how do you brew your coffee?

Moving around so much you get used to instant coffee as it would be sill to pack a coffee maker in my backpack.

 

i have a high end Starbucks coffee maker that came with it's own very fine metal mesh filter which manages to strain even very very fine ground coffee

I tend to alternate between a couple brands month to month, best coffee maker i've ever had

 

french press.

 

I love me a cup of Gevalia dark roast, paper filters, Gevalia coffe maker. No sugar or creme, got to taste the bean .

 

oh i didnt realize "french press" was that i have in my starbucks machine, hmm learn somthin new every day

 

do you have the delonghi 10 cup, digitalldj? its a good machine.

a number of coffeemakers come with metal screen filters. these are not only every bit as effective as their paper counterparts, they improve the flavor of the coffee compared to paper filters by trapping less of the natural oils of the beans, which are incredibly flavorful and aromatic. when kept clean, metal filters are not only more environmentally and economically sound, they produce a better cup of coffee than paper filters.

a french press is quite different. its essentially a beaker (glass, plastic or thermal) with a plunger, the bottom side of which is a similar metal mesh straining medium. you use very coarse ground coffee because the mesh is less fine than that of a normal metal filter for an electric coffee brewer. you put the coarse ground coffee and boiling water in the beaker and let it steep for 4 minutes, then push down the plunger, straining the grounds from the water. it is one of the simpler methods of brewing coffee, and despite the low cost of use and the utter simplicity of design it makes just about the best cup of coffee there is, leaving most of the oils of the coffee in the final product. coffee from a french press is incredibly rich and flavorful. bodum, one of the more well known manufacturers of coffee presses, makes this press, which is pretty similar to the general french press, though they can come in different shapes and materials.


squawkers, i stand by my statement that instant coffee is nasty. however, if you like it thats fine....but IF you want better coffee, and have the money to spend on the coffee (coffeemakers not being portable is the issue, not lack of funds for good coffee) than you should definitely check out a travel press. it makes just enough for one tumbler full of coffee, and utilizes durable plastic construction along with the fundamental functions of a french press. i have not used one myself, but if made by a reputable manufacturer they should work wonderfully.

hot water, coarse ground coffee (purchase your favorite type of coffee from your favorite shop and have them grind it for a french press, a very coarse setting) and you're set for some of the best coffee the world has to offer, and it can easily fit in a backpack. of course you have to spend the few bucks on the press, and then quality coffee beans cost a decent amount, too (i'm spoiled, i get mine for free working for a coffee shop) but if you WANT to drink better coffee on the go, it is certainly very feasible, if you dont mind spending more than you would on instant.

the only downside to pressing coffee as opposed to using an electric brewer is the cleanup. once you empty the press, you're left with grounds stuck in the bottom of the beaker. if outside, you can simply fill it with water and dump on the ground. in fact, coffee grounds are good for soil in many circumstances. but if you're inside, it can be messy. it doesnt just lift out and go to the garbage in one solid clump as with a brewer. if you overturn the beaker and tap it into the trash, some inevitably is left behind. you also can't scrape up 100% of it with a spoon, and metal items are likely to break the thin wall of a glass beaker. inevetably, some grounds WILL eventually have to be put in the plumbing system by rinsing it out, which isnt generally a good thing from what i understand.

 

I never knew there were so many ways. I have no idea what press is. Well I do mone through drip & filters. Also what's great, is the coffee in the like tea bags. Tastes no different from drip brewed.

 

i'm definitely a french press kinda girl at home!
i am a barista at a turkish caffe. i love espresso when i'm at work, turkish coffee is very very strong. not a very popular thing on the menu, however, i drink it from time to time. i am a HUGE fan however of turkish chai. just turkish tea brewed in a special kettle and then strain.
it's friday and thats the only day he brews it that way so i'm very excited! i love working friday afternoons.

 

I love my french press. Have had 2 bodums and broke both glass parts. Ordered one from Campmor that's stainless steel. Great for taking places.
I use fresh roasted organic beans from a local source and grind my beans as the water is heating up. Awesome!!
All the grinds go to the compost and there are no filters to worry about.

 

Having worked as a barista as well, I've tasted a lot of coffee myself. French presses are always welcome, but if you drink a LOT of coffee, they just become a pain to use every time. I have to say that the best coffees I've had were Bosnian, Greek, and Arabic, and they were all made on a stove top. They are ground very fine, and heated in a small pan to a soft boil, or close to a boil, then taken off heat for about 30 secs. They are put back on the heat, and the process is repeated a couple more times. The coffee is poured straight into the cup. If done properly (and I'm not sure I could do it myself), the result is a very strong, smooth flavor, and not burned as one might think. Just watch the bottom of the cup, as the grounds are left in. Arabic coffee can come with cardamom in it, and is served in an espresso-sized cup. It is incredible.