The most important part of my day while on the hook is watching the sunrise with a good cup of coffee, but I still have not found the secret while at anchor. Would some of you please share your secrets. Thanks to all that respond. Don
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Simple
Just throw the grounds in the pot and strain them out with your teeth when you drink it. My wife and all the sissies aboard use the coffee singles bags, the one like tea bags they report that they do a respectable job. It is not the way God had intended coffee to be made and they will pay in the hereafter for it.
Just throw the grounds in the pot and strain them out with your teeth when you drink it. My wife and all the sissies aboard use the coffee singles bags, the one like tea bags they report that they do a respectable job. It is not the way God had intended coffee to be made and they will pay in the hereafter for it.
Infuser
I use an infuser. You can buy one at starbucks or any department store. I think it's better than drip.
I use an infuser. You can buy one at starbucks or any department store. I think it's better than drip.
Best coffee
This worked so well I even did it daily at the dock, as well as at anchor: get a single cup Melita. That is simply a plastic cone-shaped device that sits directly on top of your coffee mug. You place a cone-shaped paper filter in it, pile in the right amount of coffee for you, then very slowly pour hot water through it. The water drips through the Melita and filter, dropping the coffee right into your mug. For two people, get two of them. Coffee purists will tell you that the French Press is the only way to go, but the grounds were too hard to dispose of on board.
This worked so well I even did it daily at the dock, as well as at anchor: get a single cup Melita. That is simply a plastic cone-shaped device that sits directly on top of your coffee mug. You place a cone-shaped paper filter in it, pile in the right amount of coffee for you, then very slowly pour hot water through it. The water drips through the Melita and filter, dropping the coffee right into your mug. For two people, get two of them. Coffee purists will tell you that the French Press is the only way to go, but the grounds were too hard to dispose of on board.
Well, there is a certain ritual..
..my wife having been raised in Nicaragua, and her family having coffee plantations, this is how she trained me: First, start with a heavy measure of expresso-ground dark coffee. Then place the drip filter to a Melita drip filter cone directly on to a thermos. Boil the water in a kettle and then just dampen the grounds to kick off the flavor. Wait about 20 seconds and then fill the filter. Make sure the pot is open to let the aroma spread over the water to your neighbors. Go to the helm. Watch the sunrise. Contemplate what a good life it is. PS: I have also found that this helps your spouse have a much better attitude in the AM ;>)
..my wife having been raised in Nicaragua, and her family having coffee plantations, this is how she trained me: First, start with a heavy measure of expresso-ground dark coffee. Then place the drip filter to a Melita drip filter cone directly on to a thermos. Boil the water in a kettle and then just dampen the grounds to kick off the flavor. Wait about 20 seconds and then fill the filter. Make sure the pot is open to let the aroma spread over the water to your neighbors. Go to the helm. Watch the sunrise. Contemplate what a good life it is. PS: I have also found that this helps your spouse have a much better attitude in the AM ;>)
French Press
We have used the French press two summers of living aboard. Grounds are not a problem as they are biodegradable and can be disosed of overboard. A hose from the dock or cockpit shower provides a quick rinse. Coffee quality is well worth the extra effort.
We have used the French press two summers of living aboard. Grounds are not a problem as they are biodegradable and can be disosed of overboard. A hose from the dock or cockpit shower provides a quick rinse. Coffee quality is well worth the extra effort.
I use the old fashioned perk.
The type you use on the stove. Sort of like the type most people used before Mr. Coffee came along. Just Fill it up and wait for the 1st signs of perk in the glass bubble on top, then time it about 6 minutes. Its done and very good. I know I have tried a french press at home and on the boat and it makes just as good coffee. It really matters to use good cold fresh water. (I used bottled water for the coffee.) oh yeah fresh good coffee beans means alot too.......I have known alot of people that have tried different 12Volt coffee makers and none of them are satisfied. It uses alot of current and takes a long time (some way over 30 minutes)
The type you use on the stove. Sort of like the type most people used before Mr. Coffee came along. Just Fill it up and wait for the 1st signs of perk in the glass bubble on top, then time it about 6 minutes. Its done and very good. I know I have tried a french press at home and on the boat and it makes just as good coffee. It really matters to use good cold fresh water. (I used bottled water for the coffee.) oh yeah fresh good coffee beans means alot too.......I have known alot of people that have tried different 12Volt coffee makers and none of them are satisfied. It uses alot of current and takes a long time (some way over 30 minutes)
I 3rd the Melita way.
We've been using the Melita method now for several years. We normally make about 6 cups at a time in the morning. We use a glass lined thermos to keep it hot. Be sure to put REALLY HOT water in the thermos first to hotten it up otherwise it will cool down your coffee quickly. We use the #4 filters with 6 scoops of fine grind Dunkin Donuts coffee (our preference),and let it drip right into the hot thermos (after you've poured out the hot water of course!). We take our cups and thermos to the cockpit and enjoy the morning.
We've been using the Melita method now for several years. We normally make about 6 cups at a time in the morning. We use a glass lined thermos to keep it hot. Be sure to put REALLY HOT water in the thermos first to hotten it up otherwise it will cool down your coffee quickly. We use the #4 filters with 6 scoops of fine grind Dunkin Donuts coffee (our preference),and let it drip right into the hot thermos (after you've poured out the hot water of course!). We take our cups and thermos to the cockpit and enjoy the morning.
Good Old Percolator
Did everybody get rid of their camping gear when they bought their boat? How about the good old aluminum percolator you put right on the stove. Can get them at any Hardware store. Water, coffee, sit back and enjoy the smell until it's done!
Did everybody get rid of their camping gear when they bought their boat? How about the good old aluminum percolator you put right on the stove. Can get them at any Hardware store. Water, coffee, sit back and enjoy the smell until it's done!
life
the little tea type bags make a good cup, ( expensive ) i use an old drip maker( stainless steel indestructible),put grounds in, no filter needed, boil water, pour into the top part, in five minutes you have eight cups of life giving hope for a new day. john
the little tea type bags make a good cup, ( expensive ) i use an old drip maker( stainless steel indestructible),put grounds in, no filter needed, boil water, pour into the top part, in five minutes you have eight cups of life giving hope for a new day. john
Secret's in the coffee
We use an insulated coffee press - but the secret is in the coffee - type you buy and the finer it is ground... we tend to prefer French Roast and expresso, [ we don't have any problem falling asleep right after drinking it...] good bottled spring water also helps...and, oh yes, we assume all sailors only drink it black... Jule & Carl H340 s/v Syzygy
We use an insulated coffee press - but the secret is in the coffee - type you buy and the finer it is ground... we tend to prefer French Roast and expresso, [ we don't have any problem falling asleep right after drinking it...] good bottled spring water also helps...and, oh yes, we assume all sailors only drink it black... Jule & Carl H340 s/v Syzygy
Phil is right--start with the best coffee
But that's only half the story...the other half is in knowing how to make it. If you don't use a percolator, all other methods--drip coffee makers, Melita, French press, or even the bags--are just different approaches to infusion...and the secret to good coffee using infusion is no different from what it takes to make a really good cup of tea (which most Americans don't know how make either...I was taught by an English friend): the water must be BOILING, not just hot when it's poured over the coffee...the filter and the pot or cup must be covered to keep the steam and the flavor in--a process known as "steeping"...and it must be allowed to steep long enough for the full flavor to develop. That's why the Melita filter produces a better cup of coffee than most other methods...it covers the top of the cup or the pot (depending upon which one you use. Covering the top of the filter while it drips improves it even more...and waiting a couple of minutes after it's finished dripping before removing the cover improves it even more. Same is true for a French press...use only boiling water, and let it steep long enough for the flavor to develop. Even those gawdawful coffee "tea bags" can produce a decent cup of coffee, IF--instead of just dunking it up and down in a cup of reasonably hot water till the water turns brown enough--which makes DREADFUL coffee!<gak>--you pour only BOILING water over it and then immediately cover the cup for several minutes. And btw...you can make your own "coffee bags" by just putting some GOOD coffee--very finely ground--in a coffee filter and sealing it with a twist tie...drop it in the cup, pour boiling water over it, cover the cup...fish it out with a spoon. You can even use a paper towel in a crunch--I've used a paper towel as a filter in the Mr. Coffee when I've run out. Unless you go through a bag of coffee in a week, keep your coffee in the freezer, in a sealed zip lock, till you're ready to use it. The oils in coffee evaporate at room temperature and it starts to lose flavor almost as soon as it's been ground. Better yet, buy beans, keep those in the freezer, tightly sealed...grind 'em yourself--and only grind what you'll use in a few days. If you can't keep coffee--whole beans or ground--in the freezer, keep it in an airtight container. You'll be amazed at how much better your coffee will taste after you've had it a while.
But that's only half the story...the other half is in knowing how to make it. If you don't use a percolator, all other methods--drip coffee makers, Melita, French press, or even the bags--are just different approaches to infusion...and the secret to good coffee using infusion is no different from what it takes to make a really good cup of tea (which most Americans don't know how make either...I was taught by an English friend): the water must be BOILING, not just hot when it's poured over the coffee...the filter and the pot or cup must be covered to keep the steam and the flavor in--a process known as "steeping"...and it must be allowed to steep long enough for the full flavor to develop. That's why the Melita filter produces a better cup of coffee than most other methods...it covers the top of the cup or the pot (depending upon which one you use. Covering the top of the filter while it drips improves it even more...and waiting a couple of minutes after it's finished dripping before removing the cover improves it even more. Same is true for a French press...use only boiling water, and let it steep long enough for the flavor to develop. Even those gawdawful coffee "tea bags" can produce a decent cup of coffee, IF--instead of just dunking it up and down in a cup of reasonably hot water till the water turns brown enough--which makes DREADFUL coffee!<gak>--you pour only BOILING water over it and then immediately cover the cup for several minutes. And btw...you can make your own "coffee bags" by just putting some GOOD coffee--very finely ground--in a coffee filter and sealing it with a twist tie...drop it in the cup, pour boiling water over it, cover the cup...fish it out with a spoon. You can even use a paper towel in a crunch--I've used a paper towel as a filter in the Mr. Coffee when I've run out. Unless you go through a bag of coffee in a week, keep your coffee in the freezer, in a sealed zip lock, till you're ready to use it. The oils in coffee evaporate at room temperature and it starts to lose flavor almost as soon as it's been ground. Better yet, buy beans, keep those in the freezer, tightly sealed...grind 'em yourself--and only grind what you'll use in a few days. If you can't keep coffee--whole beans or ground--in the freezer, keep it in an airtight container. You'll be amazed at how much better your coffee will taste after you've had it a while.
Second Peggie's Motion
She said {snip} "those gawdawful coffee "tea bags" --which makes DREADFUL coffee!<gak>--". Worse than bilge water.
She said {snip} "those gawdawful coffee "tea bags" --which makes DREADFUL coffee!<gak>--". Worse than bilge water.
COFFEE
Boy that is one hell of a response for a cup of coffee how about my satilite dish,no bad mouthing allowed
Boy that is one hell of a response for a cup of coffee how about my satilite dish,no bad mouthing allowed
3 Cheers for the PERCOLATOR!
You can have all the yuppie toys you want. You can grind it, press it, French it, hazelnut it, latte' it, and espresso it...but there's no replacement for the percolator and a good old can of Maxwell House. I fill my stainless perk up to the six-cup mark, put five heaping teaspoonfuls of grounds in the basket, light the alcohol and let -er-rip! As soon as the perking begins I lower the flame just enough to continue to perk. Let it go for about 7-8 minutes, shut the heat off and let it rest for a couple more minutes (long enough to let the basket drain), then enjoy! Cheers, Bob
You can have all the yuppie toys you want. You can grind it, press it, French it, hazelnut it, latte' it, and espresso it...but there's no replacement for the percolator and a good old can of Maxwell House. I fill my stainless perk up to the six-cup mark, put five heaping teaspoonfuls of grounds in the basket, light the alcohol and let -er-rip! As soon as the perking begins I lower the flame just enough to continue to perk. Let it go for about 7-8 minutes, shut the heat off and let it rest for a couple more minutes (long enough to let the basket drain), then enjoy! Cheers, Bob
Check that
I beg to differ. There is a perfectly good substitute for Maxwell house from percolator. It's commonly called battery acid.
I beg to differ. There is a perfectly good substitute for Maxwell house from percolator. It's commonly called battery acid.
Pier Urchins
A true sailor will know the secret of getting Starbucks to deliver that tall grande mocha latte decafe,skim milk with whip cream in the finest of paper cups to your anchorage.
A true sailor will know the secret of getting Starbucks to deliver that tall grande mocha latte decafe,skim milk with whip cream in the finest of paper cups to your anchorage.
Report
Don, Now that you have asked the dreaded coffee question, you are responsible for testing these methods and reporting back to us all. Please include all parameters: type of coffe, type of infusion, how hot,etc. Thanks for asking the question! r.w.landau
Don, Now that you have asked the dreaded coffee question, you are responsible for testing these methods and reporting back to us all. Please include all parameters: type of coffe, type of infusion, how hot,etc. Thanks for asking the question! r.w.landau
Drip for Success
Don, so you want a good cup of coffee, well here is the secret: The major component of coffee is WATER - therefore you must keep a good supply of bottled spring water on board!!! Now comes the recipe for success: 1) Pour some hot water in thermos carafe 2) Grind your favorite beans 3) Bring spring water to barely a boil 4) Empty thermos 5) Place Melitta cone on top w. filter 6) Empty ground beans into filter 7) Pour just enough hot water all over grounds to moisten well 8) Wait a minute and start enjoying aroma 9) Pour all of hot water directly into middle of cone (grounds will swirl unto sides of filter all the way to top) 10)Serve as soon as filtering has stopped It's the Viennese way, the only way for a really good cup!
Don, so you want a good cup of coffee, well here is the secret: The major component of coffee is WATER - therefore you must keep a good supply of bottled spring water on board!!! Now comes the recipe for success: 1) Pour some hot water in thermos carafe 2) Grind your favorite beans 3) Bring spring water to barely a boil 4) Empty thermos 5) Place Melitta cone on top w. filter 6) Empty ground beans into filter 7) Pour just enough hot water all over grounds to moisten well 8) Wait a minute and start enjoying aroma 9) Pour all of hot water directly into middle of cone (grounds will swirl unto sides of filter all the way to top) 10)Serve as soon as filtering has stopped It's the Viennese way, the only way for a really good cup!
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