The Perfect Cup of Coffee - when you have the time.
68The Best cup of Coffee you ever had.
Let me start by saying that most days I start off with a trip to Starbucks as they are very close and convenient. My busy schedule running my sign shop doesn't allow me the luxury of time it requires to make what I consider to be the best coffee I've ever had. Starbucks is good and its convenient but I tell the employees there (I know most of them and most of them know me by name) that I make a much better cup of coffee than Starbucks. I'm not sure how many of them believe me, but it's true.
The biggest drawback to making the perfect cup of coffee is having the time to make it. From start to having the first sip takes approximately twenty minutes, and in the work-a-day world this just isn't practical for me.....but on the rare Saturday or Sunday when I'm not working I treat myself to this luxury. A truly great cup of coffee, a newspaper to read and a sunny spot to sit with a nice breeze.....heaven.
The perfect cup of coffee revealed
There are a few hubs around that profess to have the secret to the perfect cup of coffee, and in most instances have a lot of the right elements in place. Freshly ground coffee....boiled water.....and a French Press....it's not really rocket science. What most miss is the freshly roasted coffee beans. It's a fact that roasted coffee starts to lose its flavor after three days. That coffee you're buying in cans from the grocery store wasn't roasted and ground last week...or even last month. I know it's one of the best smelling things in the world to open a fresh can of coffee.....but there are better ways of making it.
So you think you're going gourmet when you buy whole roasted beans from the upscale grocery or from the aforementioned Starbucks....OK....you're on the right track, but you go and grind the whole bag there in the store......tick...tick....tick. Losing the flavor as you read.
OK...you jumped ahead of me and bought a coffee grinder....a smart move.....freshly ground coffee beans just before you brew. Right track again,,,,but you still missed the train because you're still using weeks, months and possibly years old roasted beans.
I started my research on the perfect cup of coffee because I loved the smell of freshly ground coffee. I wondered if coffee beans roasting wouldn't smell even better than the ground product and so began my search for information on the roasting of coffee. This searching lead me to discover that there are home roasters for small batch, and even large batch green coffee bean roasters. A four to eight cup roaster was under $100 and was just the price point i was looking for to test my theory. Sadly I must report to you that the roasting process does not give the euphoric olfactory result I was hoping for. In some cases if you like a dark dark roast (and I do), the resulting smells are like burned coffee.
Don't let this minor setback throw you off the track to the perfect cup of coffee however......you're getting ever so close.
This is green coffee beans
50 pound bag
French Press
Small Home Coffee Roaster
Sunday Morning Coffee
Now pretend you have plenty of time and want the perfect cup of coffee. This is how it goes.
I select the right amount of coffee beans and place them in the roaster, set the timer for 8 minutes (depends on the particular bean you're roasting and what state of roast you're wanting). Next I take bottled drinking water (water that I've checked for taste), because bad tapwater with all the chemicals can add taste to the coffeee, and put it on the stove to boil. If you need instructions on boiling water, I've never read better instructions than those given by Pest here at hubpages, and as soon as I learn how to link stuff, I'll give you a link. That said, by the time your beans are roasted and your water is at a boil, its time to pour the freshly roasted coffee into the grinder. It only takes a few seconds to grind the coffee. Next pour the right amount of ground coffee into the bottom of your newly purchased French Press. Experimentation is recommended to get just the right amount of ground coffee for your taste. I like mine on the strong side.
I found a great tutorial on using the French Press while researching this hub. Its www.coffeegeek.com/guides/presspot . Mark Prince will tell you lots about using the French Press, but this is my abreviated version. Pour the boiling water over the freshly ground coffee. Let it sit for three or four minutes, occasionally stirring it and push the ground coffee down into the water. After it sits for the right amount of time you take the top part of the French Press (the filter) and slowly and firmly press it down in the pot, forcing the coffee grinds to the bottom of the pot. Sometimes French Press coffee will result in a few fine grounds in the cup, but I don't mind.
Pour your cup of coffee, add whatever it is you like in your coffee, and sit back and enjoy the best cup of coffee you've ever had. I swear this coffee tastes just like freshly ground coffee smells. Its like drinking a coffee bean.
Larger Roaster
Using a French Press
Coffee tips and tidbits
I realize that this may not fit your busy lifestyle, but like many of the finer things in life it's certainly worth the effort. Slow down and smell the freshly roasted and ground coffee. Now I know what you're thinking...."How do I get my hands on Green coffee beans". Do like I did and type green coffee beans into the google search engine. You'll be surprised how many places there are selling green coffee beans over the internet, and there may be someplace local as well. Buying green coffee beans offers many benefits other than just the best cup of coffee you've ever had. You can buy green beans, yes I mean coffee, in sampler packs, 1 pound size, 5 pounds, 25 pounds or even 50 pound bags. Just think of the things you can make with the neat burlap bags that 50 pounds of coffee comes in.
The up side to purchasing green beans is that they cost from 30 to 50 percent less than store bought coffee. These green beans when stored properly (no big deal...they'll tell you how) will last up to 3 years and longer. Thats right and the coffee doesn't start to lose flavor until its roasted. Beat the rising costs and have your own stash in case of nuclear holocaust.
There's also the issue of what type of bean to buy....it's kind of like going to Howard Johnson's for Ice cream....there's a lot of flavors and you just have to find the one that you like. I personally like the Sumatra Mandheling because of it's taste and the fact that it is a low acid coffee...you know, it doesn't give you that boiling stomach effect an hour after you drink it.
I found these sites to be informative and useful in finding the right green beans and items needed to brew that perfect coffee. www.greencoffees.com www.roastmasters.com www.sweetmarias.com www.coffeestorehouse.com
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Comments
The Roasting of the beans is the key ingredient.....and you can roast a weeks supply to save time.
I'm already - kinda/sorta - interested in checking out roasting my own beans, and that's proably something I'll get into, when I can.
You can buy a small home roaster under $100 and it opens up a whole nother world of coffee types you can try out buying the green beans....and besides...it saves a lot of money in the long run and you can choose to roast the beans to any stage of roast you desire. Same beans can taste so different depending on the amount of roasting. just type green coffee beans into google and you'll be amazed.
And I figure I'll be able (hopefully) to buy green coffee beans in Eugene. There are some pretty hard-core coffee shops there.
I buy mine in 25 pound lots....you should try one of the sampler deals. There's so many levels to this coffee thing....I didn't even mention the free trade coffee's. Free trade means the coffee workers were paid a fair wage and not slave labor...the coffee costs a little more...but still far cheaper than buying at the grocery or Starbucks. Yes your area of the country is quite known for coffee. Nice to meet another coffee afficianado.
Likewise, to meet you. I agree, enjoying a cup of good coffee can become as involved and expensive as one wants to take it. I'm trying to achieve a workable balance between gourmet (the coffee you about in my hub is my every-morning cup) and simple. That's why I don't grind my beans daily. But I have an airtight coffee holder (complete with rubber seal) which keeps it pretty fresh and flavorful.
Once in a while I'll get a latte from a starbucks, or kiosk (there's practically one on every corner here), but that's rare because it's never as good as mine. And their idea of Spiced Coffee is a little cinnamon sprinkled on top of the whipped cream.
God, I'm such a coffee-snob!
LOL....me too!!! But I don't have time to make coffee in the morning and Starbucks is only a couple of blocks away...My special coffee is for the weekends.
Keys, it only takes me 7-to-8 minutes to make a cup of coffee - and time isn't even an issue for me at the moment. The beans aren't freshly ground, but I'll put it up against Starbucks' best any time.
"You need to ask yourself ... punk," (sorry, couldn't help it): Do you want a quality, home-brewed coffee every morning (and a few more bucks in your pocket), or are you unbend-ably married to all the preparation of your Weekend Coffee? - which, BTW, you can still do on the weekends!
"Well ... punk. Are ya?"
LOL....LOL...LOL...Well you see it's like this, I get up at 6:30am and I don't have a proper kitchen right now.....I'm away from my home. Starbucks is 2 blocks away. I like the employees and people I meet there...it's a social thing. Speaking of my home...you should give a read to my other hubs. My home is in florida and my business is in North Carolina. When I'm home I do make coffee every day....I live on an island...no bridge.....Starbucks is 20 minutes away by boat and car.
That explains much. And I'm envious of your island. That's my idea of heaven. I was raised in the So.Cal beach communites and the sounds and smells of the ocean immediately rejuvinate me. I've always known that if I ever get to visit some place like the Keys - or any tropical place like that - that would be it. I would never leave.
I fully intend to retire some place tropical.
PS: Aren't you worried about rising sea-level, storms, things like that?
I wondered if you coffee aficionados would meet up. :)
CW...Storms and such are just part ow what you sign up for...like Earthquakes in Alaska and California.
Patricia....thanks for stopping by...yep I read CW's perfect cup of coffee and had to add my own twist... I am passionate about my coffee.
Wow this is all good! I can almost feel the aroma. I'm such a coffee lover I even hubbed about it. Thanks for sharing this :D
Thanks for stopping by Cris...I'll get over and read your hub when I get time. Have you considered roasting your own beans? It's a whole new world of coffee.
FK
I have thought about it, but I think it'll remain a romantic notion. Specially when a Starbucks is nearby :D
Like I said...I'm a Starbucks regular....but when I have time on the weekend....Starbucks can't touch the flavor in my cup of coffee....a Coffee roaster is under $100....and for what it costs, you make up the difference quickly in the cost savings buying green coffee.
Stop it already! I envy you, isn't that enough?! LOL Okay, I'll seriously think about it. It seems the only way I can prove my love to our dark muse is to do as you recommend, roast my own beans :D
Cris....I'm not kidding...you'll thank me.
I'm looking for a automatic roaster, automatic coffee maker, automatic walk it to my side of the bed...
I'm willing to pay what its worth of course.
RB...I think we'd all like to have that feature.
As a coffee lover, it was nice to read this article this morning. I learned so much. These comments are great too! :D
Thanks Jen....nothing like starting the day with a great cup of coffee.
Maybe it's not very elegant or impressive, but I've developed the "fine art" of measuring the right amount of Maxwell House or freshly ground Eight O'Clock beans into my plain, old, drip, coffeemaker - at high speed, throwing in the same amount of water, and giving it long enough that the couple of cups in the carafe are hot;(at which time I speedily remove the carafe, throw a wad of paper towels on the hot plate to absorb whatever coffee is falling in that brief moment, and get the coffee before the half-pot I make is finished brewing. As I drink the first cup the rest of of coffee finishes brewing, making it ready (and not in need of paper towel clump) for the second cup. It's all very speedy, even if I do lose a little coffee to the paper towel (and maybe create a fire hazard). Of course, it may not be perfect - but then neither is coffee from the nearby Dunkin Donuts.
Lisa, it's not always about perfect...sometimes it's about getting that cafeine to my brain as fast as I can...because I just gotta have it.
Hear ye, hear ye all coffee lovers! Congratulations Florida Keys!!! Have you heard the good news? This hub is a hubnugget nominee. Yes it is! So don't delay, click this link to read more about it: http://hubpages.com/hub/Writing-hubs-HubNuggets
Be sure to vote okay and drag all your coffee lover friends to vote too! I know I still have much to learn about coffee since I am the occassional odd person being a water girl more than a coffee drinker. Hahahaha
To cups of coffee that suits you perfectly!
I guess I has arrived.....last week I couldn't even spell perfeshunal...today I is one.
I love coffe and love my press, this Hub is right up my alley. Thanks for making me aware of coffeegeek, good stuff.
I'm not sure if its a faux pas to say but you got my HubNugget vote!
*blushing* Thank you Jen...but have you tried roasting? It's da bomb!
It's a whole new dimension to making coffee...and is economical to boot...and who doesn't need alittle more money these days.
This site was very informative. I love a good cup of coffee and it looks like a lot of others who stopped by do too! Great hub.
Congrats for the hubnugget nomination!
Thanks for all the information! I try to find the time to make good coffee when I can and the nearest Starbucks is almost 80 miles away (sigh). Do you have a preference for grinders? I have heard that the burr grinders are much better than the blade ones but not really sure if that is all advertising or the real deal - your thoughts would be appreciated on that
Dottie thanks for taking the time to read my humble opinion. I am passionate about my coffee.
Mardi, I doubt if the grinder is going to make as much of a difference to your coffee enjoyment as getting and using a home roaster. Let me just say....IT'S THE BEANS!!
Experiment with the type of bean and the degree of roast first.....huge difference...if you have the time to try what I told you, you will laugh at an 80 mile drive to Starbucks, how could you have even considered it!!
I have read the hype about burr grinders, but as my blade grinder is still working and gives me excellent results, I won't be changing until it wears out. That said, I will probably buy a burr grinder next.
I forgot to make a shameless plug...Like on American Idol......please vote for my hub as hubnugget of the week.....you can't text your vote but you can click here.
This is fascinating! Thanks for all of the info in this hub! My husband plays blues a our local java joint, so the proprietor has a good selection of green beans (not to be confused with Capt. Kangaroo's buddy). All I need now is the roaster and the French press. I've been looking at the latter for the last couple of months. I guess it's time to dive in and make the purchase. Dang! If I hadn't bought those two paintings last night, I could afford the whole setup today! But I think a finely brewed cup of coffee as you described would go very nicely with the Sunday Times. I can ease back and gaze upon my paintings between sips! Congratulations fellow HubNugget nominee! Good luck on the voting!
My father introduced me to French Press coffee a couple of years ago. It is wonderful! I wonder if he knows about roasting his own beans...I need to send him a link to your hub. Great links and information. Congratulations on being nominated to HubNuggets!
As a coffee freak, I really appreciated this one!
I'm a cheap ass nowadays and so its folgers, for me, but at least I didn't go instant
kari.....thanks.....French Press combined with roasting your own beans....priceless!!!
LelahThanks for taking the time...us coffee freaks gotta stick together.
GT....if you were really that cheap you'd buy a home roaster and roast green beans....much cheaper...and Oh so much better ...even if you're gonna use a drip pot. Folgers, although it's a great smell when you open the can, can't compete with fresh roasted beans.
FK, I'll be sooooo spoiled after I get that roaster! I had no idea roasting your own could be *better* than just grinding pre-roasted beans. But I do know that smell when beans are being dark roasted. Once worked down the way from where a local gourmet coffee company roasts their beans, and the first day I kept waiting for the fire dept to show up and put out whatever house was on fire! Couldn't believe it had to smell so awful to make coffee taste the way I like! (Pretty sure, btw, that's where I can get green beans locally.) Thanks for a hub after my heart!
JamaGenee....I don't know if anyone has gone out yet and bought a roaster on my advice...but if you do let me know....they're pretty cheap....and WOW...great coffee...and money saving. Thanks for reading.
Very clear and concise, nice use of Hub capsules (love the vid input!). You love your coffee, tis for sure. I'm most partial to that made in an Ibrik myself. I blame the Hookah cafe that offered me a coffee for a dollar and a quarter. Best derned coffee I've had so far..tasted rich and had me going full caffeine steam ahead for awhile. =)
Thanks Gen...yep love my coff for sure...haven't heard of Ibrik....school me. As for using capsules and such...I'm new here....so thanks for the kind words.
We just moved to the Big Island, and live close to Kona that teems with coffee farms. I wake up to freshly ground and brewed coffee courtesy of my daughter who is a true blue coffee lover. Your hub certainly will draw many of us to take the coffee journey to a different level. Great job!
Thanks IslandVoice I'm sitting here turning green with envy!!
Hahaha! I just sent your hub to my facebook and we welcome you to our Coffee Chatter group.
Thank you!
I love this hub! As a coffee lover myself, it has broadened my horizons into the coffee world- before I was just a Starbucks customer but I'll have to have a rethink after this hub!
Thanks Pioneer....it'll make you a true coffee pioneer....and you'll love it.
Wow, I love coffee but I've never dreamed going to this extreme for a good cup of joe. I guess I'm just a coffee novice, while you're a coffee guru! Oh, grasshopper has much to learn.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well....I just applied this philosophy to coffee.
lots of information about Coffee beans, THANKS.
Very good hub.Thank You !
I just discoveed your hubs..drawn in by the smell of a good cup of coffee!! Great hub!
Stay and look around...there's a lot more hubbin here.
Constant Walker says:
8 months ago
Some good info here! I picked up some French press details I was previously unaware of. Already have an electric hot water pot - a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and I love it!
Thanks!