Coffee

[KurtV]

Two things happen when coffee sits just after it's brewed (on a plate that isn't hot enough to boil it off)
1) the convection currents even it out. you can (should) stir it if you don't have time.
2) there's a slight smoothing of the flavor as some oils evaporate.
...

You lost me there Carl. External heating after brewing always makes coffee worse and it only takes a few minutes to degrade the taste noticeably. That's the reason you'll never see coffee on a warmer in a decent coffee house; they transfer it immediately to an airpot.

[waterbear]

Hmmm, I'm wondering if this thread would be more suitable for the "China Shop"! It's starting to get into the theoretical aspects of coffe brewing and drinking!

[NWMNMom]

Oh yah, coffee is a religion unto itself...lol. Maybe you should move it. Apparently, there are three things we should never discuss in polite company because you never know who you will offend or send off on a tangent - politics, religion and COFFEE!!

[KurtV]

NWMNMom,
You could add cigars and single malt whiskey to that list.

[CarlD]

You lost me there Carl. External heating after brewing always makes coffee worse and it only takes a few minutes to degrade the taste noticeably. That's the reason you'll never see coffee on a warmer in a decent coffee house; they transfer it immediately to an airpot.

Uh-huh. That's why I'm known as an iconoclast. 25 years of my own home brewing has shown me that this last is only partially true. The right coffee sitting at the right temperature, can actually get smoother and more flavorful. The wrong coffee (especially strong mud) gets acidic and burnt tasting. So, at home, if our coffee sits a while it gets better.

But in the office, if THAT coffee sits, it turns into battery acid after more than 30-45 minutes. But it starts off tasting at best mediocre.

Cigars? Never touch em! Only thing they are good for is warding off mosquitoes.

Single Malt? Not me. I lost a battle with a bottle Dewar's White Label when I was 16 and just the smell of Scotch turns me green. Even single malt Irish has no appeal, and more than a little bit starts tasting like....Scotch

Now a fine, old Martiniquan Rum, or Clef De Duc Armagnac, or even certain high end tequillas and I'm happy!

[NWMNMom]

But who can beat a nice refreshing rum drink poolside? And a good wine with dinner. This winter, we started making our own wine from our wild plums and the 4 types of grapes growing in our yard or woods nearby - so far, thumbs up for my wines, they all taste like they should (not vinegar and not rubbing alcohol)

[CarlD]

But who can beat a nice refreshing rum drink poolside? And a good wine with dinner. This winter, we started making our own wine from our wild plums and the 4 types of grapes growing in our yard or woods nearby - so far, thumbs up for my wines, they all taste like they should (not vinegar and not rubbing alcohol)

Sounds good! But Old Rum is like Old Cognac--you put it in a glass or snifter. You don't mix it. Hard to get REALLY good rum in the USA.

[Tominthedesert]

If you really want good coffee, you have to buy green beans and roast them yourself. That's what my husband and I do. You can modify an old air style popcorn maker for this. A great source for coffee information is www.sweetmarias.com. That's where we purchase our beans from. Once you roast your own beans you will never go back. However you do need a better style coffee machine. The old Mr. coffee style drip machine will never do.

[haze_1956]

Folgers in really good coffee, in fact I would go so far as to say that the best part of waking up is Folgers in my cup.

[CarlD]

Folgers in really good coffee, in fact I would go so far as to say that the best part of waking up is Folgers in my cup.

Whatever floats your boat.

That's what makes horse-racing. Everyone likes different horse.

Me, I can barely tolerate Folgers. Dunkin' unground beans will do in a pinch.

I prefer to let M.E.Swing's do my roasting. After 21 years of buying from them they have FINALLY figured out how to vacuum pack their beans!

Considering I keep trying to find ways to help people spend LESS time on their pool maintenance, I'm not about to look for ways to spend MORE time on coffee making! Especially when our morning brew is delicious and my BH insists I make the best coffee in the world! (but she's biased AND wants to make sure she doesn't have to do it! )