Lee_M Senior Member Joined: 2 Dec 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I live coffee
Grinder: Baratza Encore Drip: V60 Roaster: Popper
Posted Mon Feb 11, 2013, 8:08pm Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
CMIN Said:
Hario slim works great for coarse needs, I have one as well. That and fresh beans and the Chemex and you'll see a massive improvement in taste. You can go onto youtube and look up how people are using them and tricks etc, think Seattle Coffee Gear has a good video in it with hints.
You may just have to play around with the Hario in the beginning to figure out what setting (click) you need to use.
If you don't want to spring for a gooseneck kettle (the BonaVita electric kettle would be your best option), you'll get better results with an infusion brewer like an Aeropress or Clever Coffee Dripper than with a pour-over like a Chemex. Which is not to discourage you from pour-overs—you can make great coffee in a Chemex—just be aware that they're not truly the low budget option they're touted as, unless you find a watering can or something that will serve as a makeshift kettle.
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,716 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Tue Feb 12, 2013, 8:54am Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
I personally wouldn't discard the idea of using a Chemex just because I can't yet afford a proper pouring kettle. Like others have said, you can substitute a makeshift acceptable vessel for the time being. Sure, you'll appreciate a good pouring kettle over that, but until you can afford one, you'll still be able to enjoy good coffee. Sometimes we (myself included) get caught up in where we've gotten to in terms of equipment, knowledge and enjoyment, and forget that we were reasonably happy with (dare I say) lesser stuff.
msboo Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Posts: 107 Location: Kentucky Expertise: I love coffee
Grinder: Baratza Virtuoso Drip: Bonavita
Posted Tue Feb 12, 2013, 5:05pm Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
Somebody mentioned using a Clever Dripper---that would be great, I would think easier as a beginner for you than pour over. Using a regular teapot you'd probably obtain more consistent results from the start (don't have to buy a gooseneck). Then again, as for pour over, I did very well when I had no clue as to what I was doing AND was also using a regular teapot----I preheated a glass-lined thermal carafe for 5 mins, measured my water and put on to boil, scooped out my coffee into a Melitta paper filter and filter basket.... I waited apprx 30 seconds off boil then proceeded to pour around slowly to saturate, when water barely covered the grounds I stopped and let it drip down then slowly pour more water, drip and so on til done. Considering how clueless I was at the time that coffee turned out pretty good. It's good to know you can make a good cup with the bare necessities! Today with just bare necessities I would start with a good grinder like Baratza Encore and good beans---you'll be satisfied and happy.
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 7:04am Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
So many people have responded to the question of proper grinding/brewing technique, and only a couple to the question of coffee/roast quality. So, in the interest of balance, I have a remarkably similar experience to tell.
I was just at the point of upgrading both my brewer and grinder, but wanted to try a higher quality coffee. So I went to the store and chose a medium dark blend from Peet's coffee. When I opened up the bag, it smelled harsh. Not actually foul, just unpleasant. The resulting brew was no better.
I had a local Peet's shop, so I stopped in and asked them to make me something smooth and flavorful. The guy behind the counter did a pour-over of a single origin Kenyan or something or other, and guess what? It tasted extremely harsh--all char and smoke.
Over time, I tracked down a few SOs and blends from a reputable local roaster and a few good internet purveyors, and have acquired a better understanding of my own taste preferences. Now-a-days, my coffee beans always smell heavenly, and their taste generally follows suit.
Moral of story: find a coffee you like before trying to grind and brew it correctly.
Corollary #1: Not all "better" brands of coffee will taste better. Quite a few will actually suck.
Posted Wed Feb 13, 2013, 7:51pm Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
barkingburro Said:
So many people have responded to the question of proper grinding/brewing technique, and only a couple to the question of coffee/roast quality. So, in the interest of balance, I have a remarkably similar experience to tell.
I was just at the point of upgrading both my brewer and grinder, but wanted to try a higher quality coffee. So I went to the store and chose a medium dark blend from Peet's coffee. When I opened up the bag, it smelled harsh. Not actually foul, just unpleasant. The resulting brew was no better.
I had a local Peet's shop, so I stopped in and asked them to make me something smooth and flavorful. The guy behind the counter did a pour-over of a single origin Kenyan or something or other, and guess what? It tasted extremely harsh--all char and smoke.
Over time, I tracked down a few SOs and blends from a reputable local roaster and a few good internet purveyors, and have acquired a better understanding of my own taste preferences. Now-a-days, my coffee beans always smell heavenly, and their taste generally follows suit.
Moral of story: find a coffee you like before trying to grind and brew it correctly.
Corollary #1: Not all "better" brands of coffee will taste better. Quite a few will actually suck.
I wouldn't consider Peet's a "better" brand of coffee. It's been my experience that a good roaster will ALWAYS produce a better cup (even when the flavors aren't to my preferences) than a mediocre or poor roaster. Good roasters source better coffees and have the ability and desire to make something good out of it. I've never gotten a bad cup from a high-level roaster like Verve, Ritual, or Stumptown. And there are some roasters that heven't ever supplied me with a good cup (no need to bad mouth too specifically).
And I've never been disappointed by anything I ordered off of GoCoffeeGo.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,098 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Thu Feb 14, 2013, 8:52am Subject: Re: Upgraded to Freshground beans with no improvement in taste, please help
As you've learned by now, a blade grinder is faster than, but no better than, taking a big chef's knife and chopping the beans repeatedly until approximately the right size . . .
Alternative Corollary #1 and #2: Not everything that claims to be a better brand of coffee actually is. Particularly if they produce enough volume to be available in every supermarket and to have multiple shops in every city and even more so if they sell anything in a K-cup or pod.
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