I don't ever expect to break out a thermometer to confirm that I have the right temperature when using my Melitta 1-cup coffee cone. However, I was wondering if the following might be a good way to ball-park the right temperature.
First, I use a metal pot and bring the water to a boil. Then put it on an unused (and hence cool) stove element. I lift the lid to accelerate the cooling. When I see very little residual steam rising from the surface of the water, I assume that it is at the right temperature (hopefully not too cool). I then dampen the ground coffee with a ladle of the water and put the lid back on the pot to keep it warm for the half-minute or so while the ground coffee soaks. Then I pour the water through the filter cone.
The coffee is not quite as piping hot as I prefer it, but I find that erring on the side of too cool is better than erring on the side of too hot when making the coffee.
Does the above sound reasonable? Is there a better way without breaking out the scientific instruments?
On a more serious note: why not "break out a thermometer" once and find out how long it takes for the temp to fall to where you want it? All parameters staying the same, you'd have to do it only once for each quantity of water.
JustAcoffeeDrinker Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sun May 27, 2012, 8:59pm Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
Because I suspect it's highly variable depending on the ambient temperature, I own a great deal of kitchen gadgets that I don't use, and I'm trying to avoid time spent trying to track down a descent thermometer. Trying to find an approximate way to get the right temperature using basic means. I may rethink that, though, depending on how niggly I get about the coffee.
JustAcoffeeDrinker Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue May 29, 2012, 4:41am Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
It does work, but not very well. It's hit & miss.
Thanks for your data on the temperature. The ideal water temperature is in the ballpark of 190 fahrenheit. Based on your data, I'll take 2 minutes to be the ideal temperature between cool enough for good flavour and hot enough for a good hot piping cup of coffee. Plus, it gives time for the initial ladle of hot water to wet the grinds.
I use 195-205* as benchmarks, from the Nat'l Coffee Assoc. Sweetmaria's advocates 198-204 for best extraction. The SCAA uses 197.6 to 204.8. Yours might be a little low for my use.
jpender Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2011 Posts: 394 Location: California Expertise: I like coffee
Grinder: Kyocera CM-50 Vac Pot: S/S Moka Pot Drip: Aeropress
Posted Tue May 29, 2012, 12:27pm Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
I'd suspect that eyeballing the steam would be very inaccurate, dependent on ambient temperature and humidity and what you decide for a cutoff amount.
You can get a thermometer at the hardware store for about $10. It will be accurate enough for this. Then just time it for yourself if you want a ballpark time estimate. I've done this with 1 quart of water in a partially covered saucepan and it took about 1 minute to drop to 205°F. In small preheated plastic cup it took about half as long.
JustAcoffeeDrinker Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2012, 11:55am Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
BoldJava Said:
I use 195-205* as benchmarks, from the Nat'l Coffee Assoc. Sweetmaria's advocates 198-204 for best extraction. The SCAA uses 197.6 to 204.8. Yours might be a little low for my use.
JustAcoffeeDrinker Senior Member Joined: 11 Jul 2010 Posts: 35 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Sat Jun 2, 2012, 2:13pm Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
jpender Said:
I'd suspect that eyeballing the steam would be very inaccurate, dependent on ambient temperature and humidity and what you decide for a cutoff amount.
You can get a thermometer at the hardware store for about $10. It will be accurate enough for this. Then just time it for yourself if you want a ballpark time estimate. I've done this with 1 quart of water in a partially covered saucepan and it took about 1 minute to drop to 205°F. In small preheated plastic cup it took about half as long.
OK, so I thought I'd compile the data I found, since I need to get to know the vagaries of Excel for work. I'll try to post it in this message. Here goes.
Oh well, it's attached as a PDF. I can't seem to find a way to paste it directly into the message without losing all the sense-making formatting. A whole 8.5x11 page for a tiny table.
...much time passes....
OK, I tried pdf, word.doc, picture.emf. I can load the files from my HD OK, but when I upload it and try downloading, there are always errors of various types. So here is a grainy gif. Sorry for the quality.
cmcconomy Senior Member Joined: 3 Jun 2012 Posts: 14 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Jun 3, 2012, 7:43am Subject: Re: Brewing coffee at the right temperature
One thing to keep in mind is the very act of pouring will cool the water by a degree or two. I generally try to get the water to 205 in the kettle before I pour it into my Clever Coffee Dripper or preheated presspot, and by the time it hits the grounds its already cooled a bit.. once I've poured and the immersion has begun its generally already below 200F.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
![JustAcoffeeDrinker: JavaMakingTempsFromWWW.gif](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/57721/JavaMakingTempsFromWWW.gif", 515, 324, "JustAcoffeeDrinker: JavaMakingTempsFromWWW.gif");)
= No New Posts since last visit 