# Anyone know how to make good coffee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [May 13, 2008, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139 "2008-05-13T04:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/41 "2008-05-19T17:25:53Z")
Me, I swear by Folger’s crystals. (no, I don’t. I don’t drink coffee. I just thought it’d be funny. It’s probably only funny to those of you over 40, and maybe not even then. I’ll go away now). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fighting\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ac8455/32.png) [@fighting\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fighting_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/42 "2008-05-20T02:41:26Z")
[You’re Doing It All Wrong!](http://www.chow.com/stories/11067) ---
**Author:** ![A\_Priori\_Tea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@A\_Priori\_Tea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Priori_Tea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/43 "2008-05-20T15:43:31Z")
**Chefguy** - I am officially a convert. Medium coarse grind in 4 teapot-size teabags (I’m using 20T coffee to 10C water), brewed cold (8 hour soak) and stuck in the fridge in a big pitcher. It keeps fresh and tasty for days. OMG COFFEE. 😃 No more longing for iced coffee in the middle of a Florida summer. You, sir, have changed my life, and probably are going to be blamed for my return to a caffeine addiction within the next month. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/44 "2008-05-20T18:21:32Z")
[QUOTE=A Priori Tea] **Chefguy** - I am officially a convert. Medium coarse grind in 4 teapot-size teabags (I’m using 20T coffee to 10C water), brewed cold (8 hour soak) and stuck in the fridge in a big pitcher. It keeps fresh and tasty for days. OMG COFFEE. 😃 No more longing for iced coffee in the middle of a Florida summer. You, sir, have changed my life, and probably are going to be blamed for my return to a caffeine addiction within the next month. [/QUOTE] And to add to your problem, you’ll suddenly realize that there are hundreds of different coffees out there, all with different flavor accents from the regions they come from, and you want to try them all. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Priori\_Tea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@A\_Priori\_Tea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Priori_Tea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/45 "2008-05-20T18:54:24Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] And to add to your problem, you’ll suddenly realize that there are hundreds of different coffees out there, all with different flavor accents from the regions they come from, and you want to try them all. [/QUOTE] Oh, no, that’s not a new problem, by any stretch! It may, however, become a slightly more prolific problem, now that I’m realizing how much different my coffee tastes when it’s not been boiled into oblivion… ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/46 "2008-05-20T21:37:31Z")
Might I recommend Ethiopian Harar for iced coffee? It has a natural note of blueberry which I find very nice in a cool beverage. ---
**Author:** ![A\_Priori\_Tea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3bc359/32.png) [@A\_Priori\_Tea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_Priori_Tea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/47 "2008-05-20T21:49:23Z")
[QUOTE=Danalan] Might I recommend Ethiopian Harar for iced coffee? It has a natural note of blueberry which I find very nice in a cool beverage. [/QUOTE] That actually sounds really yum. It’s on the list just behind Yirgacheffe. I’ve been hankering for a nice light Yirgacheffe, and I’m wondering how the cold brew will change the flavor I get out of it. Thank you for the recommendation! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/48 "2008-05-20T21:56:34Z")
[QUOTE=Danalan] Might I recommend Ethiopian Harar for iced coffee? It has a natural note of blueberry which I find very nice in a cool beverage. [/QUOTE] You may, and I just ordered two pounds of it. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/49 "2008-05-21T18:22:01Z")
I just realized that as a damn coffeehouse owner, I should have recommended a good supplier of roasted beans a long time ago. We use [Batdorf & Bronson](http://www.dancinggoats.com/) coffee exclusively. They have a good selection, and we particularly love their Dancing Goats blend. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/50 "2008-05-21T18:31:22Z")
[QUOTE=Danalan] I just realized that as a damn coffeehouse owner, I should have recommended a good supplier of roasted beans a long time ago. We use [Batdorf & Bronson](http://www.dancinggoats.com/) coffee exclusively. They have a good selection, and we particularly love their Dancing Goats blend. [/QUOTE] That’s not some of that weird stuff that’s passed through an animal’s intestine, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/51 "2008-05-21T20:05:24Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] That’s not some of that weird stuff that’s passed through an animal’s intestine, is it? [/QUOTE] Goats, for instance? No, just kidding. B & B doesn’t carry either [Kopi Luwak or Kopi Muntjac](http://rockhoppersdailygrind.blogspot.com/2007/11/coffee-monkey-business.html). I can get some, though, if you’re interested. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/52 "2008-05-21T20:26:47Z")
[QUOTE=Danalan] Goats, for instance? No, just kidding. B & B doesn’t carry either [Kopi Luwak or Kopi Muntjac](http://rockhoppersdailygrind.blogspot.com/2007/11/coffee-monkey-business.html). I can get some, though, if you’re interested. 🙂 [/QUOTE] That answers every question I have except for “why?” ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/53 "2008-05-21T21:53:38Z")
[QUOTE=Chefguy] That answers every question I have except for “why?” [/QUOTE] According to [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak) Wikipedia article on Kopi Luwak: > [@](#): > > The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but it has been proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee’s flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste. However, from the same article: > [@](#): > > In 2008, a blind taste test was conducted by Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology. Using identical preparation equipment and techniques, researchers produced 4 separate samples of coffee. The first used traditional digested beans and the second used undigested beans from the same species of plant normally used for Kopi Luwak. As a control, they also produced samples from two conventional brands, one from Columbia and the other from Kenya. Over 1000 subjects participated in the study, and were asked choose which sample they preferred, and if they could identify each of the sample’s origin. The results of the study indicated that the there was no statistically significant preference for Kopi Luwak over the other three types of coffee, even the cheap brands. In addition, subjects were unable to identify which sample was which with any measurable degree of accuracy. Researchers concluded that the digestion by the Civet had no appreciable difference on the coffee after it is prepared, and it may be little more than a gimmick to sell the product at such an exorbitant price. The researchers further hypothesized that the favorable reputation of Kopi Luwak may be due a previously observed form of “placebo effect,” wherein a consumer enjoys an identical food product more if it is more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/54 "2008-07-14T05:16:21Z")
I don’t think this thread is a zombie yet. I came across it while searching for coffee making directions. I have tried (today) the cold coffee making method of **Chefguy** and I just wanted to say I may never go back to hot water coffee making. I don’t know what I’d been doing wrong before, but the same coffee that got me lackluster results with hot water is now just great with the cold brew method. I can’t wait to go to the store and get some good cream. Summer is going to be more bearable now! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/55 "2008-07-14T16:00:07Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] I don’t think this thread is a zombie yet. I came across it while searching for coffee making directions. I have tried (today) the cold coffee making method of **Chefguy** and I just wanted to say I may never go back to hot water coffee making. I don’t know what I’d been doing wrong before, but the same coffee that got me lackluster results with hot water is now just great with the cold brew method. I can’t wait to go to the store and get some good cream. Summer is going to be more bearable now! [/QUOTE] Yeah, baby. Most hot coffee just tastes blah to me now. A 16 oz. glass, fill half with ice, coffee to within an inch of the top, then a dollop of cream and sweetener and I’m a happy dude. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/56 "2008-07-14T16:08:20Z")
**Chefguy** , do you think it matters whether the grounds sit in the water overnight (8 hours) or longer (say, 24 hours)? Do you stir more than just at first? The enquiring minds of new converts want to know. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/57 "2008-07-14T16:29:40Z")
I’ve got a few questions too, Chefguy. [QUOTE=Chefguy] I use the French press setting on my Bodum grinder. [/QUOTE] Do you recommend a particular model? I’m not sure which one to get. It seems you’re recommending the cold-brewed method mostly for making iced coffee (or maybe it just sounds that way to me because cold coffee is your preference). For us hot coffee drinkers, will the cold-brewed method taste noticeably better than the French Press method? Is there a preferred method for heating up cold-brewed coffee? Will a filter for a Mr. Coffee work well as a sieve? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/58 "2008-07-14T19:53:08Z")
**emilyforce** : I usually make mine in the morning and let it sit until the following morning, but I’ve forgotten in the past and it’s just sat overnight, which seemed to work fine also. If you drink it black, you may notice more of a difference in a longer brew, but that’s just a guess. The grounds float to the top right away. As they get saturated, they sink, leaving some floating on top. Sometimes I sink those gently also, but again I don’t think it really matters. **x-ray vision** : My coffee grinder looks pretty much like [this](http://www.bodumusa.com/shop/line.asp?MD=1&GID=29&LID=206&CHK=&SLT=&mscssid=953DPPUX5VV89JHP1ALTN2GF4LXQ68N7). Honestly, I don’t really think it matters much what you use. I set mine for French press grind, but you could probably just buy ground coffee off the shelf and it would work fine. I think you lose something anytime you pour boiling water over coffee grounds. I only drink it iced, but would think you could just heat a cup in the microwave if you prefer hot. The nice thing is that cold-brewed coffee never gets bitter from sitting on the counter. I’ve been using a strainer like [this one](http://www.oxo.com/OA_HTML/xxoxo_ibeCCtpOXOPrdDtl.jsp?section=10061&item=46942&minisite=10024&respid=53057) of late, which seems to work just fine. I usually strain it twice, though, since it’s not as fine as my plastic mesh strainer. I would not personally use paper filters, but only because I don’t like them. They seem to impart a taste I don’t care for. If you know anybody in New Mexico (or maybe elsewhere in the SW?) that can go to Cosco and buy you some Pinon Passion coffee, I highly recommend it. It’s the only thing we drink now, and you can’t buy it online. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/59 "2008-07-14T20:14:36Z")
Thanks for the tips, Chefguy. Yeah, I think I’ll get a grinder that’s a bit cheaper. 😉 I couldn’t find any Google hits for Pinon Passion, so I gave New Mexico Pinon Coffee Company a call. They told me that Pinon Passion is a knock off of by a competitor of there [Pinon Coffee](http://www.nmpinoncoffee.com/npc_shop/product.asp?dept_id=1). I thought I’d bring it up in case you weren’t aware and wanted to try there’s as it is available online. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2008, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139/60 "2008-07-14T20:22:44Z")
Make that “their” and “theirs”. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-know-how-to-make-good-coffee/449139.md?page=4)