Posted Fri Mar 15, 2013, 8:36pm Subject: Newbie seeking clarification
Hi everyone. I'm new here and recently started searching for "my" perfect cuppa. Still learning the technical stuff. Still having trouble foaming/steaming my milk. Still searching for the "right" bean and grind. It's just me at home and I only drink one or two cups a day, but I like the good stuff ... rich, full-bodied coffee in a latte, cappuccino or mocha. I'm tired of spending $4-$6 per drink at the well-known coffee shops, so I want to make them at home where I can regulate the sweetener and fat and all that.
I've got the little Capresso 4-cup Espresso/Cappuccino Machine, which makes a nice, easy brew; and once I get the milk steaming technique down, I think I'll enjoy it very much. I also have the Aeropress for a manual brew.
My first question is regarding coffee freshness. I've seen a lot of discussion about how quickly the beans go stale after roasting. This bothers me because, as I mentioned, it's just me at home and I don't drink that much each day. It's more frugal to buy the beans by the pound, and a pound of beans will last me at least a week. It totally defeats my intent if I have to run out every other day to buy "fresh" beans in small quantities for my meager means. Can you suggest a good method for storing my beans so they will stay as fresh as possible until I can actually use them up? Should I freeze batches? Really ... how bad is it to store beans for awhile? Sorry if this makes me not 'coffee snobby" enough ... just frugal.
freeze em. Put in smaller packages - mason jars, vacuum packs, I put mine in valved bags and then in a freezer bad and they do very nicely. Just be sure you don't take em out, put em back, over again. You want to avoid thawing and refreezing and getting condensation in the bag. Lots of people buy 3 bags at a time or 5 pound bags and freeze smaller portions. Freeze as soon as you get them.
Posted Sat Mar 16, 2013, 8:47am Subject: Re: Newbie seeking clarification
Yes 14 days after roasting is about the limit for me. After that they tend to taste like cardboard. Thed key is roast date, you need to find a roaster that shows roast date. Using a pound a week is fine. Most places will sell the coffee by the pound so a half pound will be half the price. Another key is your grinder, so first off ground coffee goes bad real fast, it is the exposer to air that degrades the coffee. Only grind what you need for that cup then. As you get better your desire to get or have better equipment will take you over. Enjoy.
Posted Sat Mar 16, 2013, 2:57pm Subject: Re: Newbie seeking clarification
Thank you all for your responses. You have provided a lot of helpful information.
As I'm still trying to find the 'right' bean, I haven't actually purchased an entire pound of anything yet. I was estimating how long it would last me. I'm still exploring the local roasters for a blend I might love. Still seeking a bean or blend that's low on acidity and yet rich and full-bodied, maybe with a hint of chocolate or vanilla.
I guess you could say I like my coffee the way I like my beer - dark and rich with very little bite (Guinness). LOL!
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