| Author | Message | ||
     Crusty |
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly … Coffee I grew up in a family that drank coffee constantly from the first thing in the morning to a quick cup before going to bed at night. Not only did my folks drink coffee all day long, they drank some of the strongest and most bitter coffee I’ve ever encountered. Their method of making coffee was something that I still remember vividly. My folks had a 12 cup Pyrex percolator. They would put 13 heaping 1/2 size scoops of Luzianne coffee (1/2 coffee, 1/2 chicory) in the basket, then turn the gas on high until the pot boiled over. They would then turn the gas down and let the pot percolate for a while until the coffee had the consistency and color of driveway sealer. Then, they considered it ready to drink. The pot stayed on the stove until it was empty. If a bit of time passed since it was hot, the gas was turned back on,until the coffee was boiling again. Once a pot was empty, it would get washed out and the whole process would begin again. My friend Bill used to love to visit with my folks and have a cup of coffee. He had a line that he reserved for just such occasions; “Let’s go over to your folks’ place and sit around and chew the coffee and drink the fat!” I wasn’t much of a coffee drinker when I grew up, for some strange reason. When I moved out and began living on my own, I would have one cup of instant in the morning, then drink Pepsi for the rest of the day. As time passed, I got so I would appreciate a decent cup of coffee, but I wasn’t much of a fanatic until I went to Kenya. I fell in love with the local coffee while I was in Nairobi. I would order a White Coffee at a restaurant, and what I’d get was a delightful mixture of steamed milk and coffee. It was a truly wonderful beverage, and when I returned to the States, I really missed it. In 1984, I was sharing an 8 room apartment in with three other guys, and one of them, Dave Mills was working at Bread and Circus. He informed me that they carried Kenyan coffee beans, so I would buy a pound of beans and grind them at the store. I was able to enjoy the flavor of Kenya grown coffee again. However, when I bought a pound of beans and ground them the flavor would fade by the time I was getting down to the bottom of the bag. Then my brother Tony gave me a coffee grinder for Christmas. I could then enjoy the flavor of fresh ground coffee every day. Kenya coffee remained a staple until I set out on this crazy, but fun, trip of being homeless. Now, I haven’t had Kenya in a few months, but I’m still a coffee addict. I’ve come to appreciate McDonald’s coffee on an almost daily basis. Blubber King’s coffee is OK, but not as good as the Golden Starches (plus, their free Wi-Fi demands that you interact with their sponsors), which is why I go to Mickey’s in the morning. Some convenience stores have pretty decent coffee, as well. Duncan Donuts still makes pretty good coffee (even though I think their donuts have gone to hell), as do many other donut shops. I’m not a big fan of K cups, as they seem so wasteful. The coffee tastes good, but to throw all those pods into a landfill bothers me. Plus, they’re expensive. Still, they do make good tasting coffee. I’ve never been a big fan of flavored coffee, though my brother David loves it. He mixes a blend of vanilla and hazelnut coffees and drinks that every morning. I drink it, but it isn’t my favorite brew. However, being on the road as I am, and loving a cup first thing in the morning, I’ve got a setup that works for me while camping. I have an iso-butane stove that folds up to the size of 1/2 a pack of cigarettes, a stainless pot that holds two cups and the stove inside, and I can boil water in just a couple of minutes . I have little tubes of Folgers instant or Taster’s Choice instant, and I get to relax and wake up smoothly and slowly with a cup of mediocre, but acceptable, coffee. I think I’ll go out to the U-Hose-It Car Wash and clean my filthy Sportster, they I’ll stop by Drunkin Donuts on the way back. | ||
| Tootal |
Well this is an expensive solution and it wasn't so expensive when I got mine, maybe you can search around. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JL97O0?ie=UTF 8&tag=freprecof00-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&cre ative=373489&creativeASIN=B000JL97O0 Boil your water and then put in the coffee. Let it steep a few minutes to your taste and screen out the grounds. Just push slowly or some will get by the screen. | ||
| 86129squids |
Good call, Tootal- I've got a press for the house, no reason it couldn't travel! Makes tasty, strong java! | ||
| Whatever |
FYI you can order a "pour over" of Kenyan coffee at Starbucks and they'll make a fresh cup. DD tastes like sh!t. | ||
| Ceejay |
grind up some kenyan before you go and put it in a ziplock bag… My son's soccer team is coached and sponsored by a small co. coffee roaster. He gives me five lbs a month of fresh roasted beans. I buy him beer whenever I can. I'm with ya, can't get much done without it, nor do I think I want to. | ||
| Jeepinbueller |
On our two week camping trip around Iceland last year, my girlfriend and I used the Folger's instant packs ... after two days it was just like regular coffee, and boy did we look forward to it. Nothing like knocking back some java next to a waterfall sun"rise." At home we do the french press, and now we have some traveling fresh press mugs like the one Tootal linked to: they are great! Just dump in your favorite grounds, add some boiling water, wait, press, FRESH POTS! | ||
| Thumper74 |
I like coffee. Not a fan of flavored coffees. McD's coffee is pretty good and a friend that owns a coffee shop even likes it. I don't like BK's, but Wendys is selling the seattle brand now and it's pretty good. Dunkin is always good coffee. Same with Tim Hortons. It may not work great out on the road... but you can find coffee roasters in the area, they usually carry the unusual stuff, like Kopi Luwak! It's the smoothest coffee I've ever had. | ||
| Crusty |
Kopi Luwak. I heard it tastes like sh*t. | ||
| 86129squids |
 It WAS shat. Apparently it ferments in the rodent's bowels, then it is excreted, then we silly humans have figured that it's AWESOME COFFEE! I've not tried it, can't judge. I did see "The Bucket List" though. I can offer something to top Kopi Luwak... http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/08/20/340 154271/no-1-most-expensive-coffee-comes-from-eleph ants-no-2 | ||
| Buellish |
I had Coffee AM roast a pound of Sumatra Black Satin yesterday.I use an Aeropress and a burr grinder to make one cup at a time. | ||
| Fast1075 |
My earliest memories of coffee are EXACTLY like Crusty's. Chicory coffee boiled down to motor oil-like consistency. Dad was fond of pouring a blob into a saucer, and stirring in a little cream, and drinking it straight from the saucer. The very thought of it gives be reflux now. I drink a variety of brands, but they are all light and low acid. On Sunday morning, I grind my own, but day to day, ground McDonalds from a bag is just fine, thank you. And I usually brew it in reusable "cafe' cups" in a Keurig, since with my lifestyle a pot would go to waste, and I will not reheat old coffee, that is just plain nasty. | ||
| Robertl |
My wife is a coffee addict. She probably has 4 or 5 cups a day and a decaf before bed. We are on our 3rd keurig as the water here in Fl isn't very good and hard on appliances. She bought the extended warranty the 2nd time so the 3rd was next to nothing. I gave her a hard time about the kcups so she found a reusable cup, clipped a wire inside, and buys ground coffee or grinds her own of choice. Tried several but this is the only one that didn't leak and make a mess: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Solofill-K3-Chrome-Cup-C hrome-Refillable-Filter-Cup-For-Keurig/25864360 She uses the filters for them too. Then we put the grinds and filter in the plants. Old coworker swore by a french press though. |
