Coffee may refer to either the beverage (which has a dark, acidic flavor and is prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant), the bean of the coffee plant, or the flavor when used in other dishes. Use this tag for questions about selecting, identifying, storing, preparing, replacing or ...
28
votes
10answers
68k views
What's the Ideal Coffee to Water Ratio for a French Press?
What's the ideal amount of coffee to use per cup of water in a French press?
I've looked at various online resources, which all gave me a different amount. Some call for 2 tablespoons per 6 oz of ...
11
votes
1answer
1k views
Does putting salt in coffee really remove bitterness?
I have seen people claim that putting salt in coffee enhances the flavour or removes bitterness. Example.
Does this really work? If it does, how does it work? Is there something chemical going on, or ...
18
votes
6answers
3k views
Achieving perfection via manual drip-brew coffee method
Every time I make coffee it seems to taste different, and I've found there is a lot more room for error with the manual drip-brew method than using a Moka coffee maker or an automatic drip-brewer.
...
23
votes
13answers
946 views
Good ways to store coffee?
What are some key points to store coffee to preserve freshness?
Different methods for whole beans vs ground?
27
votes
9answers
17k views
Caffeine content of cold-brewed coffee: higher or lower than hot-brewed?
I recently rediscovered the joys of cold-brewing coffee. (One level cup of rough-ground beans, 4-1/2 cups of cold water, steeped overnight and strained, produces a rich coffee concentrate. A shot or ...
15
votes
6answers
4k views
What factors lead to rich crema on espresso?
I love espresso, especially when it has a rich crema (the head that forms on top of a well made shot). I notice that some cafes produce this consistently while others never have more than a wisp on ...
21
votes
8answers
3k views
How can I grind coffee without a coffee grinder?
I usually buy prepackaged ground coffee for my drip coffee maker, but recently I accidentally bought a bag of whole bean coffee and threw away the receipt.
Can I salvage this bag of coffee without ...
12
votes
12answers
1k views
7
votes
2answers
5k views
Why does coffee taste awful after reheating it in a microwave oven?
I brew my coffee with a percolator using finely ground beans and it comes out great when it is still hot. However, I have to brew at least two cups in the machine. So if I make coffee in the morning, ...
10
votes
10answers
28k views
Ideal coffee grind for a French Press?
I recently picked up this Bodum "French Press" style coffee maker and so far, I'm really enjoying it for its simplicity. But I'm curious how I should be grinding my coffee.
When I bought it, I ...
11
votes
8answers
5k views
How can I maximize the caffeine content of my coffee?
Like many people, I rely on coffee in the morning to really get me going for the day. I always use more than the directions require to get more caffeine for that extra morning jolt.
How much ground ...
11
votes
2answers
566 views
Why does cinnamon in the grounds make older coffee taste better?
If I go to make coffee and find that the coffee is a little old, I'll sprinkle a little ground cinnamon in the grounds in the basket before brewing. I won't use enough cinnamon that you can actually ...
19
votes
2answers
545 views
Does water that's been left to sit and then reboiled taste different from fresh water boiled once?
This may sound like a silly question, but I've always wondered:
If I boil some water and use some of it and leave the remainder in the kettle, and then a few days later boil that same water again, ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Should whole coffee beans be stored at room temperature, the fridge or freezer?
My coffee is normally used up within 1 week and is of unknown age on purchase, do I need to do anything extra to make it last a week?
10
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I reheat coffee without imparting bad flavor?
I have a carafe of coffee brewed today that is still mostly full, and I would like to serve it tomorrow.
How can I reheat it without negatively impacting the flavor?
10
votes
2answers
350 views
Keeping a sugar solution in the fridge
Based on a the coffee questions I've seen, it seems that hot beverage questions are in scope, so here goes mine:
We like keeping iced coffee in the fridge, particularly in the summer. It's easiest ...
7
votes
12answers
905 views
Best Office Coffee Solution
What is the best coffee solution for a small office (about 10 people)? We are looking for something that is:
Tasty
Fast
Easy
We have fairly discriminating taste, although it doesn't have to be ...
2
votes
1answer
151 views
How to prevent curdling in a local vegan coffee creamer- aka- Post Apocalypse hippy coffee creamer?
Sorry, I got a few questions here.
1) I was at a vegan, locavore restaurant and their soymilk curdled in the coffee. Why did it curdle?
2) I thought, gee, they should use something like coconut ...
2
votes
3answers
690 views
Frothing Milk: Variations by Milk Type?
I froth my milk using the steam wand on my espresso machine. With a national-brand organic whole milk, I am able to get a perfect micro foam nearly 100% of the time. However, when I instead use a ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
Is there a way to infuse roasted coffee beans with different flavors?
I would like to be able to grind my own flavored coffee beans - hazelnut, French vanilla ect.. However, I don't want to buy the coffee beans that are already flavored but would rather try to recreate ...
10
votes
1answer
3k views
What difference does the bar pressure makes in espresso coffee machines?
I read somewhere that 15 bar is enough and any pressure higher than that doesn't make any difference. The standard pressure is 15 bar for home machines and 9 bar for professional machines!
If so, why ...
8
votes
2answers
20k views
How long is it safe to drink coffee after brewed?
How many hours/days would you recommend to drink coffee (after brewed) and consider it safe? (For example if you don't want to waste it). What is the difference if it is refrigerated or not?
The ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
What does the “bold” setting on my Cuisinart coffee maker do?
I recently bought a Cuisinart coffee maker.
It has a button to switch between "regular" and "bold" when brewing. I have no idea what this actually does. I thought that usually bold coffee came from ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Does milk matter to achieve the perfect latte?
Does milk matter to achieve the perfect latte?
Milk is an important ingredient of every espresso latte. Even though I believe coffee bean is the most important ingredient, most people put emphasis ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
Differences between coffee made with french press or espresso machine?
I've liked coffee for years and I'm thinking on buying a espresso machine. Before that, I want to know why the coffee seems more tasty when it is done that way than with a french press or a drip ...
3
votes
1answer
449 views
What is the ideal grind for making espresso?
I know that there is no "ideal" grind for making espresso (or rather, like most things, it depends on the machine and the tastes of the drinker), but I am looking for guidelines as to how different ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I make a homemade latte taste like a restaurant one?
At the moment I prepare lattes at home as follows:
1/3 cup water + 1T ground coffee in Krups espresso machine (looks a bit like this one)
2/3 cup microwave-heated milk (the milk steamer on the ...
3
votes
3answers
305 views
Similar flavors to caffeine?
My wife and I enjoy drip coffee, french pressed coffee, espresso, black tea, green tea, and just about anything caffeinated.
However, my wife wants to avoid caffeine due to its physiological effects.
...
2
votes
2answers
826 views
Sugar forming tiny bubbles in microwaved coffee?
When I heat up coffee in the microwave and then pour in sugar, a layer of tiny dense bubbles forms at the top of the glass and stays there for the duration of the drinking, diminishing slightly over ...
1
vote
1answer
586 views
Describing the taste of Illy coffee and similar brands
I'm no coffee expert - I can't describe flavours well, but I know what I like. And I'd like to learn to describe tastes better.
Illy is my favourite coffee (for French press use) - it seems a lot ...
