Coffee Appreciation

On the subject of grinders, are there any benefits to grinding your own as apposed to getting the roaster to do it for you? The bloke on Delancey street has some amazing old grinders that seem to do a good job and it saves time etc.

The benefit is freshness. I grind just enough for a double shot minutes before I make it. The rest stays as beans sealed in a container. That's your best option. Getting roaster to grind for you second best option.

EDIT: I can't find David Schomer's quote but it's something like: "Ground coffee is only fresh for a few minutes, before the volatile flavor oils evaporate. Roasted coffee beans last a week, and green coffee beans last for three years."

Ah! That makes sense.

The benefit is freshness. I grind just enough for a double shot minutes before I make it. The rest stays as beans sealed in a container. That's your best option. Getting roaster to grind for you second best option.

this

yeah i notice a big difference on the coffee from delancey if i make one hours after he ground it compared to just the day after

can't wait for my grinder now

What is the consensus on (roasted) bean storage: freezer or cupboard?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread3927-6.html#post314299

Cheers Hippy

Personally, I get 500grams of beans at a time and keep them in a sealed mason jar. This amount lasts me about a week and a half and the beans stay nice and fresh. If I was to get ground it would go in the freezer.

Wahey, grinder finally came!

just made a double shot bon bon - I iz slightly wired…

Ftw!

What is the consensus on (roasted) bean storage: freezer or cupboard?

Deffo cupboard, in the freezer you have loads of humidity, which is no good fo beans.

Say you had £400 to blow on a grinder and semi automatic machine... any recommendations?

The Rancillio Silvia and Gaggia classic keep coming up, although the rancillio is slightly north of my budget.

You've kind of answered your own question then, no? Unless you wait for one to turn up cheaper on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-Espresso-machine-Rancilio-Silvia-v3-version-2009-/400099377958?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Coffee_Machines_Makers&hash=item5d27c80326

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rancilio-Rocky-Coffee-Grinder-Doserless-/200465294150?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Coffee_Machines_Makers&hash=item2eaca9a346

I'm absolutely loving the stovetop Bialetti at the moment. It makes a lovely espresso/capp. What's the general thought on making a black coffee: add freshly boiled water to an espresso from the stovetop, or just use a cafetiere?

I'd go cafetiere for a straight black coffee

Do you think there's much difference in flavour from the brewing of a cafetiere compared with the steam/pressure of a stovetop?

I'd go cafetiere for a straight black coffee

+1

Adding hot water to a shot from a stovetop is also fine and common practice. Its just a different brewing technique (immersion vs forced) with different characteristics and is totally down to preference. A cafetiere will give you a clearer, less silty brew.

Do you think there's much difference in flavour from the brewing of a cafetiere compared with the steam/pressure of a stovetop?

massive difference.

I guess that's through personal preference and practice.

After thinking about black coffee for a while I decided to go for the capp...

Here is my nice strong double shot cappuccino/macchiato (not sure which as there was more coffee than milk but more milk than a standard macchiato.

i gave up drinking coffee during the week on monday. i feel totally exhausted and headachy all the time now, but i am sleeping heaps better. just now i had a decaf latte because i was bored. it wasn't worth it. blurgh.

coffee isn't that bad is it?

Decaf? No point whatsoever.

I only have one super industrial coffee in the morning. I'm talking a whole 8 cup bialetti stove top with fresh ground Bolivian high roast beans.

Unless I'm really really tired then I might have a pick up in the afternoon.. Other wise I can never sleep.

nah, just don't over do it. i'm on 3 cups a day steady. 9.30am, 2pm and 4.30pm. I seriously get a headache 5 mins past those hours if I don't get coffee. But not on weekends, which is quite weird. Does my addiction(?) know what day of the week it is?

I'm in Spain at the moment, rather enjoying the cafe Cortado. Would I be understood here if I asked for a Cafe Bonbon?