Grinding Gourmet Coffee Beans

The fast rule of thumb is the faster the infusion the finer the grind. The objective is to get the most flavor out of your ground gourmet coffee beans when infused with hot water. The type of coffee grind that you use is important in order to properly match the type of brewing method you will be using.

The espresso brewing method need the least amount of time and requires the grind to be very fine. The various grind categories are "fine," "medium" and "coarse." The finer grinds don't need to be in contact with water for as long as the coarser grinds.

If you would like to make a stronger or weaker brew it is easier to just add or reduce the amount of ground coffee than to vary the grind. If you tried using an espresso grind in your drip filter machine, the water will take much longer to filter through and the flavor will not improve.

After deterioration expect to taste stale and coffee with a reduction of flavor. Oxygen and moister in the air quickly deteriorates ground coffee as it oxidizes and looses its flavor. The effective life of ground coffee is only a few days after grinding. It cannot be emphasized more that grinding coffee immediately before brewing makes a huge different in the freshness of your coffee.

There are a larger variety of bean grinders available on the market that can either look as a nice appliance in your kitchen or can be quickly put away. Grinding beans at home is very easy to do.

The oldest bean grinders are the mortar and pestle. This takes a while to use and the grind is not consistent. But since we are in living in the electronic age there are simpler and faster methods.

Electric motor grinders can either have blades or two crushing burr plates. The blade grinders are the least expensive and can be found at places such as Wal-Mart for under $15. The burr grinders are little more expensive. An attractive burr grinder can be found at finer food or kitchen appliance stores for $50 and above. Check out place such as Williams-Sonoma, Bed Bath and Beyond or Linens and Things.

Burr vs. Blades

Burr vs. Blades

The extra expense of a burr grinder will translate into a better grind. A blade does not really grind but slashes the beans into smaller and smaller particles. The blade particles are inconsistent; around the edges are fine powder and larger chunks in the center.

Blade Grinder

Blade Grinder

The blade grinder is the best option as someone's first grinder. It is the least expensive and can be quickly put away after use. The two major draw backs are that they are messy as the grounds spill from the container when you open it and the inconsistent grind mentioned above. Still, having a blade grinder will cause a major difference in the flavor your experience from your gourmet coffee beans if you are currently buying ground coffee.

How to Use a Blade Grinder

How to Use a Blade Grinder

When you use a blade grinder do not hold your finger on the button the entire time but push it in intervals. Grind in quick bursts of 2-5 seconds so that it prevents the beans from heating up too much. Also hold it with two hands with one over the top container and shake it up and down as you grind to mix up the contents and to give it a better consistency.

For a course grind spin your blade grinder for 7-10 seconds, a medium grind will take 10-14 seconds and a finer grind will take 15-20 seconds. If you drink espresso you will need one of the more expensive burr grinders, a blade version will not produce the consistently fine grind that is required for espresso.

One of the latest developments is a drip coffee machine with a built-in blade grinder. It has a timer you can set so in the morning the beans are automatically ground then pushed into the coffee filter and the brewing will start automatically. All you have to do is add the beans and water in the morning. This is perfect for people on the go. One of the most popular models is the Cuisinart Stainless Steel Grind & Brew, which retails for around $120. The only drawback is that a burr grinder is not available but we have hope for the future.

Burr Grinders

Burr Grinders

If you are looking for the best method for grinding your gourmet coffee beans go straight for a Burr grinder. The grind is consistent and most of the machines have various grind settings. Many include a bean hopper on top where you can store your beans with an airtight lid. Some have a setting to set how many cups you want to grind and include a receptacle where your coffee grounds are deposited. After grinding you simply pour your coffee grounds from the receptacle into your coffee maker. This type of burr grinder not only produces a great and consistent grind, it also keeps your ground coffee well contained with little spillage.

For the professional users you will find bean grinders that will grind directly into your coffee filter which is ideal for restaurants. Check out versions from Gaggia and Bunn for these types of burr grinders.

The Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Stop settling for lower quality pre-ground store bought coffee. If you have not already done so, make the jump and get a quality grinder and buy whole bean coffee to grind just before you brew. If you are on a budget or are not ready for a larger commitment, get an inexpensive blade grinder. If you are a lover of coffee and want the best for your beans, buy a quality burr grinder. A good burr grinder will eliminate some of the hassles and spillage of a blade grinder and will produce a more consistent grind.

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2005 Volcanica Coffee Company.

Making French Press Coffee

Making French press coffee is a way to enjoy an extremely robust and high quality cup of coffee. If you know how to use a French press pot you can make the best tasting coffee you have ever had.

To make French press coffee you will first need a French press pot. Many online sites have good selections of French press pots and will ship one right to your front door.

You will also need a good coffee grinder and a tea kettle to boil the water.

You want to grind the coffee beans slightly larger than you would for drip coffee. Too fine of a grind will produce a bitter cup of coffee. If your grind is too coarse, the coffee will taste weak.

Some people even prefer to roast their own beans when making French press coffee. For French press coffee, many connoisseurs prefer a dark roast when choosing their coffee beans.

Remove the plunger from the press pot and put 1 rounded tablespoon of coarse ground coffee per each 6oz. of water into the pot. You can adjust this to your own taste.

Coffee is 99% water so use clean filtered or bottled water free from chlorine and other minerals that affect the taste of coffee.

Boil the water and remove it from the heat for five minutes before you pour it. This will give you the 195 to 205 degree water that is ideal to brew with. Now pour the 195 to 205 degree water over the ground coffee.

Stir the coffee to get total saturation of the grounds then place the plunger on top of the pot and let the coffee steep for 3 to 4 minutes.

Depress the plunger slowly to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot.

Serve all the coffee in the pot after the 3 to 4 minutes of steeping. Otherwise the coffee will keep getting stronger.

The difference in taste between regular coffee and French press coffee is night and day.

Ever wonder why restaurant coffee tastes so good? It could be because many fine restaurants use a French press to make their coffee.

Making French press coffee may take a little more time but it is worth it. Many people swear by French press coffee and wouldn't have it any other way.

If you are looking for an extremely robust and high quality cup of coffee and have the right equipment treat yourself and try making French press coffee.

Copyright © 2006 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com All Rights Reserved.

Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com

French Press Style Coffee

Because of the filtering system there is always some sediment which some people don't like. It uses very coarsely ground coffee that basically steeps in the brewing water for several minutes allowing all the flavours to fully extract from the coffee grinds. The French press style of coffee making produces very rich, aromatic and tasty coffee.

There are some models of French Press that are insulated which is good for keeping things hot while it steeps. This plunger also serves as the lid. A French press coffee maker has two parts: a straight-sided container usually made of glass, and a filter-plunger that pushes through the water to filter out the coffee after it has steeped.

DO NOT press it down yet, it needs to steep for about four minutes (a little more or less depending the coarseness of the grind). You should now put the plunger/lid on the pot to help retain heat. You may wish to stir the coffee grinds around to be sure all of them are in contact with water. When ready, empty the carafe, add your coffee, and then add your brewing water. To brew coffee with a French Press, you should pre-heat the carafe while you boil your water.

Just take your time and it will work. The filter can jam on grinds that are too fine. If it doesn't want to go down, simply lift the plunger up slightly and try again. Do not force the plunger. Once you feel the coffee has brewed enough, slowly depress the plunger trapping the grounds on the bottom.

French Press pots are not well insulated and coffee cools off very quickly. The other main reason to pour your coffee off is to keep it warm. This will quickly ruin your coffee. If you leave the coffee in the French Press it will remain in contact with the grinds and keep brewing. Despite what some may say, it is usually best to decant the coffee into an insulated serving pot.

Once you've done that you will have some of the most tasty coffee anywhere. Play with the brewing time and grind coarseness until you get the taste that you like best.

What is the Big Deal With Coffee Makers?

It's true! But did you know that the type of perculator that awaits you at home makes a huge difference in how the bean will taste once it hits your cup? When you go to the market you're not thinking about your coffee makers when you buy your favorite coffee beans.

That's why it's important to know the difference between the various percolators before you select that favorite bean of your's for your coffee in the weeks to come.

Water is boiled from underneath the grounds and the coffee seeps into the water until it's fully brewed. To brew a cup of coffee, grounds now are placed in the basket at the top of the pot. The percolator is still found in many kitchens, but is mostly a relic of days gone by.

However, the percolator doesn't do justice to most coffees and instead has something of a foul taste according to the tongues of many coffee experts. The result is coffees that are full-bodied and steaming hot.

These are available relatively inexpensively at almost any store that stocks household supplies and even most large grocery stores and supermarkets. The most common type of coffee makers today are the drip coffee makers.

The majority of American homes have a drip coffee maker. The drip coffee maker produces clear, light-bodied coffees that lack the natural oils and sediment and/or grounds that can come with other varieties. But these machines don't produce coffees that are as hot as they can be, which is a turn-off for some people.

The French Press is the choice in coffee makers for most Europeans. Boiling hot water is poured directly over the coffee grounds, and then a plunger is inserted through the center of the pot to press the grounds down and allow their flavor to brew into the water.

The resulting coffees are rich, full-bodied, and extremely aromatic. However, they can also be a bit muddied and cloudy because of coffee grounds and powder that can sometimes slip into the cup of coffee. And it's impossible to keep the coffee hot, so it must be served immediately or poured into another container built for heating.

Espresso coffee makers are gaining in popularity as coffees like espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes become more commonplace. These machines brew the coffee extremely quickly, producing a flavor that is extremely unique.

Boiling water and steam are forced through tightly-packed grounds, resulting in coffees that are free of bitterness and full of flavor. Some of these machines don't even require the beans to be ground ahead of time, resulting in an even fresher taste.

Perhaps the most unusual and eye-catching are the balancing siphon coffee makers. An alcohol burner heats water that's in a metal pot, which boils and travels through a pipe to a glass jar where it flows over the coffee grounds.

Once all the water has boiled out of the metal pot and into the glass jar, the balanced lever puts out the alcohol burner. As the metal pot cools, a vacuum is created which suctions the brewed coffee back through the pipe and into the metal pot for serving. This setup produces coffees that are as close to perfection as possible according to most coffee experts.

When it comes right down to it, the type of coffee maker that's best for you depends on the type of coffees you prefer. For instance, if you value a clear cup of coffee over flavor, than you would use a drip coffee maker.

If you prefer the flavor and aroma of a rich cup of coffee, the French Press may be right for you. And if you want a conversation piece for after your next dinner party, the balancing siphon coffee maker needs to grace your granite countertop.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.