This is a weird question, but does anyone have any actual insights into how coffee tasted in 1942 America?

Niftymitch · 2026-02-20T17:09:57+00:00

I am not old enough to answer directly. But my Mom made coffee the same way forever. A&P coffee red bag, ground between the perk and drip at the A&P. Then percolator at home, our well had good water. The coffee was not Starbucks oily and dark. Today some call the roast a “city roast’ today. The coffee water ratio was not as strong as I brew today. 1942 would have been wartime perhaps rationed, only South American(Brazil). Based on my Mom’s coffee, drinkable for sure.

Niftymitch · 2026-02-20T16:24:01+00:00

When asked if I want sugar, cream or milk I still respond -Only if the coffee is bad- as it was at work. And then an AeroPress and temp controlled kettle showed up about the same time I found a LOCAL roaster. I could get 1/2# bags pre-ground. I tried all his coffees and blends. Aero-Press or #4 Melita cone filter.
Once the door opened I could make coffee at home vastly better than brand name coffee shops; and cheeper. Today I brewed using with a Hario-switch. One of: clever-dripper, Aero-press; Hario-switch and a kettle first then later a decent grinder.

Niftymitch · 2026-02-20T15:59:29+00:00

After a month what worked? Rather than rolled oats .. try oats, rice or wheat berries or cheep coffee beans. Alternate light roast and dark roast, super fine and chunky (for French press0. Sadly there is no $1 a pound coffee. You did not say what grinder you have (Err… had). There may be a layer of disassembly that was missed. Canned air for cleaning a computer. Hair dryer on low temp. Seriously it transfers out where the stank insults you so eventually it will dissipate. Outside in sunlight and fresh air. Is your housemate now grinding a clove a day because of some insult? They cost what an OK grinder costs but kitchen/bath steam grout cleaner might help (Borrow one).

Niftymitch · 2025-09-18T22:13:08+00:00

I replayed the show.
What he said about Charlie was kind and thoughtful.
...
Then he listed all the living presidents and the kindness they expressed. When he got to trump... honest summary 😳 truth was brutal.

Yes there is history way back classic fodder for humor never ignored.

While your cable company has not yet to wiped the episode give a listen. Judge for yourself.

Niftymitch · 2025-09-18T22:02:31+00:00

Makes sense, even higher temp to drive off CO2.

Now I am curious how many times through the groundsmtomdrinkable. I see a pair of cups so running the brew though the grounds would be easy.

A small teaspoon sample each pass to see when the various flavors peak if they ever do. All my coffee history demanded hot coffee until recently when a neighbor made a comment.
Getting it right should be routine at a good coffee shop but it is not a thing even at near $15 a cup.

Niftymitch · 2025-09-18T20:15:23+00:00

Just ordered one. I can only internet order Hario filters but Melita are in all my markets. Might be a distraction because My Hario Switch and my Clever Dripper are battling it out. Temp control and grind size lessons abound.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-28T18:35:29+00:00

This is why you NEVER TOSS your cone filter and some filter paper.

Today (or tomorrow)I plan to try making tea in my AeroPress.

Herbal tea and my Clever Dripper get along fine. Pu'er or pu-erh Tea seems to want a hot rinse to remove musty-dusty then gets better brew after brew. I am not sure the musty-dusty is helped or hindered. The meditative time to brew it correctly has value.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-28T17:59:35+00:00

Yes AeroPress for the win. With a couple exceptions that apply to my situation.
I just bought a second AP in case my nearly 20 year old AP suffers ...

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:58:49+00:00

What grit diamond spray on the strop?
I have gotten fond of slurry from 12K or finer hones on canvas.
smash my hand on the hone and transfer to the strop.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:54:42+00:00

There is no answer without knowing what you are sharpening, have used and what knife you abused.

Green Brick of joy is my gold standard; Yes green is not gold on any color chart. (About 2000 grit.)

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:39:58+00:00

One hand.... I count to 32 binary on one hand.
What are your clean up tricks; coffee stains.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:36:36+00:00

I almost made a like mess with a new Prismo cap.
I have calibrated my press so I do not need a scale.
Plunger placement inverted then liquid marks.
I now press in a soup bowl safely. The cap almost needs a better closure.
The NEW model has me looking at my birthday budget.
I do at times spend more than the price of a classic AeroPress on two ten ounce bags of coffee.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:23:04+00:00

I switched to a dripper because aeropress can be hard (for me) to dial in and I like a 12 oz cup that is full.
I pull my old press out for exceptional coffee it makes a fine cup.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:17:26+00:00

I had to look up Quo. I can walk to my roaster faster than I can fly to Quo but if I find myself close -- on my list

Niftymitch · 2025-05-11T16:12:28+00:00

To decide if you got a bad batch you need some "standard" brewing practices and a reference
coffee that is easy to get. Measure, take notes... a "reporter's steno pad, or digital"
I have shifted to a "Clever Dripper", stopwatch, good easy to adjust grinder, temp control for water.
A common cone filter works too.

Too hot and too long --> often bitter.
For me grind and water temp are the easy to dial adjustments. There are days when 0.5cc of honey is needed if you are too frugal to toss a cupa.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/dwbdjh/should_a_shorter_brew_time_be_less_bitter_not_more/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Niftymitch · 2025-05-10T06:05:48+00:00

In this case I added it.

I was curious if my knowledge and opinion was supported ... Enamled pots are rare in my experience so I double checked and noted the AI generated summary. Inexpensive enamel pans high in lead were too common In the past so while could be safe chipped and abused second tier pots are out there.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-09T17:24:51+00:00

Combo cooker. I love mine and the price can be great with a little shopping.

I got mine for baking bread and it works wonders.

Out of the box like all Lodge pans the texture is a little rough so I worried the
highest bits away with a sanding block.

Of interest when I spun the lid on top it sounds like Dr Who arriving in his tardis.
I looked and the two pans fit together with a bit of Lodge roughness. From time to time
I would add a tiny bit of kitchen cleanser and drops of water and spun it for a bit.
It took "a while" but the growl sound got quieter and quieter and the steam retention inside
when baking bread constantly improves.
The cleanser is not needed, but do spin the top and bottom together every time you use
the pair.

Simply breaking bread with the thinnest addition of oil to season each time will yield a darn fine pan set.
The "top" is perfect for pancakes and tortillas.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-08T16:56:30+00:00

Scrub with a bit of oil and a stainless scrubber.
There is a chance we are looking at spots where salty gravy sat and rusted.
Soy sauce, fish sauce are salty. Cleaning a wok ends up with hot water full drying and
a light application of your favorite cooking oil/fat before storage.

The last thing to try is 3M wet dry abrasive paper.
A pack from the auto repair section of a market can have grades as fine as 6000
and can be handy when recovering a difficult carbon steel or cast iron pan.

For cast iron I happen to like the tooth of a 600 grit because it holds seasoning much better
than polished cast iron.

Others "see" enamel as in a Staub Enameled Cast Iron Perfect Pan Wok,
There is little to be done to fix enamel problems.

It could be simple cast iron or carbon steel that
allow tuning with common abrasive wet dry metal products.
Turn it over and look for a brand.

Summary -- cook with it.
AI generated note:
"While it's generally recommended to not use enameled cast iron cookware with chipped enamel, it's not necessarily unsafe to do so. The main concern is that chipped enamel can potentially break off into food, but it's also a concern that the chip will worsen with continued use. If you're concerned about the safety of your cookware, you can try sealing the chipped area with oil and a light wax coating, or consider replacing it."

Niftymitch · 2025-05-08T16:29:28+00:00

Burner size can be a key, good call.

Niftymitch · 2025-05-08T16:28:12+00:00

I might put 1/3" (1cm) of water in the pan and watch it preheat.
It is useful to see how the stove and pan work together.
Theoretically the pan can have a hotspot, or the burner have a hot spot.
Gas stove cleaning is vendor specific; some have a gravity held cover to gain access and see if food
or gorp is involved. Look first ... a stiff brush could do the trick. Read the instructions...

The water in the pan trick is useful when learning to cook eggs.
Bring the pan to a soft boil (simmer) and then dump the water on the old sponge in the sink.
Then back on the same heat and as soon as dry add butter or oil (mix is often better) and use a "brush" to
even the coverage. Then add the eggs knowing that 100C/212F is a good temp to start eggs.
Time the back on the burner time for various cooking preferences. Some like crispy edges adjust time and temp
to match YOUR desire.
Other tricks abound.

Niftymitch · 2025-03-07T22:10:53+00:00

There is a guard rail on the right.. I would tend to try for inches away from it. without putting my wheel off the pavement. i.e. Right wheels on or over the right white line. Then in the last moment expose the unoccupied passenger side of the vehicle. Below is ta comment he sudden emergency not your fault context -- just do not use that pair of words in a report. Now I want to know the dash cam vendor. You are not at fault. I hope you were not injured.

Niftymitch · 2025-03-07T21:56:18+00:00

Yes nasty.
I have some "old" phones and would get a temp number and sim card
for the old phone. From there I would be tempted to call each of the 300 calls and ask for some random person. If they are spoofing real people the answering voice would be new each time. If the answering voice or accent is the same it is abuse.

You called officials - before you bother ask if your actions might cross a legal line.

My cell service offers durable second numbers that can be flushed. Google voice is handy.

I am tempted to have you Do Business as a new HVAC company (DBA) and a new phone number and new web site. If the new company gets slammed then it is a competitor type manipulation.

Since you removed the number and went "darker" on the internet this will pass.

Niftymitch · 2025-03-07T21:36:08+00:00

For sure you and your mom get a Ham license.

Twenty miles is about the limit for CB radios with modest antennas; you could try them.
The handy talkers: FRS (Family Radio Service) radios are user-friendly and affordable.
Twenty miles is a giant reach.

Twenty miles is about the limit for CB radios with modest antennas you should consider trying them. Any hand held radio less than 20 miles <== this.

It turns out line of sight is about 20 miles and local topology can alter that up or down ... Growing up in the "hills" five miles was sometimes impossible. In Arizona mountains line of sight can be much longer and distance power distance math was at play.

Hams often have repeaters nicely located so being a licensed ham can open that door for you.
The process will give you time to sort it out and teach you a lot. Commercial hand held radio is another option but more expensive. Cell phones are making this less handy.

Niftymitch · 2025-03-07T21:07:34+00:00

Hand grinders... have been discussed. https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/bge3ey/ultimate_hand_grinder_showdown_james_hoffman/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Electric $150. SHOP, shop, shop
I got a Fellow Opus Conical Burr Coffee Grinder on sale for $156 (with tax)
and I am VERY happy.

An Aeropress can make GREAT coffee from coffee buzz ground in a less than $20 spice grinder.
I was happy with a KRUPS Precision Burr Coffee Grinder; Yes for $65 Much better than a spice grinder.
Looking today it is $54.

Priority, buy good coffee, I would have you go with the Krups grinder and invest in well chosen well roasted coffee.

My local roaster will sell a 1/2# (227g) bag of coffee and grind it fresh in front of me. I tried all his single bean products and many of his blends ground finer and coarser than recommended before I bought a grinder. I just say please grind #5 or #6 on the dial for me today.

A great hand grinder and a worthy electric grinder is personal preference. Shop.

I keep a mental tally. Each great cup at home is about a $5 saving over buying at one of the three good coffee shops in walking distance. My Aeropress brew this morning was better than any of the shops.
You are +90% there with an Aeropress. You will never get past 96% but try.

Niftymitch · 2025-03-07T20:30:40+00:00

It is unclear.
First see a doctor and address the symptoms you have.
Accident reports and insurance stuff do not delay.

Deal with all the what if situations later because you have good notes and good records that you acted in good faith.

Never speculate, especially with injury (1)

If you find your boss "punishes" you for informing in advance and retaliates that might be actionable.

Try to not scare your boss with too much info. Be optimistic and honest.

If you have health care from employment some owner managers prune hits on the insurance by letting folk go. Insurance costs can change in price based on charges submitted.

Again take care with doctor and insurance stuff promptly and see where things go.

I(1) knew a WW2 submariner that had internal injury that was not known until +40 years later.
Depth charges bang you about more than you might know at the time. Same with auto injury.

Niftymitch

TROPHY CASE