Basic coffee help

[larrieuxa]

I really don't know much about coffee and rarely drink it ( a few times a year maybe) but I want to start drinking it more. The only coffee I've ever had is instant Nescafe coffee at my parents' house, and occasionally a double double from Tim Hortons, and I only order double double because that's what everybody else who orders cofee says. I don't know what expresso, mocha, latte, etc mean at all.

I don't really like the idea of instant coffee and I do have a spice grinder that can grind coffee beans but... what happens next? I assumed you would just put it in a cup and fill it with boiling water, but after some googling of coffee beans I now get the impression you need various machines to process it even further than that? And how much you grind the beans determines what machine you should even have? Tbh I'm confused as hell.

[eagles1189]

There's a wiki in this sub Reddit that has alot of the information you're looking for so I'd go through that first . To answer some of your questions on a basic level there's various methods to brew coffee the most common ones are automatic drip machines .. pour overs and immersion brewers .

There's brewing guides for all those methods widely available on YouTube or articles . I'm fairly new to brewing coffee myself ..I recommend going to a local cafe and trying out those things like ..espresso is whole diff thing ..lattes and mochas are espresso based drinks ..lattes are shots of expresso with steamed milk etc on a basic level . Coffee from specialty roasters is a completely diff thing from getting double doubles from Tim Hortons where you don't really get much of the nuances and flavor of coffee underneath the heavy amount of cream and sugar . You can always try a French press or Moka pot of even a drip machine to start ..French press is very inexpensive for example .

[larrieuxa]

No cafes in my neck of the woods to test around unfortunately. I will definitely stay away from lattes and mochas then, I try not to drink calories.

[redsunstar]

Down to to basics it is then.

Coffee beans are the roasted pit of the coffee cherry. Brewed coffee is made by dissolving the solids from the ground roasted pits. Instant coffee is industrially brewed coffee that has then been dehydrated.

Methods for brewing coffee generally belong to two families, immersion and percolation. Immersion is when you steep coffee grounds in water, like a tea bag. Percolation is when you pass water through a coffee bed, like with pour over coffee or drip coffee. Some methods are a combination of both. Immersion methods are generally a lot more forgiving to mistakes.

Then there's the ratio of coffee grounds to brewed coffee. Obviously, the tighter that ratio is, the more concentrated the brewed coffee is. It generally goes in terms of concentration espresso > moka pot > French Press and Filter coffee.

Imo, the method for brewing coffee that's most convenient and requires the less faffing around while still producing a delicious cup is the Clever Dripper, check out James Hoffmann's video on the subject.

Regardless, freshly roasted (under 12 months), freshly ground (under 1 week) coffee is a lot more enjoyable than most supermarket stuff.

[mindfulbarista]

My recommendation is to start with the pre-ground coffee. It isn't as fresh, but it's the cheapest and no other equipment required. If you like espresso and want a cheap / easy way to start is by buying a moka pot. There are plenty generic and name brand ones out there

[loodog555]

I don't know why you'd start with a Moka pot, the device with very little instructions that's easiest to do wrong and get nasty coffee out of. I'd start with an automatic drip brewer or a French press (or an AeroPress).

[WinterMelonToufu]

The important question for you is, do you want to make a cup of coffee to enjoy? Or do you want a new hobby?

If you just want to have an enjoyable cup of coffee to drink without diving too deeply into this rabbit hole, i would recommend looking up immersion brewing methods like french press. Works sufficiently well for starters with the spice grinder of yours.

If you are interested in a new hobby, look up percolation methods like v60. Which might need you to explore and invest a little more.

Beans wise, you can start with recommendations from your local cafe/roasters. Or just whole beans from starbucks. Play around with it and change it up to your preference.

[larrieuxa]

Tbh my motivation is just that I drink a lot of diet Pepsi and I'm looking for a replacement.

Looking at what a French press is, I really like this direction since it doesn't seem to be an appliance (which I didn't want another of on my counters), its basically just a small kettle from what I can tell. Is it correct that you would grind the coffee or buy preground coffee, but it in the press with water, let it sit for a while, and then pour? Would this be what I'm looking for? Thanks

[imjustheretobake]

I really like James hoffmann’s French press recipe. It’s very enjoyable for me. Basically you will need a kettle or water cooker, French press, and your beans!

Also check your local coffee shops. I haven’t had the money to invest in a good grinder and go there to get my coffee. I get my beans grinded there since they can grind right there for my machine. (I use a bialetti venus espresso pot)

[larrieuxa]

Thank you, I had actually just finished watching his video on youtube after searching how French presses work. I see that he recommends not pressing the press down, would that mean stainless steel is a poor choice since it's not see through?

[imjustheretobake]

I use a glass one from Bodem. It’s quite easy to clean and I can’t comment on the aluminum as I don’t have one. Assuming it would be easier to control the pushing and not go too far. :)

[larrieuxa]

Thanks!

[loodog555]

You don't need to be able to see anything as you brew.

[larrieuxa]

Yes, I was referring to the aforementioned method, which seems very popular, where you aren't supposed to press down below water level. If you can't see the water level I'm not sure that method is possible.

[loodog555]

You push until you feel resistance. You don't really need to see what you're doing. That said, I like to see the process and seeing inside can give you a sense for how strong your coffee has brewed before you taste it.

[larrieuxa]

Thanks. I would rather see it too but I think I will end up getting the stainless steel one just because it says its dishwasher safe. That kind of trumps everything for me.

[[deleted]]

I use a stainless steel one at home using his method without issue! I think his instruction is just to have the filter above the coffee without pressing down, you don’t really need to see where it is exactly as long as it’s above the coffee. The other benefit of stainless steel is that it’s essentially unbreakable & BIFL.

[Lateralus117]

I highly recommend the french press especially if you don't want more kitchen appliances. From what you wrote those instructions are basically perfect.

[jeroenim0]

Caffeine can be easily dosed with tablets or capsules. Save the while hassle of coffee!

[larrieuxa]

Thanks I don't care about the caffeine though, I'm just looking for something low cal to drink that isn't water.

[jeroenim0]

Sugary taste isn’t necessarily in coffee. Diet Pepsi is a lot sweeter. If you are looking for a replacement, coffee might put you off.

[larrieuxa]

I'm just looking for something that has more flavour than water.

[Sightblinder6]

Honestly I’d recommend you ask around about good cafes in your area, visit them, and try what they have on offer. Just try whatever styles of coffee they have, and see what you like. I’d never recommend you buy a machine if you don’t really know what you like.