Pre-ground coffee or beans?

[Tobra]

Beans, always

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by jyl

That's what I use.

Good to know, thanks. Seems to be universally liked.

[wdfifteen]

I'm not so much of a snob that I roast my own beans, but I do like fresh ground beans for my coffee. The biggest change in coffee beans is oxidization of the oils. Oxygen reacts with the oil in the beans much like it reacts to the gasoline in your car engine. It makes it a different thing. The more surface area the oxygen has access to, the faster it changes the oil profile. So ground beans, with more surface area, change differently than whole beans. It's just a matter of whether you like the effect or not. Month-old ground beans can produce the flavor you like. You should go with whatever produces the flavor you like. And you should get what you like. You deserve it - I assume.

[Brian 162]

My coffee maker has a built in grinder. I just add the coffee beans before use.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm not so much of a snob that I roast my own beans, but I do like fresh ground beans for my coffee. The biggest change in coffee beans is oxidization of the oils. Oxygen reacts with the oil in the beans much like it reacts to the gasoline in your car engine. It makes it a different thing. The more surface area the oxygen has access to, the faster it changes the oil profile. So ground beans, with more surface area, change differently than whole beans. It's just a matter of whether you like the effect or not. Month-old ground beans can produce the flavor you like. You should go with whatever produces the flavor you like. And you should get what you like. You deserve it - I assume.

This is why the choice of beans is crucial. Do whatever routine or ritual or process, or whatever you wanna call it, the exact same way every time but vary the choice of beans until you find what you like.

Believe it or not, my go-to in emergencies is a large Burger King Black. Like an old pair of shoes or your favorite shirt-you know what to expect.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm not so much of a snob that I roast my own beans, but I do like fresh ground beans for my coffee. The biggest change in coffee beans is oxidization of the oils. Oxygen reacts with the oil in the beans much like it reacts to the gasoline in your car engine. It makes it a different thing. The more surface area the oxygen has access to, the faster it changes the oil profile. So ground beans, with more surface area, change differently than whole beans. It's just a matter of whether you like the effect or not. Month-old ground beans can produce the flavor you like. You should go with whatever produces the flavor you like. And you should get what you like. You deserve it - I assume.

A few folks on this thread say that a home coffee roaster is a snob, for some there seems to be a bit of pride in their exclamation. I don't understand that. Everyone is built differently with unique aspirations for personal happiness, some are even passionate about their personal addictions. That doesn't make someone a snob just as putting a Motion Control or KW Suspension on their 84 911 doesn't when a Bilstein system is fine, or even a worn out BOGE one will get you around, just not as quickly, or as fun. It just means they want more out of an experience or a heightened experience, which is the key word here. Whether it's roasting at home or scooping out of canister, it's just a measure of expected/needed experience and priorities thereof.

This missive isn't directed at you and I really like your clear and concise description of bean oxidation. And clearly we are on the same page of get what you like.

[1990C4S]

I have this (built in grinder) in my workshop. It makes very good coffee, much much better than my French press, but when it grinds and brews, it sounds like a barrel of wrenches rolling downhill in a metal barrel.



I got the machine almost for free, but I am pleasantly surprised with the coffee it makes. If it quits, I think I would get another one.

[gregpark]

I grind but my beans get old. I keep beans in an air tight container but should I be keeping them in the freezer?

[KFC911]

^^^ It's been a few years since I wuz a roasting, grinding, pinky extended "snob" ....

Green beans keep until roasted ... roasted beans are optimal for around 3 weeks and then begin to "lose it".... freshly roasted is THE one thing I have not compromised on....

My BBQ joint (an older black dude does all their's) roasts every 3 weeks... so my goto coffee is never more than 3-6 weeks outta the roaster....

AHHHH...

I usually buy as much BBQ as I do his dark Sumatra ... 1.5 lbs every visit.

I do NOT eat all of the Q .... just for the record

FRESH is best ....

edited: I used to keep my freshly roasted beans in a vacuum (suck the air out) cannister... now just a Tupperwear thing... in a dark cabinet at room temp... never in the freezer.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by gregpark

I grind but my beans get old. I keep beans in an air tight container but should I be keeping them in the freezer?

and many other videos James Hoffmann has done on storing coffee

[gregpark]

TMI...I don't have time to be a coffee nerd. I could easily switch to tea. Honestly, a cup of hot water would work for me in the morning. I've got a 150 year old cast iron, wall mounted hand grinder mounted to the wall of my off grid cabin. I've been hand grinding my coffee for 40 years. I finally installed solar panels, batteries, inverters, etc. so I have flip on lights. I brought an electric coffee grinder up. I went back to the old hand grinder and go around lighting the gas lights when it gets dark. I missed the ritual. I earn my morning coffee and a lit cabin and it's all somehow more enjoyable

[astrochex]

If you have time to be a coffee nerd, you might enjoy this site https://dailycoffeenews.com/

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by KFC911

edited: I used to keep my freshly roasted beans in a vacuum (suck the air out) cannister... now just a Tupperwear thing... in a dark cabinet at room temp... never in the freezer.

Redneck vacuum bag works ok though admittedly better for meat and fish for the freezer. Fill ziploc, seal but only 90%, roll and wrap and press and flatten to the lock bead and then seal the last 10%. Just did some salmon for the freezer and it worked great. Wrap in butcher's paper and label for best results. Thaw in fridge over 2 days.

[berettafan]

One thing I've noticed- the quality of my preferred drink (about 35g espresso, 3oz steamed 2%) is very much affected by how well I hit the mark on steam (creamy microfoam) and the beans not being burnt. Beyond that I'm fairly easy to please I think.

[Brian 162]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I have this (built in grinder) in my workshop. It makes very good coffee, much much better than my French press, but when it grinds and brews, it sounds like a barrel of wrenches rolling downhill in a metal barrel.



I got the machine almost for free, but I am pleasantly surprised with the coffee it makes. If it quits, I think I would get another one.

The grinder in my coffee maker can wake up the dead. Makes a good cup of coffee though.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

The grinder in my coffee maker can wake up the dead. Makes a good cup of coffee though.

Methinks that might be why my burr grinder sits idle too.... it's rather noisy at o'dark-thirty.... even for a rooster roaster

[berettafan]

I have a Niche and it is a bit loud as well. Was thinking of trying one of those hopper style that times or weighs the grind so I can shorten the workflow. But I think those are even louder.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by Brian 162

The grinder in my coffee maker can wake up the dead. Makes a good cup of coffee though.

I haven't seen them combine the really hefty large diameter and low speed grinder internals that you'd see quietly purring away in your local shop into a superauto. Given the price point of those machines it's clear that cost isn't THAT much of an issue. Of course they'd (further) shrink the bean and coffee reservoirs and the noise won't be the biggest problem.

Our Jura is pretty loud. I've wondered if you could get some sound damping in there without creating more problems (heat/ventilation/moisture). Our Roncillo standalone grinder is far quieter but even there the plastic lid rattles and resonates loudly. I'm wondering what a bit of that loaded rubber that goes into cars would do. There's some leftover generic Dyna-ish-mat somewhere in the garage - I just might give it a try.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by KFC911

Methinks that might be why my burr grinder sits idle too.... it's rather noisy at o'dark-thirty.... even for a rooster roaster

That's why mine is in the garage. If I'm lazy or it's too cold, it's French press, otherwise I get the good stuff.