Silly Commuter Coffee

godders1

mrfpb wrote:

Godders1 wrote:

I have some and was a bit underwhelmed when I tried it with the aeropress this morning (which is usually pretty foolproof).

But are you using the "right" technique?

http://www.gallacoffeeblog.co.uk/5-different-aeropress-techniques/

Check out Adam Marley the uber Coffee Geek at no. 3.

Ha, yeah I've watched more areopress videos than I care to admit to (hence I've seen that one before). :oops:

My technique has produced consistently good results with every other bean. I posted on coffee forums and have a few tips which I'm going to try later today.

mrfpb

My aeropress and porlex mini grinder are in the post, so I'm hoping to crack open my Monmouth beans early this week. I think I'll go with the has-bean aeropress method, unless there are strong recommendations otherwise.

godders1

Very similar to my method that and should get you good results. I'm not sure how Monmouth roast but if they're a bit darker than HasBean (most are) I'd reduce the dose by a couple of grams to start off with. I usually dose 14-15g but have had to up it using HasBean beans to make up for the light roast.

And be VERY careful when turning the right way up to press; the plunger part will try and push it's way out so make sure you're holding it in as you turn it over.

Good choice on the Porlex, I use one for brewed/aeropress (too much of a faff to keep making big adjustments with my espresso grinder).

itboffin

20-25g of various Monmouth awesomeness each hit for me about 10 times a day or I get a bit clucky

mrfpb

Aeropress and porlex mini arrived at 9:00 am. Used aeropress first, with Grumpy Mule pre ground. Not great, but realised I hadn't ditched the water I used to warm the mug and wet the filter. Followed later by mug of Monmouth Organic espresso. Much nicer.

Like the porlex, but took ages to grind (2 minutes). I did adjust the grind nut to sleep things up.

Now how do I get a pentagonal bit for my electric screwdriver?

menthel

Resurrection!

I am gently vibrating in the office this afternoon after my second cup of hawaiian kona of the day from the aeropress. Its tasty but bloody hell its caffeine levels must be high!

mrfpb

menthel wrote:

Resurrection!

I am gently vibrating in the office this afternoon after my second cup of hawaiian kona of the day from the aeropress. Its tasty but bloody hell its caffeine levels must be high!

A timely resurrection. I am just getting to he end of the 1 kg of coffee I bought back in April and considering another trip to Monmouth in Borough Market next week. I'm hoping to have more time to explore the Market this time as my first visit was rather hurried.

After a few months with the porlex and aeropress, I'm finding them slow going. The Has Bean line "life's too short for bad coffee" would seem a contradiction to their recommended coffee making methods.

menthel

I get through coffee quickly enough that orders from fresh roasting place (hasbean and the coffee bean shop so far) means that it doesn't get stale ready ground. Means I only have to aeropress rather than grind too.

itboffin

Make your coffee the way Monmouth and I do it, grind beans use a good ceramic drip with filters and 2-3 mins later you have the perfect cuppa.

I drink about 6 cups a day between 5am-4pm no mess no fuss no time but it does mean i get through lots of coffee. 8)

notsoblue

vermin

notsoblue wrote:

Very nice. Just don't get it wet.

notsoblue

vermin wrote:

Very nice. Just don't get it wet.

Actually, I reckon it would taste like coffee from a camping mug. They should make one from the same ceramic they use for high end BB's...

essex-commuter

Just got meself an Aeropress. Had 8 shots last night in an attempt to achieve the perfect cup...didn't feckin' sleep a wink!

How do you guys use your Aero, literally as per the instructions, 1 spoon per marking on the tube, press pretty much straight away? Any variations?

Also found that it seemed to lose a lot of heat even though I pre-warmed the plastic tube...normal?


Still buzzing. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

menthel

I make big mugs. Generally Put about 1 1/2 scoops of coffee in, fill it to the 4 cup point, stir, top back up, stir again and then let sit for 30 seconds. Then plunge. I get a good, strong half a big mugs worth from that which is then topped up with hot water. I then add some milk (heathen that I am!) and have a good sized coffee to wake me up in the mornings.

Watch out using standardised amounts of coffee though, each varies and it is best to find an amount that suits you. I had some Yirgacheffe that only needed one flat scoop otherwise it was too bitter and kept you buzzing for a week!

twist83

essex-commuter wrote:

Just got meself an Aeropress. Had 8 shots last night in an attempt to achieve the perfect cup...didn't feckin' sleep a wink!

How do you guys use your Aero, literally as per the instructions, 1 spoon per marking on the tube, press pretty much straight away? Any variations?

Also found that it seemed to lose a lot of heat even though I pre-warmed the plastic tube...normal?


Still buzzing. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

I use the Inverted method. i.e brew it upside down. Also are you using Pre Ground coffee? If so where from? The Aeropress responds to Grind size. If you cannot grind your own try and get it from someone who can. That is they key.

Anyway put the aeropress together minus the twist lid. I grind about 15-17g coffee (yes I do weigh it), I then put this in the Aeropress. Then a little bit of water (Not boiling, needs to cool) leave to bloom for 30 secs, then I pour the remaining water on and leave for 1 minute. In the meantime put the paper filter into the holder. Get this wet, then place the screw lid on. Flip over onto the cup and then press down. Not too hard. Just natural pressure.

That is my method anyway and makes a lovely cup. Also personally if you use Milk the aeropress isnt for you. It make a lovely nice clean cup which is balanced and completely ruined by milk and/or sugar.

the_fuggler

I found this video quite helpful from the guys down at Origin (very similar to twist):

http://vimeo.com/67888998

I use their beans, so I tend to go with what they suggest.

menthel

twist83 wrote:

Also personally if you use Milk the aeropress isnt for you. It make a lovely nice clean cup which is balanced and completely ruined by milk and/or sugar.

It may be "personal" for you, but my aeropress makes fantastic coffee and using a coffee/blend that goes well with milk (I prefer mocha guatemala from the coffee bean shop) means I get a cup of coffee so much better than I can buy elsewhere and the character and flavour of the coffee comes through as the press gets so much oil out.

So "personally" I would get an aeropress whatever your coffee preference, it makes a great cup however you take it!

twist83

It makes a better cup than Instant no doubt. But anywhere you go that serve Aeropress reccomend not using Milk same goes with other drip methods to be honest.

By all means I am not telling anyone what to do. But if you use Milk then a French Press will do the job just as well to be honest.

menthel

twist83 wrote:

It makes a better cup than Instant no doubt. But anywhere you go that serve Aeropress reccomend not using Milk same goes with other drip methods to be honest.

By all means I am not telling anyone what to do. But if you use Milk then a French Press will do the job just as well to be honest.

Coffee snobbery then!

My aeropress is for convenience at work as well as better coffee, in that instance it kills two birds with one stone.

twist83

I would not call it Snobbery at all. It just tastes as it should is all. But I appreciate some people do not like black coffee. The trouble is they base there views on black instant and/or poorly brewed coffee from somewhere.

My piece of advice is to visit one of the Specialist coffee shops and try a properly brewed Aeropress or drip black and then make a decision.

Even Steve from Hasbean states this and he is not a snob just someone who loves coffee and really knows his stuff. I have come from drinking Instant with milk and sugar to where I am now. I am certainly not a snob I just like things to taste how they should is all

No offence or harm intended though

menthel

twist83 wrote:

I would not call it Snobbery at all. It just tastes as it should is all. But I appreciate some people do not like black coffee. The trouble is they base there views on black instant and/or poorly brewed coffee from somewhere.

My piece of advice is to visit one of the Specialist coffee shops and try a properly brewed Aeropress or drip black and then make a decision.

Even Steve from Hasbean states this and he is not a snob just someone who loves coffee and really knows his stuff. I have come from drinking Instant with milk and sugar to where I am now. I am certainly not a snob I just like things to taste how they should is all

No offence or harm intended though

As coffee is a personal preference then there is no "taste how they should", its about tasting how you want it to! It is governed by device, coffee, grind, water and the lack/use of milk and sugar. Just saying that because an "expert" tells you how they think it should be, it doesn't necessarily mean they are right on something subjective like coffee.

iPete

So someone in my house has purchased a Tassimo machine, this needs to be countered!

Are all Aeropress equal (stupid question, its just a press right)? my card is ready to order... thinking of this set:
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/aerobie

the_fuggler

iPete wrote:

So someone in my house has purchased a Tassimo machine, this needs to be countered!

Are all Aeropress equal (stupid question, its just a press right)? my card is ready to order... thinking of this set:
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/aerobie

I think Aerobie (yes - that one!) are the only manufacturers of Aeropress as it's a patented design. That's the real deal on Hasbean.

menthel

The Fuggler wrote:

iPete wrote:

So someone in my house has purchased a Tassimo machine, this needs to be countered!

Are all Aeropress equal (stupid question, its just a press right)? my card is ready to order... thinking of this set:
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/aerobie

I think Aerobie (yes - that one!) are the only manufacturers of Aeropress as it's a patented design. That's the real deal on Hasbean.

Yep, its where I got mine from. good to know they have spare end caps too!

twist83

menthel wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I would not call it Snobbery at all. It just tastes as it should is all. But I appreciate some people do not like black coffee. The trouble is they base there views on black instant and/or poorly brewed coffee from somewhere.

My piece of advice is to visit one of the Specialist coffee shops and try a properly brewed Aeropress or drip black and then make a decision.

Even Steve from Hasbean states this and he is not a snob just someone who loves coffee and really knows his stuff. I have come from drinking Instant with milk and sugar to where I am now. I am certainly not a snob I just like things to taste how they should is all

No offence or harm intended though

As coffee is a personal preference then there is no "taste how they should", its about tasting how you want it to! It is governed by device, coffee, grind, water and the lack/use of milk and sugar. Just saying that because an "expert" tells you how they think it should be, it doesn't necessarily mean they are right on something subjective like coffee.

I do get what you are saying and I agree and disagree. Think of it a little like putting Lemonade with Wine or beer. Some people prefer it HOWEVER the beer maker or Wine maker has a product and it is crafted to taste a specific way. Altering from this changes what they 'expect' it to taste like.

Same goes with Coffee beans. A bean is roasted to a certain profile to bring out certain flavours/tastes for a specific brewing method. Espresso through a pump machine, filter/drip etc.

Tasting notes on the coffee are based in its pure form i.e Drip coffee as it is, Espresso as it is.

Like I said I never said it was wrong. I am just firmly in the camp that milk with most coffees made through Aeropress etc completely changes the coffee to the point it isnt really what it was meant to taste like. Milk with most I have tried completely change the balance of the cup to the point it is dissapointing.

My point is it does not NEED milk in order to taste fantastic if brewed properly and using freshly ground coffee. But the phrase crap in and crap out applys. Ground coffee will lose a vast amount of its flavour within 10-20 mins of being ground. So if you for instance use coffee that was ground 1-2 days + then you are not going to be getting what you should out of it. Which again leads onto people finding it bland or bitter and dumping Milk/Sugar in it.

menthel

twist83 wrote:

menthel wrote:

twist83 wrote:

I would not call it Snobbery at all. It just tastes as it should is all. But I appreciate some people do not like black coffee. The trouble is they base there views on black instant and/or poorly brewed coffee from somewhere.

My piece of advice is to visit one of the Specialist coffee shops and try a properly brewed Aeropress or drip black and then make a decision.

Even Steve from Hasbean states this and he is not a snob just someone who loves coffee and really knows his stuff. I have come from drinking Instant with milk and sugar to where I am now. I am certainly not a snob I just like things to taste how they should is all

No offence or harm intended though

As coffee is a personal preference then there is no "taste how they should", its about tasting how you want it to! It is governed by device, coffee, grind, water and the lack/use of milk and sugar. Just saying that because an "expert" tells you how they think it should be, it doesn't necessarily mean they are right on something subjective like coffee.

I do get what you are saying and I agree and disagree. Think of it a little like putting Lemonade with Wine or beer. Some people prefer it HOWEVER the beer maker or Wine maker has a product and it is crafted to taste a specific way. Altering from this changes what they 'expect' it to taste like.

Same goes with Coffee beans. A bean is roasted to a certain profile to bring out certain flavours/tastes for a specific brewing method. Espresso through a pump machine, filter/drip etc.

Tasting notes on the coffee are based in its pure form i.e Drip coffee as it is, Espresso as it is.

Like I said I never said it was wrong. I am just firmly in the camp that milk with most coffees made through Aeropress etc completely changes the coffee to the point it isnt really what it was meant to taste like. Milk with most I have tried completely change the balance of the cup to the point it is dissapointing.

My point is it does not NEED milk in order to taste fantastic if brewed properly and using freshly ground coffee. But the phrase crap in and crap out applys. Ground coffee will lose a vast amount of its flavour within 10-20 mins of being ground. So if you for instance use coffee that was ground 1-2 days + then you are not going to be getting what you should out of it. Which again leads onto people finding it bland or bitter and dumping Milk/Sugar in it.

Again, falling for the coffee snob diatribes. Coffee doesn't suddenly taste terrible after 24-48 hours of being ground. Kept carefully it stays fresh for as long as a 250g packet lasts me (not more than a week usually) and tastes good from the first cup to the last cup. If you took it to its extreme you would end up flying over green beans for each cup, roasting and grinding them on the spot before drinking!

Again, it all depends on personal taste. I do drink coffee black and it does taste good but in the mornings I like it with milk. The coffee with milk made from an aeropress kicks the arse of instant, the cafe at work or any of the big chains. I also like a shandy when cycling and I am not going to cry over the hurt feelings of the brewer of the bitter I have polluted with lemonade!

So, have views on how you like it but an aeropress is a perfectly legitimate way to make coffee and put milk in it. They are also great for offices as they are small, clean and quick to make a good cup. I know quite a few that have gone over to aeropress now from cafietieres and drips because of all this.

Each to their own choice and experience.

mrfpb

essex-commuter wrote:

Just got meself an Aeropress. Had 8 shots last night in an attempt to achieve the perfect cup...didn't feckin' sleep a wink!

How do you guys use your Aero, literally as per the instructions, 1 spoon per marking on the tube, press pretty much straight away? Any variations?

Also found that it seemed to lose a lot of heat even though I pre-warmed the plastic tube...normal?


Still buzzing. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

I posted this a few months back.http://www.gallacoffeeblog.co.uk/5-diff ... echniques/

Lots of brewing methods with aeropress. I use the HasBean method.

I occasionally visit Monmouth coffee at London Bridge. Tell them you use an aeropress and they will grind the beans according to whatever you're preferred method is.

I take milk in my coffee, two big mugs at my desk each morning. With aeropress you get no grinds or sludge in the mug, which is why it's better than French press.

notsoblue

Started a new job last week and they have a professional espresso machine and bean grinder in the kitchen... Took a few attempts to get the puck density right. Too loose and the coffee is bitter, too dense and you don't get enough. But can make a great espresso now. Next challenge is to get a nice steamed milk foam.

Dougimusprime

Fellow coffee fans. I'm looking for some feedback on a project I have been working on. Its coffee/bicycle related and super quick...which means you should fill it out.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/77LCFWV

menthel

Old brown java (or OBJ as I will now be calling it for my own entertainment). Rich, smoky, biscuity with a deep, very dark chocolate aftertaste. Nice. Especially with milk.