you a coffee snob?

[Brown747]

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by 917_Langheck

6oz water (≈ 170 g) and 2tbls (level) coffee (≈ 10.6 g), is close-ish to the golden ratio of 60 g coffee per 1 liter of water.

As noted above, weighing is easier than guessing what a "cup" is in coffee-speak, and what is a tablespoon? Leveled, slightly mounded, heaped???

Of course, the "ah, eff it" and just dump stuff in method works too.

I'm going to get a scale like M Johnson recomments.

Even though I am doing the latter recommendation you mention I'm trying to be consistent now that I found a rough combination that tastes, so far, good.

[Danimal16]

There seems to be a number of folks that are not sold on Starbucks. BUT I have some Starbucks gift cards that I want to use up.

I usually use Major Dickinson's Blend for my expresso.

What is the collective's recommendations for Starbucks for expresso?

Thanks in advance
Dan

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I'm going to get a scale like M Johnson recomments.

Even though I am doing the latter recommendation you mention I'm trying to be consistent now that I found a rough combination that tastes, so far, good.

I have no freakin' idea how much I use for around 22 oz .... but it's outta the same scoop and consistent after adjusting to my taste ... the MD blend gets a bit more than the Dark Sumatra.

Never wuz a meazuring snob by weight...

My coffee .... my rulez

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

I'm going to get a scale like M Johnson recomments.

Even though I am doing the latter recommendation you mention I'm trying to be consistent now that I found a rough combination that tastes, so far, good.

Yes, the scale is the path to consistently good coffee. The one I have is made by Escali, https://www.amazon.com/Escali-Digital-Multi-Functional-Kitchen-Measuring/dp/B0007GAWRS/ref=asc_df_B0007GAWRS?mcid=420268590184353497f783c 2df164001&hvocijid=10373037963962141984-B0007GAWRS-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=692875362841&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10373037963962141984&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011819&hvtargid=pla-2281435182658&th=1

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by Danimal16

There seems to be a number of folks that are not sold on Starbucks. BUT I have some Starbucks gift cards that I want to use up.

I usually use Major Dickinson's Blend for my expresso.

What is the collective's recommendations for Starbucks for expresso?

Thanks in advance
Dan

I drank Starbucks from late 80s until around 95. They lowered their bean quality as they grew and now I think it is pretty awful. I like McDonald’s coffee quite a bit more because it at least tastes like good coffee to me.

I met a guy recently that works at Starbucks corporate and he gave me a building tour. Down on the main floor they have a special reserve cafe with super overpriced fancy stuff. The furniture and art and lighting were amazing but the food wasn’t. It was crazy pretentious. Looked like it was full of well dressed corporate executives. I had a French press of some Ethiopian bean and it was ok. They’re really into sustainable Central American coffees and I thought they were acidic and sour.

So, with money to spend at Starbucks, and you’re not into saving it for a quick competent oat meal… maybe ask them if they can order you a bag of some of their reserve Uganda?

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by astrochex

Yes, the scale is the path to consistently good coffee. The one I have is made by Escali, https://www.amazon.com/Escali-Digital-Multi-Functional-Kitchen-Measuring/dp/B0007GAWRS

I went with this - at that price (10-12USD) I grabbed another to just give to anyone that showed an interest. Note that these recall their tare when you pull the loaded vessel - I had another that would "error" and lose its tare when the readout went negative.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072FN6ZNP

[TimT]

Yes...according to my girlfriend I am..

I try to buy beans from small boutique roasters.... There are 5 small roasters withing a reasonable distance of my house.. I tend to buy from Georgios, since it on the way to my gym, and its located in an industrial park near where Fairchild-Republic built warplanes, you can see some cool old warbirds... My fallbacks are Peets, or Blue Bottle... which I can get at the Supermarket or Target. Granted Georgios is $18-20/LB... I do like that Georgios coffee bags are Gulf themed..

Some estate beans..








I have 1, max 2 cups a day... and it might seem complicated, but in the time it takes to boil water, I've weighed and ground the beans.. and set up for the brew.. Between boiling and brewing it might take 10 mins to get a cup... and it worth it..

Scale, grinder, Aeropress, sieve.. I don't use the scale anymore, since I know my grinder holds 18g max, And the AeroPress holds 250ml water.



The sieve is a recent addition, 200 micron.... out of 15g ground coffee .75g passes the sieve... I have no idea the impact what passed has on a cuppa...

[jyl]

This is a little espresso machine with built in grinder. I fixed it and sent it to college with my daughter. When she graduated it went to my son in college. Its had seven years of university by now, hopefully has a Masters, maybe working on a PhD in College Coffee. Anyway, it came home for some repair. I got it working, and decided to see how good a shot it can pull. I got a bottomless portafilter (it comes with a goofy pressurized portafilter), fed it some dark roast (into second crack), set the grinder to as fine as it will do then backed off that a couple clicks. You know, it can pull a good shot. Slow, languid, dark brown with light flecks. Tastes sweet, not bitter at all. Success! Now it resumes its life of college kid abuse.

[jyl]

I pulled my old drum type roaster out of the basement and am re-learning how to use it. The green beans I have are really, really old. I’ve ordered some fresh green.

Also have a small fluid bed roaster to play with.

Daughter wants to start a coffee shop. If that happens, roasting can cut the coffee bill by half, my back-of-envelope suggests pay back on a well bought commercial roaster might be reasonable. I have a good friend who is a roaster, so we might also buy from him.

[jyl]

Here is an old commercial Elektra I picked up to refurbish for her future shop. These things are tanks. I refurbished one and gave it to my roaster friend when he opened his coffee shop, and it’s worked well. I restored one for myself. There’s two more in the garage waiting their turn. Not enough time for projects!

[jyl]

The little white college machine has a laughably tiny steam wand, but it sort of works. If you have all day to steam a jug that is.

[astrochex]

My Baratza Sette 270 grinder stopped grinding while making higher pitched noises. It made funny noises before going south. I wonder if the gearbox broke. I have a ticket in with Baratza for advice. Replacing the gearbox, which is a replaceable part, looks doable if a stretch for me.

It sucks using the single blade spice grinder.

[fanaudical]

A few alternate methods to help you appreciate whatever you're doing today:

https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/food-drink/how-to-make-coffee-like-a-civil-war-soldier/

https://kentrollins.com/cowboy-coffee/

https://www.thespruceeats.com/egg-coffee-2952648

https://www.coffeeam.com/blogs/blog/weird-ways-people-prepare-coffee?srsltid=AfmBOop_dtlFIfZuQarh61rVQy95-CGy8NtaGTd9pdtRHNk1L_sCqUHG

[froggert]

Originally Posted by astrochex

It sucks using the single blade spice grinder.

Went through this a few weeks ago while waiting on parts for the espresso machine and came to the conclusion that I'd rather drink no coffee than bad coffee.

[WPOZZZ]

McCafe is surprisingly good.

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

McCafe is surprisingly good.

Also Starbucks Pike Place. Its not the universally derided Starbucks burnt coffee.

[ckissick]

I don't drink coffee at all, so no, I'm not a coffee snob. But I did go into a Starbucks once to buy a Christmas gift. When I got to the cashier, he asked me what kind of coffee I want. I said I don't drink coffee and...

I felt like this guy.

[astrochex]

So Baratza’ customer service is awesome.

I sent a video of the grinder making halloween noises. They confirmed the gearbox failed. They offered to send a replacement motor/gearbox assembly free of charge! Its a $69 part on the Baratza website.

Needless to say, I was very pleased with the offer and look forward to the repair.

[Bill Douglas]

I forgot to buy milk, so for the first time in a long time, no lattes for me this morning

So instead I had a couple of expressos. VERY nice.