Mmm, coffee

I like it. The only other brewing device I have is a Bialetti moka pot. I like both very much. I was debating between the kalita wave and v60, and went with the kalita because I read it's less fussy.

Do you just pour in the full quantity of water and let it drip through? 

I use the v60 with a pulse technique. I bloom with 30 gms of water then the water in “pulses” 60gms then 100gms Then another 100gms for a total of 350gms for 24gms if coffee. I guess it is a little fussy but then, I like fussing sometimes.

Bloom in ~30g of water for 30seconds then pour to the top and then add more when most of the water has filtered through. It's about 3 or so pours/pulses in all.

Sounds pretty close to what I do.  I might have to try one  - right now, for me, the pour over method results in the best cup of coffee and I can't see using a different method.  Sure I brew a pot of drip for my wife on the weekend and I'll have a cup and I'd like to try a chemex but the pour over is the way I prepare that first (and normally only) cup of the day.  I like everything about it not least the brew that drips out. It appeals to my love of process as well

Wow gentlemen, active thread today!

To gregcss , i think this was what was running through my head when i saw your picture. I guess I didn’t recognize the Kalita as I have only used a black glazed ceramic version. I have used those a few times but more of the V60 for pour overs. If you use the Kalita, what is an average dose weight for a cup of coffee?

To give you guys some reference, I’m Using a $20 single cup electric grinder. It needs replacing but I haven’t been able to make a decision on how much to upgrade on. I appreciate everyone’s input and I’m pretty open to investing in one. I don’t think I want to worry about espresso focused grinders as I am doing a lot of cold brew “coarse and fine”and immersion like French (almost never), Aeropress (always), and Bialetti Moka Pot (still haven’t used). I willing to consider something under $400 so a Baratza is a nice suggestion. I was hoping to find something versatile and it seems like the price is something that is all over the place. I don’t want another $20 grinder, that’s for sure.

Marko the video you referenced to I saw and have them subscribed. I thought those recent style videos are pretty interesting but almost posted one of the videos in here. I find them fun to listen to as I am still new to coffee. Only been drinking it for a few years.

I use 16g of beans to 255ml of water or about 1:16 ratio. Based on those grinder needs I dont think you need anything high end. The Baratza Encore is about $140 and the Virtuoso $250 are two to consider.

I will second the baratzas. If you want to save some money though, the OXO conical grinder without the integrated scale is a good option. It's often on sale for ~$55-60. However @list price, you might as well pay a bit more for the encore's serviceable parts.

Wow gentlemen, active thread today!

To gregcss , i think this was what was running through my head when i saw your picture. I guess I didn’t recognize the Kalita as I have only used a black glazed ceramic version. I have used those a few times but more of the V60 for pour overs. If you use the Kalita, what is an average dose weight for a cup of coffee?

To give you guys some reference, I’m Using a $20 single cup electric grinder. It needs replacing but I haven’t been able to make a decision on how much to upgrade on. I appreciate everyone’s input and I’m pretty open to investing in one. I don’t think I want to worry about espresso focused grinders as I am doing a lot of cold brew “coarse and fine”and immersion like French (almost never), Aeropress (always), and Bialetti Moka Pot (still haven’t used). I willing to consider something under $400 so a Baratza is a nice suggestion. I was hoping to find something versatile and it seems like the price is something that is all over the place. I don’t want another $20 grinder, that’s for sure.

Marko the video you referenced to I saw and have them subscribed. I thought those recent style videos are pretty interesting but almost posted one of the videos in here. I find them fun to listen to as I am still new to coffee. Only been drinking it for a few years.

I use 16g of beans to 255ml of water or about 1:16 ratio. Based on those grinder needs I dont think you need anything high end. The Baratza Encore is about $140 and the Virtuoso $250 are two to consider.

My ratio for pour over is close to that. I use 1:14.6 so 14.6 gms water for every gm if coffee bean. I have a scale that measures to 10th of a gm. I basically use 24 gms coffee to 350 gms water. The ratio only comes in handy when the heel is + or - 24gms.

That might explain why I only need one cup in the morning. I use 48 gms of coffee to a little less than 6 cups of water for the pot of drip I’ll make in the weekend so my pour over is like a half pot of drip coffee. I use a Techni Vorm machine. They’re expensive but this unit has been going for over 20 years with most of that being daily usage. You have to descale regularly to keep it running in top form. Water here is super hard.

Since I last posted in this thread back in 2018 I have changed up my coffee making approach a bit. I perfected my french press technique and have ended up with a 1:13 ratio. I also have changed up my beans. I found another local roaster who makes a dark roast called Sumatra Takengon. I grind it in my Baratza Virtuoso and it really makes some great coffee. And more recently I've added Moka Pot to my repertoire. Both options make an amazing cafe au lait. I froth my milk in a manual frother that I can put on the stove and heat the milk to 140F before frothing it up. I use the same beans in the Moka Pot and that thing is making some really tasty coffee lately. I even bought some vintage Victor diner mugs to enjoy my morning coffee in and I have to say, the vessel used makes a difference. At least to me.

Since I last posted in this thread back in 2018 I have changed up my coffee making approach a bit.  I perfected my french press technique and have ended up with a 1:13 ratio.  I also have changed up my beans.  I found another local roaster who makes a dark roast called Sumatra Takengon.  I grind it in my Baratza Virtuoso and it really makes some great coffee.  And more recently I've added Moka Pot to my repertoire.  Both options make an amazing cafe au lait.  I froth my milk in a manual frother that I can put on the stove and heat the milk to 140F before frothing it up.  I use the same beans in the Moka Pot and that thing is making some really tasty coffee lately.  I even bought some vintage Victor diner mugs to enjoy my morning coffee in and I have to say, the vessel used makes a difference.  At least to me.

That sounds great. I consider coffee to be one of my tiny joys. It’s amazing what you can do with just a small amount of effort and a little care and attention. I guess it’s a little like the shaving-a morning meditation. 

We’ve been using a Breville induction electric milk frother for a few years now. My daughter used to work at a tea shop and that’s what they used so she introduced us to it. I like the touch and go aspect. It requires no supervision. It has two frothing discs-one for latte and one for cappuccino style foam.  It also makes great hit chocolate and rum toddies

It’s great to find a good local roaster that can supply your needs.

Since I last posted in this thread back in 2018 I have changed up my coffee making approach a bit.  I perfected my french press technique and have ended up with a 1:13 ratio.  I also have changed up my beans.  I found another local roaster who makes a dark roast called Sumatra Takengon.  I grind it in my Baratza Virtuoso and it really makes some great coffee.  And more recently I've added Moka Pot to my repertoire.  Both options make an amazing cafe au lait.  I froth my milk in a manual frother that I can put on the stove and heat the milk to 140F before frothing it up.  I use the same beans in the Moka Pot and that thing is making some really tasty coffee lately.  I even bought some vintage Victor diner mugs to enjoy my morning coffee in and I have to say, the vessel used makes a difference.  At least to me.

That sounds great. I consider coffee to be one of my tiny joys. It’s amazing what you can do with just a small amount of effort and a little care and attention. I guess it’s a little like the shaving-a morning meditation. 

We’ve been using a Breville induction electric milk frother for a few years now. My daughter used to work at a tea shop and that’s what they used so she introduced us to it. I like the touch and go aspect. It requires no supervision. It has two frothing discs-one for latte and one for cappuccino style foam.  It also makes great hit chocolate and rum toddies

It’s great to find a good local roaster that can supply your needs.

I agree.  Coffee has become my second obsession.  The only thing keeping me from jumping into the espresso arena now is money.  But don't think that I haven't already picked out my machine and grinder.  My perfect morning is a nice leisurely shave and then a breakfast that includes a cafe au lait.  And an egg or two doesn't hurt either.  And as far as the roaster is concerned, fortunately I live in densely populated Northern New Jersey so there are many.  I have found two in the town next to me.  The first one was my first local roaster.  Well, not really local since they roast in upstate NY.  But they stock their stores a couple times a week.  They sold their beans in 12 oz. bags but if you brought your coffee cannister in, they would fill it with a pound for the same price.  I was drinking their most popular blend and when I decided to try a different bean that I had seen on their website, the store said they don't carry that bean in the store.  If I want it I'd have to order it online by the 12 oz. bag.  I didn't like that.  So  I went online and found another roaster not too far away from there.  Found a bean of theirs that I like much better.  And I can get a pound for $5 less.  I just hope they stay in business.  You never know anymore during these crazy times.  And everytime I find something that I like, it either goes out of business or the manufacturer stops making it.  I guess that's what happens when you don't go with the flow.

Since I last posted in this thread back in 2018 I have changed up my coffee making approach a bit.  I perfected my french press technique and have ended up with a 1:13 ratio.  I also have changed up my beans.  I found another local roaster who makes a dark roast called Sumatra Takengon.  I grind it in my Baratza Virtuoso and it really makes some great coffee.  And more recently I've added Moka Pot to my repertoire.  Both options make an amazing cafe au lait.  I froth my milk in a manual frother that I can put on the stove and heat the milk to 140F before frothing it up.  I use the same beans in the Moka Pot and that thing is making some really tasty coffee lately.  I even bought some vintage Victor diner mugs to enjoy my morning coffee in and I have to say, the vessel used makes a difference.  At least to me.

That sounds great. I consider coffee to be one of my tiny joys. It’s amazing what you can do with just a small amount of effort and a little care and attention. I guess it’s a little like the shaving-a morning meditation. 

We’ve been using a Breville induction electric milk frother for a few years now. My daughter used to work at a tea shop and that’s what they used so she introduced us to it. I like the touch and go aspect. It requires no supervision. It has two frothing discs-one for latte and one for cappuccino style foam.  It also makes great hit chocolate and rum toddies

It’s great to find a good local roaster that can supply your needs.

I agree.  Coffee has become my second obsession.  The only thing keeping me from jumping into the espresso arena now is money.  But don't think that I haven't already picked out my machine and grinder.  My perfect morning is a nice leisurely shave and then a breakfast that includes a cafe au lait.  And an egg or two doesn't hurt either.  And as far as the roaster is concerned, fortunately I live in densely populated Northern New Jersey so there are many.  I have found two in the town next to me.  The first one was my first local roaster.  Well, not really local since they roast in upstate NY.  But they stock their stores a couple times a week.  They sold their beans in 12 oz. bags but if you brought your coffee cannister in, they would fill it with a pound for the same price.  I was drinking their most popular blend and when I decided to try a different bean that I had seen on their website, the store said they don't carry that bean in the store.  If I want it I'd have to order it online by the 12 oz. bag.  I didn't like that.  So  I went online and found another roaster not too far away from there.  Found a bean of theirs that I like much better.  And I can get a pound for $5 less.  I just hope they stay in business.  You never know anymore during these crazy times.  And everytime I find something that I like, it either goes out of business or the manufacturer stops making it.  I guess that's what happens when you don't go with the flow.

Yeah, I’ve noticed a trend. I find something I like then it’s discontinued or otherwise becomes unavailableit’s the curse of modern business practice. An item may be popular but it’s not popular enough or it’s profit margin is slightly less than another, usually inferior product. 

The search for the right espresso machine is challenging. I had a decent one but I didn’t realize that the maker had gone out of business even before I bought the thing. It was pretty good but after 20 years replacement parts became unavailable even scavenged ones so I went looking for a new one. I ended up getting a Rancillio Miss Sylvia and it’s ok but I think it was a mistake to buy it. I’m still looking but I’ll have to wait until the convergence of finding the right machine and feeling flush enough with cash to afford it. Might not happen

The practice of selling less than 1lb lots of coffee annoys me. For most of my life coffee was sold by the pound. I feel cheated by these light bags. Just raise the darn price but sell me a full pound. That’s part of the beauty of home roasting. I can roast whatever quantity I like. Green bean is sold by the pound usually, however, it “shrinks” with roasting. It loses weight through moisture loss mostly maybe some off gassing of CO2 although that would be minimal. A pound of green will usually weigh about 3/4lb after roasting. 

I view my coffee obsession in the same way I view shaving. I’ve elevated an otherwise mundane activity to a highly pleasurable activity. A tiny joy. There are opportunities throughout life to either plod thoughtlessly through to the end or to stop, be still and quiet your mind, breath deeply of the beauty and pleasure of small things. Life is made of those moments and they pass by whether we notice them or not. It’s not just coffee or shaving. It’s more than that

That sounds great. I consider coffee to be one of my tiny joys. It’s amazing what you can do with just a small amount of effort and a little care and attention. I guess it’s a little like the shaving-a morning meditation. 

We’ve been using a Breville induction electric milk frother for a few years now. My daughter used to work at a tea shop and that’s what they used so she introduced us to it. I like the touch and go aspect. It requires no supervision. It has two frothing discs-one for latte and one for cappuccino style foam.  It also makes great hit chocolate and rum toddies

It’s great to find a good local roaster that can supply your needs.

I agree.  Coffee has become my second obsession.  The only thing keeping me from jumping into the espresso arena now is money.  But don't think that I haven't already picked out my machine and grinder.  My perfect morning is a nice leisurely shave and then a breakfast that includes a cafe au lait.  And an egg or two doesn't hurt either.  And as far as the roaster is concerned, fortunately I live in densely populated Northern New Jersey so there are many.  I have found two in the town next to me.  The first one was my first local roaster.  Well, not really local since they roast in upstate NY.  But they stock their stores a couple times a week.  They sold their beans in 12 oz. bags but if you brought your coffee cannister in, they would fill it with a pound for the same price.  I was drinking their most popular blend and when I decided to try a different bean that I had seen on their website, the store said they don't carry that bean in the store.  If I want it I'd have to order it online by the 12 oz. bag.  I didn't like that.  So  I went online and found another roaster not too far away from there.  Found a bean of theirs that I like much better.  And I can get a pound for $5 less.  I just hope they stay in business.  You never know anymore during these crazy times.  And everytime I find something that I like, it either goes out of business or the manufacturer stops making it.  I guess that's what happens when you don't go with the flow.

Yeah, I’ve noticed a trend. I find something I like then it’s discontinued or otherwise becomes unavailableit’s the curse of modern business practice. An item may be popular but it’s not popular enough or it’s profit margin is slightly less than another, usually inferior product. 

The search for the right espresso machine is challenging. I had a decent one but I didn’t realize that the maker had gone out of business even before I bought the thing. It was pretty good but after 20 years replacement parts became unavailable even scavenged ones so I went looking for a new one. I ended up getting a Rancillio Miss Sylvia and it’s ok but I think it was a mistake to buy it. I’m still looking but I’ll have to wait until the convergence of finding the right machine and feeling flush enough with cash to afford it. Might not happen

The practice of selling less than 1lb lots of coffee annoys me. For most of my life coffee was sold by the pound. I feel cheated by these light bags. Just raise the darn price but sell me a full pound. That’s part of the beauty of home roasting. I can roast whatever quantity I like. Green bean is sold by the pound usually, however, it “shrinks” with roasting. It loses weight through moisture loss mostly maybe some off gassing of CO2 although that would be minimal. A pound of green will usually weigh about 3/4lb after roasting. 

I view my coffee obsession in the same way I view shaving. I’ve elevated an otherwise mundane activity to a highly pleasurable activity. A tiny joy. There are opportunities throughout life to either plod thoughtlessly through to the end or to stop, be still and quiet your mind, breath deeply of the beauty and pleasure of small things. Life is made of those moments and they pass by whether we notice them or not. It’s not just coffee or shaving. It’s more than that

Yeah, that trend makes me nuts.  As for the espresso machine, I've decided on one that will allow me to really learn and understand espresso.  It's a manual lever machine.  Cafelat Robot with the presssure guage.  And the grinder will be a Niche Zero.  I've read great things about both.  And I feel the manual lever fits in with my two other favorite machines, french press and Bialetti Moka Pot.  Low tech.  Great coffee once you understand how to finesse them.  My current roaster sells his full one pound bags for $13.  I find that a veritable bargain.  And I totally understand the moments.  They are what makes everything worthwhile.  If the wife and I end up going our separate ways, I'm going to end up in the mountains on a lake.  Very few neighbors.  No large towns closer than a half hour or more away.  Solitude, quiet and nothing but the sounds of nature.  Loons calling on the lake.  Squirrels and chipmunks rustling in the leaves.  Waves on the lake lapping at the rocks on the shore.  That is paradise to me.  Wake up to that, have a nice shave, brew up a fresh batch of coffee with some eggs over easy.  Maybe some sausage every once in a while.  Then a hike up a nearby mountain.  And someone to share it with who appreciates it as much as you do.  The wife prefers the beach.  I find it nice if the beach is empty.  But how often is that the case?  Never.  Spit my time between the mountains and the city.  Gotta have that city connection for live music and great ethnic food.  These are the great pleasures in life.  Life is short.  Gotta make the most of it.

Roasting a pound of Rwandan Maboro