How to make a perfect cup of coffee
By Sharon Stajda,
Today, I will propose to you how to make a great cup of coffee. You can do it. There are a few secrets to the process. I will share these with you.
A good cup of coffee starts with the coffee maker. All are not created equal... You simply need a coffee maker that produces very hot water, for good coffee steeping. If the maker does not produce really hot water, it will not give you a good cup of coffee, before buying a coffee maker do your homework. Read reviews, talk to friends, you get the picture. Their are some great coffee makers out there, that don't cost an arm and a leg. When you decide on a coffee maker, comparative shop on the Internet. You will be shocked at how much you can save.
At present I am using a coffee maker by Cuisinart. The Cuisinart 12-cup Brew Central. It makes a great tasting hot cup of coffee. It has all the bells and whistles I wanted, plus I did my homework, and got a great bargain on the maker at Overstock.com.
The bean and picking your roast. Quality coffee can only come from a quality coffee bean that is properly roasted. The process of roasting a coffee bean is complex and can result in a given bean tasting very different depending on how it is roasted. If you desire a strong intense flavor to your coffee, choose a dark roast (ex: French Roast). If you like to a light flavor, less intense, choose a lighter roast.
Never use pre-ground coffee. Pre-ground coffee will lose its flavor and essence within a short period of time. Grinding before you brew will assure you that no flavor is lost due to time.
Here is the comes the tricky part, but the most important part of making a good cup of coffee. There are two things that can really ruin coffee. Number one how much coffee you add per cup, and two not grinding the bean to suit your machine....
Most coffee makers will come with instructions on how much coffee you should add per cup. Actually the coffee makers are usually pretty right on. But, every one has a different coffee strength they prefer. So I suggest making a pot as the coffee maker instructs. Then if it is to strong or to weak, you work on your amount of coffee added per cup. I know its work, but it will be worth it.
A good cup of coffee is as good as the grind...Again most coffee makers will 
suggest what level of grind that works well with their given maker.I have found that if one likes a rich cup of coffee, a bit on the strong side, grind your beans a medium grind. The gives the hot water a bit of steeping time. If you like a bit weaker, grind your coffee fine, the coffee maker will send the water through quickly, giving a smooth bit of a weaker cup.
My favorite grind is between the two, fine to medium. I find this grind gives a great favorable cup of coffee.
Always use cold filtered water when brewing your coffee. The water you use represents 98% of your cup of coffee. Filtering the water will remove impurities that could affect the taste. Poor quality water can come from a variety of sources. Example, older house will have older pipes. Theses pipes tend to give the water an off flavor. You will want to remove this by filtering. The basic rule is the better the water, the better the coffee.
Skip the paper filters and go for the gold. Yes, these are 23k Gold plated stainless steel filters. Paper filters will influence the flavor of the coffee in a negative manner. The Gold plated filters influence the flavor by allowing natural oils to infiltrate into your brew, adding a level of flavor and aroma you wont find with paper coffee filters. Another plus is that these filters can be reused over and over, and will last a very long time. Not only will your coffee be better, but you will be helping the environment by saving on waste.
Never over do it on the add-ins. Cut down on the sugar, cream, and other flavor add-ins to really enjoy the true essence of the brew. If we disguise the coffee to much; we will never know the true taste.
Part of what makes a great cup of coffee is how and when we enjoy it. We all have our favorite time and rituals. For me, nothing beats enjoying a great cup of coffee on a Sunday morning and reading the paper. Thanks for your visit--- Please take a look at my other Lense's...
Photo Gallery... Coffee Makers
A vintage Cory model ACB vacuum coffee maker.
Saw this in the department store. Looks like a space ship... or sumthin'.XP It h...
There are only 3 of these pots in the world? So Iwas told?
French Press...
something new to play with
Reviews On Coffee Makers...
- Consumer Search - Coffee makers
- Best Coffee Makers Reviews: (out of 15)
Consumer Reports, The Wall Street Journal, Amazon.com
Best Coffee Makers: (out of 75)
Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central, Braun Aromaster KF400, Capresso MT500 - Epinions
- View reviews on all Coffee and Espresso Makers.
Review by price range, maker, and more...
CUISINART - on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Great Coffee Grinders - on Amazon
Factory-Reconditioned Cuisinart Supreme Grind Automatic Coffee Burr Mill CCM-16FR
Amazon Price: $39.88 (as of 10/06/2008)
Cuisinart DBM-8 Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill
Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 10/06/2008)
Cuisinart DCG-12BC Grind Central Coffee Grinder
Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 10/06/2008)
Coffee Word Wise... Word of the day --- Klatch
"Please talk amoung yourselves"Linda Richman (Mike Myers) SNL.
Klatch or coffee klatsch also kaf·fee·klatsch.NOUN: A casual social gathering for coffee and conversation.
ETYMOLOGY: Partial translation of German Kaffeeklatsch : Kaffee, coffee + Klatsch, gossip; see klatch.
So Are You Up For A Short Quiz? Take the quiz below, and discover your ideal bean...
A Bit Of Coffee House--- Lingo
Café Con Panna- An espresso topped with a bit of whip creamCafé Au Lait- Made French style with lots of boiled milk, poured simultaneously into a large cup.
Café Amaretto- A cup of black coffee with a shot of Amaretto or almond syrup.
Breve- An espresso served with half & half or semi skimmed milk.
Café Con Leche - a small amount of espresso (1 ½ ounce) with the cup topped of with steamed milk, right to the top...
Barista- This is the title of an espresso Bartender...
Americano- An espresso badly watered down!
Americano Misto- An Americano with steamed milk, but with lack of foam.
Addshot- Tell the Barista. To add an extra shot of espresso.
Some Very Intersting Coffee Reference Articles
- Coffee...
- Very Interesting article. written in 1917!
The popularity of coffee. There are few foods about which consumers are usually so particular as they are about coffee. People who enjoy this beverage at all are likely to regard it as the most delicious drink that has found its way to the tables of civilized man. Read More... - How Does Coffee Grow...
- A. The coffee plant is an evergreen shrub, averaging from ten to fourteen feet in height. It bears fruit twice a year. The ripe fruit has a bright red color and resembles the common cherry. Read More...
- Coffee - It Uses And Medicinal Qualities...
- Dr. Bock of Leipsic says : " The nervousness and peevishness of our times are chiefly attributable to tea and coffee ; " he says that " the digestive organs of confirmed coffee drinkers are in a state of chronic derangement, which reacts on the brain, producing fretful and lachrymose moods. Ladies addicted to strong coffee have a characteristic temper,---- Please read on...
- South America Today - Brazilian Coffee...
- Very interesting article...
The fabulous extension in recent years of the coffee plantations and the crops that have permitted the present extraordinary accumulation of wealth have drawn the attention of the whole world to the Brazilian fazendas. - Tea And Coffee Production And Consumption...
- Please read. This article was written in the early 1900's. you won't believe the stats on coffee consumption!
Photo Gallery...
Heart In My Coffee...
Turkish Coffee...
Irish coffee...
Clouds In My Coffee ---
Spanish Coffee...
Fuel...
Pumpkin Latte
espresso...
Whole Foods 365 Columbian Coffee... So Smooth, and Tasty
Whole Foods 365 Colombain bean is a step above most. The bean give a wonderfully smooth, sweet and mild, yet full flavored cup of coffee. It also is a good value costing $9.99 for 1lb. 8oz bag. Give this one a try, its great... Great Coffee's ... Caribou
CARIBOU's Coffee
Next time you pass a Caribou Coffee House, Stop...If you have not tried one Caribou coffee numerous blends, please do yourself a flavor and try one. I love the Colombian blend... I have tried most all of the different blends offered, and love them all...
Storing Coffee...
Where you purchase your coffee beans, and how you store them, can make a big difference -- when it comes down to the taste & aroma...
As a rule coffee taste best if consumed within a month of roasting. After that it will began to lose its roasted flavor, and aroma. Most well known coffee house chains maintain selves with fresh coffee. Supermarkets are another story?To keep your coffee fresh, store it in an airtight container, that is opaque. Keep it on a counter or cupboard. Never freeze or refrigerate.
The decreased temperatures cause condensation, which ultimately dries out the beans, and depletes the flavor, and aroma.
Photo Gallery...
Before and after roasting
Roasting over coals
roasting coffee beans
I - Roast
Why Not Try Roasting Your Own Beans---
You won't believe the flavor...
- Sweet Maria's
- Check Out This Special Site--- Not only do they have all the info, and suppies to make it easy for you to roast your own beans, for that perfact cup... There is loads of other interesting stuff, related to coffee.
Sweet Maria's would like to be your information source and green coffee supplier for your home coffee roasting adventures. Home roasting is easy! It only takes 5 to 15 minutes and your reward is the freshest coffee around. It requires no fancy equipment and green coffee from Sweet Maria's is half the price of good roasted coffee from a retailer. We have a huge selection of green coffees, each carefully cupped and rated for quality.
Up For A Quiz? How To Choose A bean --To Suit Your Taste
Discover Just The Right Coffee Beans To Suit Your Taste Buds....
What flavor do you prefer? 1.nutty 2.fruity 3.spicy 4.sweetHow do you prefer steak cooked? 1.rare 2.medium rare 3.medium well 4.well done
What's your very Favorite fruit? 1.Grapefruit 2.orange 3.melon 4.banana
How do you like marshmallows? 1.White 2.golden dark 3.brown 4.burned
What wine do you prefer? 1.Dry White 2.sweet white 3.light body red 4.heavy body red
Which chocolate do you like? (Counts as 1. 0r 2.)milk chocolate.............. (Counts as 3.0r 4.)Dark chocolate............
Which grapes do you prefer? (Counts as 1.and 2.)White............................. (Counts as 3. and 4.)Red.............................
How do you prefer your food? (Counts as 1.and 2.)Sauteed......................... (Counts as 3.0r 4.)Barbecue......................
Total # in each column?
If you had the most 1. You most likely will prefer: Columbia, Kona Blend, La Minta Peaaberry or perennial coffee.
Higher choices of # 2: Try Costa Rica, Daybreak, Guatemala or Kenya AA.
Higher choices in # 3: Try Caribou Blend, Fireside blend, mocha Java or Rainforest.
Higher choices in # 4: Try Espresso, French Roast, Sumatra or Reindeer blend.
Coffee And Health ...
Coffee is a good source of Antioxidants !
"Coffee provides more than just a morning jolt; that steaming cup of java is also the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Scranton (Pa.). Their study was described today at the 230th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.User rating
4.2 out of 5 after 32 total votes
Would you recommend this story?
Not at all - 1 2 3 4 5 - Highly
"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close," says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. Although fruits and vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels.
Coffee House Locator ...
- Starbucks...
- What we are all about Starbucks purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees and sells them along with fresh, rich-brewed, Italian style espresso beverages, a variety of pastries and confections, and coffee-related accessories and equipment -- primarily through its company-operated retail stores. In addition to sales through our company-operated retail stores, Starbucks sells whole bean coffees through a specialty sales group and supermarkets.
- Caribou Coffee...
- Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee,
Roswell, Georgia
Our coffee maker was on the fritz a couple of weeks ago, so Pam and I did what we always do when looking for a new appliance - we went to the Consumer Reports website and started looking for coffee makers. The coffee makers were listed in a section on coffee in general, and I am always looking for good coffee, so I read the article. Much to my surprise one coffee and one coffee shop stood out above all the rest - and it wasn't Starbucks - it was Caribou Coffee.
Coffee House Music...
Coffee House
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 10/06/2008)
Paris City Coffee: Sunnyside Cafe Series
Amazon Price: $16.98 (as of 10/06/2008)
Acoustic Coffee House: A Tribute to Elvis
Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)
Coffee House Blues: Charly Blues Masterworks, Vol. 33
Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)
What Type Of Coffee Maker Do You Prefer?
Note how the French press coffee maker is running a close second with the drip coffee maker?
You know why? You control the water temperature with the French press. Remember the hotter the water, the bean has time to steep all that flavor out of the bean.
If you have not tried a French Press, give it a try. You will be hooked!
French Press - on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byGreat Stuff on Amazon
Melitta MEMB1 Mill & Brew Coffeemaker
Amazon Price: (as of 10/06/2008)
Bodum Chambord 8-Cup Coffee Press
Amazon Price: $39.89 (as of 10/06/2008)
Farberware FCP240 Electric Percolator
Amazon Price: $49.70 (as of 10/06/2008)
Please take time to tell us about your favorite coffee maker?
If you love coffee, most likely you love to klatch? Please take time to tell us about your favorite coffe maker? We all know a great cup of coffee starts with the coffee maker...
|
The-Coffee-Guy
I love my French press. Makes a great tasting cup of coffee. And I agree that the grinding of the beans is very important. Posted February 17, 2008 |
|
gourmetcoffeesnob
Hi Shar, Posted August 25, 2007 |
|
KokoTravel
Hi Shar, Posted June 24, 2007 |
|
Shar
Cuisinart 12-cup Brew Central Posted June 20, 2007 |
I use a drip maker, a french press, espresso maker, and moka pot. I am always wanting to try new ways of brewing coffee....cool site, thanks for all the info.
Posted March 07, 2007
