Coffee Talk---I fed my monster yesterday

[The empressof all]

I confess...I have a problem with an addiction to kitchen electrics. So for the past few months I've been eying those Keurig coffee makers. I had a longstanding love affair with my Capresso machine but it died a few years ago. My husband thinking he was doing a good thing bought a Cuisinart grind and brew to replace it. It's been ok but I've been waiting for the day it would die so I could get a Capresso again. Well...those things are really really pricey so I've been thinking about the options.

Costco had a great deal on the top model Keurig. It came with the little cup so we could use our own beans and not rely on the commercial brands. (This was a must for us) We also got an extra box of 80 K-cups along with the ones that came with the machine. It was a great deal for the 139.00.

Yes I know that one can make great coffee with a Melitta cone and the French Press pots are really reasonably priced too but I needed my fix and ....I have to say, this little machine is pretty good. I've only tried some of the pre packaged pods so far and surprisingly...I liked it better than I thought I would. I like also having the instant hot water feature.

SO is not so convinced yet. He thought this mornings cups were ok but tasted too "commercial" (His word for standard restaurant coffee).

BTW....I noticed that Costco also had my Cuisanart electric pressure cooker on sale again. 6 quart for 69.99. This is a great deal and I can personally attest that it's a great little machine. It doesn't have a slow cook setting or a rice button but I still love it. (Like any active addict I crave company with my behavior :rofl:)

[Paper Roses]

1. My daughter and her husband have the Keurig machine and love it.

If I had the $$$ to buy it and keep buying the very expensive(I think) little cups, I would do so. The coffee is great and the system is really easy to use. Add coffee grounds cup, add h2o. place mug under the top section and press button. Great brew.

Meantime, I survive with my 12 year old Braun. It really owes me nothing. A can of coffee is much cheaper than the little cups.(Folgers Classic Decaf, 22.6 oz is $7.99 here)

I am on a caffeine restricted regimen, I don't even know if the little cups of grounds come caff. free.

The coffee is great.The machine is out of my league.

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I use a B&D one cup coffee maker exclusively at home and I'm really pleased with it.

You use your own coffee or you can use the pods. There is a permanent filter or you can use the #1 cone filter with it. You can also brew directly into the travel mug. I love the fact that every cup is fresh brewed. It makes all the difference in the world. The cost is around $25.00. I'm thinking about getting another one for the office for when I just want a fresh cup of coffee in the afternoon.

[grasswire]

3. since we're talking coffee....

....I'm pretty immersed in the topic currently, as a family business has major clients in the specialty coffee industry. Some Americans might be surprised to learn that the hottest kind of brew these days is called "pour-over" using single source beans.

"Pour-over" is a new word for "drip." Coffee houses have rows of one-cup cones for brewing single cups for customers.

"Single source" means that the beans for your cup come from just one coffee farm, and that farm is known and identified.

This is more trendy now than espresso. A coffee house might hold regular "cuppings" where a person can sample several or many different single source brews to find beans they like. Cuppings are free.

The magazine of the specialty coffee industry trade show is pretty interesting, and is available online at http://www.coffeefest.com.

Honestly, I prefer dark roast beans in a french press, so I'm not following this trend as yet.

[hippywife]

5. We've been buying a single source coffee for a while now

but because it's organic and supports fair trade. The Sumatran we've been getting is wonderful and I'm not a coffee drinker.

:hi:

[housewolf]

9. Sumatra is my absolute favorite...

mmmmm... just love the stuff! I buy from a teeny, tiny local roaster and it's just the best

[hippywife]

13. Us, too.

The guy imports and roasts it and then sells it though our coop. It's just him with a little help from his daughter.

That Sumatran is the best smelling thing when Bill's grinding it. Yum! :9

[housewolf]

4. I'm sticking with my 1-cup Melita drip cone/filter

Use some good beans, grind just before using, heat almost to boiling just the amount of water needed, gradually pour over the grounds and I've never tasted anything better. Takes less than 4 minutes start-to-finish and I get a perfect cup every time. Works so well for me that I'm never tempted with any of the new electric coffee machines.

All that said, I hope you enjoy the heck out of your new machine!

[grasswire]

6. and you are right in the "pour-over" trend!

One thing people don't think about is the quality of the water. Starting with cold fresh tap water (let the tap run for a minute to get the overnight sediment out) and letting it just not quite come to a boil (like you do) will make coffee right. Boiling changes the mineral content of the water.

Those one cuppers are handy for travel, too!

[housewolf]

8. Not to mention great for making fresh coffee at work!

All you need is a microwave for heating the water. I'd pre-grind the coffee in the morning before leaving home and put it into a filter then fold it up a bit and maybe seal it with a piece of tape, and take a small bottle of water with me. I kept an extra cone in my desk at the office and some half-and-half in the refrig there, so I could make my own personal coffee 1 - 2- 3 times a day, whatever. What a lifesaver!

[likesmountains 52]

11. You described my morning routine exactly...and I always get a great cup

of coffee.

[Tesha]

7. Pura Vida is where I order my coffee.

My grocery store was always changing what fair trade coffee they carried, so I found thse folks online.

Their tagline is Create Good - and they do. They offer free shipping on orders over $30, and the coffee is excellent!
http://puravidacoffee.e-beans.net/coffees/

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Our new favorite

Their Cafe Cubano

http://www.mayorgacoffee.com/

[hippywife]

19. It does feel good to know

that purchases of something that really is a luxury (Bill might argue with that) go to help make sure the people who grow the beans are being treated and paid fairly, and a good cause benefits, as well. :hi:

[The empressof all]

12. Our two favorite Seattle roasters are

Cafe ladro......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6wJl37N9C0

and Cafe D'arte

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6wJl37N9C0


Our favorite world wide so far is Hausebrandt which we think is no longer is distributing in the US. sigh....It's amazing....especially the Academia blend.

http://www.hausbrandt.com/en/home.html

[grasswire]

14. cafe d'arte is my favorite bean brand

I don't know of any retail location to buy the beans here, but there is at least one coffee house that uses the brand for its espresso. To my palette, it's just perfect for iced espresso, my drink of choice. Two shots over ice, mmmmmm.

An extremely popular brand here is Stumptown, which I actually do not like at all. Many coffee houses brag about using it, though.

[housewolf]

15. I like Sumptown

But I'm not an espresso drinker, I'm a "strong coffee with cream and extra sugar" drinker. Sumptown's Hair Bender suits me quite well, and I even like their decaf. They ship, too

http://www.stumptowncoffee.com/

[The empressof all]

16. You can ask your coffee joint to sell you a bag of the D'Arte

That's how we get it. I just ask her to add a bag in her next delivery for me. It's pricey but it's not an everyday treat for us. I bet you can also order it on line but I haven't done that.

[housewolf]

17. Looks like D'Arte has a retail store in NE Portland

http://www.caffedarte.com/maincontact.html

I'll have to give it a try, based on the Empress and your recommendations :)

:donut:

[The empressof all]

18. ooops gave you the wrong link for the ladro

http://www.caffeladro.com/