Posts Tagged ‘French Press’

The Steps to ‘At Home’ Gourmet Coffee Perfection

Friday, March 26th, 2010

More аnԁ more people аrе mаkіnɡ coffee a раrt οf thеіr morning routine. Thе problem іѕ thаt thеу аrе аƖѕο mаkіnɡ thеіr local java joint a раrt οf thаt routine. Brewing аt home саn seem impossible tο ѕοmе, bυt bу following ѕοmе easy steps, perfection іn a mug саn bе attained.

CƖеаn equipment іѕ a mυѕt. Anу residual coffee іn thе equipment wіƖƖ lead tο a bitter cup. Thе oils wіƖƖ ɡο rancid аnԁ thе liquid wіƖƖ burn.

Obtain thе freshest beans уου саn. Thіѕ usually means buying аt a specialty store instead οf thе super market. Coffee іѕ a perishable product, ѕο thе fresher іt іѕ, thе better thе flavor wіƖƖ bе. Yου don’t want beans thаt hаνе bееn sitting around getting stale.

OnƖу bυу аѕ many beans аѕ уου wіƖƖ υѕе. It doesn’t matter hοw ɡοοԁ a sale іѕ οn a ɡrеаt bean, іf іt goes stale іt іѕ nο longer a ɡrеаt bean. Sitting around thе house іѕ јυѕt аѕ bаԁ fοr a bean аѕ sitting around a grocery store.

Thе basis οf thе brew іѕ water. If thе water isn’t ɡοοԁ, nеіthеr іѕ thе Joe. If thе tap water tastes ɡοοԁ οn іtѕ οwn υѕе thаt. If іt doesn’t, υѕе filtered water.

Fresh ground beans means better flavor. Always grind аt home before brewing. A grinder аt home іѕ a small investment іn fresh flavor.

Mаkе sure уου аrе using thе appropriate grind fοr thе equipment уου hаνе. A coarse grind ѕhουƖԁ bе used wіth percolators аnԁ сοƖԁ water brewing. Medium grind іѕ thе workhorse thаt mοѕt people wіƖƖ υѕе. Thіѕ іѕ suited fοr drip methods аnԁ thе French press. Fine grind іѕ mainly used іn European equipment. Extra fine grind іѕ οnƖу fοr espresso machines.

Thе ratio οf grounds tο water іѕ critical. Tο mаkе a perfect six-ounce cup, two tablespoons οf grounds ѕhουƖԁ bе used. More grounds ԁοеѕ nοt increase thе flavor аnԁ іѕ јυѕt a waste οf money. Less grounds causes thе water tο extract tοο much frοm thе beans, resulting іn a bitter brew.

Beans ѕhουƖԁ bе treated Ɩіkе mοѕt οthеr perishable goods, kept іn a сοοƖ, dry рƖасе іn аn airtight container. Dο nοt рυt beans іn thе fridge. Thіѕ exposes thеm tο moisture, аnԁ thаt ruins thе flavor. Beans саn bе kept іn thе freezer, bυt οnƖу fοr 2-3 months.

Whеn brewing, υѕе water јυѕt οff thе boil. Thе time іt takes tο walk thе kettle tο thе grounds іѕ enough time fοr thе water tο сοοƖ down. If уου аrе using a machine, thіѕ step ԁοеѕ nοt apply.

Aftеr brewing, bυt before serving, mаkе sure tο stir. Thіѕ helps distribute thе particles thаt hаνе settled οn thе bottom. It аƖѕο mixes thе oils іntο thе drink. Thіѕ mаkеѕ fοr consistently ɡοοԁ cups throughout.

ShουƖԁ thеrе bе аnу coffee left over іt ѕhουƖԁ bе stored іn a preheated air pot οr thermal carafe tο keep іt hot аnԁ fresh. Leaving іt οn a heat source wіƖƖ scorch іt, mаkіnɡ іt bitter аnԁ burnt tasting.

Bу following a few easy steps аnԁ mаkіnɡ thеm routine, anyone саn brew thе perfect cup οf coffee іn thе comfort οf thеіr οwn home. Now уου јυѕt need tο thіnk аbουt whаt tο ԁο wіth аƖƖ thе money saved frοm buying lattes everyday.


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Is A French Press Enough To Make Gourmet Coffee?

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
french press
French Press from Illy Coffee

One of the best ways to brew coffee is without electricity and filters! That’s right, you guessed it – it is with the use of a French Press. So many coffee lovers prefer a French Press because it gives them the opportunity to brew a more flavorful type of Java. This is something that is highly beneficial because it will work to leave the essential oils of the coffee within the final brew, which is something that you can’t find with your traditional drip brew coffee maker.

The truth of the matter is that regular paper filters trap the essential oils of the coffee beans, which is what gives them their delicious flavor. This is something important to take into consideration because when you brew with a Coffee Press, you will have the best of both worlds in fresh and delicious coffee that is also more flavorful than you may have experienced before.

The first thing to keep in mind is that there is a specific way to brew with a Coffee Press that will give you the best results in your cup of Joe! To begin with, you can boil water in a kettle on the stove or in a pan on your stovetop. The important thing to remember is to allow the water to cool slightly because you don’t want to mix boiling water with the fresh coffee grounds. If the water is boiling, it can mix with the coffee grounds, and it will cause them to have a burnt or bitter taste as a result. It is important to have hot water to your liking, but not boiling, to use with your French Press.

The next thing to contribute to your success in brewing with a Coffee Press is the grind of your coffee. It is important for your coffee to be coarse ground, which will offer better results overall in a fresh brew. If your coffee grounds are too fine, they could clog the filter of your Coffee Press, and they can also leave sediment in the bottom of your cup of Joe. You can set your home grinder to coarse for brewing with a French Press. It is so important that your coffee is freshly ground with this type of brew method and also with any other way that you brew your cup of Joe. The truth is that coffee grounds begin to go stale within 30 seconds, so if you do not freshly grind them yourself, then you are missing out on premium and fresh Java!

Last of all, make sure to wait four minutes for the coffee within your Coffee Press to steep. That’s all! Most people don’t realize that it only takes four minutes to brew with a French Press, and it is also eco-friendly because it does not use paper filters or electricity. When you use a French Press for your coffee brewing, you can take it with you camping, in travel, or even to your office to enjoy a delicious cup of Joe at any time.

For a great selection of all things coffee, check out Mark Ramos’ website, The Coffee Bump.

What Type of Coffee Grind Should I Use With My French Press?

So which type of coffee grind is best suitable? It can be your favourite coffee beans. You can choose from coffee Arabic or robusta or any other gourmet coffee you might want. Just make sure you grind it coarsely.

In other brewers, finer grind consistency is better because water can flow in effortlessly to extract most of the flavour. In this brewer, though, you will need only coarse settings. This brewer does not require a filter so finer grinds will surely sink to the bottom of the machine even before it has begun brewing. The coarser ones will be able to prevent penetrating in the bottom of the machine so it works better.

Also, coarse settings are already enough to produce flavourful coffee. If you use the finer ones, it can already extract too much coffee oil. This is the caveat in French press brewers. Despite coarse consistency of grinds, it still extracts so much essential oil. Nutritionists claim that although coffee is a good antioxidant, the oil can cause high cholesterol level. This contributes to the development of many diseases. Using this machine in moderation is called for.

So how does it really work?
It does not use electricity. It comes in various sizes. Just fill up the coffee basket with coarse grounds and pump it using the pumping rod attached on top of it. Of course, you will need to fill it up with water. This is mixed together with coffee grounds. The pumping motion will help release essential oils and mixes it with water.

The brewed coffee goes straight to the bottom of the machine. After brewing, remove the pump attachments and pour yourself a cup of freshly brewed coffee. This makes up a total coffee experience.

It is advisable to drink it up right away and not store it. Due to the lack of filter, some coffee grounds can penetrate and mix up with your brewed coffee. If you store it for a longer period of time, the coffee will taste bitter.

If you are after an ultimate coffee experience, try French press coffee machines. At least once in your life you will get to try drinking coffee brewed by this brewer. You will be pleasantly surprised with the difference in taste.

Check out grind and brew coffee makers and other type of grind and brew coffee machines units at http://www.grindandbrewcoffeemaker.org

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Coffee Brewing Methods: Is Your Coffee Brewer Just a Drip?

Monday, March 8th, 2010

For most of us, brewing up our morning cup of coffee is more than just a necessity, it is a matter of convenience. Each night, millions of us coffee lovers pile heaping tablespoons of our favorite gourmet coffees into those paper filters, fill the tank of our coffee makers with water and set the timer so that our coffee is ready and waiting first thing in the morning.

But why would anyone spend good money on the finest gourmet coffee beans or fresh ground gourmet coffees and use just any home coffee maker.

So if you are like me and you enjoy the finest gourmet and specialty coffees available, then you must also believe that they deserve the best and most reliable coffee brewing equipment available.

Here is a quick list of the most popular coffee brewing methods & equipment starting from the best:

French Press
The French press coffee maker (or press pot) is universally recognized as the best brewing method, allowing for the truest coffee taste and aroma. This method actually brews the coffee in the hot water (as opposed to drip machines which only pass the water through the coffee and a filter). After a few minutes of brewing, a metal filter is pressed through the brew catching the coffee grinds and then trapping them at the bottom of the carafe. What is left over is full-bodied coffee with all its aroma and essences.

One of the main advantages to using a French press, other than great coffee taste, is the amount of control you have. You can control the water temperature (which incidentally should be around 190 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that drip makers do not achieve), you can control the amount of coffee you want to add, and you can control the brew time. Four minutes of brew time and 30 seconds of “plunging” time is considered best.

Another great feature about the French press is that it is extremely portable and only requires hot water. You can take it camping or use it in places with limited kitchen space, like a boat or an RV. Some press pots can also be used to brew loose leaf teas in the same manner.

As an aside, you shouldn’t leave your brewed coffee in the press-pot with the grounds after you brew it! Either consume it or transfer it to a carafe, preferably a thermal carafe.

Vacuum Brewer
Vacuum brewers aren’t very common, but they make coffee just about as well as a French press since the coffee and water are brewing together. A vacuum brewer has an upper and a lower chamber connected by a tube with a small filter inside. Coffee grounds are placed in the upper chamber, and water is placed in the lower chamber. As the lower chamber is heated, the water rises up to meet the coffee in the upper chamber where the brewing begins. After brewing, the water (now coffee) cools and seeps back down into the lower chamber leaving the used coffee grinds behind in the upper chamber. Ideally, the upper chamber is removed and the lower chamber is used as a decanter for the finished coffee.

Vacuum brewers can be electric, stovetop, or even used over a sterno can for dramatic tabletop brewing!

The Toddy Maker
The toddy maker or Cold-Brew Coffee Maker uses an unusual cold-brewing method that creates a coffee concentrate. This concentrate is then mixed with hot water to make coffee. The concentrate can be stored in a refrigerator and used to make one cup at a time if you so desire. This method produces a low-acid coffee, which is doctor recommended for coffee drinkers with stomach conditions.

Although this method of coffee brewing is sounds a bit odd, the result in taste is pleasantly surprising. One drawback is the amount of time it takes to brew. A good idea is to brew the coffee overnight. Once brewed, the concentrate can produce more than just one pot of coffee, so it’s not a nightly event for a great cup of morning coffee!

Drip Grind Coffee Makers
Drip Grind coffee makers are the most common and usual coffee brewing method that we are familiar with.

In this method, water is dripped over and passes through the coffee grinds and a filter and is caught by the coffee pot below. Despite being the most common brew method it also happens to be the one which produces a coffee brew with the least amount of flavor and aroma.

There are generally 2 filter options for the drip grind coffee makers.

Permanent filters: are just what they say, permanent. They are usually gold-plated so they don’t add any unwanted metallic taste to your coffee, resistant to corrosion so they are dishwasher safe and economical because they don’t need replacing. Permanent filters are preferred because they allow for better coffee taste as opposed to the second filter option, paper filters.

Paper filters are the most common filter choice for the drip grind coffee makers. Unfortunately, paper filters can filter out more than just coffee grinds. Flavorful oils can be left behind in the filter and not make it to the finished coffee brew resulting in less coffee flavor and aroma. Since permanent filters allow for more liquid to pass through, the end result is a more flavorful cup.

As you can see, the most common brew method happens to be the one which produces the least amount of coffee flavor and aroma. Since, mornings usually need to be made quick and simple, most people have never had their coffee brewed any other way. If you are one of these people, don’t just splurge on gourmet coffee’s, get a small French press maker, start experimenting and experience the truest coffee flavor & aroma in each cup.

Dr. Vince Manzello is simply a coffee lover. His search for a quality coffee distributor led to the development of http://www.WeBeJava.com. We Be Java is not only the distributor but they are affiliated directly with the roastery! Why is this so important? By dealing directly with the roastery, your coffee order is roasted in small batches right before it is shipped. Your coffee order is not sitting around on a shelf just waiting for you to order it! We Be Java’s affiliated roastmaster hand picks beans from around the world, blends, flavors & roasts your order so you get the finest coffees available. Our gourmet & specialty coffees have even been featured in Time Magazine! We Be Java’s roastery is also certified Organic Coffee Handler and Processor. Check out http://www.webejava.com for yourself and see if you don’t agree with Vince.

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