Recommend me a book on coffee making....

hopper1
hopper1 Posts: 4,389
edited December 2009 in The bottom bracket
As the subject says...
Anyone read a particularly good/useful book on being a better Barista?
Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!

Comments

  • 0scar
    0scar Posts: 219
    Check this out: Mark Miodownik on how to make the perfect cup of coffee: http://www.archive.org/details/FreeUniversityDay3_1

    He's a materials scientist from KCL. He goes into excessive detail about foam tension (not as bad as it sounds) but it's otherwise very interesting.

    Have a look here as well. http://www.jimseven.com/2009/12/26/recommened-coffee-reading-list-part-1/#more-1324

    I havn't read any of these, so I'm not sure about a book, but do you have access to a machine at work? I've picked up tips from chatting to other people but it's only with a machine to try them out that I've really learnt anything.

    Anyway: the perfect cup (mine, not his):

    1. Fill cup half way with boiling filtered water.
    2. Grind beans.
    3. Clean out the groupo (the thing the grounds go into) with boiling water.
    4. Run water through the nozzle without the groupo attached.
    5. Add 14g grounds to the groupo (for a double).
    6. Pack it in - not to tight.
    7. 'Bless' it - wipe the top over so loose grounds don't dig into the seal of the machine.
    8. Stick it into the machine.
    9. Add a splash of ambient filtered water to the half cup.
    10. Stick the half full cup into the machine, push the button, serve

    That looks ridiculously complicated now that I look at it but if you're doing it for work you'll be able to do it fast soon enough. Or at least do it well, which is more important I think. Do it right and speed will come later.
    Commuter: Taped-up black Trek 2200 (FCN 5)
    Shiny bike: Pinarello FP2 (FCN 3)
  • Philip S
    Philip S Posts: 398
    There's tons of useful coffee-related stuff on youtube...
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    Thanks for the tips guys, I'll have a mosey.... :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    PM me...

    What I don't know about coffee!!!

    I roast my own....

    Currently Kona (Smith Farms), Jamaican Blue Mountain (Mavis Bank), and some Gaut / El Salvador cup of excellence beans as my staples. In a hottop.
  • OffTheBackAdam
    OffTheBackAdam Posts: 1,869
    Er, what's hard about putting a spoonful of Nescafe into a mug & adding boiling water, then sugar +/- milk as needed? :wink:
    Remember that you are an Englishman and thus have won first prize in the lottery of life.
  • Mothyman
    Mothyman Posts: 655
    OffTheBackAdam wrote:
    Er, what's hard about putting a spoonful of Nescafe into a mug & adding boiling water, then sugar +/- milk as needed? :wink:


    ....this is the 'real coffee' thread...the instant coffee thread went cold quickly, lacked taste and was rather bland and boring...

    :)
  • andy_f
    andy_f Posts: 474
    1. Get out of bed
    2. Have a wash and get dressed
    3. Go down stairs and sit on settee
    4. Take steaming mug of coffee from missus
    5. Drink.
    "Let your life rule your job, not your job rule your life"

    Born to ride, forced to work.
  • dandrew
    dandrew Posts: 175
    This is my routine.
    Algerian Coffee Stores Old Compton Street. Buy Beans
    Kitchen Aid Artisan Burr Electric Coffee Grinder. Grind beans
    Full fat milk for cuppucino.
    Gaggia Classic expresso maker.
    Perfect.

    Oscar's got it about right. Avoid some of the coffee forums if you think bike forums get a bit mad and opionated!!

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