Archive for the ‘coffee’ Category

Andy’s quest for the perfect cup of coffee! Part 2: Are you a Coffee snob?

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016

A few years ago, after discussing good coffee with “Angus” at the local Coffee Shop, he described Lindsey & I, as “coffee snobs”, and this was the reason he open a local Coffee Shop, to roast, and produce coffee for local “coffee snobs” on a daily basis, Angus also declared himself as a “coffee snob”, and opened to shop because there was no other coffee shop locally, which did the same. Sadly Angus sold on the business, because his return on investment was too low.

Today my order of coffee beans has arrived from Hasbean.co.uk.

A large and well packed box of coffee beans, delivered by FedEx.

I’ve ordered Has Bean Exclusive: Guachipelin Natural, this is what is in the box of coffee


And Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Gedeb Washed Kurume

I’ll get the grinder ready, and warm up the Chemex!

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Andy’s quest for the perfect cup of coffee! Part 1: How do you like your coffee?

Friday, March 18th, 2016

I like strong black coffee, and at University I was too lazy to boil the kettle, and I just used to add cold water to coffee granules, (that was 26 years ago!) I do not prepare coffee that way anymore, and no longer use coffee granules either! I also prefer warm coffee, or cold coffee, not piping hot. For a while I used to drink quadruple espresso, I also prefer a small amount of good tasting coffee, rather than a large cup of coffee.

Here’s one I made earlier

makingcofferforxchemex6

I’ve got the following coffee makers, which I’ve tried

  1. Braun filter coffee maker
  2. Braun espresso machine
  3. French press cafetiere e.g. Bodum.
  4. Stovetop espresso maker (my Dad would often comment, he didn’t want any of that sludge you boil-up on the stove!).
  5. Aerobie Aeropress (purchased in Panama, which was cheaper than purchasing it in the UK!).

These all have their advantages and disadvantages, e.g. they are quick and convenient, and I cannot praise the Aerobie Aeropress, enough – for mobile, espresso coffee when you away from home!

But the drawback I’ve found with them ALL, is the coffee taste, and some bitterness which can be tasted in the resulting coffee.

Let me introduce you to the CHEMEX coffee maker, invented in 1949 by a Chemist, and using a conical flash and filter papers, the modern CHEMEX coffer maker is made from non-porous, borosilicate glass and fastened with a wood collar and tie. It uses a special scientifically designed filter paper, the results are fantastic, Clear, pure, flavourful and without bitterness or sediment every time, you can make your coffee as strong as you like without bitterness. However, this is not a quick method of making a perfect cup of coffee, and has almost a ritual, a bit like perfect tea making or the “Japanese Tea ritual.” – if you one are a coffee drinker – that just pours water over coffee granules out of a kettle, and you like your coffee that way, I don’t think a CHEMEX is for you!

The CHEMEX uses the pour over, slow drip method to deliver a flavourful and without bitterness cup of coffee.

the box the CHEMEX arrives in!

CHEMEX filters, specific for the 3 cup CHEMEX

The 3 cup CHEMEX (it creates approx 450 ml of coffee)

here’s a short video, 45 seconds our of 4 minutes of the complete process

some instructions, with photos of how I do it with a CHEMEX.

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