OT: My burgeoning coffee addiction

[91Joe95]

I've never been a big coffee drinker, but I ended up with a keurig with accompanying sample pack for Christmas. Its so easy and convenient I've found myself using it more and more. When I do drink coffee I've always preferred it fairly strong with some sugar. I've found I prefer a strong dark roast, but occasionally I will want a good decaf. However, after drinking a strong coffee, I find even the best decafs not only taste weak, but almost a bit sour. I bought a refillable k cup for the keurig, so I'm not limited to just the prefilled k cups. I also have a coffee grinder lying around somewhere. My question, what are your recommendations for the following: regular coffee, decaf, and expresso? Any other tips or recommendations?

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

I've never understood the whole Keurig thing. To me, coffee tastes best when brewed the old fashioned way. Hot water repeatedly flowing/boiling over the grounds.

These insta-coffee machines brew too fast....hence the bitterness. It's like fine wine...if you don't give it time, it ain't worth a dime.

 

[PSU95alum]

I've never been a big coffee drinker, but I ended up with a keurig with accompanying sample pack for Christmas. Its so easy and convenient I've found myself using it more and more. When I do drink coffee I've always preferred it fairly strong with some sugar. I've found I prefer a strong dark roast, but occasionally I will want a good decaf. However, after drinking a strong coffee, I find even the best decafs not only taste weak, but almost a bit sour. I bought a refillable k cup for the keurig, so I'm not limited to just the prefilled k cups. I also have a coffee grinder lying around somewhere. My question, what are your recommendations for the following: regular coffee, decaf, and expresso? Any other tips or recommendations?

Just remember, the darker the roast, the lesser the caffeine. That is a big misconception with coffee drinkers, they think the dark roast has more caffeine. It's the opposite. The lighter roasts have more caffeine.

Personally, I like Starbucks French Roast brewed the old fashioned way. The Keurig is a nice way to get you hooked, if that's what it takes. But you'll eventually get into contraptions and equipment that makes a far superior roast (i.e.- French Press, induction coffee maker, etc).

 

[mn78psu83]

I've never been a big coffee drinker, but I ended up with a keurig with accompanying sample pack for Christmas. Its so easy and convenient I've found myself using it more and more. When I do drink coffee I've always preferred it fairly strong with some sugar. I've found I prefer a strong dark roast, but occasionally I will want a good decaf. However, after drinking a strong coffee, I find even the best decafs not only taste weak, but almost a bit sour. I bought a refillable k cup for the keurig, so I'm not limited to just the prefilled k cups. I also have a coffee grinder lying around somewhere. My question, what are your recommendations for the following: regular coffee, decaf, and expresso? Any other tips or recommendations?

Just go with it. I'm not all that helpful.

 

[91Joe95]

Just remember, the darker the roast, the lesser the caffeine. That is a big misconception with coffee drinkers, they think the dark roast has more caffeine. It's the opposite. The lighter roasts have more caffeine.

I had no idea. I actually consider less caffeine a good thing, albeit the difference is probably miniscule for my purposes. I agree with the above quote about the superiority of a freshly brewed pot. I just don't drink that much, and I'd like to maximize the quality of the kurieg.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Keurig sucks. Weak coffee combined with stale crap that was ground only god knows when.

Get a bag of specialty, high-end coffee to have on weekends. Buy whole bean and invest in a grinder & a french press. Learn what flavor profile you like best.

La Colombe out of Philadelphia has some awesome specialty coffee. They have some single-origin Kenya in right now that's spectacular. It has a nice citrusy, wine-like flavor.

http://www.lacolombe.com/pages/workshop-single-origin-blends

If you shop around their site, check out some of their blends too. The Fishtown and Corsica are pretty nice depending on what you like.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

I've never understood the whole Keurig thing. To me, coffee tastes best when brewed the old fashioned way. Hot water repatedly flowing/boiling over the grounds.

These insta-coffee machines brew too fast....hence the bitterness. It's like fine wine...if you don't give it time, it ain't worth a dime.

Finally, Pool Boy, we agree on something.

Also, French press or pour-overs are the way to go.

 

[rudedude]

Keurig sucks. Weak coffee combined with stale crap that was ground only god knows when.

Get a bag of specialty, high-end coffee to have on weekends. Buy whole bean and invest in a grinder & a french press. Learn what flavor profile you like best.

La Colombe out of Philadelphia has some awesome specialty coffee. They have some single-origin Kenya in right now that's spectacular. It has a nice citrusy, wine-like flavor.

http://www.lacolombe.com/pages/workshop-single-origin-blends

If you shop around their site, check out some of their blends too. The Fishtown and Corsica are pretty nice depending on what you like.

La Colombe has awesome coffee. I usually buy a few bags per month. We really like the Rara Baptiste from Haiti. We also just bought a Bonavita coffe maker. A little costly but the coffee is great and keeps nice and hot in the stainless steel carafe. No heating element that burns the hell out of standing coffee.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Just go with it. I'm not all that helpful.

It's okay for you to have an opinion. We've moved on from whether one is or isn't interested in Pitt threads

 

[Nit Nolte]

Do yourself a favor and get an Aeropress. They're cheap on Amazon. BJ'S whole bean Colombian Supremo is a really good roast. I'm a coffee snob and roast my own beans on occasion.

 

[mn78psu83]

It's okay for you to have an opinion. We've moved on from whether one is or isn't interested in Pitt threads

I succumbed to the temptation to chime in on Pitt and now feel bad about myself.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

La Colombe has awesome coffee. I usually buy a few bags per month. We really like the Rara Baptiste

Thanks for the tip--Rara is next on my list, haven't had it yet.

The Zambia Mbuyu they had earlier this year was some of the best stuff I've ever tasted.

 

[klive]

The only way to drink coffee is via a French Press. I LOVE coffee and the stronger the better. I prefer organic coffee as well and one of my favorites is Whole Foods Organic Pacific Rim Roast. Delicious! Not a big fan at all of those "cup" coffees. Convenient, yes, but far too much waste (packaging) for me.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Also, another odd random coffee tip:

Check Amazon. They have great prices on things from Coffee Bean Direct, which also has a good Kenya AA.

(If you can't tell, I'm partial to beans from East Africa)

One more thing: Trader Joe's coffee, while cheap, absolutely sucks. Stay away from all of it, no matter what form it comes (K-cup, whole bean, ground) or where it's from.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Hate to hijack this thread but how is a French Press better than a simple percolator? Isn't it better to have the fluid repeatedly flow through the coffee grounds?

 

[klive]

One more thing: Trader Joe's coffee, while cheap, absolutely sucks. Stay away from all of it, no matter what form it comes (K-cup, whole bean, ground) or where it's from.

These are wise words

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Hate to hijack this thread but how is a French Press better than a simple percolator? Isn't it better to have the fluid repeatedly flow through the coffee grounds?

I'm not sure that it is--depends on what you have and where you are at the moment.

FP is easier to fit on one's desk at work, that's for sure.

 

[klive]

Hate to hijack this thread but how is a French Press better than a simple percolator? Isn't it better to have the fluid repeatedly flow through the coffee grounds?

Well, it's really a matter of taste I suppose, but for me, i think it tastes much better and smoother because the coffee is actually steeping in the grounds rather that water just flowing over the grounds. In a French Press, the coffee is bolder, richer and smoother. Again, just taste. I always dis people who drink coffee from a percolator because I am a coffee snob LOL

 

[rudedude]

The key is the right water temperature. The Bonavita has a feature that allows a light spray of hot water on the coffee before it starts brewing so it releases more flavor. It only makes 8 cups so I'm drinking less these days but the coffe tastes way better.

 

[psuro]

Just freebase some fine Colombian. Much better way to get that high

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

The only way to drink coffee is via a French Press. I LOVE coffee and the stronger the better. I prefer organic coffee as well and one of my favorites is Whole Foods Organic Pacific Rim Roast. Delicious! Not a big fan at all of those "cup" coffees. Convenient, yes, but far too much waste (packaging) for me.

So you're basically admitting that you shop at "Whole Paycheck"? ​

 

[harjeff]

I am not a big coffee drinker, but my wife is, so I got her the Ninja Coffee Bar for Christmas and I must say its AWESOME! Can make soooo many drinks that are very good and no need for the K-cups that are overpriced. Use whatever coffee you like and pick your size and brew. Make Ice Coffee, flavored drinks whatever you like. I love it.

 

[MtNittany]

BOGO at my Publix - 2 for $7

 

[Ranger Dan]

Interesting thread... I have never been a coffee drinker, but want to ween myself off of diet Mt Dew as my morning ritual for caffeine intake. When working in Germany, I didn't have access to diet dew, so I had coffee with lots of cream and sugar to cut the bitterness. I've tried to load up on cream and sugar in American coffee and it wasn't the same. What was different about the German coffee? It looked like our coffee, except that there was a thin tan or golden colored "head" on it.

Also, I'm not trying to get the best possible coffee taste, but make it palatable for now, and gradually get to where I can reduce the amount of whatever I'm using to mask the bitterness. I've heard that butter in coffee is the new thing. Will this make the coffee less bitter, or should I stick with cream and sugar?

 

[jabba2]

and

 

[91Joe95]

Hate to hijack this thread but how is a French Press better than a simple percolator? Isn't it better to have the fluid repeatedly flow through the coffee grounds?

I heard that percolators can burn the coffee. I still like it though.

 

[91Joe95]

Interesting thread... I have never been a coffee drinker, but want to ween myself off of diet Mt Dew as my morning ritual for caffeine intake. When working in Germany, I didn't have access to diet dew, so I had coffee with lots of cream and sugar to cut the bitterness. I've tried to load up on cream and sugar in American coffee and it wasn't the same. What was different about the German coffee? It looked like our coffee, except that there was a thin tan or golden colored "head" on it.

Also, I'm not trying to get the best possible coffee taste, but make it palatable for now, and gradually get to where I can reduce the amount of whatever I'm using to mask the bitterness. I've heard that butter in coffee is the new thing. Will this make the coffee less bitter, or should I stick with cream and sugar?

I once heard that cream in Europe is not pasteurized, and that in the US it is. I don't know if that is the case in Germany, but I wonder if that may be the difference.

 

[Ranger Dan]

I once heard that cream in Europe is not pasteurized, and that in the US it is. I don't know if that is the case in Germany, but I wonder if that may be the difference.

I read a little on line and was reminded that I wasn't just pouring cream into my coffee, the coffee maker had a function that steamed the milk into the coffee. I guess this was something more like a latte?

 

[Mixolydian]

Out of curiosity, anybody here ever try a Technivorm coffee maker? Very pricey, but they seem to get really good reviews.

And also pricey is the Clover brewed coffee from Starbucks, but they are amazing IMO. Sort of a reverse French press concept. They have new reserve beans all the time for the Clover and they grind it cup by cup. Haven't had a bad one yet.

 

[Eurotrash1]

I succumbed to the temptation to chime in on Pitt and now feel bad about myself.

I have friends who work at Pitt. They tell me they can't even make a good "F"ing cup of coffee...lol.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

Back to the op, and away from the coffee snobs (I am one as well, btw).
From what you say you like, I would get some Peet's and Starbucks K-cups, both regular and decaf.
Also, the company that owns Peet's just bought Intelligentsia. If they get K-cups from Intelligentisia on the market, I would try those as well.

 

[Alphabets]

Love coffee, but don't care about it enough to invest time into it. I also was never a fan of the Keurig systems. But, my wife and I bought one of those Ninja Coffee Bars for Christmas. It's awesome. No pods, you use whatever coffee you normally use, can brew many different sizes and has endless features. I love the "rich brew" mode as I prefer a stronger cup. Extremely easy with many options.

http://www.ninjakitchen.com/ninja-coffee-bar-cf080/

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Back to the op, and away from the coffee snobs (I am one as well, btw).
From what you say you like, I would get some Peet's and Starbucks K-cups, both regular and decaf.
Also, the company that owns Peet's just bought Intelligentsia. If they get K-cups from Intelligentisia on the market, I would try those as well.

I actually buy Peets regularly. Fantastic stuff.

General Dickason is a nice, darker blend. Their normal house blend is good too. General Dickason is my everyday coffee.

Caribou is also very good. Their standard is a nice medium roast that has a velvety taste. Obsidian is good if you like dark, rich stuff. Mahogany is another good darker roast that's not quite obsidian, but close.

 

[91Joe95]

Update:

So, after these many months I have settled on my coffees of choice. Cafe Bustello expresso for the leaded, and Lavazza decaf expresso for the unleaded. Both very strong and bitter, although even the best decafs just don't have that extra kick. I have found I prefer the expresso grind to get the strongest flavor out of the keurig. Actually, the cafe bustello was my first test of an expresso blend, and I've been addicted to it ever since. I have yet to find a bean or preground coffee that I like more than it. The lavazza was a bit more research, but I like it a lot, even more so than a few regular coffees. Its actually the only decaf I liked. Thanks to everyone for their help!

 

[Al_Tuna]

Back to the op, and away from the coffee snobs (I am one as well, btw).
From what you say you like, I would get some Peet's and Starbucks K-cups, both regular and decaf.
Also, the company that owns Peet's just bought Intelligentsia. If they get K-cups from Intelligentisia on the market, I would try those as well.

Second on the Peet's. Their Guatamalan is my favorite K-cup brew.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Update:

So, after these many months I have settled on my coffees of choice. Cafe Bustello expresso for the leaded, and Lavazza decaf expresso for the unleaded. Both very strong and bitter, although even the best decafs just don't have that extra kick. I have found I prefer the expresso grind to get the strongest flavor out of the keurig. Actually, the cafe bustello was my first test of an expresso blend, and I've been addicted to it ever since. I have yet to find a bean or preground coffee that I like more than it. The lavazza was a bit more research, but I like it a lot, even more so than a few regular coffees. Its actually the only decaf I liked. Thanks to everyone for their help!

You mean 'espresso' right? . And if you can find it, Italian coffee maker illy makes really good K-Cups. So far, I've only been able to find them at the illy cafe at the Ritz Carlton in DC.

 

[Woodpecker]

C'mon, you guys know that it's all about the quinic acid level. Do it Gale's way:

 

[91Joe95]

You mean 'espresso' right? . And if you can find it, Italian coffee maker illy makes really good K-Cups. So far, I've only been able to find them at the illy cafe at the Ritz Carlton in DC.

...

 

[Victor E. Bell]

Try your coffee black, no sugar, nothing else. That's how I started drinking it in college. This served me well because A) you get the full flavor of whatever you're drinking and B) when you find yourself in a situation where there's coffee but no sugar/H&H/milk, etc., you're good to go.

I'm no connoisseur but I like a good cup. I drink it every day and whenever I'm in the Strip I'll hit Presto George's for a pound of the good stuff to take home. They grind it right in front of you and I have enough kitchen gadgets around the house that I don't use without going out to buy a grinder to collect grease and dust. Somebody posted 8 o'Clock which is a fine supermarket blend for every day if you drink it straight. My Dad tells me that used to be A&P grocery store's house blend. Most of the grocery store blends are all the same stuff so don't spend a lot and drink what you find you like. Experiment with small boxes of K cups of different blends. I found a good blend called Rio Grande "El Supremo" at Ollies which is around four bucks for 12 doses. On Amazon it goes for three times that price. Price shop and you'll usually be fine. Decaf is horrible. Never had a good one and it's like non-alcoholic beer....defeats the whole purpose.

 

[flavorguy]

Out of curiosity, anybody here ever try a Technivorm coffee maker? Very pricey, but they seem to get really good reviews.

And also pricey is the Clover brewed coffee from Starbucks, but they are amazing IMO. Sort of a reverse French press concept. They have new reserve beans all the time for the Clover and they grind it cup by cup. Haven't had a bad one yet.

I have a Technivorm. It brews a fantastic cup of coffee. I am also a consultant to the coffee industry so I work with many different brewers. The Bonavita is also a very high quality brewer. French Press and pour overs are great brewing methods, but even for me, are a bit overkill when I want something quick. So I use my Technivorm every weekday morning, and a French Press maybe one day on the weekends.

The one thing on K-Cups - they are convenient for a single cup. Not the best, but if I want a quick cup of decaf after dinner, I can live with it... Brew on the 8 oz setting (never 10 oz). Peets has a very good line of K-cup coffee. Percolators produce very bitter coffee. This is due to the over extraction of the coffee. Your better K-cups (the ones which are a plastic capsule and not exposed filter), are flushed with nitrogen to keep the coffee from staling.

I try to keep out of these coffee discussions - just too much mis-information and opinion for me to respond to...