joys of coffee

[MrFilthyIke]

To comment to Lazybones and others, everything in moderation.

A little coffee won't hurt you, and shows positive benefits.

It can be addictive, but people also get hooked on food and gambling.

Eric, moderation. You control you enjoyment of coffee. When the COFFEE
controls you, then stop.

 

[reveal]

The Coffee Lover's Prayer

Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze.
It maketh me to wake in green pastures:
It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses.
It restoreth my buzz:
It leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction,
I will fear no Equal(tm):
For thou art with me;
thy cream and thy sugar, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks;
Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over.

Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the House of Mocha forever.

 

[Pbartender]

One of the biggest things you can do to help yourself is to use the proper water-to-grounds ratio.

http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/ABFP/ABTimeline/coffeehints.htm

The ratio is 2 Tablespoons grounds for every 6 ounces of water. So for a 2 cup pot (16oz) use 4 Tablespoons, 2 teaspoons of grounds. (That's about a rounded 1/4 cup)

I cannot agree with this more. Where I work, I am the departmental Coffee Czar. Meaning, I am in charge of taking care of the Bunn-O-Matic and all the supplies neceesary for brewing our communal coffee. I buy ordinary Classic Roast Folgers, because it is decent but inexpensive coffee.

However, people seem to have this delusion that more grounds makes stronger coffee makes better coffee. So they add in an extra scoop to make the 'average' coffee into 'good' coffee. Truthfully, they just end up making the coffee overly strong and bitter, then complain about how terrible the coffee is.

For an average 10-cup coffee maker, use 4 level 'scoops' of coffee grounds and 1 full coffee pot of water.

It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
It is by the beans of Java that thoughts acquire speed,
the hands acquire shakes, the shakes serve as a warning.
It is by caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I used to start my days with 2 pints and my nights at the coffee shop with 4 shots mixed up in a cup with a little whipped cream mixed in. I was a severe caffiend. This persisted for maybe a year and a half until the coffeeshop/local hardcore venue I worked at shut down temporarily (Shadrach's Coffeehouse [lovingly called Shad's], in the hopes that someone here went there...). After that I realized just how freaking MUCH coffee I'd been intaking, and cut down.

I recommend taking the time to learn to roast your own. It adds a whole new level to the experience, and you get a buzz from the smoke! Win/win, really. And it's much cheaper.

 

[monkeyshines]

I have to throw my vote in with the French Press crowd. IMO it definately makes the best coffee.

If you do use a drip coffeemaker, put any extra coffee in a thermos as soon as it's done brewing - don't let it sit in the carafe on the hot plate. It can get stale and burny tasting.

Also, I don't think most Starbucks, Caribou, etc. roast their beans on site, so try to find a small independent coffee place near you that does - you will have better tasting coffee. How long ago those coffee beans were roasted, and how much/little travel they've undergone, has a huge effect on flavor (as does measuring correctly, which has already been most excellently discussed).

Talk to people at the coffee shop about how the different beans taste. They are all very very different and you may completely hate one type and love another. If you're experimental, buy small quantities of several varieties of beans and see for yourself what you like. If in doubt, most "house" blends are good.