anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
really nasty bitterness...
i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
skeptical...

anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

On Dec 18, 3:39 pm, SN > wrote:
> because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
> me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
> but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
> really nasty bitterness...
> i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
> skeptical...

Try alt.coffee? I shifted to tea because I had to drink coffee with
creamer (lots) and sweetner. Toci

anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

On Dec 18, 5:07 pm, toci > wrote:
> On Dec 18, 3:39 pm, SN > wrote:
>
> > because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
> > me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
> > but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
> > really nasty bitterness...
> > i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
> > skeptical...
>
> Try alt.coffee? I shifted to tea because I had to drink coffee with
> creamer (lots) and sweetner. Toci

well, i'm asking the tea heads here if they taste coffee in the manner
we taste tea...

anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

On Dec 18, 8:19 pm, SN > wrote:
> On Dec 18, 5:07 pm, toci > wrote:
>
> > On Dec 18, 3:39 pm, SN > wrote:
>
> > > because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
> > > me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
> > > but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
> > > really nasty bitterness...
> > > i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
> > > skeptical...
>
> > Try alt.coffee? I shifted to tea because I had to drink coffee with
> > creamer (lots) and sweetner. Toci
>
> well, i'm asking the tea heads here if they taste coffee in the manner
> we taste tea...

Sort of. I'm not much for coffee, but if I do have a cup I drink it
straight black. I only enjoy the non-acidic and non-bitter coffees. I
do find that my tastes always go to the fresh expertly roasted coffee
or the more expensive ones even with no prior knowledge. Breakfast
blends, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Peruvian blends, Kona, and a few
others. I do love a proper espresso too.

I have a trip to Kauai coming up so I'll be enjoying some fresh coffee
there which I'm looking forward to, but outside of those special
occasions it is a take it or leave it thing with much more leaving
being done. (I'd much rather have some shave ice, and a cup of tea
later.)

- Dominic

anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

On Dec 18, 4:39 pm, SN > wrote:
> because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
> me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
> but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
> really nasty bitterness...
> i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
> skeptical...

Well, it can be very good but there are a few rules. It has to be
freshly roasted, within about 5 days or so. It has to be not
over-roasted, and at the same time if it's under-roasted, it
will be sour, so it's hard to get the balance just right.
The second thing is that it has to be ground right before
brewing, and preferably in a burr-type of grinder, not the
blade type, because the one with blades will leave some
large pieces and pulverize the rest, which will make the
coffee bitter.

Finally, the best way to brew is to use a
vacuum maker, and second best is with a cone filter over
a mug or a carafe. Coffee makers usually (always?) do not do
a good job. Percolators are supposed to be really bad, the
worst in coffee making. There is a type of faux-espresso
brewer that's usually made of aluminum, with a handle, with
a swinging closing top, where coffee is pressed in the
middle and then is boiled over from bottom to the top
through that pressed coffee, this maker goes directly on the
gas range, and it doesn't make very good coffee, although it
will be very strong. French presses are supposed to be very
good, but I haven't been able to make nearly as good a brew
as with simple cone filter. Water temp has to be just about
under 200 degrees, never boiling.

I haven't tried real
espresso but it's supposed to be really truly good when done
right, but the absolutely cheapest good machines are at
least $200. Espresso can be compared to gong-fu tea making.

The most practical way to make good coffee is to buy green
beans at sweetmarias.com, use a popcorn popper to roast them
(but it has to be the right kind of popper), use a
zassenhaus or a similar grinder, and use a cone filter
holder with an unbleached filter. The most expensive part
here is the grinder, I think they're at least around
$50-$80.

Teas are still better for health and for taste as well, but
coffee can be actually quite good with some luck and when
prepared right.

The biggest difference, coming from tea, is that it goes
stale much faster, within a few hours after grinding and
within 5-6 days after roasting, while with tea obviously you
have many months of storage time.

anyone here doing the coffee thing?
 

"SN" > wrote in message
...
> On Dec 18, 5:07 pm, toci > wrote:
>> On Dec 18, 3:39 pm, SN > wrote:
>>
>> > because i'm really trying, but its pretty hard to tell them apart, to
>> > me they all taste ...like....coffee, some minor, subtle differences,
>> > but after 1 sip its all the same, and if brew too long end up just
>> > really nasty bitterness...
>> > i'll try to go buy some different 'gourmet' coffees, but i'm already
>> > skeptical...
>>
>> Try alt.coffee? I shifted to tea because I had to drink coffee with
>> creamer (lots) and sweetner. Toci
>
> well, i'm asking the tea heads here if they taste coffee in the manner
> we taste tea...

Yes, to a point. I roast my own coffee, because there are internet sites
that sell green beans from all over the world and then I can control the
roast exactly. The freshness doesn't hurt either. BTW: good beans,
properly roasted and freshly ground and brewed are never bitter. I use a
french press, sometimes steeping my grounds for 5-7 minutes. Never bitter,
or I just have a high tolerance for bitterness. I usually roast my beans
just into second crack.

But I understand your point: IMO tea presents a much wider range of flavors
and styles than coffee does. Nuts, chocolate, earth, wood, spice - these
seem to be the predominate flavor components in coffee for me. But the
variations are, I think, much smaller than in tea or wine, for that matter.

I drink my coffee like I do red tea - no milk, just a little sugar. Usually
one cup a day, after dinner.

Regards,
Dean