_gonz_ Senior Member Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 16 Location: Buffalo, NY Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 9:20am Subject: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
As i was using my cheap machine to prepare my fourth cappucino of the day... some things began to occur to me. Not that i have'nt known, but just never really thought about it in depth, i guess.
I made my first post here, in the espresso machine section, just a little while ago. Thus i have coffee on my mind. When i posted, i declared myself a coffee-addict in much the same way you'd introduce yourself at an AA meeting. :)
But upon reflection... theres more truth in that, than just a funny introduction!
I have been drinking coffee since i was in high school. That means at least 12-13 years or so, since i'm 28 now. It started as a social activity, get togethers over coffee, waste time, and discuss whatever. Heck, it was'nt long till my friends and i were doing all-nighters at Dennys and Perkins.
I still like to go "have coffee" with friends. IMO it beats going to a bar.
But things have changed for me. It's a necessity when i wake up... i Need my coffee. I don't care if i have to walk a mile to a Mobil gas station for some raw sewage coffee, i just need my "fix" ASAP. Sure, i'll "live" without it, but it's no kinda way to live honestly!
During the winter months, i would get the coffee pot brewing, and i'd drink coffee from my waking moment, until i'd go to bed. 5-6 pots per day is the norm!
My great-grandparents used to tell me how life was for them, growing up through the depression and all. They told me that as kids, they did'nt have soda, and milk was expensive, the kids back then drank coffee... and they drank it black!
So yeah, i figure i'm not doing anything different than they did. I've started drinking more spring water however, because i'm afraid i'm not cleaning out my system well enough, with coffee only, and the occasional beers LOL.
But these days, again i've changed.
After reading some different forums, like this one here... i got a strong urge to get more into it than Folgers in a drip coffeemaker. So i made a few moves.
For one, i had the Proctor-Silex "BrewStation". After three months, if not less, and despite trying everything to clean it... coffee was HORRID!
It all tasted like plastic! Horrible horrible machine. And the really sad part was... after somewhat dissappointing results with $15-$30 coffee makers in the past, (mainly issues of burnt coffee) i figured "Hey, this is $60, i bet it'll make MUCH better coffee! Worth the investment!" I could not have been more mistaken. I began to drink much less coffee, not even a pot per day, because i hated the taste!
So, i bought a Mr Coffee Espresso machine. I decided that, for now, i'd use a $20 grinder, and Eight O'Clock whole bean coffee.
Now since then... i really have not fired up a drip-machine. I've been drinking 5-8 cappucinos per day, and a few bottles of spring water in between, more water on the hot days. I can't really drink hot stuff when it's hot outside, beer is better. :)
But i also tried Gevalia. Honestly, for the free coffeemaker, to rid myself of the biggest piece of crap i ever owned, The BrewStation.
But also, to try so-called "Gourmet" beans. Honestly, i was'nt that impressed at all. I figured not having tried anything better, that i would like Gevalia a whole lot. In fact, they tasted better mixed with the Eight O'Clock beans LOL.
The price for the little bags of Gevalia coffee is rediculous. Then again, it would take some really amazing beans to get me away from my Eight O'Clock, in both taste and value. As far as that's concerned, i guess i'll just stick with it, because i don't know where to turn. Gevalia beans are'nt very good so at least i ruled that out! However, i've used the Gevalia coffeemaker maybe 2 or 3 times, and it's pretty nice.
Coffee isn't just a necessity... the morning wake-up.... the boost in the evening... Actually the caffeine does'nt really phase me anymore, since i can drink morning till night then go right to sleep. However...
Coffee to me, is an anti-depressant. Not in the sense of caffeine as "speed"... i'm talking in a sense of pure happiness when i taste a good cup!
I get so much enjoyment from whipping up a cappucino, in my admittedly crappy setup with admittedly crappy beans, (according to the forums i've read) but dammit, this stuff tastes great to me! I guess my city (Buffalo, NY) is to blame, because i have never had coffee that was *amazing* and i've tried several. Tim Horton's comes close in terms of plain coffee taste, it's good.. but my cappucino is unbeatable here.
Now perhaps over time, i've just gotten really good with my cheap equipment, that i've adapted to the drawbacks and limitations, so i can produce a superior result? Of course this is what i've learned on, and have always used, so i guess i'm well practiced. That said, I'd go against ANY coffeeshop here in Buffalo, in a blind test! I'm pretty confident. :)
It has been a few months now, since i went from the BrewStation, to strictly using the Mr Coffee espresso machine, and the "thrill" has'nt worn off. I don't think it will. I had a few of these cheap machines in the past, and had the same thrill... but my life is different now, and it just seems as if, i can really enjoy this cup now. For some reason seems i appreciate it alot more now.
I also realize how much i love a Tim Horton's coffee, or three, when i'm out and about. I really like Tims! 20 minutes fresh. It sure beats the stuff Starbucks tries to pass off as coffee. And everytime i get that cup, and take my first sip... it's like a wave of happiness comes over me.
I wonder if i'm amongst many people here who are this addicted to coffee... Those who grow, or roast their own, or buy gourmet, or use cheap setups like i've got and appreciate Tims... folks on all levels.... who enjoy it this damn much...
Or if my life just has so little to appreciate that my coffee means the world to me and i'm weird like that?
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 1:24pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
Hi Gonz & welcome! Interesting you mention AA! For the past few years, as I've delved into the deep, dark world of alt.coffee & CG, I've suspected (for some reason) that coffee attracts obsessive & perfectionist type personalities. Aside from the fact that it is addictive, perhaps because it's a legal, inexpensive, relatively innocuous (compared to others) stimulant....????
_gonz_ Said:
It's a necessity when i wake up... i Need my coffee. I don't care if i have to walk a mile to a Mobil gas station for some raw sewage coffee, i just need my "fix" ASAP.
Anyway, like yourself, I really need some coffee in the a.m. to function. I'm going to tell you something I've never told ANYONE on alt.coffee or CG before. (whispering) I don't like my beverages/food as hot as some people. So I (normally) make sure I have a cup of coffee leftover each day. This way, I can nuke it first thing in the a.m. so I can begin drinking coffee pretty much right out of bed. I drink it while brewing other for my husband & heat up my nuked cup from the freshly brewed coffee. (hanging head in Coffeegeek shame.) Yes, my first cup can be swill. After that, I really like the good stuff. And, when I get up to meet my girlfriends for coffee in the a.m., I already have 1-2 cups under my belt.
But at the same time, coffee is a pleasure. I really enjoy drinking a good coffee drink. I normally drink Americanos or black drip but toward the end of the day, I like more frou-frou drinks like vanilla lattes & such. And yeah, I like Dairy Queen's Moo-lattes. No, it's not even close to being a latte, but it's tasty!
I'm guessing you're a good candidate for home roasting. Most beginners get used popcorn poppers for a few dollars & good green coffee beans can be obtained for as little as @$4/pound, including the shipping charge.
bxntrk Senior Member Joined: 5 Mar 2004 Posts: 496 Location: Central Kansas, USA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: S'Bucks Barista Grinder: Rocky DL, Bunn G1, Solis M+ Drip: Presto Scandinavian Roaster: Hot Top, RK Drum on the way
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 1:50pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
My name is Patti and I'm a coffee addict.
(whispering to Roxie) I've been known to nuke a cold cup. I've also nuked yesterday's coffee until I could get a new pot brewed. (I think that's like alcoholics who drink sterno.)
I duck whenever I hear people here say they grind every morning so their coffee is so fresh. If I'm on the ball I grind the previous night and have the coffee maker ready to turn on in the morning. No way I should be operating machinery without having ingested at least 1/2 a cup.
_gonz_ Senior Member Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 16 Location: Buffalo, NY Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 2:33pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
Yes, home roasting is something i've looked at. I'm not in a hurry though, because i really do enjoy those Eight O'Clock beans. I really do have a great setup and recipe for my own tastes, and it's been really cost effective. Essentially the same price as buying green.
As far as "frou-frou" beverage, ever had a McDonalds Mocha milkshake? Those are a real weakness for me. I've also had Coffee or Cappucino flavor there, i forget which. Sometimes i'll hit the drive-thru just to see what the "flavor of the month is". :)
I gotta try the Dairy Queen Moo-latte. Maybe tonight since ya got me thinking about it! :P
As for Nuked coffee... Something goes wrong. I can drink fresh coffee till the cows come home, but a single cup of nuked coffee, even 15 seconds, gives me instant and nasty heartburn. Reaction with the oils perhaps? Maybe it makes em stronger, i really don't know... but i'd rather stick to Instant coffee for the real quick fix... i can nuke the water for that.
As for: "I've suspected (for some reason) that coffee attracts obsessive & perfectionist type personalities."
Well, that's actually the nature of the folks who visit forums such as these. They are generally here to learn. The type of person who spends time studying, trying to better their... whatever. Skills, or collection, or to make informed decisions, etc... They are'nt the folks who walk into walmart and buy the cheapest, or else they already did, and now realize the error of their ways, and want to make a better move the next time.
I'm active on all sorts of forums... car and home audio, computer hardware and software, different collectibles, and everyone is an enthusiast on some level. Let's face it, if we were'nt passionate about (in this case) coffee... why would we be looking to learn more?
I'll give you an example, i never saw multi-thousand dollar custom knives before, until i hit up some forums. As a result..
my pocket knife went from a $5 flea-market special, made in china, piece of crap.... to a $500 Microtech, with carbon fiber scales and titanium bolsters, blade of 154-CM "super-steel", made in the USA, Quality. I had never known such knives! Now the stuff that was "nice" before, is laughable now, because i know they're just clones. I know they are'nt sharp and could never be. I know they'll rust or break in my hand. I've learned alot on many levels, about many things, from forums.
You end up "sucked in" by the things you like. You go into there liking it casually, and gain a newfound appreciation, knowledge of superior products, find all the cool and interesting things related, and renew your interest in said "hobby" but on a whole 'nother level... whatever it may be... you leave there Loving it!
That's what enthusiasts mean to me! :D
Mark my words... It won't be long till i'm roasting, grinding, and making my coffee drinks with proper equipment... just takes me a little while to get there.
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 2:52pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
Ha - your comments about going from a $5 pocket knife to a $500 super hi-tech blade made me laugh.
My other sin is home theatre. 4 years ago when I was moving out on my own, having already saved up some money, a big thing for me was to have my own TV, and a DVD player.
Started off that simple, but then I met a colleague at work who was very knowledgeable in the field....
and *ZAMMO* my budget exploded from $500-1000 to almost $10000 all told (not all at once).
There is a very important lesson here:
"IGNORANCE IS BLISS!"
Dirk Gently Hollistic Detective
"Thanks, but I don't need a home gym... I've got a Zassenhaus!"
_gonz_ Senior Member Joined: 16 Jul 2004 Posts: 16 Location: Buffalo, NY Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Jul 16, 2004, 2:59pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
Exactly, that's obviously why i'm thrilled with my cheapie coffee setup. I've really never had the opportunity to taste better. Maybe i'll find someone here from my neck of the woods who could steer me to a good place.
As for audio, yep i know the feeling... i'm waiting on a pre-order (read: discounted because of the wait) 12" driver... $300, and an amplifier, another $245. And these are just for the car! Still quite a budget setup, but from a good company, and great quality, Elemental Designs.
Thank goodness i'm stuck in an apartment! My Onkyo HT gear gets plenty loud, and the SQ is nice for such a small room.
bigsmoker Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 2 Location: MArion Mi Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: A Melitta Burr Grinder Drip: Bunn NHB
Posted Sat Jul 17, 2004, 5:21pm Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
Greetings all, First time poster here. Ive read a few threads in these forums and realize I am not a "coffee Connissuer". I brew the gammit from Folgers Columbian, Starbucks Breakfast Blend, MAyorga or Montecristo whole bean, to meijers whole bean and even Eight O CLock as mentioned here. I have 2 brewers either a Mr COffee Details pot or A Bunn Professional Home brewer. I tend to use cream or sugar and sometimes the beans are months maybe even years old.Bottom line to me it tastes good even if it goes against the grain of other posters here. I smoke cigars as another hobby and while I do have expensive cigars sometimes a cheapie can be just as good. Drink (and Smoke) what you like and be happy
The one thing I've learned about forums is that the number 1 recommended piece of gear is almost always the most expensive. I'm sure there's some merit to that - $$ buys quality - but there is a point where it's just not practical. I can't own the best piece of gear for everything I do - the budget just doesn't permit that unless Bill Gates gives me some of his millions.
So - don't worry about if you have the best gear or the best coffee. If you like the end result, that's all that matters. Also, it's usually possible to get great results with low end equipment. Some really great photography work I've seen wasn't taken with a $4000 Leica, and yet somehow they managed to still get a great photo. Sometimes it's the skill of the operator that makes the difference.
espressobecky Senior Member Joined: 12 Nov 2002 Posts: 658 Location: Northern BC Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: Mazzer Major, Baratza... Vac Pot: Hario TCA-3 Drip: French Press Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Sun Jul 18, 2004, 9:05am Subject: Re: One man's thoughts about his coffee.
It all comes down to what things are important to you. If you're perfectly happy with your $20 drip coffee maker and pre ground coffee, than why upgrade? Some people will try a good cup of coffee and say "I like Folgers better". Personally, I live on the cheap in many ways (buying second hand clothes, etc.), but when it comes down to coffee I need the good stuff. Other luxuries take a backseat to my coffee expenses.
As for nuked coffee, I won't do it. At the start of this year I actually weaned myself off of coffee and (GASP!) didn't drink any for about a month. Now when I'm at home I drink coffee every day, but I try to drink decaf every second day or so. That way I won't have to choke down a cup of utter swill just because I need the fix if I'm away from home. My boyfriend will actually leave half of his coffee sitting somewhere and then come back to it hours later when it's cold and drink it. Everyone's tastes are different. To some people it matters more whether it's Sumatra or Kona than if it's been sitting around or not.
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