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I have never been a "BCD" – big coffee drinker unless it’s from Starbucks or somewhere as a carmel frapp. An occasional cup once in awhile. More of an Earl Grey tea kinda gal.
I’d always say to my dinner guests in years past, (and sometimes still do), there’s the pot, there’s the grinder, and beans – please make your own because you are not going to enjoy mine if I make it. It kills me when I see these Westerns where Cookie just waves some beans over a tin pot of water on the cooking fire pit and great coffee all around for the cowboys. In the last year or so, (and I’m an old lady), I’ve wanted to have a good cup of joe like everyone else seems to enjoy (and some need as they do air almost).
As to the coffee, I love the flavored beans – chocolate, southern pecan, etc. – have a press and all that good stuff to brew with. My problem is I cannot get a cup of coffee at my house no matter if it’s made in the press, Mr. Coffee, or Millita, the way my grandmother used to make it. It always has a bitter taste. Yes, I clean the press and Mr. Coffee out. Yes, I purchase good beans (or occasionally ground)…I get the water temp. to 200 degrees…but still a bitter after taste!!!! What gives (?) and does anyone out there have any suggestions or solutions? I can’t go to SB or some other coffee joint all the time when I want some java in my p.j.’s in the a.m.!
Any suggestions, feedback, help on making a really drinkable cup of coffee would be most helpful from you all. Thanks!!!!!!!
but I’ve heard your water may affect the taste. Try bottled water once and see what happens. And aren’t you supposed to use COLD water?
Also, some people don’t think you should clean out the ol’ Mr. Coffee, that you need the oils to give it flavor. Just sayin’…
Coffee drinking friends tell me the French press makes the best coffee, either that or the Keurig. (sp?)
As to the "Cookie" throwing water and coffee together, remember, that’s probably all they knew. No Starbucks way back ehtn. :o) Supposedly they threw egg shells in the pot too to help the grounds settle. (We’ve done that camping.)
Yes, I’ve tried bottle water although my water company says our water here is purer than bottled…and yes, I do always use cold water, but I think the temp. is suppose to get to 200 degrees in the coffee maker, (per Starbucks and Mr. Peets, etc.,) – and they always try and get me to purchase their coffee when I ask what their secret is to a good cup of joe – and I have purchased their products for home too. Alas – still bitter tasting when I make at home LOL ~ I may have to get a job and become a barista (sp?) there to learn their secrets – goodness knows I couldn’t ever afford their $2000 (or whatever) machines that they have, I certainly hope that their coffee machine is not the secret of their non-bitter tasting coffee! Or else it’s back to my Earl Grey all the time…
I don’t drink coffee but I remember my mom always put a dash of salt over her coffee grounds before brewing. She said the salt cut the bitterness.
your water may be very "pure" (all the water companies tell you that!) but it can still taste bad. But if you’ve tried bottled water it’s not that.
My sister used to live in Northern Michigan and I couldn’t drink her water it tasted so bad but they said it was from the mountains and as pure as they can make it.
maker and now a Keurig. My first cup using the Keurig, I didn’t like at all but as I tried a different brand from the sample cups, I found a few that I really loved. I think the brand of coffee, the type of roasting, how long the coffee has been on the shelf (beans or ground) and the water all contribute to the taste. Obviously Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (my favorite) have very short shelf times just due to the amount of coffee they sell every day. I don’t put salt in my coffee but I suspect DD might as I remember seeing something about ‘sodium’ amount listed on their coffees and I can’t imagine it gets there any other way! Have you tried Starbucks Via (I think that is what they call their instant coffee) see if that tastes good to you. Good luck!
maker and now a Keurig. My first cup using the Keurig, I didn’t like at all but as I tried a different brand from the sample cups, I found a few that I really loved. I think the brand of coffee, the type of roasting, how long the coffee has been on the shelf (beans or ground) and the water all contribute to the taste. Obviously Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (my favorite) have very short shelf times just due to the amount of coffee they sell every day. I don’t put salt in my coffee but I suspect DD might as I remember seeing something about ‘sodium’ amount listed on their coffees and I can’t imagine it gets there any other way! Have you tried Starbucks Via (I think that is what they call their instant coffee) see if that tastes good to you. Good luck!
maker and now a Keurig. My first cup using the Keurig, I didn’t like at all but as I tried a different brand from the sample cups, I found a few that I really loved. I think the brand of coffee, the type of roasting, how long the coffee has been on the shelf (beans or ground) and the water all contribute to the taste. Obviously Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts (my favorite) have very short shelf times just due to the amount of coffee they sell every day. I don’t put salt in my coffee but I suspect DD might as I remember seeing something about ‘sodium’ amount listed on their coffees and I can’t imagine it gets there any other way! Have you tried Starbucks Via (I think that is what they call their instant coffee) see if that tastes good to you. Good luck!
I am a coffee drinker and find that the K-cups are the next best thing to coffee-house brews. I like the donut shop coffee flavor the best. Some of the lights are too weak and the bolds too strong, so the mediums I like the best. A little expensive for a coffee pot, but worth every penny if you looking for a really good cup of coffee and don’t want to pay the coffee-house prices.
coffee maker in the house, And not much a coffee drinker per say…as I sit here and drink my second perfect cup of Earl Grey…but I am learning to like a really good cup of coffee and with all these tips, I’m going to have to try them all for sure! Either that or go broke at Starbucks! LOL!
coffee which also worked well and is a little cheaper once you buy the Kup thing. I love the Nantucket blend from Green Mt. It’s a medium blend. I totally agree with you about the different roastings.
I am not a coffee drinker at all, so I can’t give you any tried and true advice. however, I know "they" used to recommend putting your whole beans in the freezer to keep them longer, but I have seen multiple reports recently saying you really shouldn’t do that (i can’t remember the reasoning). it could be your taste buds have changed over time, as well, so may be time to add sugar and creamer to the cuppa joe. I used to get mochas from starbucks, but then I realized that was the only time i ever drank coffee- for the sweet chocolaty flavor, not the coffee flavor, so i stopped spending the money and just do cocoa at home.
I don’t drink coffee but did review a Tassimo BotPot last year and gave it to my SIL. It’s similar ot the Keurig where it takes the little disc or container and brews the "perfect" cup. They have UPC or bar codes on them so the pot knows the exact temperature and amount of water to use. You can also get different flavors just like Duncan Donuts and Starbucks. I don’t know about the Keurig but the Tassimo also has hot chocolate and tea discs as well as expresso and lattes or whichever it is that has the milk because you get 2 discs for those and use each one separately. There’s also no contanimation so you can go from one flavor to the next without any mixing of flavors. The drawback, if you’re serving more than one person is you can only do one cup at a time but they can have whatever flavor they want. They do brew fast though so that’s a plus.
first, then I take out the used container, put a new cup underneath with a tea bag usually Earl Grey and let it just put the hot water to make tea. They have Earl Grey in the K-cups along with sweet tea and celestiial seasonings brand plus cocoas, I’m not sure on Lattes or cappaccinos. I am really loving the machine. As DeeLan said, it heats up within a minute to two at the most. Mine has 2 cup sizes and I usually use the 10 oz one.
My best suggestion would be to find a friend that has the machine and ask them about it and hopefully they’ll offer to let you try theirs to see if you love it.
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