Posted by Nina Lalli at 2:27 PM, February 12, 2008
Ever since we met Dan Griffin, the manager/consultant/director of coffee at Williamsburg's new, super serious coffee-shop, El Beit, where I sampled their delicious coffee, my own morning mug has seemed lacking. So I got Mr. Griffin to give a few pointers, for us common folk who may not have access to the $11,000 machine he loves the most, the Clover.
From the master:
For making coffee at home several factors are key:
Always use fresh roasted coffee, between four to 14 days out of the roaster.
Don't buy beans at the grocery store, get em' from your local coffee shop, but only if the bags have roast dates.
Always use freshly ground coffee
Grind coffee with a burr grinder, not a whirly blade grinder.
Know the right grind size for your brewing method.
Experiment with dose (the amount of coffee used) to get your desired profile.
Use filtered water at just below a boil
Use simple brewers: French press, Chemex, Eva Solo, vac pot, Melitta filter. Electric brewers don't get the water hot enough and are inconsistent.
wow, EfV, this sounds like a great lead for a valentine's day present, esp if your loved one loves coffee! where can an eager shopper, who may or may not be running out of time before cupid strikes, find one of those vac pots?
Posted by: stillhungry at February 12, 2008 5:12 PM
just read an article in "wine enthusiast magazine" about a coffee club called "citizen bean" that ships a different just roasted coffee from honored small roasters every month. they also encourage the use of a burr grinder and a french press.
Posted by: mark at February 12, 2008 5:33 PM
I like the Bodum vacuum pot. You can it online at a lot of places.
Posted by: BB at February 13, 2008 12:26 PM
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I find french presses highly overrated. The coffee is frequently bland and cold. I think the traditional Bialetti Moka Express with its bathing beauty shape is infinitely preferable - hot strong coffee that makes you feel like you're living a new wave film.
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