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How to get coffee without bitterness or acidity on the cheap! "Drip" coffee: Buy good coffee (stumptown, PT's, tonx, among others) whole bean. Try to finish t
by thomasmeeks 13y ago
How to get coffee without bitterness or acidity on the cheap!
"Drip" coffee:
Buy good coffee (stumptown, PT's, tonx, among others) whole bean. Try to finish the beans within ~3-4 weeks of the roast date.
Grind it with a cheap $12-$15 whirly grinder from target. Make sure to use the ground coffee within ~15 minutes.
Put it in an aeropress or a french press, follow brewing directions. Usually 2-4 minutes for a french press, less for an aeropress.
If using an aeropress, add hot water to your coffee.
Huzzah! You are on your way to delicious coffee.
Adjust amount of coffee, brew time, and water temperature until you get it just right. Each bean & roast is different, and they will often adjust slightly seasonally. If the coffee is sour or weak, grind finer, use more coffee, or a longer brew time. If it is bitter or acidic, grind courser, use less coffee, or a shorter brew time.
Espresso:
Same as above, but use an aeropress & don't add water. It can be a challenge to get an amazing shot out of an aeropress, I will admit.
When you are hooked:
Spend money on a good espresso machine & grinder, go nuts.
I have not prepared Civet coffee, it may very well be /easier/ to attain that slightly sweet brew with Civet coffee. But given the downsides it is certainly not worth doing so. Buy two bags of coffee, plan on practicing on the first bag, you'll have a system down pat in no time.
- nandemo 13y agoAm I missing something or you're just describing the regular way to make coffee? The result will be somewhat bitter and acidic, varying according to the beans you use (assuming the brewing procedure is fixed). It's not like bitterness and acidity are generally considered bad attributes for coffee anyway. It's just that people like different degrees of it.
- thomasmeeks 13y agoThe general point is that fresh coffee, from an awesome roaster, prepared with some extra love & care does not taste bitter to me or the people I've made it for. Thought I'd toss out enough to get started for those interested. It sounds like you've gone down that same path, and if so, then I just have to assume we experience or describe flavors differently.
- nandemo 13y agoFair enough. I understand that most people who drink coffee fail do some things that you listed, e.g. they buy pre-ground stuff, so your advice is useful. I think the usual result will be better coffee, but still bitter unless you put sugar or cream. > I just have to assume we experience or describe flavors differently. Yes, probably the latter.
- anaphor 13y agoMost people use preground beans in one of those crappy coffee makers that burn the coffee. Even most people who get french presses probably overgrind their beans or leave it in the press too long, so I think it's useful advice if you're a newbie to making good coffee.