The perfect cup of coffee

[OJsakila]

On the trail it's Cowboy coffee. Throw the grounds in boiling water and when they sink, "coffees' done!"

[failsafe]

My daily wakeup: Don Francisco Expresso Grind in my coffee machine. Black or with a touch of half n half or Coffee Mate (original flavor). Not a fan of sweetness in my coffee.

[glsda]

French roast gound and brewed at home strong enough to float pliers, on the go Peet's

[coasts]

Originally Posted by failsafe

My daily wakeup: Don Francisco Expresso Grind in my coffee machine. Black or with a touch of half n half or Coffee Mate (original flavor). Not a fan of sweetness in my coffee.

Don Francisco from Sabado Gigante?

isnt his real name something like Mario Kreutzman?

[coasts]

i'm straight up black...the stronger, thicker, darker the better...

beans from Porto Rico...

check it.

i like the Colombian Mexican blend best

[psylichon]

Ah yes, love a good coffee thread.

My favorite cuppa joe is what I make at home. Lately it's been economy-sized bags of Eight-O-Clock, whole bean 100% Columbian. That's definitely my favorite bean. If we want flavor from the brew itself, Jen has this secret stash of Folgers Chocolate Silk ground coffee that we sprinkle in (just a bit... it's potent). Apparently that product is becoming impossible to find, so she guards it with her life.

The machine is a Melitta drip with built-in grinder. I think grinding fresh is the biggest boost to flavor you can do. The next is just keeping it off heat and in a vacuum once brewed. When I take the thermos I inherited from my Grandpa to work (the huge green one you've seen in old films), my coffee stays hot enough to drink enjoyably until the next morning.

I used to be able to drink just about any coffee, no matter how old or stale. But lately, I don't subject myself to such torture. Coffee is relatively cheap if you make it yourself. If I must reheat, the secret is low and slow.... low-mid power on the microwave for a longer time. Do NOT let it boil. Often I need to add a little hot water from the tap to smooth it out a bit from evaporation. But I rarely do that anymore.

I can drink it black if it's really fresh and good, but I much prefer cream and sugar. I actually prefer non-dairy creamer (because it keeps the coffee hotter and tastes just fine to me) and real sugar. Any sugar substitute and I won't even bother. In the winter, I like just a touch of hot chocolate in there, too. And that's about all I have to say on this subject, I think.

Oh wait, I hate Starbucks, DD is passable, but Wawa is divine!

[acosmichippo]

I like coffee cake... that's about it.

[failsafe]

Originally Posted by coasts

Don Francisco from Sabado Gigante?

isnt his real name something like Mario Kreutzman?

This



not

[psylichon]

After visiting my buddy Kevin this holiday, I now know the next level in coffee perfection: roasting your own beans. I knew he did it and have tried his before, but he showed us the whole process right there in his kitchen. And freshly-roasted beans just have this lightness and smoothness that can't be described.

He also gave me a choice tip for making half-pots with a drop machine. I always hated doing it because it always tasted weak unless I used a whole-pot's-worth of beans in which case I should make a whole pot anyway. But if you start it up and let it start dripping without the beans loaded, then put them in to finish, it works a treat. Try it!

[s8n666]

I like my coffee like I like my women....

Ground up and in the freezer.