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The case for bad coffee (2015)

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Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#101

Post by markmark »

criddell wrote: post #41

Thanks for posting this. I really enjoyed reading it. I can totally relate to the what the author is saying. I went through a mini-version of the same journey. For a while I was buying expensive beans, grinding them on a Baratza Vario (a mid-level grinder) to make espresso in my E-61 based heat exchanger machine. I made some excellent coffee with that setup and more than a few sink-shots. I gave it up though because…

Are you missing out by just not drinking diner or airplane coffee? I just drink something else in those situations.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#102

Post by zenithd »

CptFribble wrote: post #4

Like most things, coffee is subject to diminishing returns. I have also owned nearly every device invented to make coffee - as I'm sure many others here have - and I've settled on a simple over-the-mug pour-over cone, but mainly because there's no moving parts or tubes to worry about cleaning. I don't even know what "correct" pour-over technique is, so I'm basically making bog-standard single-serving drip coffee with…

No post body was provided.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#103

Post by bombcar »

65 wrote: post #100

Someone should write the equivalent for beer. Maybe my palate isn't very advanced, but I do not like fancy beer. I only like cheap beer. Same with coffee. Same with most food. Not sure if it was my steady diet of microwave dinners growing up but the fancier the food the less I usually like it.

Cheap beer amusingly is often some of the hardest to “craft” - pilsners require some skill.

Home brewery stores get people asking if they can make Budweiser to start and have to be steered toward a stout or Porter as those are much more forgiving.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#104

Post by ak217 »

CptFribble wrote: post #4

Like most things, coffee is subject to diminishing returns. I have also owned nearly every device invented to make coffee - as I'm sure many others here have - and I've settled on a simple over-the-mug pour-over cone, but mainly because there's no moving parts or tubes to worry about cleaning. I don't even know what "correct" pour-over technique is, so I'm basically making bog-standard single-serving drip coffee with…

I can't stand espresso and pourover snobbery, but I admit I've gotten picky about the beans. Most beans I find in the grocery store taste like burnt cardboard to me now. I found a nice online indie roaster (https://swroasting.com/) that ships amazing light roast beans for the same price as my local retail. I also found that using a thermal carafe instead of a burner makes a huge difference (keeping the coffee hot on a burner makes it offgas and lose flavor quickly). I value my time so I use a grind-and-brew, the Breville Grind Control is the best one I know.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#105

Post by ryanSrich »

I’ve gone through several coffee phases, some bordering on extreme — extremely sensitive weighing, timing, $2,000 grinders, $10k espresso machine, etc.

My happy medium is just doing basic pour overs, but with really good locally roasted coffee. To me, this is the cheapest and best approach.

In fact, even if pour overs require too much work (weighing, timing), then just do drip. But do it with quality coffee.

Quality is really about roasting time and date. You don’t want old coffee (anything older than a few weeks isn’t good), and low temp. Dark roast is burnt. It’s not a flavor. It’s used to remove the taste from shitty beans. If you use quality beans you want light to medium. This usually isn’t an option with quality beans anyway. They typically only sell the coffee roasted one way. So in most cases, you won’t even have to worry about.

Anyway, I guess my point is the opposite of the article. You don’t have to drink shit coffee to save money.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#106

Post by JauntTrooper »

CptFribble wrote: post #4

Like most things, coffee is subject to diminishing returns. I have also owned nearly every device invented to make coffee - as I'm sure many others here have - and I've settled on a simple over-the-mug pour-over cone, but mainly because there's no moving parts or tubes to worry about cleaning. I don't even know what "correct" pour-over technique is, so I'm basically making bog-standard single-serving drip coffee with…

I think coffee is a lot more subtle than fancy beers. There are pretty big differences in taste among craft beer styles and breweries, and exploring the variety is part of the fun.

I love coffee, but don't differentiate it nearly as much. I can enjoy a fancy expresso just as much as a cup of supermarket coffee.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#107

Post by vostok »

collaborative wrote: post #55

All coffee is good. It just shouldn't ever cost more than $2. Coffee is not a luxury. It's bread and butter

I don't care much for coffee, but I do indulge in luxury bread and butter.

Any local sourdough and Kerrygold butter is a good start. It's not thr best or anything, but it's very nice if you've never tried fancy bread and butter.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#108

Post by cercatrova »

I bought a very expensive espresso machine thinking I'd cut down on my coffee shop visits. Turns out, I use the machine maybe a few times a month and I go even more frequently to coffee shops. I realized I don't go to coffee shops for the coffee itself, I go because I want to get out of the house, take a walk, sip good coffee and enjoy the ambiance of the world.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#109

Post by apcragg »

jrockway wrote: post #62
apcragg wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like you'd be better served by caffeine pills then. No need to bother with a delivery mechanism you don't enjoy when there are easier solutions out there!

I used to be a caffeine pill person. Would get up at 4:30, have a caffeine pill and a glass of water, ride my bike for a couple hours, go to work. In that case, I wanted caffeine first and liquid later (throughout my ride) so I wouldn't have to make a "rest stop". I kept up the caffeine pill habit after I stopped doing those rides (social life after work made going to bed at 8:30 a little untenable), but ran out and…

Absolutely! I enjoy my daily routine and all of the nuances associated with it (whether that's just the result of addiction is a different conversation). I was just suggesting that the parent comment doesn't need to use coffee for their caffeine fix if they don't enjoy it.

Re: The case for bad coffee (2015)

#110

Post by e15ctr0n »

intrasight wrote: post #50

I went shopping last week and my go-to whole bean was $20/bag. I bought it, but I also went online to look for some cheaper options. Any suggestions?

Safeway's Signature Select Coffee Ground Medium Roast Colombia - 11 Oz for $7.99 (about $12 per pound) https://www.safeway.com/shop/product-details.119010190.html
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