Espresso machines

[aaronv]

I may even go with a French press maker someday. But I'm not there yet.

I switched away from French press to espresso to reduce my cafestol intake. It's something to consider.
Coffee and Health | The Nutrition Source | Harvard School of Public Health

[ron l edmiston]

-- outside of our daily star-bucks addiction, we love the italian dark roast in a french press each prior sunrise..
ashamed to say, i am still addicted to diet dr pepper..

ronnie with a caffeine smile

[Cookietruck]

switched the coffee routine up this morning
chemex
some ethiopia kochere beans, as espresso they are have a big berry flavor, citric and kinda rough around the edges
chemex it was sweet and fruity, i added a little extra hot water and all of the sudden it was tons of floral notes with a sweetness on the front
pretty awesome, a nice change

[holliscx]

PS - I agree with the sentiments on the disposable convenience. I'm not too fond of my solution and expect at some point to change. I may even go with a French press maker someday. But I'm not there yet.

James if you ever have a layover in Chicago check out Intelligentsia (in town not ORD)

[Matthew J]

James if you ever have a layover in Chicago check out Intelligentsia (in town not ORD)

Intelligentsia is tried and true - still quite good (also in LA - Silver Lake and Venice). New comer Dark Matter whose proprietor I believe did time at Intelligentsia is coming on strong though. Their Mexican El Eden beans are about as good as anything I've bought in Chicago.

[Craig Ryan]

I switched away from French press to espresso to reduce my cafestol intake. It's something to consider.
Coffee and Health | The Nutrition Source | Harvard School of Public Health

I read about this and have been using a small basket drip machine paper filter when I plunge it. Super easy and clears up the coffee well. I suggest you try it if you'd like to continue to use a press. I prefer it.

[boxerboxer]

I read about this and have been using a small basket drip machine paper filter when I plunge it. Super easy and clears up the coffee well. I suggest you try it if you'd like to continue to use a press. I prefer it.

Another alternative if you don't need large brew size is an Aeropress, which can be used with basically the same brewing technique and uses paper filters. Even if you're not worried about cholesterol it yields very similar taste but a much cleaner cup.

[dashDustin]

Can we discuss the Aeropress a little. I'm intrigued. Saw something from Stumptown yesterday that seemed neat.

[lukasz]

Best way to make coffee short of spending hundreds of dollars. Actually it'll taste better than 90% of hundreds/thousands of dollar setups unless the person using them knows what they are doing and has dialed them in for a specific bean.

[dogrange]

Agreed, the Aeropress is easy and fun to use and makes a very good tasting small cup of coffee. That said, it isn't really "espresso" (i.e., no crema, less intense), so if that's what you are looking for it doesn't work. Still I use mine a lot and it is great.

[dashDustin]

I was reading an article last night that stated crema was possible with some practice. Which is what got me thinking....my French press is dandy, but I don't drink more than a cup, so I kind of end up wasting a good amount of beans.

[Mr B]

Intelligentsia is tried and true - still quite good (also in LA - Silver Lake and Venice).

Single best thing about 'Intelli' in Silver Lake - their opening hours. Open at 6am daily, it's the perfect spot to coffee-dope before rolling out towards the ACH (Hwy 2).
Helps that the coffee's great too.

Aeropress - it's my daily cup when at home.
Currently working my way through a not-great bag of Gorilla coffee (Gishamwana from Rwanda), and when it's gone I intend to get another bag of Hair Bender from Stumptown. Lovely stuff.

[lukasz]

Espresso it ain't, but it sure is good coffee. Crema is overrated.

[Octave]

Aeropress is great - easy for traveling, great coffee, super-simple to clean and care for. Makes a very clean cup. But lukasz is right, espresso it ain't.

Crema is overrated.

SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME. I DARE YOU.

[Cookietruck]

crema is overrated
but the parameters that yield a nice shot also yield a nice crema
but i usually grind a little finer or tamp a little firmer and end up with less crema, but the temperature, taste and body end up a little better...

[zetroc]

Can we discuss the Aeropress a little. I'm intrigued. Saw something from Stumptown yesterday that seemed neat.

I've got an extra Aeropress setup if you want to try it out. PM me your address.

[Brandon White]

For what it's worth - our local coffee snob claims the best way to sample coffee is threw brewing, either cold or pour over style. I've sampled some seriously amazing brews through him. I doubt he'd willingly pull a shot with his geisha beans. He won't even allow milk or cream to touch his own roast.

[s_curran]

I need to pick up an aeropress, im sure it would work great for travel. Also, I like the chemex but to me it seems its very finiky on the size of brew you do. I can't make one small enough for just me, and I can't make one big enough for 4 people.

Do people do a fine espresso like grind on the aero?

[boxerboxer]

I need to pick up an aeropress, im sure it would work great for travel. Also, I like the chemex but to me it seems its very finiky on the size of brew you do. I can't make one small enough for just me, and I can't make one big enough for 4 people. Do people do a fine espresso like grind on the aero?

It depends on the brew method. If I go that fine, I'll pour water just off boil, stir just enough so there are no grounds clumped, and press out as fast as possible. The other end of the spectrum is a 2-3 minute steep with some stirring with a much coarser grind.

[zetroc]

I like a fine grind and short steep time (10 seconds.)