FairlyOptimistic Senior Member Joined: 30 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Location: CT Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Aeropress Drip: B&D "Brew 'N Go"
Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 9:09am Subject: Aeropress & Cold Brew Coffee - Help an Aspiring CoffeeGeek!
Hey everyone,
I just happened upon this site last week when looking for a Thai Iced Coffee recipe and was stunned at how great this community is. In a matter of days your posts prompted me to get an Aeropress and so far I'm loving it! However, I can't help but wonder if I'm doing something wrong - I'm currently using a cheap Black & Decker "Brew 'N Go" to heat 1.25 cups (10 fl oz) of water. (I read that the water gets to about 190F which is greater than the prescribed 175F, but what can you do?) Then I'm pouring 4 fl oz over 2 scoops in the Aeropress and then placing the mug (with the remaining 6 fl oz water) underneath the press and following the 10 second stir and 30 second press listed in the provided instructions. Is this what the instructions meant by "American Coffee" or am I meant to add the hot water afterwards? (Intuitively I don't see how it would make a huge difference, but I'm learning that there are many nuances that need to recognized to achieve the best cup of coffee) Anecdotes about successful deviations from the provided instructions are also greatly appreciated!
Moreover, after reading a great cold brew iced coffee guide, I'm in the market for a sieve but just read some reviews saying that it is unwise for college students to use them because mold will grow in the sieve if it isn't washed in a dish washer. Is there any truth to this, and if so, is there a work-around? (with a sieve or even using the new Aeropress?)
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,669 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 12:44pm Subject: Re: Aeropress & Cold Brew Coffee - Help an Aspiring CoffeeGeek!
Welcome!
The main thing I can see with brewing into a cup of hot water is that you loose the ability to adjust the mix ratio on the fly. IE you can not take water out if it is too weak while adding the water afterwords, you are able to add just the right amount of water to dilute the brew to what you like.
I think the only way that you will get nasty things growing on your cold brew setup is if you don't wash or clean it and let it sit with grounds in it for a few days, on the counter. A good cleaning just like you do with any dirty dish should be fine.
There are even some DIY cold brew setups that only use two of those extra large fast food plastic drink cups, a student should have several of these around or could save them in a few days. In a nut shell, you prick small holes in one (small enough for the water to get out but not the ground coffee) put the leaking cup inside the cup that is whole, put the coffee in the rig, add water and stash it in the refer over night or until the brew hits what you like. A google on the subject should turn up a lot of how to hits.
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Posted Fri Mar 30, 2012, 8:33pm Subject: Re: Aeropress & Cold Brew Coffee - Help an Aspiring CoffeeGeek!
You can experiment a little and see how you like it best. I heat my water in the microwave (maybe a no-no to some people , not me) to boiling (about 200*)(I'm at 7000'). I use 19-20 grms of coffee to 300-310 grms of water. I pour water over the coffee. Because it is freshly roasted coffee, I get a lot of bloom and have to stir it a couple of different times to knock the bloom down so I can pour all the water over it. I let it steep this way for about a minute and a half, then press.
This is my way of doing it and produces the best flavor for me. I just had a cup but had 23 grms of beans left from my last roast and adjusted water weight accordingly, about minute 16-17 to one ratio to grind. Just my way of doing it.
FairlyOptimistic Senior Member Joined: 30 Mar 2012 Posts: 3 Location: CT Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Aeropress Drip: B&D "Brew 'N Go"
Posted Mon Apr 2, 2012, 10:20am Subject: Re: Aeropress & Cold Brew Coffee - Help an Aspiring CoffeeGeek!
There are even some DIY cold brew setups that only use two of those extra large fast food plastic drink cups, a student should have several of these around or could save them in a few days. In a nut shell, you prick small holes in one (small enough for the water to get out but not the ground coffee) put the leaking cup inside the cup that is whole, put the coffee in the rig, add water and stash it in the refer over night or until the brew hits what you like. A google on the subject should turn up a lot of how to hits.
This sounds great! I think I may have jumped the gun when I experimented with cold brew this weekend (using an aeropress filter in lieu of a sieve). I surely must have gotten the ratio wrong because it was closer to a chore than a pleasure to drink. When I work up the courage to try again, I'll certainly check this out.
I use 19-20 grms of coffee to 300-310 grms of water. I pour water over the coffee. Because it is freshly roasted coffee, I get a lot of bloom and have to stir it a couple of different times to knock the bloom down so I can pour all the water over it. I let it steep this way for about a minute and a half, then press.
Are you pouring all the coffee into the press? - That also seemed like the best thing to do to get the most out of the coffee, but I've been afraid to experiment!
Posted Mon Apr 2, 2012, 6:44pm Subject: Re: Aeropress & Cold Brew Coffee - Help an Aspiring CoffeeGeek!
I do pour all of the water over the coffee. But, as I said, it is freshly roasted coffee and really blooms (bubbles up like a carbonated beverage almost). Because of the bloom, I cannot pour it all at once, it takes a few seconds to knock down the gaseous bloom, then I pour a little more until I have poured it all into the chamber. 300 to 310 grms are about all you can get into the chamber without overflowing or, letting it drain. I have read where people do mix most of the water (but not all) and then pour the rest of it into the already pressed coffee without pressing it. There is not much flavor difference from what I've read, doing it this way, too.
FYI, if you haven't, a good site to learn about coffee roasting and brewing is at SweetMarias.com website. Tom even makes youtube videos showing his different procedures. He probably has one on the AP. If he doesn't, I'm sure others do.
Can't help you with cold brew. Never drank it or made it.
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