Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
her, but I don't know how.

What kind of coffee should I buy?

What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
worthwhile to make better coffee?

Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
ground coffee better?

Anything else I should know?


TIA,
John

In article >,
John Hendrickson > wrote:
>
> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
>maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
>that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
>her, but I don't know how.
>
> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>
> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
>worthwhile to make better coffee?
>
> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
>ground coffee better?
>
> Anything else I should know?

rec.food.drink.coffee
alt.coffee

Chuck Demas

--
Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all,
Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well,
Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it.
| \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd

In article >, says...

>In article >,
>John Hendrickson > wrote:
>>
>> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... I would like to make good
>>coffee for her, but I don't know how.
>>
>> <snip various coffee questions>
>>
>> Anything else I should know?

>
>rec.food.drink.coffee
>alt.coffee
>
>Chuck Demas
>


Chuck,

I appreciate your effort at answering my question, but my news provider does
not have alt.coffee - probably due to an alt hierarchy filter.
And... It seems they do not spend much time discussing coffee at RFDC.


Does anyone know the location of a good coffee FAQ?


John

"John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
...
>
> In article >, says...
>
> >In article >,
> >John Hendrickson > wrote:
> >>
> >> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... I would like to make
good
> >>coffee for her, but I don't know how.
> >>
> >> <snip various coffee questions>
> >>
> >> Anything else I should know?
>
> >
> >rec.food.drink.coffee
> >alt.coffee
> >
> >Chuck Demas
> >
>
>
> Chuck,
>
> I appreciate your effort at answering my question, but my news provider
does
> not have alt.coffee - probably due to an alt hierarchy filter.
> And... It seems they do not spend much time discussing coffee at RFDC.
>
>
> Does anyone know the location of a good coffee FAQ?
>
>
> John
>
Buy some beans at a coffee place, keep them in the freezer.
Grind them as needed in a electric grinder
Brew using one of those Melitta cone things into a vacuum bottle or carafe.
Or get a french press

That will work great for small quantities and be relatively inexpensive.

del cecchi
>
>

>
> Chuck,
>
> I appreciate your effort at answering my question, but my news provider
does
> not have alt.coffee - probably due to an alt hierarchy filter.
> And... It seems they do not spend much time discussing coffee at RFDC.
>
>
> Does anyone know the location of a good coffee FAQ?
>
>
> John
>
>

I don't know anything about these machines -- there seem to be a whole slew
of them on the market now -- I noticed them at Target the other day that
make a single serving of coffee at a time using single serving coffee pods.
One of them is he

http://www.enotalone.com/kitchen-hou...0001ES9G2.html

As you are not a coffee drinker, if your friend doesn't need copious
quantities all at once this might be an idea. Or there was -- maybe there
still is? -- a coffee maker from Cuisinart I think, on the market a couple
of years ago that brewed directly into a travel mug. But the basics of good
coffee are a pot that heats water to the correct temperature, fresh coffee -
ground coffee gets stale real fast, and good water ...OTOH an insulated
thermos and a trip to the nearest place that makes decent coffee may be the
easiest thing to do :-)

A coffee press, altho you have to get used to making coffee in them, isn't
real expensive, I got one he

http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.brew...nchpress.shtml

They tend to make strong coffee however. And they are attractive when just
sitting around empty :-)

Or as someone suggested, just ask your friend if they have a preference ...

Ellen

"John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
...
>
> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
> maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
> that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
> her, but I don't know how.
>
> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>
> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
> worthwhile to make better coffee?
>
> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
> ground coffee better?
>
> Anything else I should know?
>
Coffee is like wine or chocolate: you like what you like. Good to one
person isn't good to another. There are different kinds of beans, different
roasts, and different preparation methods. Rather than guess, I would ask
the friend what she likes - the type of coffee, the type of roast, and the
preparation method. Otherwise you are just taking a stab in the dark - a
stab that could be quite costly. Generally speaking, coffee does get stale
and fresh ground is better than previously ground. The problem comes in
that you can also buy raw beans and roast them yourself as well as grind
them yourself. You can use a blade grinder or a burr grinder. There are
just too many variables (including the type of water you use) so the odds of
you guessing are not good. Furthermore, my mother is one of those people
who must have coffee, but she only drinks the worst commercial brands brewed
in a cheap coffee maker and only likes her coffee very weak with a heaping
spoonful of non-dairy creamer. If you went out and purchased raw beans, a
roaster, a grinder, and an expensive Italian coffee maker, you wouldn't be
more off the mark for making coffee that she would like even though she is a
compulsive coffee drinker. How much do you want to spend? Is this friend
here for the weekend or will you see her frequently? Like I said, you
probably should just ask her.

In article >,
Vox Humana > wrote:
>
>"John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
>> maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
>> that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
>> her, but I don't know how.
>>
>> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>>
>> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
>> worthwhile to make better coffee?
>>
>> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
>> ground coffee better?
>>
>> Anything else I should know?
>>
>Coffee is like wine or chocolate: you like what you like. Good to one
>person isn't good to another. There are different kinds of beans, different
>roasts, and different preparation methods. Rather than guess, I would ask
>the friend what she likes - the type of coffee, the type of roast, and the
>preparation method. Otherwise you are just taking a stab in the dark - a
>stab that could be quite costly. Generally speaking, coffee does get stale
>and fresh ground is better than previously ground. The problem comes in
>that you can also buy raw beans and roast them yourself as well as grind
>them yourself. You can use a blade grinder or a burr grinder. There are
>just too many variables (including the type of water you use) so the odds of
>you guessing are not good. Furthermore, my mother is one of those people
>who must have coffee, but she only drinks the worst commercial brands brewed
>in a cheap coffee maker and only likes her coffee very weak with a heaping
>spoonful of non-dairy creamer. If you went out and purchased raw beans, a
>roaster, a grinder, and an expensive Italian coffee maker, you wouldn't be
>more off the mark for making coffee that she would like even though she is a
>compulsive coffee drinker. How much do you want to spend? Is this friend
>here for the weekend or will you see her frequently? Like I said, you
>probably should just ask her.

Or buy a thermos and go to Dunkin Donuts. :-)


Chuck Demas

--
Eat Healthy | _ _ | Nothing would be done at all,
Stay Fit | @ @ | If a man waited to do it so well,
Die Anyway | v | That no one could find fault with it.
| \___/ | http://world.std.com/~cpd

I'll certainly not argue that there are no differences between brews;
however, any brew that departs very far from 1 oz ground coffee per 16
oz water will generally be disliked. This ratio dominates all other
factors, and the odds are on your side that your special friend will
still be friendly if you achieve this ratio.

Vox Humana wrote:
> "John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
>>maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
>>that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
>>her, but I don't know how.
>>
>> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>>
>> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
>>worthwhile to make better coffee?
>>
>> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
>>ground coffee better?
>>
>> Anything else I should know?
>>
>
> Coffee is like wine or chocolate: you like what you like. Good to one
> person isn't good to another. There are different kinds of beans, different
> roasts, and different preparation methods. Rather than guess, I would ask
> the friend what she likes - the type of coffee, the type of roast, and the
> preparation method. Otherwise you are just taking a stab in the dark - a
> stab that could be quite costly. Generally speaking, coffee does get stale
> and fresh ground is better than previously ground. The problem comes in
> that you can also buy raw beans and roast them yourself as well as grind
> them yourself. You can use a blade grinder or a burr grinder. There are
> just too many variables (including the type of water you use) so the odds of
> you guessing are not good. Furthermore, my mother is one of those people
> who must have coffee, but she only drinks the worst commercial brands brewed
> in a cheap coffee maker and only likes her coffee very weak with a heaping
> spoonful of non-dairy creamer. If you went out and purchased raw beans, a
> roaster, a grinder, and an expensive Italian coffee maker, you wouldn't be
> more off the mark for making coffee that she would like even though she is a
> compulsive coffee drinker. How much do you want to spend? Is this friend
> here for the weekend or will you see her frequently? Like I said, you
> probably should just ask her.
>
>


--
Bob Wheeler --- http://www.bobwheeler.com/
ECHIP, Inc. ---
Randomness comes in bunches.

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 15:41:41 -0400, Bob Wheeler >
wrote:

>I'll certainly not argue that there are no differences between brews;
>however, any brew that departs very far from 1 oz ground coffee per 16
>oz water will generally be disliked. This ratio dominates all other
>factors, and the odds are on your side that your special friend will

I oz. ground coffee to 16 oz. water? That would result in very weak
coffee. Perhaps you meant 2 oz. ground coffee to 6 oz. water? That
is the standard recommendation from every source I've read. Of
course, personal taste and experimentation may lead to a different
ratio.

Just my $.02

jmac
Enjoying my second cup of the day
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
Mark Twain

"John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
...
>
> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
> maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
> that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
> her, but I don't know how.
>
> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>
> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
> worthwhile to make better coffee?
>
> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
> ground coffee better?
>
> Anything else I should know?
>
>

Ask your friend what kind of coffee she likes and how she likes it made.
She'll be touched that you are willing to go to the trouble and will get
coffee she likes rather than something the news-groupies think she should
like.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

"Peter Aitken" > wrote in message
. com...
> (some snippage)
> Ask your friend what kind of coffee she likes and how she likes it made.
> She'll be touched that you are willing to go to the trouble and will get
> coffee she likes rather than something the news-groupies think she should
> like.
>
Excellent advice. For more information than you'll ever need, go to:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/
it's a bit biased toward espresso but still covers coffee in
mind-numbing detail.
Brian, in Cedar

Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
>ground coffee better?

I agree you should ask your friend what she generally likes.

Some people have very refined taste, others like whatever is cheapest at
the supermarket.

The vast majority of people still drink coffee brewed in a drip pot,
like a "Mr. Coffee".

If she is "average" go to a decent department store and get a drip pot
like a Braun or Melitta model.

Sears has a Delonghi model that should be just about right.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...=00 869330000

It uses a paper filter.

Then go to a supermarket and buy coffee beans that you grind in the
store. Ask for help from a clerk if you need it, but the directions
should be clear for a drip pot. Buy no more than a pound at a time.

A good start is Columbian Supremo beans. If it comes out too strong or
weak, use more or less coffee in the filter.

Thanks for everyone's help.

My friend uses Folger's canned coffee in a drip coffee maker with paper
filters. She says her coffee is "good", but knows of a few places where the
coffee is "really good" and one place where it is "heavenly." When asked, she
responds that they buy "better coffee".

My friend is coming over tonight. Yesterday I went on a little road trip to
a nearby town and bought some gourmet Columbian coffee beans that came out of
the roaster on Tuesday afternoon. Today I bought a cheapo blade grinder, metal
mesh filter, and a Mr Coffee maker. I will use some cold filtered water to
make a pot tonight.

I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We can always run to the
store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.

I have already had fun with this, and it can only get better, trying to
produce the elusive "heavenly" cup of coffee.

John

"John Hendrickson" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks for everyone's help.
>
> My friend uses Folger's canned coffee in a drip coffee maker with paper
> filters. She says her coffee is "good", but knows of a few places where
the
> coffee is "really good" and one place where it is "heavenly." When asked,
she
> responds that they buy "better coffee".
>
> My friend is coming over tonight. Yesterday I went on a little road
trip to
> a nearby town and bought some gourmet Columbian coffee beans that came out
of
> the roaster on Tuesday afternoon. Today I bought a cheapo blade grinder,
metal
> mesh filter, and a Mr Coffee maker. I will use some cold filtered water
to
> make a pot tonight.
>
> I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We can always run to
the
> store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.
>
> I have already had fun with this, and it can only get better, trying to
> produce the elusive "heavenly" cup of coffee.
>
> John
>

More people should have friends like you.


--
Peter Aitken

Remove the crap from my email address before using.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:51:22 +0000 (UTC),
(John Hendrickson) wrote:

> Thanks for everyone's help.

You've received lots of good advice, among the most important is that
everyone is different. If you'd like to experiment a little, my
daugther, while working in a hotel, discovered a coffe called Hotel
Blend (search for that name on the internet; the site where it's sold
has a different name that I don't recall).

It's the best I've had. We buy a couple of pounds a month over the
internet.


- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

> I have already had fun with this, and it can only get better, trying to
> produce the elusive "heavenly" cup of coffee.
>
> John
That's the spirit. Next you might try blending small amounts of
more "exotic" beans with your Columbian, say 20 or 30%
of something from Ethopia, Sumatra or my fave, Indian
Monsooned Malabar. Beware the trend to overroast, made
popular by Tarbucks, most of their drinks are milk-based
and the milk tempers the bitter, oily beans.
Brian, in Cedar

Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
> I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We can always run to the
>store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.

Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try adjusting the amount
of grounds you use.

Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.

"Petey the Wonder Dog" > wrote in message
...
> Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
> > I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We can always run to
the
> >store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.
>
> Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
> If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try adjusting the amount
> of grounds you use.
>
> Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.

As supermarket brands go, I like Millstone.

"Vox Humana" > wrote...

> As supermarket brands go, I like Millstone.

I'll second Millstone. I like buying them bulk from the see-through
containers so you can avoid the dried-out beans and find something
reasonably fresh, or at least fresh-looking.

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:04:41 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
wrote:

>>
>> Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
>> If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try adjusting the amount
>> of grounds you use.
>>
>> Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.
>
>As supermarket brands go, I like Millstone.

My wife buys Millstone too Vox...Breakfast Blend! It's very good but
she grinds the beans in the evening and sets the Mr.Coffee to come on
the next morning. I can tell a difference in the taste by not grinding
the beans right before making the pot of coffee.

Bill

"Bill" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 14:04:41 GMT, "Vox Humana" >
> wrote:
>
> >>
> >> Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
> >> If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try adjusting the amount
> >> of grounds you use.
> >>
> >> Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.
> >
> >As supermarket brands go, I like Millstone.
>
> My wife buys Millstone too Vox...Breakfast Blend! It's very good but
> she grinds the beans in the evening and sets the Mr.Coffee to come on
> the next morning. I can tell a difference in the taste by not grinding
> the beans right before making the pot of coffee.

Of all the coffee that I have server, I have received more compliment over
Millstone than any other brand.

"Petey the Wonder Dog" > wrote in message
...
> Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
> > I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We can always run to
the
> >store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.
>
> Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
> If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try adjusting the amount
> of grounds you use.
>
> Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.

What's the purpose of over roasting? I've always wondered why Starbucks
coffee was so bad. I always thought that at those prices, they could serve
something really good but they don't. What motivates this? It isn't
economics is it?

Fred
The Good Gourmet
http://www.thegoodgourmet.com

"Fred" > wrote in
:

>
> "Petey the Wonder Dog" > wrote in
> message ...
>> Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>> > I am pretty sure she will appreciate my efforts. We
>> > can always run to
> the
>> >store for a can of Folgers if it doesn't turn out well.
>>
>> Folgers is NOT an option. Please remember that.
>> If the fresh roast you got isn't quite right, try
>> adjusting the amount of grounds you use.
>>
>> Starbucks is way over-priced and over roasted.
>
> What's the purpose of over roasting? I've always wondered
> why Starbucks coffee was so bad. I always thought that at
> those prices, they could serve something really good but
> they don't. What motivates this? It isn't economics is
> it?
>
> Fred
> The Good Gourmet
> http://www.thegoodgourmet.com
>
>
>
>

Starbucks is over-roasted (i.e., burnt) coffee warehouse floor
sweepings. Folgers is cheap garbage that is too acid and
bitter as gall.

My personal preference is CC's Crescent City Blend or
Plantation Blend. Both are excellent. Also, they sell a bulk
blend in our local Randall's that is called Texas Star. It is
also good. On the other hand, I don't like their Napoleon
Blend which is a lighter roast. The Crescent City and
Plantation Blends are what they call "Medium Dark", while the
Napoleon is "Medium Light". If you want a darker roast than
Crescent City or Plantation, try their Evangeline Blend. I
have not tried their Louisiana Blend or several of their other
products. I have used, and like, their Kenya AA.

Far as I can tell, someone wrote:
>What's the purpose of over roasting? I've always wondered why Starbucks
>coffee was so bad. I always thought that at those prices, they could serve
>something really good but they don't. What motivates this? It isn't
>economics is it?

People who rarely drink coffee will line up to get it.

People who never drink coffee after lunch will wait in the drive in line
for 15 minutes to get it.

I think the "strength" is increased without using more grind, and after
a lifetime of Folgers and Maxwell House, people crave the "strength".

Whatever the secret, they make a buttload of money.

In article >,
Petey the Wonder Dog > wrote:

> I think the "strength" is increased without using more grind, and after
> a lifetime of Folgers and Maxwell House, people crave the "strength".

We have a winner! One of our local papers had an article recently
about how some coffeehouses (*$ among them) brew their coffee
superstrong -- stronger than even their directions for brewing the
same variety of coffee in your home. Even discounting a strong taste
brought on by over-roasted beans, they found the caffeine content much
higher than in "standard" restaurant coffee, good beans brewed at
home, or Folgers et al.

sd

> What's the purpose of over roasting? I've always wondered why Starbucks
> coffee was so bad.

You can tell whether Starbucks is good or bad???? All I can taste is melk.

--Chris

(John Hendrickson) wrote:

>
> Let me start off with - I don't drink coffee... Well, I've had
> maybe a dozen cups in a 48 year lifetime. I have a special friend
> that HAS to have coffee. I would like to make good coffee for
> her, but I don't know how.
>
> What kind of coffee should I buy?
>
> What kind of coffee maker should I get? What features are
> worthwhile to make better coffee?
>
> Should I get a coffee grinder? Does coffee get stale? Is fresh
> ground coffee better?

Consider picking up a copy of Kenneth David's "Coffee." It's got a heck
of a lot of basic information about coffee, in a very readable and
enjoyable style. Then when you're done with that, grab a copy of "The
Devil's Cup." I'm sorry, I don't recall the author - but I *loved* it.
Hysterical "other" side of the history of coffee. :-)