Thread: Coffee Enthusiasts

Originally Posted by Gasman

It was a.strong coffee flavor but not bitter. Tried it black and gave the wife a cup. She saturated hers with creamer and sugar. Im trying to not do this. Think maybe a splash of half and half might make it a little better. Its going to take a little practice but i can tell its a better coffee already.

Had to go shopping with the wife so i didnt get to try but one cup. BTW, i found it a little harder on my empty belly.

Strong black coffee is what I favor! Everyone has a different palate and the only need is to enjoy what you're drinking.

Originally Posted by Gasman

It was a.strong coffee flavor but not bitter. Tried it black and gave the wife a cup. She saturated hers with creamer and sugar. Im trying to not do this. Think maybe a splash of half and half might make it a little better. Its going to take a little practice but i can tell its a better coffee already.

Had to go shopping with the wife so i didnt get to try but one cup. BTW, i found it a little harder on my empty belly.

Maybe I missed it earlier in the thread, but what coffee beans are you using and what setting on your grinder?

Grinder.setting was 32 out of the 40 settings. Baratza Encore grinder. The beans are from bulk at a health food store. Prabably old? Med/dark roast, name is Mountain Gold. The wife also picked some named Pacif8c Rim Blend that are a medium roast.

Maybe next week i will go down town and pick up some beans from a local place that roasts them there. Had to start somewhere.

We were just at Costco and she pointed out a 3lb bag of beans. I told her it was just way too many of one kind to be trying.

I do prefer my French Press to other coffee making toys I've tried. Mind you, I have not tried a syphon or cold press, so I can't comment on those devices.

My wife has now started drinking decaf, so I get to use my small press to make myself a strong, dark roast or espresso blend in the morning. Loving it!

Has anyone ever tried using a coffee filter in a french press? I like the coffee from it but I don't like the sludge. In general I try to avoid disposable stuff and never would own a Keurig, but I might spring for coffee filters.

Yes, there are both paper and cloth filter covers/flats available for the French Press and other units like the Bailette breed.
Check with your local coffee supplier or roaster.
YMMV
~Richard

Grab an AeroPress (< $40) which is derivative of a French press with 350 (corrected) circular, paper coffee microfilters included. All Lexan with a rubber plunger that makes 1 cup at a time. I like the fact that I can use an espresso grind and suffer very little grit in the bottom of my cup. If you are only making a few cups of coffee in the morning, I find this a great solution. Very portable, too!

Mine came with filters but the dual filter it has in it, I had no sludge! Mine is called an Espro. There might have been a touch in the bottom of the cup, but really nothing to complain about except that you can't get the last once out of the pot. Its trapped into the filtered grind area. I just poured the grinds out into a paper towel and threw it out. Kept from making a mess.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Has anyone ever tried using a coffee filter in a french press? I like the coffee from it but I don't like the sludge. In general I try to avoid disposable stuff and never would own a Keurig, but I might spring for coffee filters.

one of the reasons I like the Aeropress,, I got the metal micro filter for it,, no grounds.

using a French press is all about getting the grind right. Too fine a grind and you'll get too many particulates. When I get the grind right, the finished product is superb.

Whether I'm using a French press, a lever espresso machine, or doing a pour over, getting the proper grind is a large part of getting a great cup of coffee.

Stepless grinders help you dial in what works best for each method of coffee making. They can be ridiculously expensive, but there are some reasonably priced as well.