Bug In Starbucks

[TooManyIdeas]

In an effort to save money and be less dependent on external sources, the wife and I are looking to make our own fru-fru coffee. All I know about it is that its caffeine based sorcery created by magic pixy’s that were put on earth to make me happy. My wife says we should get an espresso machine. I agree with her. I could then commence to making wake-up juice so strong it would take porcelain off a toilet (read into that however you want). The problem is my only knowledge on the subject is drinking and paying for it.

I was hoping you could tell me:

What is a good machine (less than $300 please)?
Do you have any interesting recipes?
Do I use coffee or are there espresso grounds?
Where do I get these items?

[Czechnology]

In an effort to save money and be less dependent on external sources, the wife and I are looking to make our own fru-fru coffee. All I know about it is that its caffeine based sorcery created by magic pixy’s that were put on earth to make me happy. My wife says we should get an espresso machine. I agree with her. I could then commence to making wake-up juice so strong it would take porcelain off a toilet (read into that however you want). The problem is my only knowledge on the subject is drinking and paying for it.

I was hoping you could tell me:

What is a good machine (less than $300 please)?
Do you have any interesting recipes?
Do I use coffee or are there espresso grounds?
Where do I get these items?

Look on amazon for the AeroPress. It's cheap, shatter-proof, uses no electricity, and makes better coffee than any sub-$300 espresso machine I've ever owned. You can make ~6 shots of espresso at a time, which you can drink straight, add hot milk to, to make cappucino, or add hot water to to make the best fucking americano ever. Best part? the whole thing is $30.

I make Thai/Viet coffee. Black coffee+1tsp Sweetened Condensed Milk. It's cheap, delicious, and that crap lasts forever.

Espresso grind is much finer than normal drip or "all purpose" grinds. It's like sugar or sand. A decent Burr grinder is the way to go. Capresso makes some good but not $$$$$ ones.

Amazon or your local grocery store.

If you wanna get super crazy, you can buy green coffee beans and roast them yourself on the grill. The benefit is green beans are cheaper, and will keep for many months until roasted. Roasted beans should be kept in the dark, and as airtight as possible. Change in temp/humidity/light is bad for them.

If you go the aeropress route, you can spend the $270 you saved on a coffeemaker on a crazy grinder and some awesome beans.

[ZombieGranny]

Try the Coffee Geek forums. Lots of good information there.
http://coffeegeek.com/forums

[Czechnology]

Another thing to consider: the other two things that make coffee good are 1. good water and 2. correct temperature.

For the aeropress, you don't need super hot (or even boiling) water. Being completely immersed does the job, and they recommend you use ~175F water. You can do that with a kettle/saucepot and a candy thermometer. It works, but you have to pay attention. While the electricity is still on though, you might prefer an electric kettle with a temp control. It'll keep water @ the desired temp, so if you want to make more, you don't have to re-heat anything, or screw around with thermometers.

[ninja-elbow]

As has been stated:
--Espresso is a roast and grind. Roasted really well and ground really fine. The more you roast, the less caffeine.
--Keep your gear clean and use clean water.

More points:
--Latte = espresso shot and steamed milk.
--Cappucino = espresso shot and steamed and foamed milk.
--Cafe au Lait = drip coffee with steamed milk.
--Most milk-based espresso-flavored drinks are just a latte with a shot of flavor in it eg: mocha is a latte with a shot of chocolate.
--This is American terminology and differs in Europe... where they all differ too.

Even more:
--You can burn out your espresso shot if you leave it uncooled (via adding milk) for too long. You've about a 30-45 second window. Ever get a bad latte that tastes "burnt"?
--For me, the steaming of the milk is the hard part. Was not a direct A to B skill but seemed very nuanced. Took me awhile to figure out steaming milk.

My friends that are coffee shop owners and/or "coffee nerds"? They drink drip or French press coffee and use Stumptown Roasters beans. If they have money they buy a Kurig. It's like chefs go home and eat ramen and boiled eggs

[Czechnology]

They drink drip or French press coffee

You should try my aeropress next time you're out this way. It's light-years ahead of a standard french press.

[shrapnel]

They drink drip or French press coffee

You should try my aeropress next time you're out this way. It's light-years ahead of a standard french press.

This is what I hear.

[TooManyIdeas]

I looked at that aeropress. I like it. Do you use the stainless filter or the paper filters?

[ninja-elbow]

Some minutiae about Starbucks and thus the business model of most coffee bars (my fiancee and future BiL work there - barista and exec respectively):

--Sizes at SBux
really small = short (8oz), well net one shot of espresso.
small = tall (12oz), one shot of espresso.
medium = grande (16oz), 2 shots of espresso.
large = venti (20oz), 2 shots of espresso*
*cold venti drinks hold 24 oz and a third shot of espresso.

It is popular belief that "large" espresso drinks have more shots in them, this is not true. You may ask for (and pay for) more shots though.

My personal favorite drink right now is heavy cream and honey with 2 shots of espresso. I have no idea if this is a real drink or not but it is my version of "klava" which is a popular drink in a fantasy book series I read.

[ninja-elbow]

Also of note are other little things that one would not really consider until you get all nerdy about them.

Coffee (and tea for that matter) are like wine, scotch, whiskey, et al. A lot of it's taste is affected by it's surroundings. On a most fundamental level is the vessel your coffee is in. I just found that our firm's daily coffee we get served tastes much better when it is in a ceramic cup than plastic, metal, or paper. Supposedly there is a dynamic there but I have not looked much into it.

[Czechnology]

I looked at that aeropress. I like it. Do you use the stainless filter or the paper filters?

Mine came with 70million paper ones. I will get the metal one when those start to run out.

ETA: Oh and to clarify: What the aeropress makes is not *actually* espresso, but highly concentrated pressed coffee made with espresso-grind coffee. While a technical difference, it is a difference.

[TooManyIdeas]

It is popular belief that "large" espresso drinks have more shots in them, this is not true. You may ask for (and pay for) more shots though.

A buddy of mine asked me to get him a blackeye at starbucks once. He explained to me that it was a coffee with like 3 or 4 shot of expresso in it. I figured fuck it, I'm going to screw with him. I had been to this starbucks many times and knew all of the baristas (or is it barisi?). I gave them the following order. Fill a venti cup full of espresso. They were abit shocked and even told the manager. They did it and it cost me something like $25. But the funny part was when the manager said "we aren't responsible if your friend dies"

[TooManyIdeas]

I looked at that aeropress. I like it. Do you use the stainless filter or the paper filters?

Mine came with 70million paper ones. I will get the metal one when those start to run out.

ETA: Oh and to clarify: What the aeropress makes is not *actually* espresso, but highly concentrated pressed coffee made with espresso-grind coffee. While a technical difference, it is a difference.

Oh, so it comes with the filter too. Good to know. I do like the idea of the stainless filter though, it allows for the coffee tar to seep through.

[ZombieSoldier01]

We bought a frappe maker at Walmart for $70.00 and it has paid for itself after the 10th use. We just get cheap espresso grinds at the store. And get the rest of our stuff to make it. This is what we use:

6 spoons of espresso
Ice
French vanilla creamer
A shot of caramel syrup
A shot of chocolate syrup
An about a tablespoon of sugar

It comes out tasting like a milky way flavored espresso. AMAZING!

[TacAir]

Okay, I know that there are a lot of coffee-smart folks here.

Other than FD premix, what does one do out in the bush with a Svea and a canteen cup? What (not too heavy) gadget/thingamabob is needed for a decent cuppa?

Right now I stick with black tea, and carry a couple of the Taster Choice dry packs if I need an AM kick.

Also, if away from civilization (campground with trash containers) what, if any, impact do the spent grounds have on the local critters?

[ZombieSoldier01]

Okay, I know that there are a lot of coffee-smart folks here.

Other than FD premix, what does one do out in the bush with a Svea and a canteen cup? What (not too heavy) gadget/thingamabob is needed for a decent cuppa?

Right now I stick with black tea, and carry a couple of the Taster Choice dry packs if I need an AM kick.

Also, if away from civilization (campground with trash containers) what, if any, impact do the spent grounds have on the local critters?

Well the acids in the grounds will help mask odors from urination also it' can be use in gardens as fertilizer or even composting. Othe than that maybe some cracked out highly energetic critters

[ArmchairRacer]

TacAir: http://www.amazon.com/Maxwell-House-Sin ... B001M05070

It looks like Folgers has a similar product too, these work just like a tea bag, all you need is a cup and hot water.

[Czechnology]

As far as instant anything hot-drink goes, I buy this stuff:
http://www.quiktea.com/

Their Masala Chai (the stuff that's half milk, and half cardamom, and is ridiculously delicious and caffeinated) Ginger Chai, and Coffees are amazing for instant. They have some kind of weird encapsulating process that makes it taste very little like most instant coffee/tea, and you can make it in lukewarm or even cold water almost as easily as hot.

I'm sure you can find it online if you don't have an Indian store nearby. It's great for lazy camping, and leaves nothing behind except a foil pouch. I have several in my Get Home Bag, along with food and water.

[raptor]

Who need expresso when you have coffee with chicory.





Maxwell House....horrors... Folgers is OK they roast it in New Olreans so it at least has a chance to taste ok.

Community Coffee or CDM is the only coffee that resides in my house or office. We wrap a cup around it and nothing else goes into it except pure LA cane sugar or heavy cream...never both and never half and half.

In lieu of decaf we serve dark roast without chickory. If you want something without caffeine in it...we have water.




There are matters of life and death, then there is coffee.

[Dawgboy]

I make drip at home, or on the weekends, Espresso with a Bialetti Moka Express.

For car camping I have a Thermos brand Stainless French press

[url]http://shopthermos.com/product_detail.asp?T1=TMS+NCI1000P&trk_src_ss=TMSPAYPCWEBMACSS&kw={keyword}&kwid=productads-sku^TMS%20NCI1000P-adtype^PLA[/url]

For hiking or other "low impact" activity I tend towards the Legal brand, which is tasty, easy, and locally available

http://www.mexgrocer.com/78883-11105.html

[jackal556]

I once made a field expedient mocha in 29 Palms once. I collected a couple MRE coffees, creamers, sugars, and a little hot chocolate mix. I was also able to score some ice. Mixed that up with some water in a gatorade bottle. Good stuff.

SPD, Pertinax, and some others (that should be ZSers) went camping and I did some traditional coffee with the grounds in a pot boiled until the grounds settled. Good stuff coming off a campfire.

[TacAir]

I make drip at home, or on the weekends, Espresso with a Bialetti Moka Express.

For car camping I have a Thermos brand Stainless French press

[url]http://shopthermos.com/product_detail.asp?T1=TMS+NCI1000P&trk_src_ss=TMSPAYPCWEBMACSS&kw={keyword}&kwid=productads-sku^TMS%20NCI1000P-adtype^PLA[/url]

For hiking or other "low impact" activity I tend towards the Legal brand, which is tasty, easy, and locally available

http://www.mexgrocer.com/78883-11105.html

Thanks for the links. My last brew in the pot, in the field, over a fire - was some roasted beans in an old sock. To make a new pot, I'd smash the sock a few times with my rock hammer, add water, back on the fire.... When all the beans were crushed, toss the sock after the last pot is drained.

[Dawgboy]

I've done sock-coffee before, but try to avoid it...

[Geppato]

I am an operations manager for a Navy Base club and I take care of day to day operations for our Wolfgang Puck's Cafe. I help with the barista work and tweek things here and there - and I love me some coffee.

Esspresso machines come in every shape and size just like in comparison to firearms... you will get what you pay for 9.9 times out of 10.

If you are looking at the $300 range you can get you a nice espresso brewer with the attached steam wand (the steaming pipe for your milk). I skimmed through the responses- amazon will probably have what you are looking for, but look at reviews on most every kind of machine.

What you are going to need for an espresso machine next - is either an automatic grinder which has a huge hopper that you pour coffee beans into, and a device on the bottom that you hook up your brewing cup and "tamp" the ground coffee. Or... you can just get a hand held coffee grinder... or you can just buy ground coffee or high end espresso and just tamp in the brewer.

But like wine there are so many different types of coffee, whatever it is you drink in Starbucks ask what they normally use- and go with that. But don't be scared to experiment,

My personal favorite that I make everyday I work is a mocha-hazelnut iced latte... which is essentially a shot of chocolate syrup, shot of hazelnut syrup, shot of chilled espresso, throw in the cup and mix together with a spoon or a little whisk, then top off with milk. Easy peasy- magic sauce.