How Do You Make A Good Cup Of Coffee

[John Nantz]

Success Part II

After reading my wife's post with regard to how to make coffee, I'd like to add that one of the reasons I installed a Heart inverter on our 35 was to be able to run the coffee bean grinder! There's something very comforting about getting up on a nippy Northwest morning with fog or a light drizzle (hopefully it's light) and having breakfast with a warm roll/bread/toast (not Wonder bread), jam and a few cups of freshly ground and brewed coffee.Also, I'd like to add that that my favorite coffee is made by Julius Meinl of Vienna (and we live in Starbucks country); http://www.meinl.com. Their King Hadhramaut blend is dark and full bodied without being burned. A major turnoff for me is a burned/acid taste and in their attempt to have a dark coffee so many brands including brand "S", has this problem.For those who want something in the afternoon with the "spoils" from a trip to the local bakery and don't want to stay up all night, Meinl's decaf blend is the best decaf I've ever tasted.To really get good taste I'd like to suggest drinking the coffee black, without cream and sugar. If it's too difficult the first time have it with some chocolate cake (practice makes perfect!).

 

[Wayne Estabrooks]

My vote for percolator & fresh ground

Sailors are so passionate about their coffee. We use a stainless steel percolator. Camp stove type. Makes about 4 cups enough for a second cup for each of us. We start with cold spring water bottled from the supermarket. Fresh ground coffee, Starbucks or Millstone. I know Phil H. would agree about the Starbucks.We put a round paper filter in the bottom of the basket because we grind the beans kinda fine. We put the proper amount in the basket, seems we know from experience how much coffee to put in. Once it starts to perk, we turn down gas burner to low and finish perking about 5 - 6 minutes. Oh yes it is wonderful! Mmm--mm!! Then I take my hot steaming cup out in the cockpit to enjoy the surroundings.Wayne & Janet s/v Wind Drift

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Sheesh, and I thought the media was bad about...

misquoting me! But even they've never taken parts of two sentences out of context to make their own point!

 

[Barrie McDonald]

Great Coffee While Afloat

Don,Start with high quality coffee. Drip, French Press or Difusers all will make great coffe from great coffee beans, however, even your fairy godmother can't turn bitter beans into a good tasting brew. Barrie

 

[Rob Rich]

Old Hunting Recipe

I kept my camping gear Mr. Patrick - and am so glad I did. After all, overnighting is pretty much luxurious camping. While I usually use the venerable Percolator, I'd like to share an old hunting recipe.At home, take your normal coffee measure for eight cups of coffee, and double or triple it. Take eight cups of ice water, and add it to the coffee. Leave overnight.In the morning, take the very cold, very strong coffee, pour it through a filter, and place it into a thermos. Place the thermos in the fridge. When you are ready to go the boat, take it with you. Next morning, pour half a cup of the concentrate in to a cup, and fill to brim with boiling water. Adjust mixture to taste. Works great - the key is that the coffee is never abused by hot water until it is ready for drinking. As long as the concentrate is kept sealed, it will stay fresh, and all you need is some boiling water. One thermos of concetrate should be enough for a weekend.Rob

 

[Andy]

All these coffee recipes

And not a single mention of special additives:Bailey's anyone

 

[Don Evans]

So Much Coffee To Drink...So Little Time

Wow, people I'm slightly overwhelmed by your responses! Thanks for giving it up. With all this great information, I'm pulling up an easy chair, going to pour myself a coffee and digest what I've just read. Percolaters, french presses, melita drips, cold water, hot water. I bet everyones recipies makes the best cup of coffee in the world. Thank you, thank you, thank you...Don

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Enough "additives" can make the worst coffee...

drinkable. But in the morning???

 

[newly anonymous]

REI

REI just came out with a one-liter stainless steel vacuum-bottle-type coffee press, which means you only have to make one pot per morning 'cause that coffee you brewed in boiling water at sunset will still be steaming at noon.

 

[Bryce Grefe]

expresso

no expresso drinkers out there. Colored water just doesn't do it for me anymore.

 

[John Nantz]

Espresso not everybodys cup of tea

Part of the enjoyment of coffee, after the grinding and brewing aroma, is peacefully drinking it with in conjunction with a bakery or home made goodie. For my part I've never been able to work the kinks out of the system to get the same enjoyment with espresso.When my daughter went to college (University of Washington at Seattle a.k.a. espresso capital of the US) there were two things that were a must have: A top-notch computer (a Mac) and an espresso machine! So it wasn't like I haven't been exposed (to both worlds).Different strokes for different folks, that is, espresso isn't everybodys cup of tea.

 

[david lewis]

Worlds Greatest Coffee

I have found that picking my own beans works best. Each morning before breakfast I arise from sleep while the rest of the crew is slumbering and I hop in the dinghy and row to shore. There i search far and wide for the perfect beans. Once I have found them I return to the boat where everyone is stirring. I then proceed to use a mortar and pestle to grind the beans into a fine powder (you may remember these from pharmacists in the old days). Once I have extracted the optimum grind which can only be achieved by hand grinding, I then use distilled water (eliminates any taste from the water) and I make sure I boil all utensiles in advance to fully sterilize them. Then using the same distilled water I proceed to use a manual drip coffee maker, the kind with no filter so no paper taste to the coffee.I am experimenting with hydroponic gardening to grow my own coffee right on the boat and I am studying genetic engineering to see if I can breed a more flavorful coffee that is already sweetened with a slight creamy taste.

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

me neither!

double espresso gets my day going right!Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Don't know much about..

growing coffee, do ya Dave? ))

 

[James M Trammell]

Koffee klatch

WOW!---I've seen this much response to anything on HOW.I've now got my coffee instructions.Perhaps we can get Don to ask what is the favorite "SUNDOWNER" of the Hunter group.How about it Don. Any one know what the Blood of Nelson is? Captain Bly

 

[Bill Robb]

The Joy of Coffee

There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly ground & perking coffee on a boat! I use a Gelava coffee maker & brand, grind the beans right before use, use a Melita filter & enjoy! I would NOT be without it!

 

[Todd Osborne]

Good brew=no oxygen, until of course you drink it!

keeping the beans/grounds from oxidizing is the final element in a good brew. I don't like cluttering up my galley with too many doo-dads, so I grind em at home & vacum seal them (doo-dads are OK there). It stays fresh until I need it. I even pre measure the grounds before sealing to make a perfect pot (insulated french press) every time. I just revel in the mental picture: watching the sunrise reclined in the cockpit with a cup of freshly brewed Jo!

 

[david lewis]

Sunrise in Washington

Todd,I have visited Washington on several occasions, always in the Seattle region. I have never once seen the sun, it rains there incessently. Do you live in a different region of Washington where your vision of a sunrise is realizable?

 

[Tom]

Dave, what about the time you need to roast the

Coffee beans --- you must have left out the part about the pocket sized nuclear reactor you have on board for such things...

 

[Henry Scurlock]

have AC and $100

Just got the ad for this machine."Ever wish you could roll right out of bed and into your favorite coffee bar? The CoffeeBar 10-cup Automatic Grind & Brew Coffee Maker is a java-lover's dream come true. Program the LCD clock, and pour in whole beans. Before you awaken, this amazing machine grinds the beans and brews a pot so flavorful, you'll swear it came from a gourmet cafe."