Comments on: Better brews http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/ Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:45:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Ben Kickert http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2217 Ben Kickert Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:33:11 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2217 Let me put it differently... It is not that I am saying its either a burr grinder or good beans. Rather, I am thinking very specifically about my own situation. I can very easily tell the difference between fresh beans and stale beans. Likewise, it is easy to discern fresh ground beans vs. pre-ground beans. I prefer a pot of french-roast coffee and lament my inability to produce the grounds for it in-house (we often pick up a ground half pound bag from you and try to go through it no more than 2-3 days). That being said, while I don't doubt a very sophisticated palate can discern blade vs. burr grinder, in my book there is no way it would register anywhere close to the difference good beans make. As such, I can't justify spending the money equivalent to 5 pounds of good coffee for a difference I doubt I will notice. Let me put it differently…

It is not that I am saying its either a burr grinder or good beans. Rather, I am thinking very specifically about my own situation.

I can very easily tell the difference between fresh beans and stale beans. Likewise, it is easy to discern fresh ground beans vs. pre-ground beans. I prefer a pot of french-roast coffee and lament my inability to produce the grounds for it in-house (we often pick up a ground half pound bag from you and try to go through it no more than 2-3 days).

That being said, while I don’t doubt a very sophisticated palate can discern blade vs. burr grinder, in my book there is no way it would register anywhere close to the difference good beans make. As such, I can’t justify spending the money equivalent to 5 pounds of good coffee for a difference I doubt I will notice.

]]> By: Yury Metelski http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 Yury Metelski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:31:20 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2211 Deal. How much is shipping? :) Deal. How much is shipping? :)

]]> By: R. Justin http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2210 R. Justin Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:11:16 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2210 I think you'll find much more enjoyment out of the French press than the moka pot... not saying you shouldn't have a moka pot, but it's sort of a novelty... you can find them at T.J. Maxx for dirt cheap, if you decide you want one. I think I got mine for about $6. If you DO decide to buy a vacpot, I'd be happy to sell you the Bodum Santos that I sell at the shop. $80, plus a pound of coffee. Or a half-pound and free shipping, you decide. :-) We'll talk. I think you’ll find much more enjoyment out of the French press than the moka pot… not saying you shouldn’t have a moka pot, but it’s sort of a novelty… you can find them at T.J. Maxx for dirt cheap, if you decide you want one. I think I got mine for about $6.

If you DO decide to buy a vacpot, I’d be happy to sell you the Bodum Santos that I sell at the shop. $80, plus a pound of coffee. Or a half-pound and free shipping, you decide. :-)

We’ll talk.

]]> By: Yury Metelski http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2209 Yury Metelski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:07:04 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2209 I sent Lauren the link to this blog post and she sent me back two words "vac pot" with three exclamation points. I am not sure if it should be one or two words, but i think the sentiment is clear. I sent Lauren the link to this blog post and she sent me back two words “vac pot” with three exclamation points. I am not sure if it should be one or two words, but i think the sentiment is clear.

]]> By: Yury Metelski http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2208 Yury Metelski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:55:41 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2208 Thank you for the reply. I am trying to decide what to buy. I definitely want a burr grinder. I have wanted one for a couple of years and just never got to it. I am trying to decide between moka pot and a french press. I guess I can get both. Vacpot is probably something I will re-consider in the future. Thank you for the reply. I am trying to decide what to buy. I definitely want a burr grinder. I have wanted one for a couple of years and just never got to it. I am trying to decide between moka pot and a french press. I guess I can get both. Vacpot is probably something I will re-consider in the future.

]]> By: Yury Metelski http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2207 Yury Metelski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:54:19 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2207 I am curious why you are not a proponent of moka pots? Which disadvantages have you found? I am curious why you are not a proponent of moka pots? Which disadvantages have you found?

]]> By: R. Justin http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2206 R. Justin Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:31 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2206 BEN: Think about how a French press works for a minute. You're using coarser grounds because of the longer brew time; it takes longer for the water to get all the way through a thick "grind" than it would if it were finer. This holds true for any brewing method, so the larger portions of your coffee are not getting as extracted by the drip brewer as are the finer ones. Moreover, go too fine and those portions will be OVER extracted. Underextraction breeds watery, flavorless results; overextraction pulls out bitterness and more acidity than should be there. Also, you're presenting things in a strange light: It's not an either/or proposition: buy good beans or buy a grinder. Rather, it's both, and honestly you aren't saving any money with that blade grinder. It's not precise, you're probably wasting quite a bit of coffee, and I'd guess you're using "more" coffee than you really need to, since some of your grounds are probably being underextracted. Seriously, spend the $50 — or get one for Christmas — and you'll never look back. Yura: The standard Krups (link below) can be had on Amazon for less than $60. This thing is small but well-made; like I mentioned above, I've had one for nearly three years now and it is still going strong. Now about moka pots: I'm not really a proponent of these. I have one, and use it very rarely; it's not bad for ghetto lattes. :-) It's not making "true" espresso, though it does make a pretty thick little cup of coffee. You'll need a burr grinder if you want to use one, since the coffee needs to be ground very fine. http://www.amazon.com/Krups-GVX2-12-Grinder-Black-Silver/dp/B0001I9R8W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257183765&sr=8-3 BEN: Think about how a French press works for a minute. You’re using coarser grounds because of the longer brew time; it takes longer for the water to get all the way through a thick “grind” than it would if it were finer. This holds true for any brewing method, so the larger portions of your coffee are not getting as extracted by the drip brewer as are the finer ones. Moreover, go too fine and those portions will be OVER extracted. Underextraction breeds watery, flavorless results; overextraction pulls out bitterness and more acidity than should be there. Also, you’re presenting things in a strange light: It’s not an either/or proposition: buy good beans or buy a grinder. Rather, it’s both, and honestly you aren’t saving any money with that blade grinder. It’s not precise, you’re probably wasting quite a bit of coffee, and I’d guess you’re using “more” coffee than you really need to, since some of your grounds are probably being underextracted. Seriously, spend the $50 — or get one for Christmas — and you’ll never look back.

Yura: The standard Krups (link below) can be had on Amazon for less than $60. This thing is small but well-made; like I mentioned above, I’ve had one for nearly three years now and it is still going strong. Now about moka pots: I’m not really a proponent of these. I have one, and use it very rarely; it’s not bad for ghetto lattes. :-) It’s not making “true” espresso, though it does make a pretty thick little cup of coffee. You’ll need a burr grinder if you want to use one, since the coffee needs to be ground very fine.

http://www.amazon.com/Krups-GVX2-12-Grinder-Black-Silver/dp/B0001I9R8W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1257183765&sr=8-3

]]> By: Yury Metelski http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2204 Yury Metelski Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:52:48 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2204 Justin: Can you give me a couple of options for a burr grinder? I have been wanting to buy one for a long time. We have a two-blade grinder. I have also been wanting to buy a moka-maker, such as the one that Bialetti produces. Sounds very similar to the vacpot, at least the brikka model. When I lived in Italy, that's what most people had in their houses - moka-makers. http://www.bialettishop.com/EspressoMakerMainPageAluminum.htm Thank you for the article! Very nice. Justin:

Can you give me a couple of options for a burr grinder? I have been wanting to buy one for a long time. We have a two-blade grinder.

I have also been wanting to buy a moka-maker, such as the one that Bialetti produces. Sounds very similar to the vacpot, at least the brikka model. When I lived in Italy, that’s what most people had in their houses – moka-makers.

http://www.bialettishop.com/EspressoMakerMainPageAluminum.htm

Thank you for the article! Very nice.

]]> By: Ben Kickert http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 Ben Kickert Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:46:32 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2203 Don't get me wrong, I am a purist when it comes to food and drink. I think there is a "right" way to prepare things and while that can be modified, it should be honored and acknowledged. Coffee is no different. Personally I love the French Press (The vac pot is a bit too esoteric for me) and wish I had a burr grinder so I could enjoy it more often. Here is the rub for me. I don't understand the hatred of blade "grinders." Obviously because of the difference in size, you can't do french press, but for me, I would rather spend my money on good beans than a grinder that is 10x more expensive. If you are doing drip coffee is there an advantage to uniform ground sizes or is this just purist influence gone crazy. Help me out here Justin. -bk Don’t get me wrong, I am a purist when it comes to food and drink. I think there is a “right” way to prepare things and while that can be modified, it should be honored and acknowledged. Coffee is no different. Personally I love the French Press (The vac pot is a bit too esoteric for me) and wish I had a burr grinder so I could enjoy it more often.

Here is the rub for me. I don’t understand the hatred of blade “grinders.” Obviously because of the difference in size, you can’t do french press, but for me, I would rather spend my money on good beans than a grinder that is 10x more expensive. If you are doing drip coffee is there an advantage to uniform ground sizes or is this just purist influence gone crazy.

Help me out here Justin.

-bk

]]> By: Brice http://in3rds.com/blog/2009/10/better-brews/comment-page-1/#comment-2195 Brice Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:16:43 +0000 http://in3rds.com/?p=978#comment-2195 Nice article! I have got to come in and try some vacpot! Looks tasty! The Bodum sleeves are interesting! I have not seen those. I have the 8 cup bodum chambord and love it! Though, I did break the first beaker and had to buy another. I'm pretty religious about not letting mine steep past 4 minutes. I pour immediately into a carafe to maintain heat but keeps from further steeping. I've also played with a finer grind and shorter steep (3 min) with good results. Have you heard of this guy, he is a one stop shop for brewing knowledge http://tiny.cc/tfbHy Nice article! I have got to come in and try some vacpot! Looks tasty! The Bodum sleeves are interesting! I have not seen those. I have the 8 cup bodum chambord and love it! Though, I did break the first beaker and had to buy another. I’m pretty religious about not letting mine steep past 4 minutes. I pour immediately into a carafe to maintain heat but keeps from further steeping. I’ve also played with a finer grind and shorter steep (3 min) with good results. Have you heard of this guy, he is a one stop shop for brewing knowledge http://tiny.cc/tfbHy

]]>