-Coffee-Brewer-Silver/dp/B0752CKQHW/
https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Barista-Brain-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00YEYKK8U/
There's also "fully automated" espresso machines. A lot of them even include a grinder, so in theory you can press 1 button and get a latte or americano or whatever a few minutes later. They tend to be $$$ and use up a lot of counter space, though.
My personal setup is fairly manual - an electric kettle and an Aeropress. The electric kettle is way easier than a kettle on the stove - the one I linked has variable temp controls, so you can set it to heat up to 80 C and hold there. Doesn't need constant monitoring the way a teakettle on a burner does, and you'll get much better results with not-quite-boiling water. And the Aeropress makes fucking great coffee, without the PITA of cleaning a French press.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK and start trying coffees.
RE: Coffee
How are you spending that much on coffee? Is that because you buy from Coffee shops?
I don't think I spend that much on myself and girlfriend combined, and she drinks ridiculous amounts of coffee (2-3 LARGE coffees per day).
This is the coffee I order:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N2D9QT8
Use an Aeropress:
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
For creamer, I use 1tbsp of butter and 1tbsp coconut oil (or MCT oil), and some vanilla extract. May sound weird, but it's really filling.
I mix with something like this (below), but you can get other ones that are well rated for $10 to $15.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BY9RTNQ
Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00LW8122Y
Clever: https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Coffee-Dripper-Large-Ounces/dp/B00EOM5RN0
Clever filters: https://www.amazon.com/Filtropa-Paper-Coffee-Filters-White/dp/B0001IXA9O
Aeropress: https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Scale: https://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8
Oh, I forgot. If you plan to do this often, invest in an aeropress and the metal screen filter (links below). This is the easiest way I've found to filter tinctures and oils with minimal waste. Also a superb way to make coffee.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1483129322&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
https://www.amazon.com/MESH-AeroPress-Stainless-Reusable-Guarantee/dp/B00JVTQHVC/ref=pd_sim_79_2?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_i=B00JVTQHVC&amp;pd_rd_r=H0RCARYJRYHBV3Q99K8Y&amp;pd_rd_w=wC3LO&amp;pd_rd_wg=P2hDQ&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=H0RCARYJRYHBV3Q99K8Y
Have you heard of/tried an Aeropress? Small device, extremely high quality coffee, easy to clean, only $26. They love them over at /r/coffee.
That said, /r/coffee also have great respect for the pour-over method, though there are higher quality pour-over devices (porcelain or Chemex).
You'll thank me later.
To answer your question, the strength of your coffee is mostly influenced by how much coffee you're using versus how much water. For a strong cup with your Keurig, go with the setting with the smallest amount of water. The Keurig is by no means the "best" method to make coffee, but it will make coffee. If you decide to get a manual brewer (French press, Aeropress, Kalita Wave, etc.) the brew time has some leeway, but I'd recommend just using more coffee than trying to push the recommended brew time too far. Coffee can/should be strong without being bitter, and keeping the water and coffee together too long will create bitterness.
What follows is everything you need to know about making great coffee. Warning, this may be overwhelming:
and 2) Those are your best bet. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, you can get an automatic blade grinder if you might have an issue with manual grinding/don't want to drop a lot of money. I will mention that darker roasts are easier to grind manually so there's less worry for your wrist. The problem with blade grinders is you get a bunch of differently sized bits, which makes it more difficult to get consistency and figure out a grind size/brew time you like.I would recommend a French press (1 2 3 4) or Aeropress for someone just getting into coffee. They're much more forgiving than pour-over methods, meaning you're less likely to make a bitter cup. They each have their own drawbacks, too. An Aeropress is easier to clean up, but can only make one cup at a time. A French press takes more time to clean, but can make about 3 cups at a time. (By cups I mean a standard 12-ounce mug.) Definitely get a grinder, too (see above). A scale (1 and 2) is optional but recommended. For beans, seek out a local roaster/coffee shop, but there are tons of online options available, too.
Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes crazy) world of coffee!
You should try to drink it black. I know, it's bitter, but there's something about drinking it straight.
But yea, don't get a Keurig. Get something like : http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK which will be a much better use of your money IMO.
Moka pots are definitely close enough for government work. If there's crema, I'm in. The AeroPress will get you even closer to the real deal, though! (And it doesn't splatter coffee all over my countertop like my $5 Moka with a loose lid ;_;).
ninja science edit for the interested: espresso is made by using air pressure to push boiling water through a "puck" of grounds. This forces a lot of solids and oils out of the grounds that you don't normally get with drip coffee, making it taste richer and stronger. Commercial espresso machines typically generate about 9 Bar of pressure. A Moka pot can generate about 1.5 Bar by forcing the water in the bottom reservoir to boil up through a tube into the grounds chamber, then up through another tube into the "pot" on top. The AeroPress, which uses a manually-operated plunger to generate the pressure, can get up to about 6.5 Bar, much closer to the real deal. All of these options are "real" espresso, but they're the McDonald's to an espresso machine's grassfed sous-vide burger. Still, ain't nothin' at all wrong with that when you just want to drink some damn espresso!
tl;dr - Like espresso? Get an AeroPress and have your life changed.
e: Also like someone else said, a latte-style drink made with drip coffee is called a cafe au lait ("coffee with milk," creative huh?). That's a perfectly valid alternative to espresso for drinks like this where most of the flavor comes from the sugar and flavoring, but you'll have to use a lot more coffee to get the same taste which will affect the texture and the taste to some extent. Still, nothin' wrong with that either, I ain't no coffee snob. Just an ex-barista who loves me some coffee and wants everyone else to too. =)
I would highly recommend an Aeropress
Or you could buy a French press from your store with your discount- it’ll be cheaper and easier to learn on than the Aeropress. A pour over cone will be the cheapest option of all (30>14>6), but I personally prefer immersion brewing methods to pour over methods.
Aeropress or V60(Need to buy filters for both but they aren't expensive) and a Hario Mini Mill . Cheapest methods but make extremely high quality coffee.
http://i.imgur.com/RX4W7.jpg
Seriously though, most people here are going to tell you that a single serve machine isn't worth it. The coffee will be subpar and it produces a lot of waste (with all the little cups and stuff.)
You can get an Aeropress for much cheaper that makes better coffee. It takes a LITTLE more time (boil water + 30 seconds to seep).
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Google the "inverted method" of using it, disregard the instructions included with it.
I honestly don't think so. I have tried a lot of different coffee makers and always keep coming back to the Aeropress. It costs $30 and makes better coffee than anything I have had at any coffee shop.
Sure the Aeropress is more involved than other methods but it has become a part of my daily routine.
If you're looking to brew a single cup at a time then you might consider getting an Aeropress. They run like $30 on Amazon. They work kind of like a French press, but they're much easier to clean and maintain. They make excellent coffee, and you can get a steel filter if you don't like the disposable paper ones.
Being to cheap for $100+ for a grinder, I picked up a hand grinder. It does well enough for me, and I got the grinder, Aeropress, and steel filter for under a bill.
If you enjoy coffee buy an aeropress. It is simple, portable and brews my favorite cup of coffee.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK?pc_redir=1405476415&amp;robot_redir=1
Not a single Amazon link in this whole page?? For SHAME people... for SHAME!!!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047BIWSK
with this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LBJCBN8
This is what I do. Get yourself an aeropress.
Start buying flavored coffee grinds at Trader Joes/Marshalls/Ralphs/etc (look for whole beans, and get yourself a grinder, because it will taste amazing). Make espresso coffee. Add water. Add Half&half/heavy cream.
For example, I bought some blueberry creme flavored coffee grinds and holy shiiiit, it's like it was flavored with sugar- but in reality, it had just 2 carbs (because I like my coffee creamy)
Give it a try.
Aeropress
I love coffee. I particularly like french press coffee, but often makes pour over coffee as well. Aeropress is fantastic because it COMBINES both methods. It uses both a paper filter and a press to create a very smooth flavor.
Get a beater with a scraper, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFE5T-Beater-Tilt-Head-Mixers/dp/B004A15870
Don't go too fast if you plan on using it for breads. No matter the make/model you can blow out a KA motor pretty quick doing 50-60% hydration dough at anything over 3. I believe they say to not go about 2 for doughs.
If you don't have one, consider getting a Flex Head Beater as they work really good.
Take the time to learn what the minimum/maximum amounts are that you can work with. Can you beat 2 egg whites or do you need to do recipes that require 4? Can you do 1L of whipping cream or does it go all over the place. I can't remember if this stuff is in the instructions anymore tbh.
Most important make sure you name your KA. They always do a better job if you talk to them and tell them how much you love them.
Enjoy :)
If he has a kitchen aid:
Flex Edge Beater
Pouring shield
If he works with chocolate: good chocolate. The stuff you get at the grocery just doesn't cut it.
Some decent metal mixing bowls. Very versatile. Can be used for whipping cream stuff, used as a double boiler, and non-baking uses.
Containers for storing ingredients. I prefer OXO, but some people like sterilite or Rubbermaid.
Start baking more! Cakes, cookies, breads. People are always impressed by baked goods. Oh, and always make your own whipped cream and frosting from now on, those are game changers.
Also, drunk you should consider springing for a paddle attachment with a scraper. It's amazing, it scrapes the sides of the bowl for you so you have to do even less work.
There's one for 5Q and one for 5.5-6Q, so make sure you get the right one! :)
Why not just use a reusable k-cup and use your own coffee.. http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/
I've found the Ekobrew to be better than the official one. The mesh is only at the bottom, so the water goes through more grounds and makes a stronger cup than the official filter.
[LIFESAVER!!] (http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1407018062&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=crock+pot+liners)
Correct link :) http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=pd_sim_hpc_2
Hi.
http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1382478188&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=crockpot+liners
These are the ones I use. My mom told me about them & they're amazing!
Whenever you use a crock pot / slow cooker, use a plastic liner. It makes cleanup a breeze. Last night I spent 20 minutes chipping off burnt BBQ sauce that wouldn't loosen even after soaking it overnight.
Ahh, I see. I forgot that Amazon changed its non-Prime free shipping to $35 instead of $25, sorry. Have you considered buying it along with something else to trigger the free shipping?
You could buy this metal filter for another $12.50 for example, assuming you were considering buying a metal filter at some point to begin with. They have their pros and cons, of course, though I generally like mine. (Just be careful to note that they're not cost-effective, because $12.50 will buy you many years of paper filters!)
I like the Able Brewing DISK for Aeropress
(The FINE DISK, I liked less, fwiw)
Aeropresses are really the way to go: small, easy to clean up, and makes a really-good espresso-approximation (think you need to reach like 3 atm of pressure for a real espresso).
I also got a stainless steel filter to use instead of the paper-jobbies that come with it. You never have to worry about running out of filters: http://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397759932&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=aeropress+filter+stainless+steel
Also if don't have a burr grinder yet then get one. This one is a good bargain and capable of grinding fine enough for esspresso: http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1397759998&amp;sr=8-8&amp;keywords=burr+grinder
I would go with the aeropress. If you get 1 of the metal filters (http://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME) you can do an inverted brew with the aeropress and get a fuller bodied cup of coffee and if you in the mood for a cleaner cup just put in the paper filter. Also in a college environment I would think a french press would have a greater probability of being broken. that's my 2 cents
Ima leave this little hack right here for Hario:
Skerton Owners
Mini mills go here
That will improve your consistency. A lot.
Something that is becoming more common is the 'filtering out your fines and / or post grind rinse' . THis is something the last Aeropress winner stated they did to eliminate the dust that mucks up the cup.
Get a 250 micron screen (I use an Aeropress and the steel screens made for aeropress can do the trick. If you are brewing anything but espresso , get the NORMAL. For espresso maybe you get the superfine )
NORMAL
http://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413122354&amp;sr=8-2-fkmr0&amp;keywords=steel+screen+aeropress
SUPERFINE
http://www.amazon.com/Filter-AeroPress-Ultra-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B00A1GVVMY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413122354&amp;sr=8-1-fkmr0&amp;keywords=steel+screen+aeropress
and press some COLD water through your freshly ground coffee .
That gets rid of a lot of the fines and that dusty crap you end up with regardless of how good a grinder you use - 10% of your mass is little more than dust, get rid of it so it's not being brewed and you will notice a difference.
Just saying - for the folks that measure grams and temps, this is worth a try. See what you see. For the folks already rocking an Aeropress + steel screen, it's a no brainer.
Hope this helps.
Yes.
Ey! Welcome to the Gaggia fam! Check out r/gaggiaclassic
A couple of things I bought to help my espresso game a little easier
This is the frothing pitcher I use. I've found it to be simple to use. Although look up videos to learn how to properly steam milk if youre like me and dont know.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B016ZOFTGY/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I found a calibrated tamper to help with tamping at 30lbs pressure. I'm thankful for this guy
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N977TNG/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also use this distributor to help level my grind before tamping
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077BZ4CV6/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Gonna need a good tamping mat too. This is cheap and works well
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077C41TJS/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
A knock box is really convenient. I found a decent priced one that gets the job done
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FHYFP6N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
&#x200B;
Also, if you have the Classic 2015 model. I'd suggest replacing the steam wand with the Rancilio Sylvia model wand. It fits, and people mod their classic to get better performance with steaming.
https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-Silvia-Version-Steam-Wand/dp/B018F88X34/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rancilio+silvia+steam+wand&qid=1569554756&s=home-garden&sr=1-1
r/gaggiaclassic has more if you really wanna get crazy! I've enjoyed my gaggia for the 8 months that I've had it. Just keep up with the maintenance and its said to last years. I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever
Coffee Distributor/Leveler tool, Coffee Distributor 58mm, Coffee Distribution Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BZ4CV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.OTDDb414EZ6E
I use this one:
Coffee Distributor/Leveler tool, Coffee Distributor 58mm, Coffee Distribution Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BZ4CV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_D9YADbA3TCPAB
I will preface this by saying I worked in coffee for a good chunk of time before getting my Rocket so I think the familiarity with those type of machines was beneficial. But I will say that your concern about a better machine being inconsistent has not been my experience. The Rocket will have a different learning curve than what you’ve had before, for sure. But I probably spend 2min max in the morning pulling shots and I make consistently better coffee than even the fancy coffee shop in town. You’ll have to get more and more familiar with the variables that affect extraction to be able to change things on the fly. But a better machine, especially a big of a jump as a Rocket, will make learning a lot easier and if you do your homework you will end up with consistently good shots.
Also, get a distribution tool. It will take out some inconsistent variables in tamping especially if you’re new to it. This link
I use a Rocket Blower and occasionally run an ounce of Rolled oats through. Knock suggests uncooked rice but other grinder manufacturers claim it's too hard and can damage burrs. Grindz is what others recommend.
As far as a deep clean? not really sure. I think Knock suggested just brushing the burrs, but you can't reach them without taking the whole thing apart which then voids your warranty. Hmmm.
Grindz, which work brilliantly!
Don't leave home without it.
Weak vacation coffee? No, thank you.
Have a great trip and thank you.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_JGaEzbBA8ZGA0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_0HaEzbZQ9V8JG
Add an electric kettle and you're set
Non-electric? Like, something you can take camping? Give the AeroPress a look.
Aeropress gives you a lot of freedom on the taste of your coffee, so I recommend that. There is also no need for a lot of additional equipment with it unless you want to get info coffee more in the future. Quality of your coffee is equally as important as your method, so you don't have to break your bank, but try to get your hands on locally roasted single origin beans. (Best result is if you can buy your own grinder to make the freshest coffee, but if your budget doesn't allow for that, then ground coffee will do).
Aeropress - $35
Electric grinder - $37 (decent, takes no time at all)
Hario Skerton hand grinder (more reliable, takes some time, don't cheap out on the $15 dollar amazon version if you want a decent grind) - $39
If you go this route I also recommend looking at the World Aeropress Championship recipes and following in their lead to emulate a world-class cuppa joe.
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Tote Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KWFBzbA5626EE
My favorite tool for coffee in the outdoors.
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Tote Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BvmPBbQ7XC5GK
Alright, I'll lay out two set ups for two different price points.
Cheap Set Up
Hario Skerton This is the most basic entry level grinder possible, grinds enough for one person pretty easily, and gets "good enough results for a poor college student
Aeropress You can make full cups of coffee or pseudo-espresso that you can mix with milk for a pseudo, its easy to clean, and probably the most forgiving coffee making tool.
And then any kettle and any scale. Look for cheap on both, were going for cheap here, and were not doing rocket science, should be another 25-30 total for both of these, which lands you just under $100 total for this set up. You don't need to bother roasting beans yourselves, and if you're in a college town theres probably a local roaster around that you can get good quality roasted beans from and be happy with. For cold brew just throw grounds and water in jar in you fridge for a day in a 8:1 ratio, then strain the goop the next day for a solid cold brew concentrate
The pricier beginner college set up
Baratza Encore. If you can afford this, then get it. The things great, does everything but espresso grind really well, and because its not manual its doesn't take that long and it doesn't require any real effort on your part. I love mine, but the $140 price tag could be steep (I wouldn't have bought it when I was in college, I was poor as shit).
Brew Methods: I still recommend at least an Aeropress, but pair it with a 1LFrench press too for when you want to make a lot of coffee at once, or coffee for friends. you can also make cold brew in a French press instead of a jar, and you can use it to strain it out. Also, if you really want to make the closest thing to espresso that you can without blowing $300 dollars, get a 3-cup moka pot. You can find a cheap one at your Ross or Home Goods equivalent.
For kettle, you can get a variable temp one if you want to spend the money, people recommend the Bonavita Variable Temp Gooseneck but I still just use my cheap 15 dollar kettle and am doing fine.
As far as scales go, I still just say find a cheap scale that works well enough.
Bits and Bobs
Hand held Milk Frother for frother hot milk for lattes. Sounds like something you would like.
I found this for under 30USD. This is about as cheap as coffeemaking gets unless you want Turkish coffee.
I got one for about 25$ at a place called Bed Bath & Beyond, but I'm not sure where they are outside of Oregon, I haven't seen any. Here's a set on Amazon, and it has a bag that comes with it (mine didn't, wish it did now... haha) for 25$ plus shipping. I bought one for myself last August, and bought three more as gifts for Christmas that year.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018RY8H0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
Got mine for around S$50, shipping inclusive. One of the best purchases from Amazon. Shipped directly to Singapore without any minimum amount.
Have a great brewing and coffee time with the amazing Aeropress! =D
I believe this fits both criteria. I hear it's an excellent coffee maker!
Maybe this is too labor intense, but for insanely good espresso and americano, get an Aeropress and a Burr Grinder like this electric one or this hand one
The aeropress prevents over-pressing of the beans, which prevents the coffee from getting acidic, as I understand it. The aeropress requires a bit more work to use, but it's really easy to clean (you just pop the used grounds into the trash and then rinse off the end of the areopress). The burr grinder grinds the beans much better than your average slicing grinder can.
I need an aeropress in my life. Will the real slim shady please stand up?. I love coffee so much.
Get a Baratza Encore for $129, an Aeropess for $33 and a Milk Frother. Spend your money on better, local, fresh coffee. It's not true espresso but the strength and quality will beat most low end espresso makers. It also lets you get in the game cheap to see if it works for you. Making drinks at home, heat the milk in a pan, pull your shot on the Aeropress, froth the milk, enjoy!
My vote would be to get an Aeropress and an electric kettle. Sheesh, I saw that they have the Aeropress at Target now (at a good price, too). He can make a coffee by the mug (forget a coffeemaker that makes a pot if he's only going to drink "a coffee" every few days). You can use regular ground coffee with the Aeropress, and the only thing he will need to figure out is how much coffee he wants to put in it (which determines how strong the resulting coffee it). The benefit of this system is that the electric kettle will be useful for other things (like tea, if you are a tea drinker, for instance... or cups of noodles, stuff like that). Here is a video on the Aeropress, so you can see how easy/simple it is to use. There are LOTS of videos on the Aeropress on YouTube. It makes good coffee.
Here
Its essentially a hybrid coffee maker. Combining French press and espresso style elements. It also works well and is affordable.
Get yourself an Aeropress for morning coffee:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001HBCVX0/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1394850421&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=SY200_QL40
Little bit of regular coffee (I get the cheap dark rast from Trader Joes but Folgers works with this too) and 1/8 tsp of kosher salt in each cup to cut the bitterness (sounds weird, I know, but it works). Take a few minutes in the morning to turn cheap grounds into the best coffee ever, you deserve it.
I've been into this world for about 2 months now , what i can help you with are some suggestions for what i've been using lately
And about the beans , im pretty sure you can find a local roaster here or there . I used to say the same and i was totally convinced that we have 0 roasters ( regardless of whether they're good or not ) but after some research and asking around i found 4 ! Its just a matter of asking the right people .
Making good coffee i believe is a long process of trial and error , you'll get there eventually but first you have to have decent tools at your disposal. If you're able to spend a little bit over your limit and get those two pieces of equipment you're more than ready to get started with the process , you just have the other half to deal with , which is the coffee beans . Of course if you ever need help with recipes , techniques , tips , whatever . You can come to this subreddit , really filled with great people who have a lot to say so just ask !
And finally, welcome to this beautiful world !
V60 Personally I'd get the glass or ceramic one, but they are a bit more.
Filters
Gooseneck kettle with thermometer Warning, I don't have this personally, but it does have good reviews. There are a number of gooseneck kettles on amazon to choose from.
There's a Hario Skerton for $15 used in excellent condition right now
Total=$55.38 Slightly more if you miss out on the Skerton. Beans extra of course. You could make do with whatever kettle you currently have but the gooseneck makes things exponentially easier. Something you could always save for though.
IDK what you're looking for taste wise for beans, but I like Red Bird for reasonably priced coffees that are extremely tasty.
I started getting into coffee nearly a year and a half ago, and here is what I did to start:
I bought
Now, bear in mind that I knew that I loved coffee before I invested all this money into it; you should obviously really consider your situation and really get into "good" coffee before splurging on all of this equipment. I now have a French press, a moka pot, and am going to invest in an Aeropress soon, but I still prefer the pour-over method to any other coffee that I've had, thus why I recommend you go that route. It can take some definite getting used to and has a bit of a learning curve, but it is easily worth the effort (tutorial videos will help immensely.
Keep in mind, you needn't buy exactly what I did. Shop around, see what you like and what is in your price range. I will say this, however: if you do go the pour-over method, go for the V60 or the Chemex, they are both easily the best on the market, and the same goes for the Buono kettle, though if necessary you can purchase a different kettle, just so long as it is a gooseneck (which is required to finely control the flow of water).
Many other people will tell you to go with a French press. This is good advice as it has a very slight learning curve in comparison to pretty much every other method (besides maybe the Aeropress, depending on who you talk to): it is literally grinding the coffee coarsely and letting it sit in water for X-amount of time. It also does not take filters, is easy to clean, and is a relatively cheap initial investment (~$20). I like the Brazil model that Bodum makes.
No matter which method you choose to brew with, there are three things that you should not underestimate the importance of (and thus should not skimp on):
Best of luck. There's a lot of good knowledge on this sub, on this sub's How to Coffee: A Primer, and on the Internet in general. Check it all out, pick your path, and enjoy the ride!
Okay, so I'm with you on backpacking as light as possible but I also love an excellent cup of coffee in the morning while waking up in the morning in the mountains. I carry a Snowpeak Collapsible Pour Over Drip and some v60 filters along with ziplock sandwich bags filled with 20g of ground coffee for each cup when camping. I put it over my backpacking cup and the ziplock then serves as trash for the filter and grounds to bring out of camp site. For me this is about as ultralight as I'm willing to go but it's damn near the quality of Chemex coffee anywhere I hike or ride my bikes to. It's also pretty cheap. IMO nothing else really comes close to this setup for backpacking.
Sounds like a pretty good plan. That being said, a French press is great for the coffee aficionado. It's just more effort than I'm willing to give most of the time. Until I get a bigger kitchen, I'm still using one of these with paper filters. All it requires is hot water and ground coffee. Not the best cup of joe, but it saves me the $1.50 it would cost at Wawa.
http://www.amazon.com/Dozenegg-B001S353EQ-Plastic-Filter-Medium/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1416422648&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=single+cup+coffee+filter
I've used one of these in the past and it worked out fine. Use them at home sometimes as well.
These days I just use instant coffee when camping/backpacking.
I make coffee with this thing everyday. When I go backpacking or camping, I just take it with me. It weighs almost nothing. What's the big deal?
Have you looked into a coffee filter cone? I bought mine for $2.50.
In college, I boiled the water while getting dressed, etc. and then poured the water over the beans with one hand while eating breakfast with the other. It didn't cost me too much time in the mornings, and it tasted infinitely better than the shit coffee I was buying on campus.
If you're looking to save more money, the way I do it uses much fewer items and could cost you less than $15 before the beans.
I use mason jars. I fill them with grounds and water, I use a little more than 1/3rd cup of grounds with a full mason jar. I mix it up real well (by shaking). Then let it sit on the counter for 18-24 hours.
Then I use a filter cone like this with a gold tone filter, combined price $11 on Amazon. I slowly pour through the filter into another mason jar. That makes the concentrate, which I store in the fridge, and is mixed, about 2-3 parts water, 1 part concentrate.
In total I use 2 mason jars, the filter cone and a filter.
Wow, I see you're not the only to do that. Melty cheese, perhaps? Oh, and if you didn't know about them...toastabags
I just learned this is a [thing] (http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&amp;colid=1PRII2BIRNFS3&amp;coliid=I2Z1QEUV7RC2K8). I feel like it might just change my life.
Has nobody ever heard of Toastabags?
I don't know if it's the same thing Simon had, but these are on Amazon. I've seen them at Giant Eagle, too.
If you can find one, look for a "Vertical Grill". I swung by a Goodwill-type store last year and found one of these for $15:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/171551910237
LOVE IT! I use it constantly. It takes up little counter space (less than a Foreman-style) and clean up is a breeze. Grilled asparagus is great in this thing (beware of stinky pee later). I've also bought a couple of these Toastabags
http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0
Found them in a local store for, I think, 3 for $10. You can probably get the same results by mastering the well-folded parchment paper.
I WANNA say this is it. Can't recall the store she got them from.
Make sure you use these
http://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0
these are a cheaper alternative and hold up for years
If I have to travel anywhere, I have a Tightvac Vacuum Sealer and pregrind my coffee at home and carry it in this container with me. A small scale, a Hario V60, and filters. Hot water is pretty accessible so I don't bring a kettle with me.
I love coffee and I drink out of my chemex everyday with beans that I grind out of my Baratza, but I don't love it that much to bring a hand grinder and kettle with me. I'd just rather deal with having slightly worse than usual coffee.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ODbyub0MGRKJT
there's bigger ones too :D
Tightvac Coffeevac 1 Pound Vacuum Sealed Storage Container, Solid Bla... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awd_d_EQoavb190ZZ5T
These things are great.
And they're available in smaller sizes as well.
I can recommend this coffee container:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0046JB136?psc=1&amp;redirect=true&amp;ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
It will hold just over a pound of beans.
I have three and they are fantastic.
I like Tightvac. Good price, stylish and holds a pound. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0046JB136/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?ref_=cm_sw_r_awd_bTfrub0SY5ZF3
Coincidentally I just put up shelves for tea storage in the kitchen over winter break and got matching opaque vacuum sealed canisters from Amazon for tea storage. We got these ones and I put chalk board label stickers on them to note what's in them.
I keep my herb in an old mason jar, and I put that jar and everything else (weed, grinder, bowl etc.) in an old black box I found.
Recently I ordered this, my buddy has one and it fits all his stuff with room to spare and its vacuum sealed which is pretty sweet.
Aeropress is very cheap and difficult to mess up, while still making a fairly good cup of coffee. It can make a pseudo espresso concentrate, due to the fact it creates a decent amount of pressure, but is nowhere near actual espresso. Drop by /r/Coffee sometime, the sidebar is pretty useful and they are fairly receptive of newcomers, and there is a weekly question thread.
It took me a while. I started with more sugar and cream, and eventually worked my way down to black as my tastes adjusted.
If you can't get past the bitter flavor, and you can make coffee at home, get an aeropress and an inexpensive grinder. It's $30, and makes almost bitter-free coffee, as the water doesn't sit with the grounds for very long. Takes about three minutes to make a coffee. One of the best inexpensive ways to make a coffee.
Aeropress
The grinder I got, $15
I agree with others that buying whole beans is the way to go. Store the beans in the fridge (slows oxidization) and use a french press or aero press. I personally only use the aero press now -- it's a total game changer and zero bitterness unlike the french press.
you can get it just about anywhere - walmart, target, amazon.
Or use an Aeropress.
You haven't had coffee until you've used an aeropress.
*Freedom Presses
To be fair, it's the best way to make coffee. The only other method that might be just as good is the Aeropress.
Been doing this for over a year now. It's the same procedure as making NET (Naturally Extracted Tobacco).
If you google that, you're likely to find more interesting stuff.
Not sure why you'd use a VPG base though. VG is known not to "blend" well with flavorings, so it's better to use 100% PG to extract whatever it is you're extracting. Some even use a mixture of PG and Vodka or Ethanol.
There's also this thread over on ELR:
----
Edit: I use an AeroPress to filter the extracted tea:
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Can you order from any other places? If so, I'd get a porlex mini and an aeropress. Aeropress produces a clean cup and is super quick to clean up.
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK This thing? Is this better than a more traditional french press?
BPC was a big help for me in starting Keto, and it has been hugely motivating for me to stay on Keto. It's delicious. In the beginning when I was having carb cravings I would remind myself that I could have BPC, but BPC + a pastry wasn't possible. The caffeine buzz from BPC is a lot... clearer, is the only way I can describe it. I don't experience the 10am crash the way I did with regular coffee, either.
I use my AeroPress and Magic Bullet. Sometimes I use my Coffee Grinder to grind he beans, but lately I've been using pre-ground beans. If you use an AeroPress, you'll want the coffee ground for an espresso maker.
I use grassfed unsalted butter (sometimes salted adds a zing to the taste but I'm not a fan), Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, a raw egg (for protein -- I get migraines and protein in the morning is essential in warding them off) and 1/4 teaspoon of Ghiradelli Baking Cocoa. Whip it up for 30 seconds and life is glorious.
The BPC and drinking water keep me full from about 6:45 am until 11:30.
The AeroPress is good because you can make one cup at a time, so it conserves coffee grounds. You can also bring it anywhere - it's a portable espresso/coffee maker. Some people put sugar-free sweetners in the coffee, but I prefer to avoid them. If you drink it without the sweetner after a while you get used to the taste anyway.
By the way, an aeropress is another option - it's supposed to be a fantastic cup of coffee, and it's super easy and fast. There are even special techniques, which is kind of crazy. I've been thinking about getting one for a while. I've been making too many purchases lately, but it's on sale with free shipping ahhhhhhh!
Steam burns are the WORST. I've been burned countless times, but the worst ones were always from steam. And the 300C+ oven that burned me FOUR TIMES before I could take my hand out. I definitely understand your grudge!
I do not time right this second to respond to this in full, and I would appreciate us keeping these to r/coffee unless you are requesting a piece of equipment, but look into this!
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
in short, request an aeorpress
So it's a two part solution, but this is what we're doing this year, and on a few test runs it's been absolutely amazing.
First, we're heating our water with a standard stovetop kettle like this one.
Then we're making the coffee in an Aeropress. When I first saw there I thought people were unusually obsessed over what seems like a simple coffee maker. I'm now a convert. Don't confuse its over-simplistic design with over-simplistic coffee. This thing makes a sick brew.
I second the call for an aero press. Grab one, a coffee grinder, and a storage container (mason jars work fine too) for your locker or safe location.
After the initial investment (less than two weeks of your 5$ a day), this plus hot water gets you coffee at pennies a cup. The container keeps your beans fresh, and you only grind what you need every time.
My favorite coffee is fresh ground coffee made with me Aerobie Aeropress.
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1310503163&amp;sr=1-1
It's easy to clean too!
AeroPress + Tea Kettle: $32.87
Better coffee, more versatile and cheaper. Doesn't look as fancy on the counter though.
Hey, I'm a complete noob when it comes to coffee and just found this subreddit. I've been looking at what people suggest for single cup coffee makers and and looking at getting the Aeropress and the Hario Skerton grinder. Are these good or is there something else you guys recommend? I'm very open to any input you guys have but would like to keep it under around 100 dollars. Thanks in advance.
The one in OP's pic looks like a Hario Skerton
There is lots of info at /r/coffee ..... my recommendation based on my research and my use is the Hario Mini. The Skerton has some downsides as compared to the mini which swayed me to the mini. It's been almost 2 years since I researched so I don't remember exactly the differences.
As for the Aeropress in OP's picture, it is a very fine coffee maker and I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend a Chemex. I use my Chemex daily and the Aeropress frequently.
/r/coffee should have all the info you need.
Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/
Hario Coffee Mill Slim Grinder, Mini https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001804CLY/
Before you jump into the machine, do a bit of manual filtering first.
Get an Aeropress (my favourite), or else, just a good old French Press.
https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=aeropress&amp;qid=1563956517&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-3
If you like good coffee, let me recommend an Aeropress. It is cheap, fast, easy to clean, portable and most importantly makes better tasting coffee than machines costing hundreds of dollars.
Aeropress. It's for coffee but I've only used mine for kratom. Works great.
Aeropress
Mini Mill
You can also get a thermometer and scale, to help with consistency a little, but there are rules of thumb that make them unnecessary IMHO. At least for my humble pallet.
I started with that setup, and have since upgraded to an expensive electric grinder and expensive electric kettle, but they really only help with speed. $50 gets you everything you need, so to me it's a great place to start. Use the rest to buy great beans.
I recommend an Aeropress. It's $25, makes the best homemade coffee according to many coffee enthusiasts, is fast, and unbelievably easy to clean up. It sounds too good to be true, but it's really true. I'm such a huge fan of mine that I insist on showing it to my friends so that they'll consider buying one.
Here's the subreddit
And here's a video showing how it works
Make sure to ignore the instuctions and use the inverted method as soon as you feel brave enough. It makes a massive difference for the better.
Not as much air pressure, but I use a Giottos Rocket Blaster. Combine this with food safe cleaning tablets like grindz and you're good to go.
Some people use something like this to air blast grounds out.
You can also run Grindz through your grinder. I wouldn't use rice.
Also a small brush as previously mentioned.
I use these:
https://smile.amazon.com/Urnex-Professional-Grinder-Cleaning-Tablets/dp/B0014J7FUY?sa-no-redirect=1
In my Sette 270.
I looked, and I have this stuff, actually, for milk wand cleaning:
https://smile.amazon.com/Urnex-Circle-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning/dp/B004NRXFP8?sa-no-redirect=1
> Well, I have an idea for now. I travel for a living, and spend a lot of time in hotels. I'm going to be building a cooking kit for my car that just sits in the truck for times like this.
Nice! Apologies for sounding like a fanatic, but if you're looking to replace the coffee maker at some point I couldn't recommend an Aeropress any more highly: https://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0
I bring it with me along with a small bag of beans and a small hand grinder whenever I travel. No electric required -- if you have hot water (ideally, close to boiling in a kettle), you have some really fantastic fresh coffee.
Lots of good suggestions here. The meal plans are a huge ripoff compared to cooking for yourself. In addition to the dorm fridge and microwave that everyone seems to have I would recommend getting a small freezer, an electric kettle and a slow cooker/crock pot.The kettle is great for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and ramen in a hurry. A ten lb bag of chicken leg quarters can often be found for under ten bucks. Throw half a bag in to the crockpot (and the other half in the freezer) and you have a meal for yourself and a few friends.
I guess it's not going to be possible in the budget I'm really prepared to spend on coffee:
Aeropress - £23.50
Grinder - £19.00
Frother - £21.00
Good beans - £5.50
That adds up to ~£70 which is about $100. Eek. I know lots of people here spend lots more than that on it, but it's quite an investment for something I have no idea if I'll even like as much as the pro machine stuff. :(
Here are the links:
Aeropress
Grinder
Scale
Thermometer
EDIT: I bring this setup with me when I travel for work, along with a small screw top tupperware full of coffee beans.
NICE! i plan to use an aeropress..similar to this..just easier..maybe not quite as much pressure but sufficient enough http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Maker-Tote/dp/B0018RY8H0/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457232361&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
Eh. I can do $60, or maybe a couple bucks more. I have amazon prime, so at least I won't need to worry about shipping.
Here's what came up when I searched for Hario Skerton - does that seem right?
Here's the highest rated aeropress - how does it look?
Aeropress, Manual Grinder, and a Steel Disk Filter. I started with the Hario Mini Mill with an Aeropress and I still use it for work daily. The Aeropress is so loved because its very simple to use and most consistent.
I also said to add in the Able Fine Steel Disk the Able Disk will let in more oils and is reusable forever.
Grand total is $72.50 on Amazon. You can wait on the Filter to drop your total to $60 and it will be worth every penny.
If I was in your situation, I'd purchase:
Remember, good beans are vital to a good cup, so make sure to stop by your local artisan roaster for a pound of fresh coffee beans. Once you become more invested in coffee, you'll probably want to try more brew methods like Chemex, V60 (pourover), french press, and maybe even espresso. Best of luck!
I agree with this guy full heartedly. Another option would be to spend $100 on an electric bur grinder and get a siphon coffee brewer instead. Just as quick if not quicker, you'll make a way better pot of coffee, and you get to impress your friends with your snobbish coffee methods all at the same time.
Or get an aeropress which isn't as fancy but still makes a killer cup of coffee and lightning fast.
Also buy a scale.
Here's all the stuff I just mentioned:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002CVTKVK/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0012N1NAA/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034775&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=SL75
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000VAWXOU/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034899&amp;sr=8-3&amp;pi=SL75
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018RY8H0/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1368034972&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=SL75
These are popular
It's also worth looking into the aeropress, I prefer mine over a french press.
This is a couple dollars less, plus it comes with the zippered pouch that's nice for keeping the kit together.
This one is even a few dollars less than that, could be a Cyber Monday special. Makes it a tiny bit closer to a better grinder...
This guy makes the best coffee I've ever had in my life. Doesn't impart a bitter taste like a French press does.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0018RY8H0?cache=ce361c90ed98b6c4d4e01f67ce8e3187#ref=mp_s_a_1_2&amp;qid=1393867240&amp;sr=8-2
It makes delicious coffee magic.
I used to drink my coffee like candy, then I started getting fresh ground coffee from a coffee place nearby and starting using an Aeropress to make it at home (takes about 3 minutes each morning).
I make it in this fashion, but I add a little more grains and pour in an extra bit to fit a to-go cup.
Once I started drinking it like a snob for a few weeks, I drink all of my coffee black now.
You may have to resign yourself to individual Aeropress pours. Also, I'm not sure why you'd like more than 12 cups at once for 4-6 people as far as volume is concerned? Here's a good guide on Aeropress coffee for a backpacker/camper. Aeropress is the best and lightest way to get a good cuppa in the backwoods if you have more discerning taste.
Get an Aeropress ($32.90) some nice beans ($20), and drink it black. (I like Philz Jacob's Wonderbar for beans, but happy to give other suggestions. Also check out /r/coffee.)
Thank me later.
Before I start, I should note that one of the things that probably attracted you to the Bialetti is the fact that you can just put the coffee in and press a button and your coffee will be ready. I tend to geek out, as do a lot of us on /r/coffee, about coffee and spend a lot of time on the process, but that isn't for everybody. So I don't have any good time-saver recommendations, sorry to say. That said...
I'm not familiar with that De'Longhi but I do have some other ideas in the price range you're looking at.
I've actually never used an Aeropress (I know, I know... sorry everyone), but they're very popular here, not to mention inexpensive. A lot of people get mini hand coffee grinders that can actually fit in the Aeropress for storage. Again I'm not too familiar with those, but I think this is supposed to be a good one. So you should be able to get the Aeropress and a hand grinder for less than $90. Then all you need is a source of hot water.
Pourover is another option, and there's all sorts of different types, some of which have their own proprietary filters. It can be overwhelming. But again the equipment is generally cheap. Prima Coffee has a nice breakdown of some of the more popular cones. A lot of these can also be found on Amazon. The thing with pourovers though, is that for better control, you'd want a gooseneck kettle. But again, I think you can get a cone, some filters, a kettle and a hand grinder for around the $90.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005LM0T/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
&#x200B;
For guests and multiple cups.
&#x200B;
https://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Filters/dp/B001HBCVX0/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1537400325&sr=1-5&keywords=aeropress
&#x200B;
For single cup.
Aeropress perhaps? http://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Filters/dp/B001HBCVX0. These do add some pressure, but very little. Maybe equivalent to that of a Moka.
Get a Aero-Press and squeeze a shot of espresso in thar. Make sure you use espresso grounds to get the most out of the coffee into a few ounces of water.
I think your best bet is to get a burr grinder and some good beans. The beans and the grind you get is going to matter the most. I'd suggest getting an Aeropress, which will produce wayyy better coffee than a Keurig, and a Hario Mini Mill to start out. Get an electric kettle if you don't already own one. That combo will give you really amazing coffee if you do it right and use the right beans -- coffee shouldn't actually be that bitter at all. A well-made cup of coffee is akin to a well-made cup of tea: not bitter, nor weak or sour. S&W Roasting roast really good beans for very good prices, although Blue Bottle is my preferred place to order coffee from (albeit more expensive).
http://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Filters/dp/B001HBCVX0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1376202281&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
Coffee Aeropress
url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
Civet Cat Coffee
Find fun things to do in the town where he's going and find gift certificates to fund places.
The typical recommended r/coffee starter kit is an aeropress ($33) and a grinder like this one ($29). I think that the grinder and something to brew it in are the two most important components. Get those before a kettle. If you want to get something a little cheaper, maybe start with a french press (could be had for around $20) or a pourover ($22). You won't be able to do a precise pourover without a kettle, though. And if you absolutely need to stay under $15, this exists for $12. In theory, you could boil water then pour it into a measuring cup or something like that and then do your pourover. I used one of those before I knew anything about coffee. I haven't touched it since I got an aeropress and I just bought a chemex for pourover. So, it's not going to be the best option, and you may be looking to replace it later. That said, if you're on a strict budget now and you don't see that changing in the future... it exists. But if you think it's a hobby you'll stick with, get something nice now so you don't end up spending more later and throwing away your first item. Anything less than a v60/french press won't be "good", but will produce coffee.
Sold by aeropress:
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426045676&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
Sold by Aerobie:
http://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Filters/dp/B001HBCVX0/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426045676&amp;sr=1-2&amp;keywords=aeropress
Are they actually the same product by the same company?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001802PIQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001HBCVX0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
A pour over set up can be had for quite cheap.
Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02, Clear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WcZ5AbRMPN9JG
Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TeZ5AbY1C3CZG
Hario V60 Paper Coffee Filters, Size 02, 100 Count, Natural https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O0R46I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yfZ5Ab8GY8NBT
$5.67 + $6.21 + $29.34 = $41.16
I realize you’re using euros so it will be slightly different. And honestly if you got a different kettle you could cut out 10 or more dollars to get you into the ~30 USD range which from what I can tell would be saving you money. Just make sure it’s a gooseneck and keep in mind the fewer times you have to rebuy something the likely less cost efficient it is.
Get this and these filters for doing pourover.
You might also want this grinder, unless you want to have your local shop grind for you as well, which they will. Tell them you're grinding for pourover so they'll know how coarse.
If you decide to also get the presspot, you'll need to grind differently for that, which is why I recommend buying the grinder also. Not to mention, it's super helpful to be able to grind your own, so you can dial in your brews. Additionally, whole beans stay fresh longer than ground coffee. You'll definitely notice a difference between fresh ground and the very end of a bag of ground coffee.
All you need other than that is a way to heat water, and some beans. Do you have a kettle of some sort? Stovetop or electric will work. You want to avoid using your keurig to make hot water, as it doesn't get hot enough.
I've got a pretty high quality dorm setup that is approved. Here are your options:
Option 1:
Hario ETL Certified Kettle
Hario V60
Filters
Hario Skim Grinder
Total: $119
Option 2:
Aeropress
Proctor-Silex Water Kettle
Hario Skim Grinder
Total: $66
Currently, I'm using the first setup. The v60 is a great pourover method. You'll be having the best coffee on campus. However, since it requires the gooseneck kettle it runs a greater price. Last year, I had option. The aeropress is a kick-ass coffee maker, and you can get by with the way cheaper water heater since pour method has no factor on the brew. Either way, you'd have the small hand grinder which is cheap, easy to clean, and does a fantastic job.
Either of these will make a solid cup, better than anything you'll find in a keurig.
Seeing that the dorm space is definitely a temporary thing, I'd highly recommend a Hario V60 pour-over setup.
You can use an electric kettle for the water, the filters are inexpensive for the Hario but you might have to buy online since you can't really find them anywhere in physical retail. [Amazon has them here.] (http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Count-Coffee-Filter-Natural/dp/B001O0R46I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415319722&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=hario+v60+filters)
If you like the Hario V60, you can still use it for a quick cup of drip after you're out of the dorm. I've always found that it gets the best of the flavors out of the grounds every time.
I had the same problem and it was so frustrating. This was recommended to me and I haven’t had one break since!
Hario V60 Paper Coffee Filters, Size 02, 100 Count, Natural https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O0R46I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rQCaBbF1Y01N5
So I'm breaking in a Baratza Virtuoso (Refurb), and have noticed a few things with the beans I'm grinding Saint Frank Decaf. Hario V60-02 with tabbed filters. I've ordered the 'originals' just to see if it makes a difference.
Looking at the Tetsu Katsuya method, the ideal pour completion time is around 3:30 seconds. I've seen other suggestions in the 2-3 minute range for completion.
I'm grinding at a 30 on my Virtuoso, and with the Katsuya method and 20g of beans it takes about 4:30 before everything drips through. What I'm tasting is a little too sour/acidic. Maybe the coffee compass is biasing me, but I'm pretty sure I'm under extracting.
Some of the better pours I've had with this coffee took 4 to 6 minutes to complete (60 bloom, 70 pour, then two 95g pours for a total of 320g water to 18-20g beans). Trying to grind coarser to get finished at 3:30 results in water going through so fast during the beginning stages I don't think the bloom is actually happening.
Maybe it's just the beans - I've read on Home Barista to really not let the 'finish' time get your goat, and do what tastes best. Which I think I'm going to do from now on.
One thing that did sort of bother me is that increasing coarseness does not always seem to correspond to a reduced finish time. Maybe the steps are just that small, but going from a 25 to a 30 should result in a linear reduction in finish time. I feel like I've seen timings all over the map. I need to start over, but I can't shake the feeling that maybe these beans (or the virtuoso?) are producing a lot of fines that clog up the brew towards the middle/end pours. If someone has any insight into this, it would be super helpful.
I haven't yet stripped down the virtuoso to check the adjustment screws. I'm hoping to avoid that. Part of me is wondering whether this particular bean might be better suited for another brew method, like french press - I'm assuming the presence of fines would be less of an issue, but that's just a guess.
What I use frequently:
Volrath Tongs, wooden spatula, industrial size roll of aluminum foil, a beat up pan of some sort and a little rack that fits in it, insulated carafe, burr grinder, coffee roaster, kettle. Here's the versions I can find on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Brew-Rite-Coffee-Filters-100-Count/dp/B0037KM7XS/
http://www.amazon.com/Vollrath-Company-47316-Utility-16-Inch/dp/B00125URGE/
http://www.amazon.com/Dozenegg-B001S353EQ-Plastic-Filter-Medium/dp/B001S353EQ
http://www.amazon.com/Durable-Packaging-Standard-Aluminum-Length/dp/B008ELGV5U/
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Vacuum-Insulated-Stainless-51-Ounce/dp/B00JKMF5C2/
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Bistro-Electric-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0043095WW/
http://www.amazon.com/Le-Creuset-Enamel-Teakettle-Caribbean/dp/B000Q5VX8W/
I had a similar debate with myself when I was in a rut with my Melitta brand 1cup cone (small a hole in the bottom - impossible to alter brew times effectively). Luckily, I had a $3 plastic generic "Melitta" cone (like this one, might be exact same but was cheaper in a store near me https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Coffee-Filter-Number-2-Size/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=pd_sim_79_5?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=MV4E5QM7CJ2NAYRV9AXD) to try first and I think it's comparable to beehouse results. Have had some absolutely stellar brews that are in the same league as some of my favorite Kalita brews. In the end I stopped short of getting a Kalita because this plastic 'beehouse'/Melitta could take any (Edit**: could take the commonly available wedge) filter but was also as damage-proof as a Wave (and was cheaper/I had already bought it). And I'm confident with the same dialing in effort and grinder quality you can get equivalent cups.
Just my two cents - I'm always up for saving them!
Hopefully you find a good coffee maker. You should consider this I have one, and it is amazing! Plus its way cheaper.
Never underestimate stubborn determination.
This is how I make my toaster grilled cheeses. In a vertical toaster, no less.
Or just get these.
They make
disposablereusable sandwich in a toaster bag things.. specifically for this.. here's a quick google for "grilled cheese toaster bags"https://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0
You can buy toaster bags! https://www.amazon.com/Toastabags-Reusable-Non-Stick-Sandwich-Grilling/dp/B001UHNMM0
I would think your pans and bakeware would be fine, and would just be careful of the sponge if it looks gross/caked with food... which is pretty much just common sense.
Not going to lie, irons are pretty underrated, even outside of the game. This guy didn't steal his from the laundry - it was smuggled in through visitation.
Outside of game, hot iron + these = awesome bachelor grilled cheese.
If you like sandwiches, you would love this
Surprise me
(Let me know if I should remove one of the two parts! I'm not sure if its okay to do both)
Amazon! Bitches!
Reusable Toaster Bags. Or better yet, buy a $10 toaster just for you!
I rinse mine briefly. Maybe 3-5 seconds under the faucet. They are already 90% liquid. It' not like the 5 seconds they are under the water is going to do much. Plus fuck perlite. I hate the stuff. Get it off!
Also, I agree with the others in saying to get a dehydrator. They aren't that expensive. You've already invested months in getting those bad boys to sprout... may as well spend the $50-$60 to make sure the final product is good. To me it's like raising a calf from birth, massaging it daily, feeding it organic oats, letting it roam the pasture, and ensuring it has the best life possible. Then you hire a talented butcher to perfectly process the meat. Do you really want to fuck up when it comes time to cook and serve the steaks because it costs an extra $50?
I like to dry mine they throw em in a magic bullet and turn it into powder. I keep mine in one of those vacuum containers that make it impossible to smell anything outside of it.
Also, you'll be surprised how easy it is to pluck a finished mushroom off of the substrate. Apply a tiny bit of pressure and they just pop off usually. You might get a bit of substrate with it so just be careful. No need to cut into the cake.
Congrats on your first grow!! It's crazy exciting so I'm stoked for ya.
http://www.amazon.com/Tightvac-Coffeevac-Vacuum-Storage-Container/dp/B0046JB136/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1395004752&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=vac+coffee+container
For storage, consider one of these. I ordered one last week and it's large enough to hold a 4-piece grinder, an average-sized sherlock pipe, and a 1-pint stash jar with room to spare (EDIT: I just checked, and I can easily fit my MFLB with the charger and batteries, some lighters, a pack of papers, a hemp wick, and probably a few more bits of paraphernalia). I haven't used it long enough to give a legit review, but it will say that it doesn't seem to smell. If it works as advertised, though, it should also extend the life of your trees; I just don't have any evidence for that. Yet.
Have you looked at this one?(or any of the variations by that same brand) I haven't used it myself but the reviews seem good. It doesn't create a true vacuum though, so not sure if it satisfies your requirements.
Degassing
Better roasters have degassing (one way) vents built into their bags to allow for CO2 to escape. I also use one of these coffeevac's to help keep an open bag fresher.. usually for up to a few weeks by purging excess oxygen.
I use a canister like the one in front (except it's white) I found it at Target on clearance a while back. http://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Collection-4-Piece-Ceramic-Canister/dp/B0030IMF8E/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1344132666&amp;sr=8-12&amp;keywords=coffee+canister
but these are very nice options as well
http://www.amazon.com/Tightvac-Coffeevac-Black-1-85-Liter-1-6-Quart/dp/B0046JB136/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1344132666&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=coffee+canister
and
http://www.amazon.com/Friis-16-Ounce-Coffee-Vault-Stainless/dp/B001V9VDP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1344132666&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=coffee+canister
I use a CoffeeVac. Keeps my coffee fresh and I love sticker bombing the hell out of mine.
I keep my beans in these.
There's an air-release button that you have to press to close, so it pushes all the air out, and doesn't let light in either. It's what I use to store loose leaf tea, as well.
Thanks for the info, I ended up going with http://www.amazon.com/Tightvac-Coffeevac-Vacuum-Storage-Container/dp/B0046JB136.
I was looking at it before and since you mentioned tightvac's were good for the money I went with it :)
Thanks for the advice.
Alright, that seems like a good idea. Just got this one on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Tightvac-Coffeevac-Vacuum-Storage-Container/dp/B0046JB136/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426079143&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=coffee+bean+container
Coffeevac 1 lb - The Ultimate Vacuum Sealed Coffee Container, Black Cap & Body https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_SpUuzbW6DQ7H3
Kilovac - 8 oz to 2.5 lbs Airtight Multi-Use Vacuum Seal Portable Storage Container for Dry Goods, Food, and Herbs - Clear Body/Cap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6ZYRWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_SduQxy3d9BcAI
Nothing special, they're made that way. There's a button that releases the air so that the lid can slide down and once you release the button the vacuum seal is created in order to get the lid off you simply push the button allows the air to escape. I've used both the gel and the Boveda packs in them and either work well.
I use this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/ aw/d/B0046JB136/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1412526320&sr=8-1
I buy my beans locally and only grind for each cup.
Edit: I see you are a broke college student. Look into a french press. 20 bucks at target. Match that with the air tight container and a little kettle to boil the water in. All equipment will be less then a keurig and make amazing coffee. Its what I use every morning. Total time from prep to drink is about 6 minutes for me. Longest time of that is getting water to boil and sitting in the French press for about 4 minutes before pouring and drinking.
Tea kettle: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009U5N3K?cache=e935b5e5d734ba5fdeffe9501d889136&amp;pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&amp;qid=1412526572&amp;sr=8-13#ref=mp_s_a_1_13
Looks a lot like the one for an AeroPress.
Aeropress all the way!
It doesn't take much. You can get an Aeropress, a small hand-powered ceramic burr grinder, and some fresh whole beans. You'll make an excellent cup with this setup.
Or just go to a nice coffee shop and try a proper cup (Aeropress, Chemex, pourover or something) to see if you like it.
First off, there are guides for this already which is why people are not responding. They are in the side bar and I linked them again here:
How To Coffee: A Primer
Coffee Gear Suggestions by Price
Now on to my own advice. I am also relatively new to coffee so my advice is based on researching how to get started over the last couple of months
Give us a budget, but under $100 puts you here:
Hey there! I used to be a coffee heretic and then I started roasting. You can't stick with your old ways and expect consistently incredible results when you're trying to produce something incredible.
With that said, you aren't really a heretic. You just have your preference, and it is different than the rest of us. Sure, buzz words like Starbucks and $20 krups grinder are like poison to some ears, but that's not an issue. At least, if you are happy with it then it isn't.
But if you are wanting to stretch yourself in terms of coffee you'll need to look into different options. I don't know what your budget is, so I'm not going to push the $150 grinder on you. But many people around here like the Hario Slim for being small and effective. You may also see the Aeropress promoted around here. It is a popular item around here as well.
Now, in terms of coffee, there are options for you to get quality coffee online. Roasters like Chromatic Coffee offer free shipping to US customers. They are one of my personal favorites. And you may be surprised what a quick google search of your area can find. I'm in a big city that wasn't exactly known for its coffee, but when I searched on Google I found that there are 6 roasters within an hour of my house.
It tastes great too! I use this thing to froth my milk, but really any kind of frother would work. This one heats your milk at the same time which is nice. The "espresso" is technically just coffee concentrate, and the speed depends on how hard you press it. It's an Aeropress. I usually try to push mine out in >20 seconds.
I would break down your "fun" in to categories. If your spending $200 on coffee each month, it might be worth looking in to a coffee maker and some contigo mugs.
I would buy 2, $2-5 coffee's at work every day. So, 20 days of work thats 80-200/month. Since I bought a AeroPress and a nice travel mug that I fill up each day I have been able to put about $100 more into savings each month. I still buy the odd coffee but I prefer the aeropress and specific beans. It only takes an extra 3 minutes in the morning.
May I introduce you to the Aeropress? Sure, you have to heat the water, yourself, and it's better to use fresh ground coffee (which would require a grinder, as well), but you could use preground coffee if you don't want to invest in a grinder. Either way, it will produce a damn good single cup of coffee.
And, yes, I understand that the benefit of the Keurig is for someone who is either too lazy or too pressed for time to make good coffee.
3-Cup Chemex // Aerobie Aeropress
Mini Ceramic Conical Burr Mill // Electric Burr Grinder (Faster than manual, but inferior grind quality and life)
Immersion Water Boiler // 1 Liter Gooseneck Kettle
/r/Coffee — Join Us.
I will literally have my pencil in my hand and look for it. I'm that stupid.
This would be so wonderful to have. It's $0.22 over tho :(. if that's not working, this would be really cool to have.
Why on earth did I do that?
Acquire some whole roasted beans, that pre-ground stuff isn't very good. Get one of these to grind, as it is adjustable and allows you to achieve different grinds with consistent results. I recommend either a 2-cup French Press or an AeroPress.
Experiment with different brew times and methods. If you get an AeroPress, google the 'Inverted AeroPress' method. I prefer it a lot more than the standard method.
coffee! i bought one of these and i haven't drank soda for 8+ months. it really was the caffeine i was craving. that press makes really smooth non-bitter coffee that i can just drink black
So far my favorite is the Aero Press. Because it doesn't require such high temperatures the espresso turns out very smooth and flavorful with almost no bitterness. It can also be used to cold brew if you so choose.
The best part is it is very compact and doesn't take up more than a few square inches of real estate on your counter.
The best coffee I've had comes out of an Aeropress. It's very highly rated on Amazon, and I've heard a few coffee-oriented foodies praise it.
Also, my friend Nik is one of the guys over at Tonx Coffee, a company that provides a subscription-based freshly roasted bean delivery service. He's a pretty good guy, but I haven't personally subscribed yet.
Get this thing and a good thermometer to make the best coffee http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=asc_df_B0047BIWSK1808081?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;tag=hyprod-20&amp;linkCode=asn&amp;creative=395093&amp;creativeASIN=B0047BIWSK It's like a french press but for the 21st century. I just put my water in the microwave and set it for the specific time I figured out.
If it's just one or two people you'll be making coffee for, I'd recommend the Aeropress. I've used everything from a percolator to a moka pot to a french press, and it blows everything else out of the water. Seriously. Beyond the taste and operation, cleanup takes literally 5 seconds.
No, it isn't instant coffee. Instant coffee is freeze-dried coffee that you mix with hot water. Having said that, it is total crap.
My favorite method is grinding, then using an AeroPress. Yeah, I know it looks like a stupid plastic gadget, but they're awesome.
Time to get yourself an AeroPress
Hario Burr Grinder is definitely small and portable. Grinds from fine to course. Espresso to drip.
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Mill-Slim-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464923297&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=hario+slim+mill
Aeropress is also a handy coffee maker to have in your kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464923394&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
I also like to carry with me a traveling mug. You can definitely get a really cool traveling mug, but this is a basic one if you dont already have one.
http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-33208-Stainless-Enamelware/dp/B001Y8R4TC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464923484&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=camping+cups
as far as the kettle goes, i've never looked into kettles that require no electricity or stovetop. Someone else may have to put their input on that one.
and dont forget fresh coffee beans.... :O
I would recommend buckwheat instead of rice/quinoa/cous cous etc.
Bread. All kinds of bread! It's really filling and gives you lots of energy to burn. One time I got a whole 16 oz focaccia round with cheddar cheese and jalapenos and that had to be one of the best things I ever brought into the backcountry. Anyway, bagels/breads with cheese/vegetable toppings are great.
I really like to strain and wash cans of beans(black or dark red kidney), add seasoning (I like any combination of cumin, black pepper, garlic salt, smoked paprika, chili powder) and put it into plastic bags. It's really easy to pack out a plastic bag and it goes really well with buckwheat. Just cook the buckwheat (just as you would cook rice 1 cup water to half a cup of buckwheat as a rule of thumb) and just before all the water is gone add the beans and spices and a little more water and cook for a few more minutes. Probably my favorite backcountry meal.
Nuts(Raw unsalted almonds), dried fruit(craisins), chocolate(dark)... best mid hike snack! Super cheap at costco too! If you don't have a costco card just find someone who does, give them some money and they can get you a gift card then you get in for free! (don't forget to high five!)
Anything that you just add boiling water too is super easy as well, trader joe's has some asian food like this. As long as it's easy to crunch up the packaging and pack it out then it's worth it imo.
The protein bars are a great replacement/back up for sure. I never get beef jerky because it's so expensive (if you look at it per pound) but that's got to be one of the most satisfying backcountry foods (I would assume).
BONUS ^BONUS ^^BONUS Get an AEROPRESS and bring some coffee... thank me later!
...oh man I could go on and on and on... I'll stop here for now
I did join the new sub!
Switching to a better brewing method can cut a lot of the bitterness and acidity and an aeropress is only $30 and a French press would be just as cheap (and let you make more than one cup at a time).
Grad school is very busy so far, but in a good way :)
We can help you out a little better if you had some sort of budget. When I was 13 I got about $5-10 a week from my parents but I knew others that received more or even nothing at all. I'll try to aim for what a typical intro to coffee setup would look like.
So with any method you use the first and most important step is the beans. They should ideally be whole bean and roasted semi-recently (a couple days to weeks ago). This is going to be a reoccurring purchase for you/your parents depending on how often you drink coffee. Price could be anywhere from $7/lb to $15/lb.
Setup 1: You can buy the $8 reusable keurig pod and grind your own coffee. With this method you could get away with using a regular bladed grinder probably. Or you can step it up a bit and buy $25 this hand grinder that gets recommended on here a lot. I have it, it worked pretty well when I was first getting into coffee. You just grinder your beans, fill the pod, and use as normal. Cost for parts: $8-$34
Setup 2: If you get the same $25 hand grinder you can then get either a $24 french press (give a more oily cup, there will always be particulates in your mug, you can also make ~8 cups of coffee with this method) or you can go with the very often recommended, and my current favorite way to make a quick cup, the $26 aeropress. This only makes 1-2 cups at a time but it's hard to make a bad cup with it. Cost of parts: ~$50
You should look of reviews for both the french press and aeropress methods on here or online to figure out what meets your needs better. If these are still to expensive then you can try goodwills or garage sells.
I love my coffee so much! I'm so obsessed with it that I roast my own and brew with an Aeropress. It tastes so damn good!
Already I've been limiting myself to one or two mugs a day. But I'm slowly, reluctantly, arriving at the conclusion that I'm going have to give it up completely. It does "give" me energy (that's actually not true, it's just borrowing my own energy from the future). But it also brings anxiety along as part of the package. I find myself vaguely worried at work that I'm not doing well enough, sometimes even as people are praising what I've just done.
Just something to mention because I see you add coffee in secondary. I recently brewed 12 shots of espresso and used that espresso as the base for my "priming syrup" for half a batch I was experimenting with (I bottled the rest normally, with the simple syrup method). The result has been a fresh, full espresso flavor—even given the fact that it was added to an already powerful imperial stout.
So, assuming you're interested in avoiding secondary even when using coffee, you could give it a shot. I personally secondary all of my beers, but the great thing about "priming" with espresso is you can have whatever process you want up until you bottle and you still get a nice rich coffee flavor.
Oh, and I used one of these to make the espresso. Incredibly handy for a quick latte here and there as well.
This will get the job done. Go read coffeegeek,they'll agree.
Do you like coffee? If you do, try an espresso every morning and it might help to get things moving on a more regular basis. :)
(You don't need a super expensive espresso machine - there are much cheaper hand presses.)
I think you cut too much from the URL.
http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Well, unlike pc gaming (all aiming towards max fps) coffee is and always will be preference
For example, do you want a machine that does everything? Or are you interested in aeropress / French press?
And after you decide HOW you want to make the coffee you then decide WHAT coffee you like. And now this is the hard part because every coffee tastes different.
And that means order different types and brands till you find one you like.
Just remember you will also need to decide how you like your coffee. Cream / sugar / etx.
Here's what I have:
aeropress: https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1491729730&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
-
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder:https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Conical-Grinder-CoastLine-Digital/dp/B018SW3QPW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1491729701&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Baratza+Encore+Electric+Burr+Coffee+Grinder
-
coffee:https://www.freshroastedcoffee.com/
i'd buy from them directly cause they will roast before shipping but they don't deliver to me. so I just buy from amazon. here is my favorite flavor (current, it changes from time to time) https://www.amazon.com/Nebula-Whole-Coffee-Fresh-Roasted/dp/B00CS67CH8/ref=pd_nav_hcs_bia_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;refRID=ZQFRDKX6HMPG7Q1TG6YH
-
under $300
also, for cream i don't use milk i use powdered cream (nestle coffee mate). I find it waters down the coffee (and reduces heat because it's cold) I love hot coffee.
and for sugar I use Brown sugar. Adds a much better flavor then white sugar. but it's all preference
Head over here if you want more responses!
For beans, please support your local coffee shop or roaster rather than buying Caribou or Starbucks. A lot of folks work their butts off selecting and roasting the best possible beans, and it's really special to be a part of that process as the consumer in my opinion. I do understand that it can be hard if you're from a town with limited options.
I know this can all be a bit confusing if you're used to brewing pots of coffee at a time. If you have any other questions, hit me up!
I have a process with an Aeropress that's pretty cool. If you don't have one and love good coffee I would check it out, even if you won't make oil with it!
Make sure the abv is ground up fine. Then put as much as you have/can fit in the Aeropress (use the inverted method - youtube it). Cover with just enough iso so the iso level is right above the ground abv. Stir virgorously for 30s with the attachment that comes with the aeropress. Let it sit for ~15s, then press onto a plate/pyrex/whatever you're going to scrape off of. Let the iso evaporate and scrape with a razor!
If you want to not worry about breakage, forget the French press and find yourself an aeropress! They make really amazing coffee, and are practically shatterproof (I like to bring mine camping, since it's super lightweight as well!)
http://www.amazon.ca/Aerobie-83R01-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1415980487&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress+coffee
I have a Nissan insulated stainless french press that I bought at Zabar's more than ten years ago. It is still working great, and it holds heat much better than a glass carafe french press. The price is about half that of the Frieling.
I've had one of these for camping for years, we've used it hundreds of times, It won't break like class and it holds heat longer if you have small (camping style) coffee cups.
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00004S1DB
Almost everyone has one of these, but they are tried and true as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000020943NP-Classic-Propane-Stove/dp/B00005OU9D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464103110&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=coleman+stove
or a smaller/cheaper backpacking style stove
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Single-Burner-Propane-2000001833/dp/B000BHA9CG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1464103153&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=coleman+backpacking+stove
you'd need to bring a pot/saucepan though for either of these stoves
For those that want a bad ass coffee press that not only works well but keeps your coffee warm for hours
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61AD8-iQVAL._SL1500_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-34-Ounce-Insulated-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00004S1DB
I've already bought 3 of these just so I can have one at work, at home an in my car ( I take studying seriously haha)
I've been using a caffetiere (aka moka pot) for years now, and it produces a decent cup of coffee, assuming your coffee is fresh and ground appropriately.
I also have and use french presses (again OK cups but depends on coffee quality and how its ground, having it ground for a caffetiere and using it in a french press will produce a crap cup, and vice versa).
If your worried about the fragility of the glass bodies of the french presses, then you can get something like this http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-34-Ounce-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Gourmet/dp/B00004S1DB
It also has the benefit of keeping the coffee warm for longer.
As for all coffee making, it can take a while to nail down the technique (including grind) that make a good cup, so experiment, you will make some truly hideous cups, but once you find the correct technique, it will be worth it.
Three excellent options:
1
2
3
I'll probably end up getting #3 one day soon.
I've been very happy with the Thermos Nissan 34oz Stainless Steel Coffee Press.
It's easy to clean, won't break like many other glass presses, and keeps the coffee hot for several hours.
I'm fully gonna look into getting one sometime this week.
This one right
http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-34-Ounce-Insulated-Stainless-Steel-Gourmet/dp/B00004S1DB
I <3 Coffee, I buy a dry medium or dark roast usually, in whole bean form. My typical morning cup is fresh ground and made in a french press. I grind it a little finer than usual, by preference. I heat my water up in a glass kettle on a gas range. Sometimes I add a little pinch of nutmeg to the press in addition to the grounds.
Long ago, when I could afford to have someone in to clean the joint, a number of Boudums were broken in the process. I looked around and found this $25.31 stainless-steel French press. Inexpensive, works well, keeps your coffee hot while you're swilling the litre plus of brew it makes. They never managed to break it. The only thing I've done to it was to drill a second drain hole on the bottom so I could easily drain it out after running it through the dishwasher. (Everything food-related that's not cast iron in my house gets sterilized in the dishwasher.)
What kind of grinder did you get? First party plastic or metal grinder? or 3rd party that can attach itself to the kitchenaid?
I was looking into the plastic one from kitchenaid but heard that it has a high chance of cracking out of the blue or on even on soft meat.
While the metal one is much more desirable. Seems pricey though (CAD)
I'm a big fan of a stand mixer with this attachment: http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-FGA-Grinder-Attachment-Mixers/dp/B00004SGFH
Doesn't overwork the beef, and can make a ton real fast!
I got the cheap kitchenaid grinder attachment a bit ago. It's pretty great for grinding up burgers. Used it for some at home double double's the other night.
Next I want to start making charcuterie.
I've read some bad reviews on that attachment regarding metal shavings and grey ooze left in the food. Do you have one? Any issues like that?
Kurig actually sells the single cup ground coffee cup, let me see If i can find it, I bought mine at Jcp but I don't know if they still have it.
Edit: found it on amazon
Reusable K Cup
There's a few styles out there. I use mine for tea, too.
Really? Then how about this
http://www.amazon.ca/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1393870244&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=keurig+cup
Made by Keurig?
They're trying to get rid of the unofficial one-time use market, not their own refills.
I don't know how stupid Keurig would have to be to believe they can move their 'refill' market into a 'k-cup purchasing' mindset.
Yeah, my sister bought one for my parents for Christmas as their Cuisinart maker conveniently bit the dust a week or so before Christmas.
They started off just getting mass box of Maxwell House pods from costco or something.
I showed them this: http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1393886076&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=refillable+k+cup
and they haven't looked back. Can still use whatever store bought or beans they want, and no waste from the lids & plastic pods. I take it this is what Keurig doesn't want people using?! Pretty silly, considering THEY produced this thing...
if you're using a re-usable gold filter, what exactly ends up in the landfill ?
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
So, I've already got one of these. I'll use it until my Keurig dies and then I'll go back to the standard coffee pot.
There's an additional piece you can buy for about $15. You pull out the part with the needle (where you place your coffee packets). The part you pull out is actually a little funnel. You can replace this funnel with another funnel that has a removable washable coffee filter instead of the needle-poking-packet-holder that Keurig is very well known for. This alternate piece has a twist-top lid to prevent the water from flooding the grinds and sending them into your cup of coffee.
For a single cup brewing and loose tea I like my refillable K cup.
The virtual machine interprets the game disc's machine code (now present as a game ROM) at runtime, but the virtual machine already has prepared translation pathways (from specific 64-bit addresses of the ROM code to software interfaces for rendering graphics or rendering sounds) based on the coding and compilation of the virtual machine to the operating system API's. This is why emulators can be OS specific. If they aren't OS specific, then they've been packaged with pre-compiled libraries for Linux API, Mac OS API, and Windows API.
As an abstract principle, the adapter pattern can be applied to any advance preparation of compatibility between two mechanical interfaces, not just software-to-software interfaces. If you buy a special coffee grounds container that allows you to use your own ground coffee in a Keurig K-Cup brewer, then consciously or not, you're relying on the adapter pattern. Or even a special USB to [Ethernet adapter] (https://www.amazon.ca/Cisco-USB300M-Linksys-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B001NLV4TQ). There are hardware to software interfaces (e.g., firmware and/or operating systems) and hardware to software interfaces (e.g., TCP/IP, I²P) as well.
Some see these as adding waste and I do agree, however.. at our work people use these and use less of the disposable cups. We require employees to bring in their own reusable mug.
for me personally I like the convenience at home when I have guests each can have their own type and I am not brewing a whole pot of coffee for a few cups.
Also, there are Keurig type re-usable K-pods you can put your own ground coffee into.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-Reusable-Coffee-Filter-Single/dp/B000DLB2FI
I use these at home and work.
Who even wastes money on k cups anymore? Just buy one of those things that let you put in regular coffee yourself.
/edit- This thing, http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-Reusable-Coffee-Filter-Single/dp/B000DLB2FI
Since I worked 12 today (thurs) I get Friday off! I'm going to spend it lounging around with the bestie and having a hopefully brief meeting with my counselor. And sleeping. Lots of sleeping.
Oh! And I'd love this if the shipping isn't too much.
Also, I vent all the time on the daily thread. It's very therapeutic. Don't hesitate to express your feelings there. it's a great place to get support and the people here are so great, with so much helpful advice.
You'll need one of these. You can find them nearly everywhere Keurig products are sold.
I use THIS one.
It's not Tassimo, but I use Keurig's refillable k-cup at home. I looked up "refillable tassimo" on Amazon and they had a few options, but I have no idea if they'll fit your pod. Most of them work great.
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI
also, relax.
this is the exact model we have. The little piece the coffe cup is sitting on just slides out, and you can put a tall travel mug perfectly under the spout!
this is the filter you need to use ground coffee, it is easy to clean, and it won't leak grounds.
I love ours, let me know if you get one!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000DLB2FI?pc_redir=1412515536&amp;robot_redir=1
I don't know about the one OP is talking about but it's basically a reusable filter you can put coffee grounds in.
This baby saves me a ton of money on kcups.
Also, your wife is awesome.
Oh thanks tea! I'm super excited and grateful! Need your opinion though, for the reusable filters did you recommend ones like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LHCCR92/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1450026014&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX118_SY170_QL70&amp;keywords=reusable+k+cup&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41vYq1d3Z5L&amp;ref=plSrch) or [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000DLB2FI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1450026195&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=reusable+k+cup&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51Dz0b%2BJp5L&amp;ref=plSrch)? I have never owned a keurig before so I'm clueless!
They sell filters that you can fill with your own coffee grounds for Keurig coffee makers.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000DLB2FI
[This K-Cup Filter] (http://amzn.com/B000DLB2FI) so I can get fresh ground coffee from my favorite local place again. I like to support my local shop, and the coffee is so delicious!
Something like this?
https://www.amazon.ca/Finum-Brewing-Filter-Basket-Medium/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1518708960&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=finum+brewing+basket
LoL. Tea bags...
This is what you should be using. Head to your local tea emporium and get some fresh, loose tea leaves. You'll never want to drink tea from tea bags again.
Try pouring through one of these, brewing in one of these, or getting one of the aforementioned IngenuiTEA's.
Or, you know, you could just drink it if the needles that slip through don't bother you much. It basically comes down to personal preference, some people don't mind sediment and the odd bit of leaf getting past, and some absolutely want a clean cup!
Teasource is a great company you can order loose leaf tea from. Their basic stuff (earl grey, breakfast teas, simple oolongs) is like $6-10/4oz and the nice stuff goes to like $20/4oz.
I like very black teas like some Assam blends for mornings, and greener-oolongs in the afternoons with honey.
And also Harvey and Son’s “Paris” is my favorite bagged tea. Only floral black tea blend I like
Idk if you have a strainer for loose leaf already but they are cheap online and can take you to new places tea-wise. Nice metal ones with really small holes are best
Finum (63/421.50.00) Brewing Basket, medium , black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EeXWAbHYC1EG4
Tea Infuser,Tea Strainer,2 PACK 304 Stainless Steel Water Filter with Double Handles for Hanging on Teapots, Mugs, Cups to steep Loose Leaf Tea and Coffee,Cold Brew Coffee Maker. FDA Approved. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KK731Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TfXWAb6P870HT
THIS Finum brewing basket is decent (similar to the MSR version).
It's funny, I didn't even realize Finum made coffee filters, although that should have been obvious.
Instead I was referring to their very popular Finum basket infuser tea filter, which works perfectly for even very fine tea fragments.
Finum one cup stainless filter
These are awesome. $10. No waste at all. Boil water, add coffee and filter to mug, wait 5 mins. Way cheaper than a french press and smaller. There are bigger filters out there if you need to make a pot.
I reuse the grounds 1-2 more times, sometimes adding a little if I really want it stronger.
Apparently not using paper allows more of the coffee oils to remain (you can see them on top). Good coffee has great flavor.
Also works for tea.
Just get a Finum tea basket and you can use it in a mug. If the neck of a pot is not too wide, you can use it in a tea pot, should you decide to get one. https://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS You can probably find this at your local tea shop, if you have one. Buy it from them along with all that loose tea you are about to try. :-)
Thanks for the reply!
Just checked the FORLIFE infuser, and here in Germany it's ridiculously overpriced. I quickly skimmed amazon.de and found for example this or this. Would they work? Is there anything that I should pay extra for? The first one seems to have slightly better ratings, but it's made out of plastic (if that makes a difference?).
Thanks again! :)
Thanks for the reply! She isn’t as into tea as myself and for whatever reason prefers bags. I actually have a really nice Basket Infuser from when I first started exploring tea more seriously a few years back, and I still use it occasionally (especially when a tea has a good amount of tea-dust or is particularly small). The mesh is quite fine and leaves next to no sediment, and it really gives a great amount of room for the leaves to expand. I offered it to her before but she didn’t seem that interested. I can’t knock it too much, everyone has their own preference.
Coffee is best if you grind and brew it fresh. An Aeropress, a burr grinder, and a decent bean will make an amazing cup of coffee. You won't even want to put sugared shit in it because it tastes so good. Go to Starbucks and get a reserve coffee on the Clover machine if you want to try this brewing method.
Tea is best if you use loose leaf tea. Buy a single-cup, basket-style, tea strainer and some tea. I'd suggest Gunpowder Green Tea to start.
Use this. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=twister_B002WB12XE?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1 Finum brewing basket. I use it at work and when I am out and about and have a limited space for storing things in my backpack. Combined with an alcohol or propane stove for heating water when camping, you should be pretty much good to go.
Ok, that provides a great starting point. Either get a basic, unflavored, tea sampler with classic black teas and maybe a jasmine green tea or go with the herbal sampler.
Since they both consume plenty of coffee, they'll be used to bolder flavors and are fine with higher caffeine (like in those breakfast blends). They also probably already have favorite cups. lol
If you and your family want to venture into loose leaf teas eventually, this finum infuser with any mug is about as hassle free as one can get.
We have a few that are great but aren't made anymore. I think this is sort of the successor:
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS
I wish they made it with a metal rather than plastic frame, though.
I'm curious about this one--if you try it let me know how well it works:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO5KQ4O
Personally, I use one of these when brewing my tea.
I have 2 "favorites" (read: can't afford to try past what I already own) teas that I typically drink, which is Irish Breakfast and Cocomint (which is a rooibos, so I'm not sure if it can actually be called tea). For what teas you should go for, it would help to know what your tastes are (this can be considered a catch-22 as you can't really know what you like/don't like until you've tried it).
Are you looking for earthier teas, caffeinated teas, black tea, green tea, red tea, etc?
One suggestion I can offer is to find a local tea house. The one near me offers really cheap cups of tea which allows you to sample many teas in a relatively short amount of time. Plus, if you do find one tea you really like, they will most likely be able to offer up other flavors that are similar (kinda like the Pandora of teas!).
Some like having the tea leaves float, others use an infuser. It's really your preference. I would suggest this. I use it quite a bit when making tea for myself. Word of advice, tea places like Teavana (while having some fantastic tasting stuff) are incredibly expensive/overpriced. There are much smaller shops that sell loose leaf at perfectly reasonable prices. Davids TEA and Adagio are my personal favorite online tea shops.
I use this tea strainer everyday now. Works perfectly for mugs. I even brew for 2 people each time, just gotta steep the leaves twice. Currently $9, though every time I've bought it, it's been between $6-$7. I'll use teapots still too sometimes - but I find myself using this 98% of the time
Finum Brewing Basket, medium , black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1Nakyb6X68Z5F
> ingenuitea tea maker
I had one of those, and the same thing made by Teavana, and they fell out of use in favor of a simple Finum tea strainer: Amazon link
As someone who has enjoyed the pleasures of his lovely above the tree line many times, I suggest the following:
A. You can enjoy the oral manifestations of the situation
B. Baby wipes can be used to clean up in general, clean the face, hands etc.
C. To get rid of them you just throw them in the fire or bury them like toilet paper.
If you are camping (as in car camping) just bring blankets and forget the sleeping bag. Blankets will absorb the moisture without getting gross and you can just wash them. If you are hiking in and camping, e.g; backpacking then bring some lightweight camp towells and just wipe down when done.
Coffee while camping is easy just get one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1368721513&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=tea+filter
Morning meal? Bring some freeze dried peppers, eggs, onions and potato slices and make a kick ass omelette.
Really I'd recommend getting a filter like this one and an electric kettle. They have some cheap ones (like ~$15) that you should be able to use in your dorm room. Just put water in and hit the button, it shuts off when it's done. There are more expensive ones that allow you to set the temperature which is nice for some of the more delicate green and white teas but in a dorm setting, I'd just go for something like this.
As for tea, I highly recommend anything from adagio. They also have some kettles but they are Stainless Steel and more expensive. They are also the makers of the IngenuiTea which you can get from them or elsewhere. My coworker has one and it's nice. I prefer the strainer I originally linked to because I can just store it in my mug and it doesn't take up that much space.
If you can only own one infuser strainer, it should be this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1518638240&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=finum+brewing+basket+large
I suggest starting with an infuser that can be used to brew right in your cup. This one is my favorite, the large one; not the floating basket. Alternately, or additionally, a small glass teapot is wonderful at first because you can see the color of the brew while you're discovering your preferences. Most loose leaf tea can be brewed for more than one infusion, sometimes many many infusions. An electric kettle is extremely handy, especially if it has variable temperature settings. One that's clear where you can see the size of the bubbles also works for gauging temperature. Ask questions in the forum if you're wondering about anything. Everyone here is keen to help. Enjoy your tea!
I'm a big fan of this one. Well priced, easy to clean, and a very fine mesh.
Some of them are like that. I use ones like this because I find them easier to clean.
These ones are pretty widely recommended.
Basket like /u/picklechip5 is quite handy. Depending on the model and size of it, it can be used for single cup, gongfu style brewing, and for huge pot.
I use it with small 2dl cup when I want 1 cup with western style brewing, I also use it with same 2dl cup if I want 2 smalelr cups with gongfu style. It is not has handy to to use in gongfu style as teaware meant for gongfu, but it allows you to experiment and try out it.
If you want basket that fits all kinds of purposes, I would suggest rather tall one.
I have medium version of[ this one.] (https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1487151192&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Finum+Brewing+Basket) Medium is sometimes too small, and it does not reach bottom of the cup if I use it for gongfu style. But then again, you couldnt be able to cover the cup with plate or other lid if you use large one.
Also, this kind of basket can be later used as a strainer when you get teapot.
I was looking for a new filter, something like This but now I'm really looking into the Perfectea steepers. Thank you!
Back when I was western style brewing everything I used this extensively
basket
Get a brewing basket with super fine mesh such as this.
To brew loose leaf you would need a teapot with an infuser basket or for brewing in a mug you would use a brew basket like this
I've been using [Finum Brewing Baskets] (https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479061928&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=finum+basket+large) for the last decade or so for brewing one cup of tea at a time. The fine mesh is easy to clean if you rinse is out right after steeping. The large one is ideal for most mug sizes. I find the medium-sized basket to be a little too small for mugs larger than 10 oz.
EDIT: If you're looking for a decent and affordable tea pot, [Hario] (https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1479062141&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=hario+tea+pot) makes some good ones. Despite the glass looking thin, it's actually quite sturdy.
I have 3, two 24 oz and a 45 oz. I love them. The infuser on the 45 oz is too small, so I use a large Finum basket instead.
I like the 24 ounce for teas that can be brewed in volume- blacks and herbals, mainly. I use smaller glass pots for teas that can be resteeped, like oolong. The Forlife pots look great, are easy to pour from, have nice brewing baskets (on the 24 oz), they're durable, and the gasket on the lid keeps it in place both with and without the basket.
Oh, tea infuser. I have one of those.
Would this work too? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000J3JFJU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
I already have this.
Oh, that's so lame.
You can also look into systems that use seamless paper filters, like the Kalita Wave 185, but it's a little over $30CAD, especially with the filters ($10CAD).
After experiencing filter issues not too dissimilar from yours, I finally broke down and traded my v60-01 for a Kalita 155 and am kicking myself for waiting so long. Once it's dialed in, the coffee is phenomenal and, better yet, consistent.
I think someone else on this thread gave a better answer on why the Kalita is better than I could. Basically, it's easier to get a more even extraction based on the design (flat bottom, 3 small holes) which leads to a more consistent cup. V60 has a more demanding pour regimen that, if not done the exact same way every time, can end up tasting different.
Here are some links:
Kalita Wave 185
Kalita Wave 185 filters
Kettle that I bought and I'm happy with
I forgot to mention that the Kalita uses proprietary filters. Something about the ridges is supposed to maintain heat and give better extraction since the coffee doesn't touch the walls? I think I read something about that somewhere.
I have used a aeropress in the past but it just felt like a process. If you have the cash I’ve made the best cups in my life on the trail using the kalita wave and filters.
I'm at the coarsest setting on my grinder. I had a great cup yesterday with 26.6g of coffee and 400ml of water.
I'm considering getting the bodum pour over and seeing if it will fit in the Bonavita https://www.bodum.com/us/en/11571-133-pour-over
or the kalita wave https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ and seeing if I can get a pot that fits: https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-E300-4151-Glass-Coffee-Carafe/dp/B0167Z2TUU/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1
The 2 recipes I've found both use this mix from amazon. This is the recipe I'm going to follow
I guess Thai iced tea is tea mix + water + sugar + half & half. How do you normally make your coffee? My go-to is using a kalita wave since it's the one that requires the least amount of cleaning and I find it easier to brew better than a chemex
Well this is gonna get kinda long and will only scratch the surface but I'll break down the pros and cons of some of the most popular entry-level gear in as un-confusing of a way as I can. First up, let's look at grinders.
First off, you want a burr grinder, particularly a conical burr grinder because those blender-y blade grinders they sell at wal-mart for $5 don't get any kind of a consistent grind. Varying sizes in a grind means varying levels of extraction in the cup and that means off flavors. Because burr grinders are more expensive, hand crank conical burr grinders are commonly recommended to beginners because of their lower price point compared to similar quality electrics. They're cheap and work well but do have some drawbacks beyond the extra effort involved in grinding. First, most of them don't have actual grind settings and you adjust the grind size by twisting a wheel until it looks as fine/coarse as you want it to. If you use different brew methods and switch grind size a lot, this can be a bit of a pain. Second, most hand grinders aren't ideal for french press because of the way the burrs are stabilized; they'll give fantastic fine/medium grinds but the coarse grind is a tad inconsistent. That said, I use a hand grinder for french press all the time and am relatively happy with the results. A few common ones are:
The Hario Skerton. I personally have one and love it. As I said, not perfect for french press but it's a durable daily driver that never lets me down and can do an espresso grind damn near as well as a $300 baratza
The hario mini is essentially the same grinder in a different, smaller package. Perfect for travel
The porlex JP-30 is a tad more expensive but has grind settings that, while unmarked, do "click" into place making adjusting grind coarseness a bit easier
If you wanted to go the electric route, I've seen refurbished Baratza encore grinders for around $100. This will give you a mediocre espresso grind but a perfect and much easier drip and french press grind
Next up: preparation methods
French presses use a metal mesh filter, which gives you all of the oils in the cup and lets a tiny bit of really fine coffee solids through, which gives the cup a rich, full-bodied, velvety character They're also very easy to use as there's pretty much one accepted way to brew in them. And here's Philly's own Todd Carmichael demonstrating it. As far as which one to buy, they're all pretty much the same: a glass tube with a stick in it and some mesh on the end of the stick. I like my sterlingpro a lot but the bodum chambord is hugely popular and looks just as nice. Even a cheapo will do the job just as well, though, even if it doesn't look as nice.
pourovers do essentially the same thing as a drip coffee machine just with a lot more input from you, which is good because all but the most ludicrously expensive drip machines are very inconsistent and don't work as well as just doing it your own damn self. With a pourover, you're going to use a kettle or measuring cup with a spout to pour the water over the grounds in a set amount of time (3-4 minutes depending on the grind size) and usually in a very specific manner. Because these use a paper filter, there are no oils or insoluble solids in the cup so the coffee is clearer, tastes cleaner and usually a bit brighter than french press coffee. Popular models include the Hario v60 which is one of the more finicky models. If you decide on one of these, be sure to use a gooseneck kettle like Mr. Carmichael was using in the french press video above. Slightly more forgiving are the kalita wave and the melitta both of which would work fine with a normal kettle so long as it has some type of pour spout. If you want something with very thick filters, so as to produce a very clear cup, and also looks very nice, the chemex is a beautiful thing that produces great coffee, has a built-in carafe, and can make more than one cup at a time. Really more of a replacement for a large-volume drip machine than most pourovers.
The Aeropress is an absurdly popular, extremely versatile, and very well priced coffee brewer which is essentially a huge syringe with a paper filter instead of a needle. There's a thousand recipes online with different ways to use it, all of which produce a different cup.
Also worth noting is that you may want a kettle with temperature control, coffee should be brewed at 195-205F, so knowing what temp your water is helps reduce a lot of the headaches of cooling off boiled water for a vague amount of time. This bonavita is a little on the pricey side but has temp control and a gooseneck, which is always useful
I'm a Kalita Wave fan, myself: http://www.amazon.com/Kalita-Dripper-people-05033-japan/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1426179568&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave
A big perk is that it's stainless steel, so you don't have to worry about it breaking during travel.
Little late to this thread and new to the sub, but hopefully someone can still answer my questions! Before I start I'd like to say that I don't have $300 to spend on a good coffee set with a grinder, kettle and etc.
I've never been a huge coffee drinker but I'm really interested in going for it now. I've only ever had regular coffee brands made in an electric coffee maker and I always ended up adding a lot of sugar and milk because it was too strong. This being the case, my research has showed pour over coffee having a smoother taste than something like a french press, although french press is considerably cheaper!
My biggest question is, should I splurge a little for a decent kettle, grinder and pour over coffee maker to achieve what I think to be my preferred taste? Alternatively, I could easily grab a french press from Starbucks via a friend working there for fairly cheap.
That being said, I'm very interested in the art that is pour over coffee and fine tuning it to achieve better taste. The only problem is, everything I've looked at so far is incredibly expensive to start out and I'm not ready to spend that kind of money into this endeavor just yet. The $20-$30 for the coffee maker isn't the problem, it's the $50 hand grinder and $50 kettle that get me thinking that I shouldn't go down that rabbit hole.
Edit: I found a cheap and highly rated Grinder, an easy to use coffee dripper and a decent sized server but I'm unsure of if I'd need one if I'm only making 1-2 cups at a time. Thoughts on these selections and any recommendations for a kettle?
Unfortunately the cost is slowly racking up past the point of me being comfortable spending it all at once.
You could individually brew two cups, but that sounds like a pain to do.
If you're interested, you could venture in to another pour over brewer like a Hario V60 or Kalita Wave which will make it easier to brew two cups at a time. You'd also have to purchase the corresponding filters.
EDIT:
Also, the info here suggests that the yield of the larger clever dripper is 16oz. How much coffee are you putting in when you brew for two people?
I've got one of the old timey cream colored baby gaggias. I use "Full circle" coffee and espresso equipment descaling powder. Make sure you follow the directions.
I also have some Cafiza, but I only use it to soak parts of the machine. If your machine is like mine, you can remove the screen above the portafilter and there's also a few hex bolts to remove and clean the metal plate above the screen.
The guys from I Brew My Own Coffee use [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Cafiza-Professional-Espresso-Machine-Cleaning/dp/B001418KNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484838183&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=cafiza) stuff to clean all of their coffee gear( i have not used it yet).
Edit: Updated Link
For the espresso: Get a tamper
For the cleaning: Get Espresso machine cleaner like [1]
The basket is porbably a backflush insert, so I assume your machine has a three way solenoid valve: Just put a bit of it in the backflush insert and backflush a few times.
[1]http://www.amazon.com/Urnex-Cafiza-Espresso-Machine-Cleaner/dp/B001418KNS/ref=sr_1_sc_1/190-5191694-6192036?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1410953416&amp;sr=8-1-spell&amp;keywords=puly+caf
Help you learn. You can see exactly what's going on with your shots. Also, it's just cool.
I have this tamp but I'll probably upgrade to a precision. It's a solid cheap option, though:
Tamper - Espresso Tamper - mm... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NJ8MGWZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
And then this leveler:
Coffee Tamper Coffee... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M986PM7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Since I'm in Amazon, you're gonna want to pick up some descaler. There's probably a cheaper option but this is what's recommended by Gaggia:
Gaggia Decalcifier Descaler... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IABPSNY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Then some cafiza to back flush:
Urnex Espresso Machine Cleaning... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001418KNS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
If you're buying used, I'd highly recommend pulling the boiler apart to make sure it's not super gross and just soak it in descaler.
Wow, those are some great videos, thanks for sharing! Maybe I'm a noob at Instagram but I scrolled a few pages and I didn't see any of the Gaggia Espresso.
I was reading that you can use this steam wand on the Gaggia Classic, and I'm guessing they have the same steam wand standard? The little plastic piece at the end that I'm missing is about $20 so might as well do this upgrade for $20.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rancilio-Silvia-V1-V2-Steam-Wand-Gaggia-Classic-Steam-Tube-Conversion-Kit-/271383061059
> The Espresso model doesn't have a solenoid
Well that explains my confusion partly and why all the valves look different in my search. I guess it's just the pump then? Where the plastic water tube connects to the reservoir before the part the heats up. The brass part is the part right before the part that heats up.
EDIT: Here's a picture with the part circled - http://i.imgur.com/YSV6QlN.png
> Get yourself a bag of citric acid from Amazon or wherever and look up instructions for descaling using it.
I have a large container of Dezcal that I used to descale it. Any reason to also use citric acid or should that cover it?
> the shower screen holder
I actually got that part off OK and soaked it in Cafiza to clean it up.
> You'll need a 58mm tamper for that one.
That's what I got with my calipers. I have this one in my cart:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018GGYQWM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;smid=A2XWFJK5V0K9BH
Thanks for the comment, great to hear from another owner and great to see just how capable the machine is.
I use the same stuff on my espresso maker as my glassware; Cafiza. It's very soluble, no residue, and does not affect flavor. I'll wash my glassware once or twice a month outside of very hot water rinses.
I've never used a knockbox, but I agree with the rest. Also:
A small, digital scale in grams. Besides the grind's coarseness, accuracy and consistency are key.
If you're making milk drinks, a pitcher. Milk poured to the crease in the middle is perfect for a (6 oz) capp.
A thermometer for steaming milk, if you don't yet trust your instincts (I don't).
A blind basket for back flushing and cleaning.
Caffiza for occasional deep cleaning.
Nice-to-have: A vacuum sealed coffee canister so that beans stay fresher a bit longer.
Our favorite cups: Cremaware
Coffee has oils in it, and oils go rancid.
Please, buy some Cafiza and clean out your friend's coffee mug.
Others have mentioned that your grind is too coarse but if the fines are something that you've just noticed, they can increase without proper cleaning of your burrs. Get some grindz or run some white rice through there (followed by a few beans until all traces of the rice/grindz have gone). Alternatively, you can strip the grinder and get at it with an old toothbrush.
It sounds like you're entirely starting new, so I can give you some pointers I hope will be helpful. I also run a Breville Infuser, but I have a Ceado E6P.
When was the last time the grinder was cleaned? When was the last time the machine was descaled and back flushed? Consider this to be like brushing your teeth: you do it regularly so you don't get cavities and dental disease. You do not want to wait until things get funky. I clean my stuff about once a month. I also descale once a month because I have hard water; but I used to live somewhere where I only needed to descale once every 6 months.
On cleaning your grinder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVVsTAUzVzM
Grindz tablets: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014J7FUY
Descale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1TiwoJbWA
Our machines do not have a descale mode, but that doesn't matter, you can follow the steps anyway. Also, just buy citric acid, you don't need Breville's stuff. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GNBHPAS/ I always backflush after I descale, so I stop following this guide at roughly the 2 minute mark.
Backflush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1N8HLoW6ew
Cafiza: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004L8RTEM/
You need fresh beans. There's no two ways around this. You can play with this if you like. Old beans are monumentally difficult to dial in, and often it's impossible. I find beans last nearly a month after the roast date, but there's a noticeable drop off after the second week. There's a lot of room for experimenting here, I recommend you do. Also note, that some beans cannot be dialed in. I don't understand the roasting and processing factors, but there is a lot of variation here.
Our machine can be programmed such that it will dispense a fairly precise volume of water with the press of a single button. My 1 cup button is programmed to purge the group head, and my 2 cup button is programmed for a regular pull.
I want you to know that this a really a good approximation, but Breville has a "smart" feature where it will try to "save" the shot if it thinks the pressure is too high. This has ruined a few cups for me, so I only have this programmed for those bad mornings, but otherwise I don't use it.Edit: I'm an idiot. If your pressure gauge is "bouncing" or fluctuating during a shot, most likely your pump is going bad. You can try to service it or replace it, I bought one of these off amazon and it is working: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NMNA138/. I got this because it arrived the same day. This is the actual pump: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077ZRP3GD.
I only use the 2 shot single walled basket, and I have also modified my portafilter to be bottomless. I generally find a good shot is just after the second screw in the pressure gauge, but that gauge is not very helpful.
I bought a few toys to help me out. These are not necessary, and in fact some people will tell you that you don't need them at all. Those people are probably right, but I like my toys anyway.
A funnel: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N693YSS/ A cut yogurt cup can work. It doesn't need to be fancy, I just wanted something fancy.
A pick: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E48EWA/ A toothpick or anything pointy can totally suffice. Again, just wanted to be fancy.
A leveling tool. I have a 51mm because that's what I could find cheaply at the time, but it looks like 53mm are also available now. 51mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BTN1S2C/ 53mm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4Q179B/
A tamp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MUXN53U/ This tamp has a spring inside it. I only bought this because I had a nasty habit of over tamping.
I found this video that I like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMldWhQVMQA I would not tap the filter after the distribution (where he's stirring the grounds), and I tamp gently. I don't twist or turn the tamp.
Dialing in is a trial and error type deal. In general, you want ~16 grams in the portafilter, and want to pull ~32 grams of espresso in ~30 seconds. These aren't hard and fast rules, and there's a lot of wiggle room here.
Find a coin like a nickel or penny and clean it. After you've tamped your portafilter, place the coin directly on top of the grounds, then lock the portafilter in the machine. Remove the portafilter and then carefully remove the coin from the grounds. (Do not pull a shot with the coin in there)
Is there an indentation in the grounds? If so, then you have overfilled the portafilter. If not, you might be good, or the portafilter might be underfilled. A scale will really help here.
To pull a shot, I have my portafilter locked in, and place my mug on top of my scale underneath the portafilter. I will hold down the 2 shot button (doesn't matter, you can hold down the 1 shot button), and keep it depressed for roughly 10 seconds. This is the preinfusion stage. Low pressure water is being introduced to the grounds. I chose 10 seconds because this is when I first start to see espresso appear at the bottom of my basket. You can experiment here. I then release the button to allow the full extraction. I press the button again at ~30 grams to stop the extraction.
I want to emphasize that these are rough guidelines. You may find something entirely different that works. I apologize if I came off as rude or condescending, I'm a bit of a turd by nature. Please ask if you have any questions.
This is the one I use for my breville dual boiler. Coffee Distributor/Leveler tool, Coffee Distributor 58mm, Coffee Distribution Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BZ4CV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6Wz7BbZK2D2S6
I had some channeling issues myself and found that the $20 distributor/leveler tool has really helped. I use it before ramp to make sure the puck is really evenly distributed before tamp
Coffee Distributor/Leveler tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BZ4CV6?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It is a cheap way to make one cup of really good coffee. Uses the same method as other coffee makers, just in a smaller and more pressure-based form where you input the hot water and grounds into the top of one tube, then press another down into it so the coffee comes out into your cup at the bottom. 30 bucks on amazon We have that and a chemex and it's my preferred method since the cleanup and parts are minimal and we don't need more than 1 or 2 cups at a time. Plus, we are coffee snobs and it's better than most coffee joints!
Aerobie also makes this excellent coffee maker
Nice support from the family!
On the topic of lower waste, composting, and coffee. If you’re more of a one-cup-at-a-time user, check out the Aeropress. I use my filters at least twice (rinsing after use obviously).
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker - Quickly Makes Delicious Coffee without Bitterness - 1 to 3 Cups Per Pressing https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_G2TxCb441315J
This was my college starter pack:
boom. Full setup for under $80. You should even have enough to buy a nice bag of specialty coffee from somewhere online like bluebottle or stumptown.
Be warned, it's all a gateway to more expensive gear ;)
I don't understand why anyone would drink that shit. Get good beans, get an aeropress, get a metal filter for it for when all the paper ones that come along with the aeropress run out. Takes like two minutes of your actual time (including putting coffee in the grinder, pressing the button to grind, boiling the water, and pressing the coffee), and gives you a great cup of coffee that has the body of french press coffee without the acidity.
Many folks concur that the grind can make or break a brew (with good beans, of course). For this purpose, burr grinders (which use two cones fitted together to break up the beans to evenly sized pieces) are much better than blade grinders (which just chop up the beans unevenly, like a blender).
For under $70, your best bet is likely the Hario Skerton hand grinder, or their Slim Mill grinder. This would leave you plenty of cash for a french press— most brands will be perfectly fine, Bodum included.
If you wanted to go a different route, the Aeropress is a popular option. Compared to a french press, there are less leftover coffee grinds in your cup and it tends to taste cleaner, but it's a little more finicky in the brewing process. People often dilute Aeropress brews, like an americano.
Check out the side bar for more recs. Cheers to the rabbit hole.
Check this out if you want to up your coffee game. Makes one cup at a time Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_m4FFzb6SX9JNQ
If it comes to esoteric ways to make coffee Aeropress is a wonderfull way to make coffee without much of the
bitter substances
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1491833493&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=Aeropress
I got thermal socks, insulated work gloves, and a gift card to the grocery store from mom. My sister gave me an Aeropress coffee maker. My brother got me This War of Mine and Transistor. More importantly, since I work at a job where you basically sign away any claim to holidays when you hire on and have been on the road for work for the last couple months, I got to spend Christmas with my family.
An Aeropress and some of her favorite coffee maybe? Or a Yama teapot or a water bottle infuser. Or a stylish teapot. People swear that the aeropress makes the best cup of coffee they've ever had, if you go that route then picking up extra filters and coffee should bring you around that $50 mark.
His french press, grinder, and kettle are certainly sufficient for what he's doing. There are certainly upgrades for the grinder (such as this) and the kettle (such as this), but for what he's doing, it's not likely to make much difference.
Others have suggested different brewing methods, which would be nice, but this depends on preference, of course. The Aeropress is probably the best option for someone looking to expand their horizons from the french press.
Given his equipment, the biggest difference is going to come from the beans. I personally have not tried coffee subscription services (such as Tonx), but it sounds like a really neat idea and I've heard generally positive things. Periodically, you get shipments of different kinds of coffee, so you can try new beans.
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1419219350&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress
Try an aeropress. It's like a french press, but way easier to clean. I use it with espresso ground coffee and make americanos.
If she likes coffee, consider getting her an aeropress? People seem to rave about them:
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
A good device for making great coffee is an Aeropress - it's really portable, doesn't need power and is about thirty bucks. If she doesn't have one, might be a good buy.
A nice desk lamp perhaps? You can get some cool, unique ones from Etsy, refurbished vintage and inventive ultra-modern ones. Something to write under into the wee small hours.
I made a video on this with the almost exact same title a few months back, but it was more focused on the "lazy" aspect haha. But I don't think you need to spend $100 for personal (single cup) use, you can get an Aeropress for $25, a
Hario Skerton for ~$40 OR a Hario Mini Mill for ~$30, and
a scale that measures grams for $10 (American Weigh Systems makes cheap digital scales)
All on Amazon-- but the scale is really only important until you get enough practice, and you'll start to eyeball everything. That's basically all you need other than the coffee. Specialty coffee is tough to get under $20/bag, maybe cheaper with a subscription. With the coffee, it's less than $100, albeit not by much.
For what it's worth even if you don't use specialty/single origin coffee, you can still get better coffee out of an Aeropress and a Skerton using fresh ground whole bean bulk coffee from say, Wholefoods, than you could with a Mr. Coffee machine and some Folgers.
Completely agree with /u/milehighmischief 's comment though, if you're using old or burned coffee, you're gonna have a bad time.
This! but only if you want to greatly improve the quality of your life.
For Me these candies are amazing, might want to look into some yourself too!
Hey there - I'm a regular at /r/coffee--definitely join our sub. There are quite a few ways you can modify and up your coffee game.
In regards to your post--there could be a few things:
Also - maybe you can add a sweetener to help with the bitterness.
Where can get an Aeropress from? Amazon has for 109 & 201 while noon has for 152.
How is it different from Ikea's Upphetta?
On a whim I picked up an Aeropress for trail coffee, since it seemed like a lightweight (6.4oz) alternative to the single cup glass/metal coffee press I was using (12oz or so). Not a fan of the paper disk filters, so I picked up a perforated stainless reusable filter (only adds 0.32oz). Turns out, not only is it smaller and lighter, it makes incredible coffee.
Gear
Coffee!
can I buy one like this or are there $200 ones I need to know about?
Hario Minimill
Aeropress
Find a local coffee roaster. You now have the best cup of coffee you have ever had.
High:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01MCW72E6/ref=mp_s_a_1_12?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1481169194&amp;sr=8-12&amp;refinements=p_72%3A2661618011&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=wireless+projector
Low:
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
I'm interested in this post as well. I saw people here recommend the Aeropress before to a college student and I've been considering getting one, but I've still been hesitant to spend even that much money. I'm pretty lazy and if I spend the money I want it all to be simple enough that I actually use it.
Edit: also take a look at the user-submitted pics on the amazon site... looks like the thing warps from hot water and regular usage. So yeah, maybe not the best option...
And even better homemade grind yourself coffee with a $25 Aeropress is anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar.
College student here, this is my cheap yet effective setup that I just got for Christmas
Aeropress $22
Hario Slim grinder $23
[Basic electric kettle] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEQDF7C/ref=twister_B00DEQDEXW?_encoding=UTF8&amp;psc=1) $15
American Weigh scale $9
Basic thermometer $9
Grand total: $78, still less than a Keurig!
Happy Mug sells beans for $14/pound shipped. At 17g of beans a cup, you can make almost 27 cups of coffee with a pound of beans. This comes to about 52 cents for a cup of coffee, which is comparable to cheaper K cups.
Also, as a former dark roast addict I suggest you start a little more towards a medium roast. I got a lighter roast with my first bag of beans after walking into a local roaster and grabbing what was available. The sweetness took a little while to get used to (I didn't know coffee could actually be so sweet!) but it really accentuates the differences between great coffee and "common" coffee.
No problem!
The Aeropress is a single Brand -- Aerobie (makers of the famous flying disc, oddly enough). There's a few different packaging options, but anything like this will be perfect. If you've got any local coffee-focused cafes you might be able to buy one there.
French presses come in all sorts of different brands, and really it doesn't matter all that much. Ikea makes cheap ones that people seem fine with, but Bodum seems to be the "standard". I used to have the Bodum Brazil, I believe, and it served my needs perfectly.
The Aeropress is a single-cup coffee maker (as in 6-8oz), whereas a french press is capable of making a lot more depending on its size. They're both great, simple ways to make great coffee.
Aeropress
Oh I'm talking Seattle's Best from a bag at the grocery store. I've had it in Seattle and it tastes better at home IMO. The stuff that is roasted locally is by far better than anything you're going to find that's mass distributed. Turkish coffee IS AMAZING. The grind is the bitch on that one. A lot of home grinders just don't go that fine. I use a Bialetti moka pot for home espresso which turns out lovely. My friend has an aeropress for backpacking, she also just happens to use it every day. It's pretty nifty.
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK
Regarding coffee in the freezer, when you put things in the freezer, unless they were previously flash frozen, it does crappy things to the moisture in the objects being frozen. Coffee beans aren't perfectly desiccated and they can get freezer burn as well as get funky taste from moisture condensing on the inside of the package before freezing. Unless you're trying for some reason to keep it for years, you should store it in a cool, dark place in an airtight as possible container and use it within a week of unsealing/roasting depending on how close to roasting you were able to purchase it.
Drip coffee makers can be had pretty cheaply; you should get one. It will taste better than coffee warmed in the microwave.
Edit: if you want really good-tasting coffee and don't drink a ton of it, get an Aeropress.
I got the Aerobie Aeropress coffee maker for my brother who has similar tastes and loves coffee. I've heard it makes a great cup of coffee and is kinda fun to use.
I had considered that, and a french press again to replace the one I broke... but I ended up getting an aeropress with stainless steel filters instead. Even buying filters seemed like a waste to me. Plus paper absorbs all those good oils. After having it for about a week, i'm happy with it.
Now I just need a grinder and a proper kettle and/or something to measure temperature to up my coffee game a bit more.
I'm not sure what hie current brewing method is or his time frames for drinking coffee, but I'd recommend getting him an Aeropress! Seriously, when I started out with the Aeropress I just bought preground Millstone cofffee, and it made it a thousand times better. If you can, find a local roaster (for freshness) and grind it there (maybe) before giving it to him.
The rest of /r/coffee can chime in about whether it would be better for him to use a blade grinder right before he makes it, or a burr grinder in store way before he makes it, as I'm not sure.
Trader Joe's beans
Craigslist for a cheap burr grinder.
Clever or Aeropress to brew
Get an Aeropress! They make single cups of coffee in less than 2 minutes and they make the most intricate, strong, personal cup of coffee you ever had in your whole life. I love my fucking Aeropress.
well tea is a totally different thing than coffee and some teas you can only steep once.
for office use I use an areopress with a hand grinder and a metal strainer
uses a lot less coffee than a pour over
warning your colleagues wont shut the fuck up about how interesting your coffee maker is
Right now the only things I use are:
The kettle is overkill for an Aeropress, but I also have a couple pourovers that I sometimes use, and those benefit from a gooseneck. Namely a Hario v60 (cheap, but excellent) and a Chemex (not cheap, but excellenter).
> I really want to learn to make good coffee at home so that my wife is happy to wake up in the morning. Plus, I'd like to save some money instead of going to Starbucks every morning. I don't personally like coffee (I wish I did. Closest I came to enjoying coffee was drinking a caramel brulée latte from Starbucks last Christmas) but I find the craft of it absolutely fascinating. And I'm really interested in learning to get my wife's perfect cup of coffee down to a science. (And if I learn to enjoy coffee, all the better)
So I started down this exact path about 8 or 9 years ago for my gal as well. I also had no interest in coffee but enjoyed the convergence of art & science.
Anyway the following is what I ended up with [and what I paid].
You can be patient like I did and buy over time to get things on sale but after owning each item for multiple years now I can wholeheartedly recommend each component.
All in a buddy was using a Keurig for the past few years and when it broke he reached out to me for the same thing. He bought everything but the scale (it was almost $70 when he was buying) and his wife is in LOVE with the setup. The neat thing is once you get the grinder and scale your options to multiple brewing methods opens up. Then with the water kettle you can then use it all for the Aeroporess, Kalita Wave, Chemex, V60, Clever Dripper (ETC) brewing methods.
Anyway once you have good enough gear you can then start trying finding local roasters and different beans. We have tried a few local joints and just recently found a few beans roasted fresh that are substantially better than anything we were purchasing in grocery stores. Alternatively there are SO many online stores to try (and a biweekly friday thread on r/coffee for what beans people are currently trying).
Compared to the $5+ a drink at starbucks we make great coffee at home for typically less than $1 a cup and it takes less than 5 minutes all in, including cleanup.
I bought an Aeropress with a metal filter. It creates no waste outside of the grounds and takes 30 seconds to make the best cup of homemade coffee I've ever had.
If you're really set on the coffee pods, you could get pretty much any Keurig K-cup thing, none of them are too big and brew individual cups. But if you want good coffee, the cheaper, albeit more involved option, would be buying something like a french press or the aeropress. Each allows you to control exactly how much you'd like to brew and gives you greater control over the strength of the coffee. Each of these carries a small learning curve and requires a few minutes out of your time and might be too difficult to have in an office setting- but they make good coffee and are very small and cheap.
I personally would get the following way sooner if I was building my kitchen all over again.
Also if there is a place you can get bulk spices near by I would go there for your spices, because if you havent already noticed spices are pricey at your local megamart.
Lavatools Thermowand - Same form factor as the much more expensive thermopen but at 1/3 the price.
Lodge cast iron skillet - great for searing meats or as a good starting pan.
OXO Bench Scraper - Makes prep work much easier and safer as you don't use your knife to scrape your food off the cutting board.
Immersion Blenders - When you dont want to use your big blender or want to blend something in your pot or pan.
Stainless Steel Cookware - Has a little bit of a learning curve but is great after the fact.
Aeropress - Life is too short to make shitty coffee.
Edit: added a thermometer/spelling
I'll caveat that I drink coffee black, but with the sweet taste coming from the soylent the slight bitterness from the coffee and cocoa powder helps balance that out and makes it easier to drink. The Aeropress actually does a pretty balanced job of extracting the coffee flavor while avoiding overly obnoxious flavor.
Edit: Link to Aeropress, I was on my phone earlier.
Use an Aeropress. Does the same job, but better. Faster to clean also.
.... this looks like regular coffee to me
Hello! Happy birthday to your father! As a fellow coffee drinker, why not get him a fancy coffee machine? It isn't too complicated so it's something he could use every day, but it'll make a damn good cup of coffee -- which, I've found as I get older, I enjoy great tasting food and drink more and more and material objects less and less. Maybe that's just because I REALLY love food haha.
http://www.amazon.ca/Aerobie-83R01-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1427734256&amp;sr=8-9&amp;keywords=chemex
Free shipping :D
For sure. You don't even need fancy equipment like espresso machines or those Nespresso pods to make amazingly good coffee!
Get yourself an Aeropress for $30 and you can make espresso quality coffee for no more than the price of the coffee beans/grounds.
Add to that a small hand grinder for a similar price so you can freshly grind your own beans and you have all you need to make cheap amazing coffee!
I used to spend $4 every work day (AUD prices), on coffee, $8 if I felt like 2 of them. That is a minimum of $80 per month! I now pay $18 for a 500 gram bag of gourmet coffee beans that lasts about the same amount of time.
Instant Coffee is certainly a LOT cheaper again, but also tastes awful by comparison.
Use this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047BIWSK/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
with this http://gawker.com/5567305/192-proof-russian-vodka-will-be-new-yorks-strongest-liquor-yet
There are some very affordable burr grinders out there, and it's worth the investment. You'll use it pretty much everyday. Hand grinders can be very cheap, and work great. Hario Skerton is a popular choice (I've seen it around for cheaper, but this is at least what's on amazon). Plenty of options, all varying in price. There's a pretty decent burr grinder from Kona I've used before, which I got for like $20.
But manual grinding can take some time. And if you're like me, and you want some quick coffee in the morning, then it's worth investing in an electric. There are some pretty decent electric burr grinders out there. You really don't have to pay a fortune. Here are a few cheap options:
Capresso Infinity
Bodum Bistro
Baratza Encore
But you can get far snobbier than just grind...
What kind of water are you using? Hopefully filtered, not tap. And definitely not distilled, since you want some of those minerals for flavor. Now, if you want to get even fancier, try using these mineral packets. I think each packet mixes in with 1 gallon of distilled water. I haven't tried it myself (I just use a brita) but I've heard good things. The quality of water makes a huge difference. This was the first "eureka" moment for me, when I moved from tap to filtered.
Next, how are you making your coffee? There are some great, cheap equipment out there. In this sub, here are some pretty cheap and popular choices:
Aeropress
Chemex
Pour-over
French press
We're getting pretty deep in the rabbit hole, right? Not yet! How about measuring the weight of the coffee? Consistency is important. You need the same, proper coffee-to-water ratio for the best cup. You can find people debating over the best scales, some costing hundreds. I'd just get a cheap one if I were you. You can find some decent cheap ones from like $10 to $30. If you want the best bang for your buck, look into American Weigh Scales.
I guess I can mention temperature of water as well. You can get thermometers or even electric kettles with built-in thermometers (like this). I think temperature matters so much more for tea than coffee, but it's something you need to keep in mind for coffee as well.
Here's probably the most important thing, in my opinion: where are you getting your coffee? What is the roast date? Unless you're buying your coffee directly from the roaster, you're probably not buying freshly roasted beans. It makes a world of difference. Try finding a local roaster and getting your beans from them, freshly roasted.
I'm sure there's plenty of other ways you can splurge money on coffee, but I'll let you figure it out!
(edited to fix the links)
/r/Coffee is the reason for my search. I just ordered http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047BIWSK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1
and
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JZCF2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1 They should arrive today.
Will 60(vg)/40(pg) and 50(vg)/50(pg) work in a pinch?
How much pressure builds up if you use a lid?
Is there a way to let it vent without losing moisture/juice?
Will this press I ordered off of amazon work fine?
If I'm using 0 nicotene ejuice that I bought from an ejuice store, will the heating process fuck everything up flavor wise? I assume the squeezed out thc and plant matter might do that anyway.
I would look into an Aeropress. Cheap and makes amazing coffee and hard to screw up.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK
I doubt I would have agreed with this comment so much a year ago. But, then I bought the Bonavita (basically this with a glass carafe). And, I use the scoop from my Aeropress - 1 scoop of finely ground coffee for each cup I'm making.
I finally have strong coffee at home that is easy to make.
It's made all the difference!
Here's a couple of links for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AeroPress
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK
http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm
I don't know what insta-folgers is unless you mean a freeze dried crystal coffee. I've used folgers coffee bags but it was a long time ago and before the aeropress. The taste of instant coffee is much different than fresh coffee brewed from beans. It may take a little while to get used to drinking it vs. Instant. I've never used instant coffee with the aeropress, but I don't see why you couldn't.
I can tell you that I have a French press, conventional drip coffee maker, keurig and the aeropress, and I use the aeropress every day. It makes an excellent cup of coffee.
Edited to add: about the deposits on mugs, coffee pots, etc. An easy way to remove them is to put a large amount of salt and a little vinegar in the cup or whatever and use the salt to scrub the deposits off the cup. If they're really bad, it may take soaking in the salt/vinegar solution to remove them. The salt/vinegar solution should be like a paste. Just keep scrubbing and add more salt or vinegar as necessary.
Get an Aeropress. They're easy to use and difficult to use incorrectly.
Also, buy fresh coffee either through a local roaster or online. I personally prefer Counter Culture.
Can't go wrong with an Aeropress and a [Hario skerton](
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001802PIQ). You could also substitute the skerton for a Hario Mini Mill, same basic thing, just different sizes.
For coffee, check out the aeropress. I got one a few weeks ago and if you can make water warm, you can make delicious espressos, americanos and coffee with very little clean up required. The only downside is that it is a one cup at a time process, so if you have a big group it's a hassle.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK
Hey /u/Take42, I saw these and thought you might want to add them to your wishlist, for your coffee addiction. :-)
Stainless Steel Travel Press
Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker
> I maintain a coffee maker and a rice cooker, exclusively.
Dude same here. I use my rice cooker to do so many things, and it's awesome. I also have a toaster oven, though, since I can't toast bread or make pizza bagels in a rice cooker (as much as I'd like to). And of course coffee is a necessity. I have an aeropress and a Hario coffee grinder and I love them both.
As a heavy coffee drinker; I recently got the AeroPress Coffee Maker and Love it. Tack on some good coffee and I think it would make an excellent present.
Not gonna get much kcup or similar love here. They are common for this use but make overpriced weak bad coffee. Have to mention it as it is the mass market solution.
French press is good work kit, but can be messy http://amzn.com/B000KEM4TQ
Aeropress (http://amzn.com/B0047BIWSK) is my work setup.
I used an electric moka pot at work for a while but it was awful loud for a cube, easy though, and moka is somewhere between coffee and espresso. Good conversation piece also. http://amzn.com/B000TDDVL8
Grinder also? Highly recommended to grind right before brew, http://amzn.com/B001804CLY
Good luck!
It worked! I still have to perfect it but I used the paddle attachment with the rubber side and I only had to mix by had for another 10-15 mixes rather than 40-50 - amazing!
KitchenAid KFE5T Flex Edge Beater Dishwasher Safe, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004A15870/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_H8c2CbRKWZ727
I also just sifted the flour and sugar, I didn’t use the food processor.
Overall this was a great experiment and I cut down a lot of time and dishes and still had pretty good macaron.
I will continue the testing and perhaps will try those Costco egg whites too!
Thanks everyone!
I had this before, and it was pretty good, but it still left a lot of batter on the sides of the bowl. I got this one for Christmas, and while louder, works a lot better in my opinion.
Happy Pi Day!
3.14159265359
This beater so I don't have to scrape the side of the bowl getting batter all over my hand.
Enjoy your pi day!
If it has a 5, it means it has a 5 quart bowl, 45, 4.5 quart.
If your kitchen aid has a tilt head, then then you can buy the smaller one (i.e. this ) if yours is a "bowl lift", you'll want this. However, be careful on the last one, for it's plastic. It should be fine, but if your batter is super heavy it might break and need a replacement with a metal base (like I had to).
That's a great deal, but I found you a better one, especially if you have Amazon Prime. https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KP26M1XNP-Professional-Bowl-Lift-Stand/dp/B0002Y5X9W
Use the extra to upgrade the whip https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KN211WW-11-Wire-Whip-Bowl-Lift/dp/B000PJ6XGQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526273662&amp;sr=1-1-fkmr3&amp;keywords=ka+11+wire+whip+attachment+pro+600 and the flat paddle with scraper https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KFE5T-Beater-Tilt-Head-Mixers/dp/B004A15870/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1526273755&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=kitchenaid+flat+paddle+with+scraper
OMG I wish the 11-wire whip and the flex edge paddle were that cheap when I bought mine. I pd regular price :(
I did these links quickly, so double check that the accessories are the correct ones for the model number. The reason upgrading these is great is that both of these are dishwasher safe and the ones that come with the mixer are not, plus, if she bakes a lot more, having extra parts comes in handy. This will make your mom soooooo happy!!
Edit: To go along with them being DW safe, both accessories are mountains better than the ones that come with the mixer. More wires means more air, and flex edge means less scraping the bowl. :)
I would highly recommend this. The coffee tastes better and works great. Also environmentally friendly. There is a small gasket on the needle that needs to be adjusted for the reusable cups to work right.
Try the ekobrew with the paper filters
The fix for expensive cartridges, and a solution to use your favorite fresh ground coffee beans. I make a mug full every morning and that's it. For this purpose it's incredibly quick and convenient.
i would be interested to try this one as well, in terms of reusable k-cup adapters: http://www.amazon.com/ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323401794&amp;sr=8-2
Eko-Brew K-Cups are great if you're looking for a fresher solution. http://www.amazon.com/ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW
They let you put your own coffee into a K-Cup and brew that.
Alternatively
Get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/
And a box of these: https://www.amazon.com/Optional-Coffee-Filter-Ekobrew-Single/dp/B00H4F3A88/
Drop the filter into the cup, the lips will match up, don't force it down into the basket, the cup will close and seal around the lip of the filter just fine. Grind your coffee a little finer than usual, fill until the filter is 3/4 to 7/8 full, gently pack it with your thumb, insert into Keurig, hit the smallest cup button. It's only slightly better than a run-of-the-mill drip machine but it's decent enough to be enjoyable without additives.
Edit: This will never net you great coffee, only slightly better than a Black and Decker drip machine coffee. It's pretty much the best product you will ever get out of a Keurig. Have fun.
It depends on the packing - if you tap it on the counter to settle the grounds in and fill about 3/4 full (doesn't it have a 'fill to here' line in it?) then that should give you more than brown water.
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/ekobrew-stainless-steel-elite-k-cup/s100225?a=1552
That's ridiculously expensive but it's all steel and looks like it'll brew well.
I actually have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW but it has a screen on the sides and bottom, letting the water flow out barely touching the grounds. I added some tinfoil inside to force the water to stay in the cup a few milliseconds longer to get better brewing.
I'm making a pot of coffee right now, though I'm probably only going to have a cup or two. So much coffee is going to waste! That's why I have a refillable cup for K-Cup Brewers on my wishlist. It's only $5! I have a Keurig, but the K-Cups can be so expensive.
As for a song suggestion, First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes.
Thanks for the contest!
Noooooooo.
That was basically the best reusable k-cup sale. Compare to a single reusable cup for $8 of comparable quality. http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW -
Buy an ekobrew
Obviously not as cheap as your solution but faster than the my k cup machine and (if applicable) your co workers won't get mad that you took the machine apart to use it.
You can buy refillable cups on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1425495809&amp;sr=8-5&amp;keywords=refillable+kcup
Use in my 2.0 and it works great. Has two bright neon orange stickers that attach on top of the cup that trick the 2.0.
no, there's lots of reusable k-cups out there made by third parties. don't see them getting sued back to the stone age.
Not the OP, but these are the ones I use from time to time: http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY/ref=sr_1_1/191-9931987-0792068?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413771832&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=crock+pot+bags
They're very handy
Ugh Reddit ate my longer post. Maybe something like this would be OK with the missus? http://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Metals-00504-Cooker-Liners/dp/B00578EKRY
I use this one. https://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-Coffee-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1484700930&amp;sr=8-6&amp;keywords=aeropress+metal+filter
Able brewing Disk
You can even get a reusable filter on it. Kickstarter projest S filter or Able brewing disk filter. I don't have either one but I'd think finer mesh S filter is better. Not a big investment though.
Just the standard one I guess.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Able-Brewing-Coffee-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME
I haven't tried any metal filters.
Yeah you dont need paper filters in this case.
Heres one from amazon They also have a "FINE" version if you want less grit.
If you can wait a bit in shipping, since you're in the UK this is also great which charges 1 pound for shipping.
You can buy a more budget one it's the same idea, but I can't comment on the quality.
This looks well reviewed
Package Contents:
Optional:
Upvote for you!
Waste no time, go buy the metal filter.
http://smile.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1404348677&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aeropress+disk
You may already be aware, but you can get a metal filter for the aeropress. Lets the oils right on through. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_OMTNub1HGC0CJ
I've been using the metal Able filter disc for my Aeropress and it looks like some grounds have plugged up the holes.
Any recommendations on how to get them out? I tried just blasting it out with water but it doesn't seem like it worked.
EDIT: This is the one I'm using
A metal Aeropress filter.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E58P7ME/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1518537255&amp;sr=8-4&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=aeropress+metal+filter&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51slHAaSNiL&amp;ref=plSrch
Aeropress with a metal disc filter.
You'll miss some of the earthy muddy richness, but not nearly as much as you would with a paper filter.
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1422589335&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aero+press
Cleanup is easy and the coffee to great.
>Trying to get into coffee at home, looking for shops that offer gear, like a grinder, French press, and kettles, stuff like that.
You're better off ordering online. Get a burr hand grinder. Electric grinders can burn the beans and you can control how course the grinds are with the hand grinder.
Get an Aeropress for espresso. Or can also be used to make regular coffee. This is better than a french press, imo.
By hand grinding fresh beans and perfecting using the aeropress, you can't achieve a better cup of coffee at home.
I don't know your situation so I am wary of contradicting your medical professionals, but you could check out the aeropress, it is supposed to make less acidic coffee that bothers your stomach less. Coffee doesn't bother my stomach anyway, so I can't say if the aeropress is actually better in that regard, but it makes a great cup of coffee that might be easier on your stomach.
I've had bodum glass break repeatedly on me... cheap fix, but annoying.
Perhaps one of the ones intended for camping, GSI makes a few nice ones.
But! I'd recommend skipping the french press and getting either an Aeropress or a handled Chemex.
The chemex is glass, but well made... the aeropress is plastic, but also well made. I have a chemex from the 60s, so they're lifetime items if handled well. Plus it makes better coffee, imho.
An Aeropress also lasts forever and is cheaper. Filters are low-cost too.
I thought the aeropress was neat: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0047BIWSK?cache=66cba586495308b05c528073bbf678cd&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;qid=1405871857&amp;sr=8-2#ref=mp_s_a_1_2
A possible compromise: Try a reusable K-Cup with your own brand?
It's no french press, but works for me. Either that, or grab an electric kettle like /u/p1nh3ad suggested.
They have a french press but it doesn't appear to be in the sale. http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-34-Ounce-Insulated-Stainless-Steel/dp/B00004S1DB
They're great.
I would highly recommend buying one of these though for those times when you do want fresh coffee, and for anyone else wants to use one:
http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375287013&amp;sr=8-1-spell&amp;keywords=refillabl+k+cup
Accessible enough with practice. That is a Kalita Wave and that particular model is metal. (They do make other materials)
Some things on this list can be substituted for cheaper items. Good luck future nectar drinker.
List of items:
http://www.amazon.com/Kalita-Dripper-people-05033-japan/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1416627319&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=kalita+wave
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B009GPJMOU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1416624531&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SX200_QL40
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IGOXLS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1416624566&amp;sr=8-1&amp;pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Some things on this list can be substituted for cheaper items. Good luck future nectar drinker.
I keep a bag of these Grinding beans for when I run something oily and nasty through it like that. It gets gunky after a single hopper of that stuff.
Wow, nobody has suggested the aeropress yet. Unbreakable. Paired with a small hand-crank grinder, you can take amazing coffee anywhere. This is my exact setup:
http://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker-Filters/dp/B001HBCVX0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375100557&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
and grinder:
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375100557&amp;sr=8-8&amp;keywords=aeropress
Of course, if you're making coffee for more than one person, it's a huge pita and the Chemex is good advice.
The thing is, the brew method isn't even that important. The more important thing is the grinder and freshly roasted beans. If you're up for spending some money there's this:
http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Vario-W-Coffee-Grinder-985/dp/B0058J1XMC/ref=sr_1_6?s=home-garden&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1375100733&amp;sr=1-6
If you have a nice grinder, you can by a 5-10 dollar "dripper" and be in business. Or even just a large glass mason jar (cold brew), or "cowboy coffee" and you'll be drinking some damn good coffee.
Forget Mason jars.
These things are awesome
Coffeevac 1 lb - The Ultimate Vacuum Sealed Coffee Container, Black Cap & Body https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046JB136/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-AmaCb45PTRR1
https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1496029344&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=aeropress
Aeropress has no waste (with the stainless steel filter), costs $30, uses no electricity, and takes 3 minutes to make a cup of coffee that doesn't taste like a charcoal smothered dogs asshole.
North Americans are lazy consumer whores.
> I can make it ANY strength i want (you know, meaning it wont taste like flavored water). And i can use any coffee bean i want in the entire world to make it. None of these ring true for the Keurig.
I can too with one of these, most of us use these.
http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/
Takes 30 seconds to make a cup, not 5 minutes.
http://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1451249738&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=aero+press
Your welcome
passive-aggressive response, OK. I am only saying every item sold on amazon has affiliate links to some other store. The example provided also had a affiliate link to some other store. There is no way to post a amazon link to some item where someone else profits from it. I'm not intending to be passive-aggressive. I am only saying this link directs you to the same item as this link Sold by Barista Lab and Fulfilled by Amazon in easy-to-open packaging. I understand what you want and it will not happen again.