How to get a good cup of coffee at Starbucks.

[hank520]

They don't call them "Charbucks" for nothing. But, although my favorite coffee is a little less burnt, I find that at Starbucks the coffee won't be old regardless of when I get it (morning, noon, afternoon or at night) whereas with Dunkin Donuts (in the south anyway), you can get an "old" cup of coffee. So I do think they are alright, if not a little overpriced. I get the "Americano" which is an espresso watered down. If the coffee shop has a push button machine, I go elsewhere. Tried one once with the machine and the coffee was barely better than Waffle House coffee (make even Folgers taste good).

 

[rnorton]

No, I will tamp the first grinds drop with it only, then after the following two drops I use my rosewood handle tamper (looks like below). Not my ultimate, but I negotiated it to be included with my machine purchase, and it works just fine. I may try home roasting someday, but so many good beans on the market, so I am still trying the market. Still will defend Starbucks beans after trying so many others, including many "recommended" ultimate beans.

Nice looking tamper. Flat, US curve or European curve?

I have a spring loaded 30 lb calibrated Espro tamper (US curve) that does everything that 'device' in your post will do at a fraction of the price. No rosewood, though.

 

[rnorton]

whoaru99,

I have 17 vacuum pots dating back to the 1900's. (I collect all sorts of coffee equipment). The one in your picture is quite nice but very expensive for what you get. The only one I'm using these days is a 5 cup Hario that I use on the stovetop.

 

[rnorton]

We've been using the Aeropress for little over a year now. (just under $30)

Similar to a pour-over, however unlike a pour-over (where the liquid is almost immediately dispensed into the cup)......

I've used one for a few years and they do a really good job. However, I bought a Clever Dripper last week and it's making even better coffee.

 

[cubby01]

I've used one for a few years and they do a really good job. However, I bought a Clever Dripper last week and it's making even better coffee.

Is that Glass or Plastic? I have an aversion to hot liquids in plastic. I generally use a french press - the plunger assembly has to be stainless.

 

[rnorton]

Is that Glass or Plastic? I have an aversion to hot liquids in plastic. I generally use a french press - the plunger assembly has to be stainless.

Plastic, but it's 100% BPA-free plastic. The coffee has pretty limited contact with the plastic because of the filter. Only when you set it on a cup, which opens the valve, would you have momentary contact.

 

[70WR]

My wife was telling me she saw some TV thing about coffee beans and one of the highly regarded beans comes out a monkey butt. Really?

 

[cubby01]

My wife was telling me she saw some TV thing about coffee beans and one of the highly regarded beans comes out a monkey butt. Really?

Cat. At $450-$700/lb.

Coffee cherries are eaten by Civet cats, processed through their digestive system, and the beans are harvested on the other side. According to ValBeMar's website, the Civets, found in the islands of Java and Sumatra, can’t digest the fruit’s inner beans and they are excreted whole.

The beans are collected from the cat droppings, cleaned and roasted just like any other coffee bean. But the fermentation process while inside the stomach of the cat is the key to its exquisite taste, according to the company.

 

[70WR]

^ Kind of gives a different meaning when one sniffs the coffee and says it smells good.
So its from kitty and not monkey - now who would be the first to want a part of droppings in their mouth - who comes up with such unthinkable.
It would be like - hey look what came out of kitty butt - lets taste it - ya gotta be kidding - yup, wife says it was a crazy kitty of some kind and not monkey treats. I thought she was joking but she says no, she really saw this some time ago

 

[rnorton]

My wife was telling me she saw some TV thing about coffee beans and one of the highly regarded beans comes out a monkey butt. Really?

No. Kopi Luwak comes out of the butt of a palm civet, not a monkey. Had some in Viet Nam a month ago and it was extremely good.

 

[rnorton]

Cat. At $450-$700/lb.

It's only that expensive if it comes from free range palm civets that will only eat the very best coffee cherries off the tree. Recently they've started using batteries of captive civets that are force-fed any old coffee cherry. The quality has dropped but the price in SE Asia is down to about twice the price of ordinary coffee beans.

The Vietnamese are also experimenting with squirrels, but I haven't tried that.

 

[rnorton]

^ Kind of gives a different meaning when one sniffs the coffee and says it smells good.
So its from kitty and not monkey - now who would be the first to want a part of droppings in their mouth - who comes up with such unthinkable.
It would be like - hey look what came out of kitty butt - lets taste it - ya gotta be kidding - yup, wife says it was a crazy kitty of some kind and not monkey treats. I thought she was joking but she says no, she really saw this some time ago

The palm civet, also called a civet cat is NOT a cat but is much closer to a weasel.

 

[JohnVF]

Have you ever been to Metropolis? They are a coffee roaster in Chicago. They USED to be one of my favorite roasters in the whole country. They were much better than Intelligentsia. I have heard bad things about them recently from my friend that works at the Intelligentsia by the art school. It's worth a shot to try them out though.

Intelligentsia is a giant coffee company that buys great coffee, roasts it with no integrity, and then sells it with brilliant marketing. I want to believe in what they do, but the Black Cat espresso blend is a joke. It is usually made up of 2 coffees, primarily Brazil. At one time it was a single origin Brazil. That's not espresso in my opinion.

This is the first I've heard of Metropolis, I just looked it up and its a bit out of the way but I'm up there every so often. I'll check it out. I've been getting my beans from Pars Grocery in Andersonville, this South-Asian tea/coffee/grocery store. They come in unmarked bags and whatever they are, they lead to good coffee by my taste (not the most refined but I like a good cup).

Intelligentsia is not well regarded here among the baristas I've known, at least not the ones that work outside of the Intelligentsia mafia (which is something I've heard mentioned). I used to live near the one on Broadway- some of their beans were good, at least, when I made the stuff at home. I can't stand their over-strong/bitter pour overs. Had a good one at The Coffee Studio a week ago (they use Intelligentsia).

Order a Clever Dripper funnel from Sweet Maria's and you'll find how easy it is to make really good coffee. Excellent design that brews all of the grounds for the same period of time.

I'll look into that, thanks. I like the pour over but its a pain for me to get it right, and takes forever.

 

[nickrobotron]

This is the first I've heard of Metropolis, I just looked it up and its a bit out of the way but I'm up there every so often. I'll check it out. I've been getting my beans from Pars Grocery in Andersonville, this South-Asian tea/coffee/grocery store. They come in unmarked bags and whatever they are, they lead to good coffee by my taste (not the most refined but I like a good cup).

Intelligentsia is not well regarded here among the baristas I've known, at least not the ones that work outside of the Intelligentsia mafia (which is something I've heard mentioned). I used to live near the one on Broadway- some of their beans were good, at least, when I made the stuff at home. I can't stand their over-strong/bitter pour overs. Had a good one at The Coffee Studio a week ago (they use Intelligentsia).



I'll look into that, thanks. I like the pour over but its a pain for me to get it right, and takes forever.

The Clever dripper is much easier to use than a Hario. It makes a better cup too, in my opinion. It's my favorite method to suggest to people that don't want to nerd out (basically everyone other than baristas). The Chemex, actually, is also more forgiving than the Hario and Melitta.

 

[JohnVF]

The Clever dripper is much easier to use than a Hario. It makes a better cup too, in my opinion. It's my favorite method to suggest to people that don't want to nerd out (basically everyone other than baristas) The Chemex, actually, is also more forgiving than the Hario and Melitta.

I'm right on the edge of wanting to nerd out. I need a Hario kettle or something similar for pour-over because my old kettle just doesn't have the control needed. I was using the Aeropress for the last month, I like that, too. But I'm going to try the Clever Dripper. I dated a barista a few years ago and it left coffee-nerdism in my blood.

 

[Splatter Pak]

Starbucks coffee is overpriced and overrated. I make better at home.

 

[70WR]

Well I just made myself a fancy cup of afternoon coffee - heated a cup of water in the microwave, dumped a scoop off Folgers into a filter, twisted it and held it by hand dunking it in the cup of hot water - like a tea bag. Made a fine cup of go juice if I must say.
If the wife wasn't napping, she would have made a pot - so I gone self-help on this one.

 

[nickrobotron]

I'm right on the edge of wanting to nerd out. I need a Hario kettle or something similar for pour-over because my old kettle just doesn't have the control needed. I was using the Aeropress for the last month, I like that, too. But I'm going to try the Clever Dripper. I dated a barista a few years ago and it left coffee-nerdism in my blood.

I use this:

There is a cheaper kettle that is really popular right now. Google "Bonavita". They make an electric and a stove-top. I just get tired of seeing the same gear at every cafe.

 

[JohnVF]

I
There is a cheaper kettle that is really popular right now. Google "Bonavita". They make an electric and a stove-top. I just get tired of seeing the same gear at every cafe.

The Bonavita looks like a great solution, thank you. I do like the looks of the Hario one but its expensive, and as you say- its out there en-mass.

I should take a picture of my vintage coffee caraffe collection. I must have 50 or more of the things. Old percolators, too, that look like space-age robots (but which also make terrible percolated coffee).

These are old pictures of some of them, many of them are in boxes now awaiting a new apartment. They're not uncommon but look really cool when there's about 30 of them in one setting. Everything I take a picture of seems to have one in the background.

 

[nickrobotron]

I really dig the round percolator in the middle. I love the caraffes as well. Since the Chemex is what I use most of the time and it it doubles as a caraffe, I rarely have the need for one of those. I don't love the Native American look of the Chemex.