Thread: How to make Great coffee.

I have a 4 cup FP that I use at work cause I am the only one that does not buy there coffee at Starburnts. That little FP fills my cup up nicely.

I have a Mr. Coffee Grinder, I think it was $30. It is a blade grinder and I love it for 2 reasons. One it has settings for Fine, Course, and Medium Grind, and 4, 8, and 12 cup settings. The Second reason is the it is internally timed. So if I set the grind for Fine 4 cups and press the button it will grind then stop when it has completed the process. It is a blade grinder and I have had great success with it.

It also has a little tablespoon scale for 4, 8, and 12 cups to measure the beans. I steep for 4 minutes and clean everything afterwards. Not a Cadillac but defiantly a Honda. It will get you there efficiently.

I love french press coffee, but i hate cleaning it.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I love french press coffee, but i hate cleaning it.

I hear you there - but it can be simple enough - about half the press filled with water, a drop of soap and happy plunging. Then rinse. Thoroughly.

Maybe its just my opinion, but I find a better cup to come from a very coarse grind with a longer steeping time in a french press.



Also, heating the water to the correct temperature can be more challenging than it sounds.
IMHO, the correct water temperature is way more important than the grind.



Really it is splitting hairs, because the quality of coffee coming from a french press is literally 'head and shoulders' above a drip.



Great Post, Pyment !


I've been a coffee nut for a few years now.

Thanks for the post Py!

Can you recommend a good (hopefully inexpensive) starter french press?

Would it be a good idea to get the aeropress instead? Or is this completely different?

I bought a Bodum from the Starburnts here for $20. It is a 4 cup and works wonders. I am sure there are better, but the price was right.

Here's my technique. Some coffee purists may scoff, but I find it works well, and everyone who I've ever served it to has liked it as well.

I start out with one of those enamelware percolator pots you get for camping. You know, the blue with white speckles all over it. Take the percolator stuff out and put it in the recycling bin. It's worthless. The capacity of one of these pots is roughly three quarts, and you need about that much room to make this work.

Put one quart of water in the pot, set it on the stove and bring it to a boil. Grind your beans until they are about the consistancy of talcum powder ("weaponized", as my brother likes to call it) For one quart, you'll need four level scoops of this grind. Remember, it must be a fine as you can get it. It takes a while in a blade-style grinder, so stick with it. Once the water has come to a boil, remove it from the heat and let it cool a bit. Dump the coffee into the water and then put it back on the heat. It will begin to foam up. Once the foam gets to within about an inch of the top of the pot (you need to watch it the entire time, it happens pretty quickly), remove it from the heat. Wait for the foam to settle back down to the original water level (about 45 seconds), and then put it back on the heat. It will foam up again like the first time, but have your cup ready now. Once it get's to within an inch of the top, remove the pot from the heat and pour.

I find this to be the most satisfying cup of coffee ever. Some may say "This is no way to make a pot of coffee, but that's becausae they haven't tried it yet. It is some tasty stuff.

I like a well made cup of espresso, and I love french press (only I use a fine espresso grind), but my Turkish/cowboy coffee is how I prefer to start my days.