Coffee

[DanG]

Waaal now DanG

Maybe we better go up and tip a pot with brdmkr.

Waaal now Slabbsey-Wabbsey, I'll take ya up on that!  Just drag yer carcass over here tomorrow and we'll invade Brewed-Maker's territory.  I'm gonna call his hand on that "that kind of outlet" remark, too! I'm pretty sure my outlet will handle that other 2 pounds.   I gotta go up there soon anyway.  I picked up them bar clamps for him at Harbor Freight and he paid me for'em at Moultrie, but they're still ridin' around in my van.

[brdmkr]

Got to work in the morning, but will be there in the PM.  You want me to call when I get there?

[DanG]

Yeah, give me a call, Mike.  I don't know if I can shake loose from here, but I'll know by then.

[Tom]

I have a pot of coffee here next to the computer but decided I wanted some ice cream.  I went to the freezer to see if we had some and, lo and behold, we did.   I opened it to find that it was Neapolitan.  I think that is what it is called when they put vanilla, strawberry and chocolate all in the same container.   Gael doesn't like strawberry and the vanilla and chocolate on each side was missing almost down to the bottom.  The strawberry wasn't touched.  Heck!  I didn't even know we had ice cream.

Not being too terribly particular, I spooned out the strawberry into a coffee cup and returned to the computer where I was eating it and eyeing the coffee pot at the same time.   Finally, I was down to about a tablespoon and a half of ice cream and couldn't stand it any longer.  I poured the cup full of hot coffee, making myself a Strawberry/coffee something or other.    The coffee was cooled almost immediately and I began drinking it and nibbling on the ice cream.  It wasn't very good, so I gulped the coffee down and ate the what was left of the strawberry ice cream.  I know some of you like flavored coffee.  I don't.  But even if you do, don't try this.  Not being a flavored coffee connoisseur, I can't tell you that it isn't a  gourmet treat, but I can tell you that I don't like it.     

[DanG]

That was a successful experiment.  You had a question, you sought an answer, and you got one!

Did ya ask Gael why she bought Neopolitan if she don't like strawberry?  Enquiring minds want to know.

[solodan]

I drink coffee everyday, at all hours of the day. I never put anything in good ole brewed coffee, just coffee. I prefer the taste of a darker roast such as Italian, but I really need the higher caffeine of the lighter roast to start the day. Yes, lighter roast has more caffeine. I arrive at the SugarShack at about 6:20am where my oldest daughter gets on the school bus. I usually start with a Cappuccino. I prefer little milk, mostly just foam on top to hold the heat of the esspresso in. I like to take my time with my first cup, and an espresso looses its heat too quickly for this. It also needs to be served in a traditional porcelain cup, which has far better heat retention characteristics than glass or paper. After my daughter gets on the bus, I switch to a fresh black cup of Guatamalan Hue Hue . I catch up on all the morning gossip, and then I get a cup of Italian in a paper to go cup, to bring with me while I drop my youngest off, and then to the mill yard . I usually go back for lunch around 11:30 have some lemonade and then get a 1/2 cup of Italian to go . Sometimes I have another in the afternoon , and in the late afternoon early evening I go in and get an espresso.   or Espresso Con Panna This is an invitation  to all of the FF members. Come on out to the Sierra Nevada and I'll buy you a great cup of coffee.  I even pull a great espresso.  The place is owned by my wife and myself, but she rarely lets me in the kitchen Aliciassugarshack.com

[brdmkr]

Tom,  I wish you would have given me a yell.  I'd have told you that would NOT be good.  Of course, I'm getting a pretty big kick out of it   I bet that was pure nasty.

Solodan,  If I am ever out your way, I'll look you up.  It sounds like you know where to get the good stuff.  You hit it right on the head regarding the caffeine content and the roast.  All things being equal, darker roast have less caffeine.  However, this can be offset some by using different coffees (different origins).  Trouble is, the really high caffeine beans aren't very good (my opinion).

[tcsmpsi]

At the shop, I use a Starbucks Sumatra or French Roast mix (which I buy from Staples when it's on sale in large quantities)  with Folgers Columbian.  At the house we use Community New Orleans Blend mixed with the Columbian (my wife likes the chickory).  So, in the morning when I leave the house, I fill up my travel mug with that, go open the shop, get things up and going, take the children to school around 6:30 (having about finished my travel mug by that time) and usually go stop by Valero (that opens at 6am) afterwards and fill my mug with fresh  Kenya, and perhaps get to hug my wife.   

This morning, I'm filling my mug with Kenya and notice new, little containers of Caffine booster (with a warning not to use more than 2 a day).  I tried one of those in my Kenya.  Not bad, but I think in a travel mug, probably have to use at least 2.   

Hmmmm....I've not tried strawberry ice cream in my coffee, Tom.  Chocolate and vanillar bean is pretty good, every now and then. 

[sawguy21]

Caffeine booster Yikes, that is all I need After having several cups of coffee one morning, I chowed down a chocolate coated coffee bean. A half hour later, I was like Elmer Fudd on helium, what a buzz. The crash was ugly though, was fighting to keep my eyes open.

[Bro. Noble]

Well,  you guys can look down your nose at me for using instant coffee if you want to.  If you had some instant handy, Tom, you could have sprinkled some in dry form over your ice cream and you would have had a real treat  I also like to put a little in my chili

[solodan]

Brdmkr is right about the blending of beans. You can still have a darker roasted flavor with higher caffeine content by blending different varieties of beans, or even blending different roasts. This is the reason for the early morning blends. The names of these usually tells you this, like Breakfast Blend.   We do one called the Shack Blend and another called Rise and Shine.    On another note, if I am making coffee at home or even camping, I prefer a french press method.  This method is  as easy as instant, and once you get on the french press method you won't want anything else. 

[brdmkr]

I use a press pot from time to time myself, but mine doesn't make as much as I would like.  I ought to check into a larger pot.  I have seen a pot that works like a siphon (Turkish pot???).  That looks like it would make a stout cup as well.

[DanG]

OK, you guys have taken this to a new level.  Just what is the "French Press method?"

[WH_Conley]

Gee, the way Gradnma Flossie taught me to make coffe was to put water and coffee into a pot, boil it, add cold water to settle the grounds and use your moustashe to filter out the rest.

Guess thats's reason I carry a moustach (sp) til this day.

Course you could count the drinks from the cup by counting the rings

Only way I know how to make it, just ask my wife.  

[brdmkr]

OK, you guys have taken this to a new level.  Just what is the "French Press method?"

Well, it is not as exotic as it sounds.  A French press is a pot with straight sides (no taper).  You put ground coffee in and pour in hot water.  Stir with a spoon.  Then you put the top on.   The top has a hole in the middle with a rod running through the hole.  A screen that just fits inside the pot is attached to this rod.  You press the rod down and it pushes all of the coffee grounds to the bottom and out of your coffee.  So, the grounds are pressed to the bottom by the screen and the coffee can be served relatively ground-free.  Next time I see you, I'll make sure to have the press with me. 

[inspectorwoody]

Black with nothing else in it for the most part but sometimes I'll put in some milk and a bunch of sugar.

[Tom]

Being able to make that fancy coffee must have the women chasing you all over the place.  Is that why they call you Broad maker?

[WILDSAWMILL]

Gee, the way Gradnma Flossie taught me to make coffe was to put water and coffee into a pot, boil it, add cold water to settle the grounds and use your moustashe to filter out the rest.

Guess thats's reason I carry a moustach (sp) til this day.

Course you could count the drinks from the cup by counting the rings

Only way I know how to make it, just ask my wife.  

if you drop a egg shell in there the grounds fall to bottom
i like mine from folgers only thing i put in it might be some scotch

[brdmkr]

Being able to make that fancy coffee must have the women chasing you all over the place.  Is that why they call you Broad maker?

Only have one woman chasing me.  If I can get that rolling pin out of her hand , I might let her catch me

[DanG]

Well shucks, Mike!  I thought it was gonna be something fancy.  That sounds like the stuff Festus used to make for Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke, 'cept he didn't have no screen to filter out the solids.  I was thinkin' maybe they boiled the whole beans, then pressed the coffee out of'em, or sumpthin.