# How do you make coffee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** coffee\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904 "2008-10-21T17:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/21 "2008-10-22T00:36:01Z")
At most I drink one cup a day, at dinner. I’m not especially picky, so at home I just use instant coffee and add boiling water. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/22 "2008-10-22T00:40:30Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > At most I drink one cup a day, at dinner. I’m not especially picky, so at home I just use instant coffee and add boiling water. Instant coffee is not coffee. It is like decaf a foul chemical concoction that should be illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Momofgirls](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/momofgirls/32/21798_2.png) [@Momofgirls](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Momofgirls)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/23 "2008-10-22T02:46:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This must be the 4th or 5th thread on this in the past couple of months. Oh well, I’m always happy to push my agenda of cold-brewed coffee. Sixteen TBSP of coffee grounds in a pitcher with 64 ounces of water. Let it sit on the counter overnight, up to 24 hours. Strain out the grounds through a fine sieve and drink iced or heat in the micro. Never gets bitter, doesn’t have to be refrigerated, and you get the added benefit of all the subtle flavors that can disappear when you pour boiling water over coffee. I read this a while back when I was still in lurk mode (before recent free posting), and I have to say, this is the best coffee I’ve ever had. Better than Starbucks, even. There’s no bitterness at all. I prefer my coffee iced, so I keep my pitcher in the fridge. I’m on Weight Watchers, so I make each drink with two tablespoons fat-free half and half, one tablespoon of dark chocolate Hershey syrup and two packets of Nutrasweet. I shake it up over ice in a cocktail shaker and then pour it over ice in a tall glass. It is so good and only one Weight Watchers point. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/24 "2008-10-22T03:17:52Z")
Another vote for a French Press. Two heaping scoops of grounds, and fill it to the metal rim with water. I _think_ it’s supposed to make two cups’ worth, but it makes enough to fill my big travel mug. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/25 "2008-10-22T03:45:04Z")
I have a One Mug TM drip coffee maker that I just fill the basket up for a 16(?) oz. mug. I’ve never actually measured the coffee, though. For my mini-French press (makes one cup), I use two Tbsp. coffee, for the 6 cup stove top percolator, about a half cup, and my 8 oz. stove top expresso pot, about 4 Tbsp. expresso roast. I always grind the coffee just prior to brewing. I’m convinced that totally makes the difference. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/26 "2008-10-22T04:19:06Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Instant coffee is not coffee. Of course it is. The quality just isn’t as good. But I don’t think it’s sufficiently worse to justify all the palaver that’s required for the more complicated methods. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/27 "2008-10-22T04:34:13Z")
I use a pod coffeemaker because I could never get the amount of coffee right for my coffee maker. I also do the cold brewed method 4:1 water to coffee ratio and try to keep some in my fridge for when I’m in a hurry or want an iced coffee. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/28 "2008-10-22T04:57:31Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Of course it is. The quality just isn’t as good. But I don’t think it’s sufficiently worse to justify all the palaver that’s required for the more complicated methods. Wow, seriously? Because really good coffee is delicious to me. As in I don’t care about the caffeine or anything, I just LOVE the flavor. Instant coffee is not even drinkable unless I’m out on the highway and there is a 90% chance that I will die from falling asleep at the wheel if I don’t swallow this hideous swill. The degree worse that instant is, for me, is enormous beyond words. But then, I’m a huge coffee snob, too. Good quality coffee, brewed minutes after it’s ground, etc. I find most restaurants’ coffee to be undrinkable as well. ---
**Author:** ![Valerieblaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@Valerieblaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valerieblaise)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/29 "2008-10-22T05:48:30Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This must be the 4th or 5th thread on this in the past couple of months. Oh well, I’m always happy to push my agenda of cold-brewed coffee. Sixteen TBSP of coffee grounds in a pitcher with 64 ounces of water. Let it sit on the counter overnight, up to 24 hours. Strain out the grounds through a fine sieve and drink iced or heat in the micro. Never gets bitter, doesn’t have to be refrigerated, and you get the added benefit of all the subtle flavors that can disappear when you pour boiling water over coffee. I’ve yet to try cold-brewed, but I seem to remember hearing that it’s also much less acidic than normal coffee. Do you find this to be true? ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/30 "2008-10-22T06:31:22Z")
Put whole beans in mouth. Chew 20 seconds. One sip of hot water. Swish. Swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/31 "2008-10-22T08:03:20Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That’s a term I got from my parents, who probably got it from someone else. It’s the rule of thumb when making a pot of tea - one teaspoon per cup, plus one for the pot. I’ve heard it all my life. I searched on the phrase and most of the relevant Google results referred to making tea, though some were in relation to coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/32 "2008-10-22T13:02:13Z")
I have a 12-cup drip coffee maker. We can get about 6 mugs of coffee from that, maybe 7. I put just shy of 6 2-tbs scoops to the 12-cup measure on the water dealie. So 2 tbs per mug of coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/33 "2008-10-22T14:42:17Z")
> [@Valerieblaise](#): > > I’ve yet to try cold-brewed, but I seem to remember hearing that it’s also much less acidic than normal coffee. Do you find this to be true? I do, IMO, it has a much smoother taste. I also read something about filtering coffee. If you use paper filters it will absorb some of the oils that make the coffee more bitter and acidic\*. Paper filters also result in healthier coffee since those substances (cafestrol and kahweol) increase cholesterol levels. Paper filters reduce these substances to negligible amounts. Cite about [cafestrol](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n5_v147/ai_16623389). \*Some would argue that these oils are what give coffee it’s flavor but I think the paper filtered coffee tastes just as good and I prefer less bitter coffee and lower cholesterol. ---
**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:** [October 22, 2008, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/34 "2008-10-22T15:26:06Z")
> [@Valerieblaise](#): > > I’ve yet to try cold-brewed, but I seem to remember hearing that it’s also much less acidic than normal coffee. Do you find this to be true? Well, that would require some sort of chemical analysis, so I can’t really answer. But there is definitely a lack of bitterness, and cold-brewed coffee that is two days old is just as good as when it was made. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/35 "2008-10-22T17:01:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, that would require some sort of chemical analysis, so I can’t really answer. But there is definitely a lack of bitterness, and cold-brewed coffee that is two days old is just as good as when it was made. I agree – my husband and I drink cold-brewed coffee pretty exclusively these days (well, he works at Starbucks, so he’ll have espresso drinks when he’s working). We each have different recipes for it – he likes his stronger than I like mine. Mine is 6 cups of water and 1-1/3 cups of ground coffee. I mix them together in the morning, leave it out on the counter all day, and strain it very well at night (using first a fine-mesh sieve, then a paper filter). It lives in the fridge because we started doing this in summer, when we wanted iced coffee. It’s so, so good – creamy and not bitter at all. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/36 "2008-10-22T17:25:14Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This must be the 4th or 5th thread on this in the past couple of months. Oh well, I’m always happy to push my agenda of cold-brewed coffee. Sixteen TBSP of coffee grounds in a pitcher with 64 ounces of water. Let it sit on the counter overnight, up to 24 hours. Strain out the grounds through a fine sieve and drink iced or heat in the micro. Never gets bitter, doesn’t have to be refrigerated, and you get the added benefit of all the subtle flavors that can disappear when you pour boiling water over coffee. Hey, I make coffee this way in my garbage disposal when I’m cleaning the pot. 😛 It sounds intriguing as an experiment, but I like my coffee hot when I first get up, and it seems to me that nuking it would destroy any flavor advantages of this method. Isn’t it also weaker than conventionally brewed coffee? > [@Chefguy](#): > > …cold-brewed coffee that is two days old is just as good as when it was made. This I’m prepared to believe (but perhaps for different reasons). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/37 "2008-10-22T17:40:10Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > This must be the 4th or 5th thread on this in the past couple of months. Oh well, I’m always happy to push my agenda of cold-brewed coffee. Sixteen TBSP of coffee grounds in a pitcher with 64 ounces of water. Let it sit on the counter overnight, up to 24 hours. Strain out the grounds through a fine sieve and drink iced or heat in the micro. Never gets bitter, doesn’t have to be refrigerated, and you get the added benefit of all the subtle flavors that can disappear when you pour boiling water over coffee. My version is 1/3 cup coffee grounds to 12 oz of water (from the NY Times). I use my french press, put in double of everything (2/3 c coffee, 24 oz of water). Stir. In the morning I press, then pour the coffee through a strainer lined with a coffee filter and then add an equal amount of water, because I’ve made coffee concentrate. As **Chefguy** says, it’s never bitter and tastes very smooth. You can drink it as is, iced, or heated in the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/38 "2008-10-22T17:50:31Z")
What if I don’t have a microwave? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/39 "2008-10-22T17:53:51Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > nuking it would destroy any flavor advantages And why would this be? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904/40 "2008-10-22T18:09:26Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > And why would this be? Any sort of reheating changes the taste of coffee for me. It leaves it tasting, well, reheated. Maybe my palate is too sensitive? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-coffee/468904.md?page=3)