Coffee, grind your own?

[skyvue]

Skyvue, thank you for that nice reading. I have a Nespresso machine and Moka pot for espresso when I need a shot but never really got into that side of the habit. Espresso is a whole other world from French Press.

Glad you enjoyed it, gdc. The wife prefers other brewing methods, too (we usually drink French press at home), but her column covers all kinds of brewing (and lots of history and industry stuff, too). She's been in specialty coffee for more than 11 years and currently works as a customer rep for one of the country's better roasters, so she consistently impresses me with the depth and breadth of her knowledge.

She's going on a coffee tour of Italy later this month and will be writing about it for a major newspaper, most likely, so when that story is published, I'll try to remember to share it here.

[ButteMT61]

"The milk whisperer" I like that!

[fortworthgal]

Very good! Will check it out. I like finding women who enjoy coffee on that level. Usually, it's men - don't know why? I can barely get my wife to have an eggnog latté over the holidays let alone like coffee.
I don't have the room/desire to roast my own (yet) but there's plenty of places where I can get great beans locally. I've been drinking it since I was ~10 years old. My father is a geologist and I started drinking "field coffee" with condensed milk as a kid.

I've had field coffee when camping, but usually with evaporated milk. Pretty tasty stuff!

I grind on the weekends, usually just A&P Eight'o'Clock 100% Columbian beans, though occasionally something more exotic. (Already-ground is fine for when I stumble into the kitchen at 5:30 on weekdays! Besides, I usually don't drink more than a half cup before rushing off to work.)

I always have a cup in the mornings after my husband leaves for work and before I hop in the shower. I don't bother making a whole pot, though. Weekday mornings, I'm all about the Keurig. Very speedy, minimal cleanup, and I'm quite happy with the coffee variety and quality.

[Connery]

Yes when I want a relaxing cup of coffee and I use a French Press as well.

[DeaconKC]

Day off today, nice cup of coffee, now onto cleaning up an old revolver for some pics. Skyvue, your wife's blog is a delightful read.

[skyvue]

Skyvue, your wife's blog is a delightful read.

You're very kind; I'll let her know you're enjoying it.

[bil_maxx]

We love freshly ground in our house too. We have a cuisinart grinder with the large resevoir at the top and the ability to pick to level of grinding. Just the smell of the ground beans even before the coffee is made is worth it. Expresso beans need to be ground very fine so it makes the whole house smell great. I don't find that it adds any time as I have to put the water in the machine so while I do that the beans are grinding and then I load it and warm the milk for caffe-latte every morning. Great way to face the day.

[John in Covina]

i saw a TV program and the roaster said that you can use a dry air popcorn popper for roasting.

I usually get whole beans from TJ (Trader joe's) now and then. I have a tiny Bosch grinder.

[gdc]

i saw a TV program and the roaster said that you can use a dry air popcorn popper for roasting.

I usually get whole beans from TJ (Trader joe's) now and then. I have a tiny Bosch grinder.

Yes, I posted a link earlier about using a popcorn popper. I've roasted probably 200# that way and it works great. A quality grinder can improve the brew.

[Miss Stella]

As our automatic drip coffee maker just died (The Mister liked it because the time could be set to brew so it was ready whichever early morning hour he decided to rise!), I have taken to the French Press rather then spend $$$ on a new auto. The coffee tastes better when done in the Press (imho) but the drawback is I get to rise and shine before the rooster crows some mornings!!