The coffee making thread

[Mike_L]

Have one of each and enjoy the best of both worlds!
Espresso and it's derivatives (Americano, Cappucino, etc.) differ in flavor and "body" from the slower-brewed coffees (French Press, drip, pour-over, etc.) The higher pressure and temp of the espresso technique emulsify the oils into a colloid that forms the crema (foam). Espresso also has more body (viscosity) and slightly higher acidity than the slower-brewed filter and French Press coffees.

Personally, I prefer the slow-brewed (in a French press) because one can do more "fiddling" with them... e.g. experimenting with different brew times and temperatures.

[Macdoc]

Good info. One thing with this semi-auto Breville you can change the settings manually unlike the fully automatic machines tho I find the fine tuning comes more from the tamping and grind. Still hunting a cost effective commercial bean source. Kicking Horse is good but their prices have gone nuts ...it's not THAT good.

With a fine grind espresso in a press you can get a coffee hit that will grow hair on a billiard ball. When we were in the UK I got too fine a grind from Starbucks and we had to really cut back on how much we poured from the press each time.....yummy when we got it figured out tho.

[Mike_L]

I'll usually go for the espresso option at a coffee shop / restaurant, because I don't have an espresso machine at home... although the chat on this thread is prodding me to invest in one!

Perhaps the biggest difference, I find, is that between medium-roast and dark-roast coffees.
In medium roasts, fruity and "bright" (pleasant acidity) flavors are dominant, and one can better appreciate the origin of the bean. For instance, the difference between a Colombian coffee (notes of citrus) and 'Blue Mountain' blend (notes of berry fruits).
In darker roasts, fruity flavors recede and the flavors of the roast become dominant (i.e. flavors of caramelization, Maillard reaction ("toasty") and bittersweet chocolate... and, in the case of very dark roasts, smoky flavors as well).

[proudfootz]

At the thrift shop my microwave espresso and a French press are about the same price.

I've used the French press method before and am familiar with it.

[Scot Dutchy]

This thread is very American orientated. Capsules in Europe have taken over 60% of the coffee market. All coffee producers make them. Not just Nespresso. It is a cleaner and quicker method and you can choose your taste everytime. Next to capsules the cheapest alternative is pads. No waste or cleaning up. The capsules can be recycled.

[The_Metatron]

Yeah, all this talk of French presses is so American oriented.


Sent from my completely solar powered iPad using Tapatalk

[proudfootz]

Pods are great when you want to surrender to someone else's idea of how to brew one's coffee.

[The_Piper]

IS a pod what they market as "k-cup"?

[The_Metatron]

This thread is very American orientated. Capsules in Europe have taken over 60% of the coffee market. All coffee producers make them. Not just Nespresso. It is a cleaner and quicker method and you can choose your taste everytime. Next to capsules the cheapest alternative is pads. No waste or cleaning up. The capsules can be recycled.

Some can be.

Do you disassemble yours to recycle them?

The paper pads are easily compostable, and their use does enjoy low waste. One cup of water, the electricity to heat just that cup of water, no waste, all good things. Except for the price of the coffee itself, those work well.




Sent from my completely solar powered iPad using Tapatalk

[Macdoc]

This thread is very American orientated. Capsules in Europe have taken over 60% of the coffee market.

if you like marginal coffee at high prices with an poor environment footprint ...and I suggest your numbers are bullshit.

[Scot Dutchy]

This thread is very American orientated. Capsules in Europe have taken over 60% of the coffee market. All coffee producers make them. Not just Nespresso. It is a cleaner and quicker method and you can choose your taste everytime. Next to capsules the cheapest alternative is pads. No waste or cleaning up. The capsules can be recycled.

Some can be.

Do you disassemble yours to recycle them?

The paper pads are easily compostable, and their use does enjoy low waste. One cup of water, the electricity to heat just that cup of water, no waste, all good things. Except for the price of the coffee itself,those work well.

I dont have to disassemble them. If you worry that much about electricity use or the price of coffee sorry I dont. The capsules of certain coffee produces are cheaper than filter coffee and you have no waste. Coffee goes old soon as the packet is open especially espresso coffee.

Coffee here was almost totally filter coffee. Then a few Danish presses as we called them appeared but capsules have revolutionised the whole market. Since Nespresso has lost the patent capsules are a booming market. All recyclable.



20 cents a cup. You cant get cheaper and handier.

[Scot Dutchy]

This thread is very American orientated. Capsules in Europe have taken over 60% of the coffee market.

if you like marginal coffee at high prices with an poor environment footprint ...and I suggest your numbers are bullshit.

Of course once again the expert has spoken and complete bullshit again. It is not a marginal market. It is the majority market here. Keep on going with your dirty machines. Wasting coffee.

[Macdoc]

snort - yes as matter of fact I can claim reasonable expertise on barista coffee and pod trash is not 60% of the European market for coffee.
Why not just get instant....not much difference. ...add some condensed milk for a real adventure

. Most European consumers still purchase mainstream coffee, but speciality is a growing segment
The majority of European consumers still purchase cheaper mainstream coffee, usually in the form of standard blends. Recent research suggests that most European consumers still do not distinguish between low- and high-quality coffees. This indicates that there is a lack of consumer awareness and information regarding speciality coffee.

but as usual you just pull a number out your ass.....

However, coffee pods and capsules have developed a negative image due to their potential environmental impact. This image has led to various initiatives around Europe. For example, the city of Hamburg banned coffee pods and other disposable coffee products from its local governmental buildings in the beginning of 2015. This effort was made to reduce the environmental waste of the local government.

https://www.cbi.eu/market-information/coffee/trends/

How is grinding from beans "wasting coffee" ?? per usual you don't have a clue.

[Mike_L]

With pods (K-Cups) there are two additional concerns...

...
They contain aluminum
The fact that K-Cups contain aluminum is also not great for the environment. Even if all that aluminum doesn’t end up in a landfill (and that can pile up with some serious speed), recycling aluminum produces some toxic byproducts that have to be buried in a landfill anyway. Not a problem you have to deal with if you’re using an old-fashioned coffee filter.

They Could Pose a Hazard to Your Health
K-Cups have been confirmed to be BPA-free and made of “safe” plastic, but some studies show that even this type of material can have harmful effects when heated. When you come into contact with these plastic chemicals, they can act like estrogen in your body, throwing your hormones out of whack.
...

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/dangers-of-k-cups

Some manufacturers are moving away from aluminum and plastic, but the shift is not happening very fast...

BBC...

...
There are novel alternatives to the plastic and aluminium coffee pod on the market. Eason Chow, a Singapore-based designer, proposed replacing the plastic cup with dissolvable sugar, much like a gumball. "The amount of packaging wastage is shocking," he said.
Last year Caffe Vergnano, an Italian producer, developed its own biopolymer capsule that can compost down naturally. And the Ethical Coffee Company makes 100% biodegradable capsules from plant-based fibres that are compatible with Nespresso machines, and compostable.
"Some companies are moving in the direction of making them compostable, but they're not the big companies," says Leblanc. And for good reason, reckons Rabobank analyst Colbert: "As long as the market is growing the way it is, the pressure to offer more sustainable alternatives may not be as great as it could be."
...

Is there a serious problem with coffee capsules?

[Macdoc]

My partner recycles her Nespresso pods in Australia but they are not cheap per cup and don't give anywhere near the control a proper espresso machine has. You get some choice on taste and caffeine levels but not my cuppa. Nespresso does a decent crema and it's a compact system.

[jamest]

Recycling won't save the world. It will just prolong the agony. Just talk coffee please.

[The_Metatron]

Recycling won't save the world. It will just prolong the agony. Just talk coffee please.

Alternatively, you can piss off and pay no attention to the tangential conversation about the overall costs of using coffee in different ways.


Sent from my completely solar powered iPad using Tapatalk

[Scot Dutchy]

snort - yes as matter of fact I can claim reasonable expertise on barista coffee and pod trash

Which you are obviously not. Once again cherry picking reports and insulting. Mind you what you would expect?

[Mike_L]

Filter, espresso, capsule, French Press, percolator, instant... it's all okay. Just as long as you don't spill it!

[Macdoc]

Depends on the need for caffeine ....a I have been known to succumb to motel room instant just for a headache curing hit
.
Finding decent espresso in rural US is often impossible when out riding but at least where there is a Sheetz there is hope.
It's morning time for ...