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Thursday, October 25, 2007

Let's Talk About Coffee.....



A few years back, I was cruising the cookbook section of a used bookstore I'd never been in, when I came across a hard cover book about coffee. It had everything I like in a book, hard cover, in good shape, covered history, methods, chemistry, how to's, and equipment required. Right. I really bought it because it was cheap! I like cook books that read like a story occasionally, and this was well written. Up until that book, Nescafe instant, 1-2 cups in the morning to jump start the brain, and I was good to go! However, after reading what an incredible peasant I had been to this noble beverage, I went on my new mission: To become a Coffee Snob! I shopped the Internet for information on the best burr grinder for the money. Snobs must grind their own coffee. It must be done in a burr grinder, so you don't overheat the ground coffee. Now I went forth and bought an automatic drip coffee maker. There are tons of good ones, so I got a programmable on sale. Now to actually shop for coffee! I ended up at a specialty outlet store owned by a commercial roaster of fine coffees. Every week or so, I would get a different type or blend of coffee beans and judge them as you would a fine wine. We found the ones we preferred and have enjoyed superior coffee at way cheaper prices (say, 20 cents a cup-max?) than you get at Starbuck type places. The picture is of our new coffee maker (wife doesn't ask for much, so she gets it!) with a couple of our favorites. We grind enough for just a few days, store it in a glass container and refrigerate (which you don't have to do!).
Message for today: Life is too short to drink crappy coffee!

23 comments:

Christo Gonzales said...

I hear you I have been happily grinding coffee since 1982, and have tried all kinds of coffee makers and have settled on a pump style espresso maker, a french press and a turkish copper pot. All give a different brew all are good.

Lynda said...

My husband is a coffee snob as well. We have to buy expensive beans. We do Starbucks also, but only because we can't make coffee on our lunch hour together.

Not a fan of the drink myself. I like hot chocolates though.

Mike Minzes said...

Coffee is my number 1 favorite drink! It's good to see you treat it like it is supposed to be treated!

Jackie said...

I'm sure you're right about life being too short to drink crappy coffee but I'm so caffeine addicted, crappy or not, I drink whatever I can get! I am definitely NOT a coffee connoisseur!

This is a great, informative post for those that are coffee experts...or... wanna be's!

Akelamalu said...

If coffee is your pleasure then you should only have the best. I like tea.:)

Megan said...

I'm becoming a coffee snob too. I don't yet have a grinder, but I'll probably end up with one eventually.

I long ago ruined myself for crappy coffee; I don't even like Maxwell House anymore!

Anonymous said...

I enjoy coffee but I can't stand it when it's too strong!

I'm certainly not a snob about it! LOL

I usually fill my cup half with milk, put it in the microwave then the other half coffee... ;-)

I know, I know.. you hardcore coffee drinkers are going.. beurkkkkkkkkkkkk what in the hell is that?

Wink... ;-)

Jen said...

Indeed! Too short to drink/eat/do crappy anything!
Have you tried Venezuelan coffee at all? We were a mainly coffee producing country before oil was discovered, it was all down hill from there, but we still make pretty awesome coffee!

buffalodick said...

DogB- Espresso makers(the expensive ones) intrigue and intimidate me! That the pump style works well is good to know..
lynda- I was a long time coming to the coffee side of things!
Mike- It really kind of ruins you for the free stuff at the office, doesn't it?
in_spired- Start drinking the good stuff and you will cut back on volume of intake. The bad stuff just won't be good enough, ever again!
ake- I know plenty of tea snobs too! They are like coffee snobs more than they'll admit...:)
Finn- You will grind your own soon, I predict! Burr grinders are not expensive ($30ish & up), and last a long time. Mine's a Braun..
nancybee- I will admit to some sugar in mine- I like it very strong and a little sweet.

Stephanie Faris said...

I don't drink coffee...and sometimes I just feel like I'm missing all the fun!

Helene said...

i am totally with you about drinking shitty coffee! I would rather not drink it at all anymore!

Oh and about being double jointed... you know there is really no such thing... its just us with limber joints (which is a curse in the long run as we all have unstable joints)that think we are double jointed. I too have very limber joints... which have lead me to many joint problems in life...

anywho... have a good weekend!

Mel said...

I love me some coffee, of course its a no no with my heart condition but I cant completely give it up!!!!!

I had an espresso maker, its was awesome and would make the best cappichinos (sp??) but I broke it. I am hard on coffee makers. I prefer the ones with the timer so my coffee is ready when I get up.

Have you tried Tim Horton's Coffee? I spend way too much to get there here in SC but to me its the best hands down.

buffalodick said...

Steph- Differences in taste are part of the fun in living! Trying new things is part of it, too!
Kate- I'm enjoying some Guademala Antiqua as I write this! I know we just call it double-jointed, but it still freaks people out when I lock down all 8 fingers and snap them back and forth!
mel- the timer(programmable) is a feature we use when we remember to! I haven't tried Tim Hortons' brand, ever....

Christo Gonzales said...

espresso makers come in two styles - pump and pressure..
pressure uses steam pump is what the pros use.

Casdok said...

Yes indeed, life is to short to drink crappy coffee or wine!!

Tanya Kristine said...

look at all your pictures! i'm so proud of you...

Akelamalu said...

I know tea snobs too, I just like plain old Tetley's brewed till the spoon stands up!

PS I've posted another Nursery Rhyme Quiz today if you fancy a go. :)

Odat said...

Wow, you went from one extreme to the other..lol. I love all kinds of coffee, but prefer the stonger types. I don't drink it that much and don't have all the "equipment"..I figured if I did it wouldn't be utilized to it's full capacity!
(and you had me going as to why you bought that book! lol)
Enjoy your coffee!!!
Peace

buffalodick said...

DogB- Steam power is interesting to me. I'm really surprised it isn't used in more cooking applications..
casdok- I think the original quote was in Latin, and it referred to wine!
Tanya- I'm proud of you too, and hope things look brighter now...
Ake- Coffee or tea, I like it strong and sweet!
odat- Part of getting into it was overcoming the "intimidation factor" put forth sometimes by the so-called experts!

Paul Champagne said...

I just love coffee, I love the smell of it, the look of it and of course the taste of it. But I'm not supposed to drink it.

But I do drink it occasionally ... after all, what do cardiologists know anyway?

Next thing you know they'll be telling me to stop smoking.

urban vegan said...

I grew up with Maxwell House that the French would call "sock water." I became a coffee snob thanks to my husband, who is Italian-American and worked in Italy. You can't really go back to Maxwell House after uno vero espresso Italiano. He is extremely particular about our java--and i must admit, now I am, too.

buffalodick said...

Paul- I bet if you quit smoking, the doc would let you drink some coffee! I have the heart of a bull, but my innards are really kind of beat up- so I know what you mean!
UrbanV- There really is no going back on coffee!

Mona said...

Coffee Snob...That is a cool Bourgeois like term. It sounds almost royal!

Filter coffee is the best. In India people of south India drink coffee. The rest of Indians are Tea addicts.

A British Legacy I believe!