# How do you brew? Caffeine prep edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770 "2009-08-08T20:29:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pythonzzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@pythonzzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pythonzzz)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/1 "2009-08-08T20:29:51Z")
What do you have in your coffee arsenal? Do you drip, steam, press, or \ perc? What’s your current grind? Any extras? - Cuisinart DCC-2400 drip w/12 cup thermal carafe (keeps coffee hot very well) - Krups mini espresso steamer - for ‘long black’ style - generic electric blade grinder - Black Velvet Cognac from [CoffeeAM.com](http://CoffeeAM.com) - Trader Joe’s Kauai coffee - sometimes Boyds or Lion - half-n-half - raw sugar - Mocafe Mexican Cocoa ---
**Author:** ![BangTheDrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@BangTheDrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BangTheDrum)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/2 "2009-08-08T20:51:10Z")
I french press the “good stuff” and perc the cheap stuff in the morning as we generally don’t get through the whole pot before it “overcooks”. I grind fresh and am currently looking into getting my own roaster and order green coffee beans for extreme freshness. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/3 "2009-08-08T20:58:39Z")
No coffee here, but I love my tea. And I do it properly, brewing a pot of tea (no teabags for this American, thank you very much). It’s astounding how much more teabags cost per cup compared to loose tea. A 450 gram box of loose tea costs around $3.25. And spooning lose tea in the pot releases the flavor so much more efficiently that I use less tea. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c57346/32.png) [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/4 "2009-08-08T21:22:34Z")
Roast green beans, grind and drip brew in a Technivorm. I use a press occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/5 "2009-08-08T21:33:25Z")
I’ve got one of [these](http://www.capresso.com/automatic-coffee-centers-e-series.shtml). Throw in some nice beans I found from Yemen and it’s a good breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/6 "2009-08-08T21:42:37Z")
French press, filtered water, coffee from Boca Java, coarsely ground. ---
**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:** [August 8, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/7 "2009-08-08T21:45:38Z")
Unfortunately, we are now making hot drip coffee with a B&D coffeemaker. When we have the room, we usually cold-brew our coffee and drink it iced. Much nicer, less bitter, more flavor. We’re brewing with a locally roasted Tanzanian Peaberry, which is very good. Isn’t this like the fourth thread on coffee making in a very short period? ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/8 "2009-08-08T22:15:29Z")
I use an old Braun coffee grinder. I’ve had it 30 years & it doesn’t miss a beat. We used to have an old dripolator, but couldn’t replace it when it wore out last year. So now we use a Zip steel plunger & I think othe coffee tastes better. At the moment we are using Vittoria coffee beans. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/9 "2009-08-09T01:26:32Z")
Krups grinder Krups drip coffee pot Beans vary. Sometimes Dunkin Donuts, Costo, Starbucks, carries many and I have tried a few. Drink it black I hate Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/10 "2009-08-09T02:42:16Z")
French press, and I order coarse ground coffee from Caribou every month or so (they’ll deliver to me in Kabul). I’ve just been working down their list of coffees. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/11 "2009-08-09T05:17:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Unfortunately, we are now making hot drip coffee with a B&D coffeemaker. When we have the room, we usually cold-brew our coffee and drink it iced. Much nicer, less bitter, more flavor. We’re brewing with a locally roasted Tanzanian Peaberry, which is very good. > > Isn’t this like the fourth thread on coffee making in a very short period? Tell me about cold brewing. I’ve heard good things… ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/12 "2009-08-09T08:48:02Z")
A Bunn. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/13 "2009-08-09T09:37:58Z")
I have a basic espresso machine, and I use an espresso grind I buy from the coffee shop around the corner. I generally make cappuccino. Of course, that’s only when I have the energy or inclination to operate the machine (not to mention cleaning it, which is a real pain in the neck). Otherwise it’s Taster’s Choice all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/14 "2009-08-09T11:07:00Z")
I use a plunger for my coffee and tend to go for a mild Kenyan roast as my “standard” coffee. Having said that, I like to have at least one bag of coffee from somewhere exotic on hand for something a bit different- for example, I recently finished some surprisingly good coffee from Colombia and I’ve got some from Papua New Guinea to try next. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/15 "2009-08-09T13:09:17Z")
I’ve got a Braun grinder and a good old reliable French press. I’ve also used my French press for brewing loose tea. It works like a charm. ---
**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:** [August 9, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/16 "2009-08-09T13:19:34Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Tell me about cold brewing. I’ve heard good things… If you can do a search on the Dope, it’s detailed in numerous threads. Basically, you just dump ground coffee into a bowl or other container, add cold water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, strain the grounds out through a fine sieve. The resulting brew can be heated or drunk cold. We used to just let it sit covered on the counter until it was time to make a new batch, but some people refrigerate it. Unlike hot brew, it won’t turn bitter or rancid from sitting for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/17 "2009-08-09T23:51:49Z")
I have a little $12 no-name drip maker. Make a pot every morning, extra strong, grocery store brand coffee. First cup with milk and sugar, on hot mornings put it in a freezer mug. Drink the rest of it lukewarm or cold, and black. I like coffee a lot, but the main goal is to chug down the caffeine to get going. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/18 "2009-08-10T05:41:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > If you can do a search on the Dope, it’s detailed in numerous threads. Basically, you just dump ground coffee into a bowl or other container, add cold water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, strain the grounds out through a fine sieve. The resulting brew can be heated or drunk cold. We used to just let it sit covered on the counter until it was time to make a new batch, but some people refrigerate it. Unlike hot brew, it won’t turn bitter or rancid from sitting for a few days. A friend of mine used to do a cold-brew method that would result in a “syrup” that would be diluted with hot water to make a cup-a-joe. Know anything about that? ---
**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:** [August 10, 2009, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/19 "2009-08-10T12:51:11Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > A friend of mine used to do a cold-brew method that would result in a “syrup” that would be diluted with hot water to make a cup-a-joe. Know anything about that? I’m sure you could make a concentrated brew that you could then dilute with water, but I’ve never tried that. Dump a pound of grounds in a bowl, add water and see what happens, I guess. Then just figure out what the water-to-concentrate ratio is for a decent cup. ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770/20 "2009-08-10T13:46:15Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > A friend of mine used to do a cold-brew method that would result in a “syrup” that would be diluted with hot water to make a cup-a-joe. Know anything about that? That’s what I do. I got interested in cold-brewing the last time we did one of these threads because of Chefguy, so I looked for recipes (if you can call them that) and at first I used a big bowl of water & a couple of strainers to make the concentrate. It tasted great, but eventually I bought a [Filtron](http://www.filtron.com/) to make the process a little easier. I don’t remember why I chose it instead of a [Toddy](http://www.toddycafe.com/), which is essentially the same thing - I’d assume it was cheaper on Amazon or something. I’ve converted my Mom & brother to cold brew - my brother bought a Toddy, Mom uses the big bowl of water + strainer method. They both say that they’ve gotten tons of compliments on their coffee since they switched. I think it’s really good hot, but it’s even better iced. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-brew-caffeine-prep-edition/505770.md?page=2)