Coffee?

I pretty much didn't care for coffee growing up; smelled great, but way too bitter. Then I got stationed in Turkey and had some of their coffee - it was wonderful! I have since then tried to duplicate it, with some success. Recently I also discovered Italian Mocha Pot coffee and have been trying to duplicate this, but I'm struggling - still trying though. Attached are my Turkish and Italian efforts.

What are your favorite styles?
I have both of those.

My coffee experiences start when I got stationed at Travis AFB in 1983. With no stripes on my sleeves yet, I worked in the jet engine test cell, had never had coffee before and the Sergent told me to make coffee. I had never done it and told him so. It was a drip machine and he got all frustrated and told me to fill the thing with water, put a filter in the basket, and fill it with coffee from the coffee can.

So I filled it with water, put a filter in the filter basket, and filled the filter with coffee from the coffee can. Then I packed it down with the heel of my hand, refilled, repacked it, refilled it, repacked it... and turned it on...

They never asked me to make coffee again. It wasn't on purpose either, I simply had no idea how it was done.

Years later when I was flying, we went through Sigonella pretty regularly, always stopped at the Wendys on base for a real Italian cappuccino and dipped their soft chocolate chip cookies in - it was a rare delicacy.

It was the highlight of an otherwise dull mission, and long before starbux became a "thing". I still get irritated when I walk in one of their stores, ask for a dry cappuccino and get a big cup of disgusting hot milk with a slight coffee flavor. :(

We also flew through Incirlik Turkey often, and many times sat in the market watching with fascination as they prepared us all a Turkish coffee.

I have both items in your photo- the exact same brew pot and a similar Turkish cezve pot. Like you I still can't get the Turkish coffee down- just cannot get a good foam going and keep it into the cup. If you ever figure that out please let me know.
 
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Before the prices skyrocketed, bought Dunkin doughnuts. Now it's folgers standard or Columbian. My only real preference with coffee is that it has home made plus p irish creme in it during the holidays. The main goal is to just to get going in the morning.
 
Coffee… fascinating topic and drink.

A morning withOUT my coffee would be a bad morning.

I started drinking coffee very young, my dad was a big coffee drinker. I remember waking up to the smell of coffee perking on the stove in the old aluminum coffee pot. MJB was the coffee of choice.

I have studied coffee a lot as part of my quest for health education. During a vacation I visited Kona Coffee on the big Island. I bought and read a book by Timothy James Castle -The Perfect Cup… fascinating information and exposes lots of myths about coffee.

Now at my age I drink 2 cups in the morning. No caffein after 12 noon. Caffein has a mean half-life about 5 hours, so I limit the amount of caffein in my blood before bedtime.

The pharmacology of caffein in coffee has been an historical subject since the 15th century, and studied extensively, especially during the past several decades.

After trying many different beans, I ended up with Costco's Kirland 100% Columbian Supremo Bean Dark Roast – Fine Grind. A 3 lbs. can lasts my wife and I about 20 to 25 days. We've been drinking that for over 20 years now. We tried the fancy bean grinders but always end up with a simple Black & Decker drip coffee maker.

I don't like it black, just with sugar, or just with cream. I ruin my coffee with the non-dairy flavored creamers.

There appears to be some debate on the health benefits or health drawbacks to dark roasted coffee. The latest studies say a couple cups of coffee a day has more health benefits than health drawbacks. :D
 
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We use a Keurig K-cup brewer so me & mrs can brew what we like without making a whole pot. I like Starbucks bold brews black, French & Italian roasts, Black Rifle JB & BB. She likes various flavored coffees. Yum!
 
...I'm also a devotee of the bean. My personal experience includes a brief romance with home roasting, which turned out to be more trouble than it was worth for me.
In my opinion, the over-roasted char-bucks flavor is repugnant and I have settled on Eight O'Clock Columbian medium roast whole bean ground each night as part of my bed time ritual.

The next morning, one push of the start button on the Moccamaster drip brewer yields one of the good Lord's better gifts to mankind.

As the famous saying goes, "de gustibus non est disputandum"
 
Before I retired 18 years ago I never drank coffee. Once I had time not having to go to work I started drinking coffee in the morning. In the past 18 years I have tried many kinds of coffee and ways of brewing trying to find the perfect one. Drank dark roast for awhile but got to the point where I preferred medium roast. When prices started to rise I starting looking for a good one at a good price. At last I have found one that I will stick to from now on. Kirkland Summit Roast K Cup. Has a great aroma when brewing making for a very smooth drink. Also at a great price point.
 
I lived in Costa Rica for ten years. There, the coffee making system isn't so costly, because many people use a colador de cafe, a flannel cloth bag stitched to wire. You put freshly ground coffee beans in the colador (sock) and pour hot water over the grounds while holding the "sock" over a cup or pot. The Thai use a similar method for tea and coffee.

Some people use a chorreador (stand) to support the colador while pouring water in the sock. Not really needed, but looks nice.

It really is all about the freshness of the beans, quality of water, and brewing method. ;)

I've traveled to Costa Rica 3 times between 1994-2000 to go fishing. We were based in Tamarindo before it became so commercialized, and absolutely LOVED it! It was basically a fishing village. My fellow fishermen loved the coffee. At the time, I wasn't a coffee drinker at all. Some of my friends still say that I'm not a COFFEE drinker.

Give me my Keurig and a box of K cups and I am content...
Never understood the sometimes almost psychotic obsession of some for Starbucks coffee.....

I now drink coffee, or my version:rolleyes: of it. I have and use only a Keurig machine. I prefer Green Mountain Dark Magic Dark Roast pods. After "brewing" it, I add a heaping teaspoon of raw sugar and a good amount of half and half. Because the cream cools down the coffee more than I prefer, I then pop it in the microwave for about 45 seconds.:eek: That's why my friends question whether or not what I'm drinking is coffee.:confused: It is to me and it tastes great.
Larry
 
I understand that crushed egg shells will eliminate the bitterness of coffee. That presumes your coffee is bitter. :rolleyes:

I have no personal favorites, I stick to dark roasts for the most part. I dislike flavored coffee. But I dislike flavored vodkas, too, and they sell like crazy. :D
 
I'm not really a coffee drinker. I will have the occasional sip or two, but not really "into" it. My wife loves her caramel macchiato (not sure if spelled right), and it tastes pretty good from some places. Starbucks isn't one.

MIL makes her Cuban style espresso with so much brown sugar that it's like drinking syrup. Very strong coffee, but it's too sickly sweet for me. My son grew up drinking it, and he loves it. She prefers Pilon Supreme or Cafe la Llave brands. They are somewhat difficult to find locally, though.
 
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only the bestest at the shack
 

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Wow, that Turkish coffee making system with the copper cezve had to cost you quite a bit, and it looks great.

That grinder and the original cezve were bought in Turkey about forty years ago; didn't cost me much at all. The original cezve's tinning eventually wore thin, so I ordered on amazon for the one pictured, a Demmex for about $35.00!
 
I pretty much didn't care for coffee growing up; smelled great, but way too bitter. Then I got stationed in Turkey and had some of their coffee - it was wonderful! I have since then tried to duplicate it, with some success. Recently I also discovered Italian Mocha Pot coffee and have been trying to duplicate this, but I'm struggling - still trying though. Attached are my Turkish and Italian efforts.

What are your favorite styles?

Pretty involved, but check out James Hoffman on YouTube for an excellent moka pot technique. Using a paper filter from an aeropress makes a nice cup. The Aeropress makes a nice smooth coffee too, but neither is as strong as Turkish.

My favorite beans are Mayorga organic Cuban roast from Costco. Dark, rich and reasonably priced.
 
No expert here.

Have about a quart of cold* coffee every morning, 2/3 Trader Joe's French Roast, 1/3 Maxwell House original, brewed in a French press. There is surely something better, but I haven't discovered it yet. I'm not complaining.

*Aftermath of diabetes, and waking up thirsty. The diabetes is under control, but I still usually prefer something cold in the morning.
 
My wife and I are true coffee lovers! We make 8 cups every morning either in our electric perk or in a stove top perk. Over the years we have tried many blends, brands and methods of making coffee and this method and using 8 O'clock Columbian Peaks coffee has been our FAV for over a 15 year period. At breakfast I probably have around 4.5 cups and my wife has around 3.5 cups. We normally do not drink anymore coffee during the day and will only normally have some at night when out to dinner or sometimes when guests are here after dinner and we serve desert.

We have tried some exotic blends as well since our son and DIL used to send us coffee beans from all over the world (like a coffee of the month club). Some we liked a bit but most were too biter for our liking. They enjoy bitter coffee, we don't! At the end of the day, the 8 O'clock Columbian Peaks and an electric perk floats our boats!


When we can get it reasonably I will buy six, 30 ounce bags and that will last us about 2 months or so. Prices have been all over the chart this past year! Hopefully now they will come down - yea, right! lol

I hope you are never in a situation where you cannot drink coffee for a few days because of surgery or something. You have set yourself up for some MAJOR caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
I have tried many times over the years to develop a taste for coffee, but I just can't do it without doctoring it up with creamer and sugar to where it looks like hot chocolate. Too bitter!
 
I hope you are never in a situation where you cannot drink coffee for a few days because of surgery or something. You have set yourself up for some MAJOR caffeine withdrawal symptoms.
I have tried many times over the years to develop a taste for coffee, but I just can't do it without doctoring it up with creamer and sugar to where it looks like hot chocolate. Too bitter!

I have had to refrain from coffee for routine colonoscopies and I did not have any real issues. Actually I need to make a appointment for another since it's been at least 5 years so I will let ya know.
 
My day starts with a mug of coffee and two slices of buttered toast with raw honey. It is most enjoyable.

Those 12 ounces of java must trip my float switch as I have no desire for a second cup at any time during the day.

4 bits per day covers my coffee needs.
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned chicory. I don't think it's available everywhere but there is plenty of it in S.Ms. and La. I prefer French Market coffee and chicory from Louisiana. I have found Rouse's (a family owned super market chain with store's mostly in the southern parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) brand coffee and chicory on sale for $3.00 for a 13 oz. bag. I bought 12 bags of it last week and already had four bags left over from the last sale. Most other brands of coffee in 13 oz. bags are $5-8.00, or more, a bag. Chicory has a history. During the Civil War Yankee occupation of New Orleans coffee was mostly unobtainable. A similar drink was made with chicory, which was later mixed with coffee when it became available again. It was mostly a New Orleans thing but it is still around and still very good. I limit myself to no more than three cups a day. Our esteemed member Cajun Lawyer also enjoys coffee and chicory.
 
Dad picked up a habit of adding salt to his coffee grounds prior to perculating it when he served in Korea. Said it cuts down the bitterness of the brewed coffee. I never drank any coffee they had in Korea, but I did pick up his habit and still shake a tad of salt in mine. (just because I reckon LOL!)

Right now we are drinking Krogers Breakfast Blend (arabic) and enjoy it every morning. Dad drank coffee all day long, I pretty much just have two cups every morning.
 
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