Q&A: Can you use store bought ground coffee in a french press?
Question by Troy: Can you use store bought ground coffee in a french press?
So i just got a French press and are a little unsure of how to use it properly. The directions and other websites have said to only use coarsely ground coffee in the press ( the directions said it would clog the filter and other how-to sites said it would go through the filter). My question is then this: is pre ground coffee (ex. fresh market Christmas blend) from the store not a good idea to put in the French press? I do not have a coffee grinder and am not planning on buying one.
Best answer:
Answer by Tom ツ
Unfortunately you cannot use ground coffee from the supermarket, or even coffee you grind in a regular coffee grinder for a French Press because the grind will be too fine. As you noted, the directions for the press tell you to use coarse-ground beans and the only way to really get a uniform grind is to use a Burr Grinder … and they aren’t cheap. The good news is that you can use your French Press for tea (using tea bags or whole loose leaves).
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Q&A: Coffee, Can the average person taste the difference?
Question by hulaguy43: Coffee, Can the average person taste the difference?
Can the average person taste the difference of a high end cup of coffee. I am going to rule out McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts and refer to the more exotic blends from your Starbucks and Caribou’s and other Specialty Coffee Shops. Can a person discern between Sumatran and Columbian, Kona and Ethiopian, or is good coffee just that, good coffee? I realize there are “super tasters” and “coffee snobs”, but I am referring to the average “Joe” so to speak, can they really tell the difference? Cheers!
Best answer:
Answer by clicksqueek
Yes, most people should be able to taste a difference between Colombian and Sumatran, etc.
The clearest way to detect the differences is to do a direct comparison between two or three different coffees in one sitting–get one small cup of each variety, let them cool off a bit (it’s very hard to truly taste any coffee when it’s boiling hot), and take some small sips of each one, one after the other.
But you will need to drink these coffe samples “black”–putting in 3 spoons of sugar and a big slug of cream will mask the flavor of any coffee, and they will all tend to taste the same.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: average, coffee, difference, person, taste
Q&A: What’s a good, expensive kind of coffee bean or type of coffee to buy?
Question by Charlotte: What’s a good, expensive kind of coffee bean or type of coffee to buy?
I normally drink lots of coffee the first thing when I wake up in the morning but the kind of coffee I have been getting is not the best. I want to upgrade and need suggestions.
Best answer:
Answer by George
Latin American Coffees: Coffees harvested from Mexico, Central and South America, Columbia, Panama, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica are characterized by a medium to high acidity and a tangy, sweet flavor. These blends are commonly used for breakfast coffees.
Arabian and African Coffees: Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Kilimanjaro produce spicy-flavored coffees with hints of cocoa, citrus, and berries. Distinguished by a thick, syrup-like body and dark roast, African and Arabian coffees are often served as a dessert accompaniment.
Asia and Indo Pacific Coffees: Grown in Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Islands, these coffees have low acidity and a bold, heavy body. Characterized by a robust, earthy, or slightly bitter flavor, coffees grown in this region complement rich desserts and dark chocolates. Common coffees from this region include Monsoon Malabar, Sumatra, and Yemeni.
Exotic Coffees: Harvested from Hawaii and Jamaica, exotic coffees are prized for their rich aroma and full flavor. Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain are popular varieties from this region.
While serious coffee connoisseurs can identify the origins of their coffee beans solely by aroma, those who are new to coffees from abroad may not have honed this talent. Sample bags of gourmet beans are a fun way to experiment with different regions, blends, and flavors. The next time you brew a pot, think globally and try an international coffee instead of your current blend. You may be pleasantly surprised to discover what you’ve been missing.
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Q&A: What is the healthiest way to prepare coffee?
Question by frozen: What is the healthiest way to prepare coffee?
I don’t drink coffee, but I am told that there are health benefits to coffee, such as reducing the chance of senility and cancer. I also read that the health and harmful effects of coffee depends on the way the coffee is prepared. Can someone suggest the healthiest way to prepare coffee, should I get a specific type of coffee maker, and get a specific brand of coffee? I don’t care about calories, I need to gain weight, but I do care about the other long term health effects of coffee.
Best answer:
Answer by Natural coffee bean
I love your question. Yes… there are a lot of health benefits to coffee. Black coffee is the best. If you have not been a coffee drinker and not worried about calories you could add cream. The most important thing is that you need to drink organic coffee. If it’s not organic you might be crossing out the health benefits due to the pesticides and herbicides. Non-organic coffee is often heavily dosed in harsh chemicals to increase production.
You will want fresh coffee. Coffee ages quickly. It’s the opposite of wine. You will need to discover which roast is your favorite. Dark, Medium & Light.
As far as preparation, brewing and espresso methods are best. French Press makes great tasting coffee but I have heard that because the oils are not filtered out, there are issues with cholesterol. I don’t know enough about it to say for certain but since you are specifically asking about health benefits, I needed to mention that.
I am always looking for information on the health benefits of coffee. I just started a blog today and will have it up on my website soon. The goal is to help educate people on the benefits of coffee.
Good luck and enjoy.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: coffee, healthiest, prepare
What is the secret to making perfect coffee in a camping percolator?
Question by Stacey J: What is the secret to making perfect coffee in a camping percolator?
every time i make coffee in my percolator when camping, it always has grounds in it. What am I doing wrong?
Best answer:
Answer by LK96843
You should try a french press. That’s what we use and needs no electricity.
from Wikpedia: Coffee may also be brewed by steeping in a device such as a French press (also known as a cafetière or coffee press). Ground coffee and hot water are combined in a coffee press and left to brew for a few minutes. A plunger is then depressed to separate the coffee grounds, which remain at the bottom of the container. Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the water, all the coffee oils remain in the beverage, making it stronger.”
They sell them at ikea for about 12 bucks. All you do is heat your water and pour it into the pot. The grounds are already in there. You let it sit for a few minutes and then plunge it which leaves all the grounds on the bottom. YUMMY!!
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: Camping, coffee, Making, Percolator, Perfect, Secret
How much caffeinated coffee is too much to drink in a day?
Question by : How much caffeinated coffee is too much to drink in a day?
I drink anywhere from 1-3 or sometimes 4 cups of caffeinated coffee in a day is this too much? I’ve had arguments with relatives who think that this is too much coffee to drink in a day.
The people who said that this is too much coffee said how it can give you heart/blood pressure problems is this true?
Best answer:
Answer by Jade
Taken from a nutrition web site:
‘It is generally agreed that consuming up to 300 mg of caffeine per day is safe. That would be about the amount of caffeine you would get from three cups of coffee…’
‘…Increasing the amount of caffeine you take in over 300 mg per day may give you “caffeine jitters.” Larger amounts of caffeine may make you irritable, sleepless and may even trigger anxiety and cause diarrhea.’
Guess that pretty much sums it up. 6 cups of coffee is the maximum to have before it starts causing problems with your heart. I say the amount you have is ok.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: Caffeinated, coffee, Drink, much
How do you make good coffee?
Question by Kaila: How do you make good coffee?
I have a coffee maker and my coffee is never good. Any tricks to spice it up a bit or add some flavor?
Best answer:
Answer by Howard H
Clean the coffee maker thoroughly and make sure it is rinsed out very well. Use fresh-ground coffee. Level the grounds in the basket, otherwise you get a mixture of weak and strong instead of a balanced brew.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: coffee, good
What are some of the environmental factors that you will need to consider in marketing coffee in China?
Question by O4K1986: What are some of the environmental factors that you will need to consider in marketing coffee in China?
You are the marketing manager for a leading coffee chain. Your company has made the decision to expand internationally, specifically into China. What are some of the environmental factors that you will need to consider in marketing your coffee in China? Which of one of these factors would have the largest impact on the company’s marketing strategy? Why?
Best answer:
Answer by TopSavings.Net
Well, I would need to know the culture of China better. A major environmental factor I would believe to exist would be tea vs. coffee, a long standing cultural of the Chinese. If I understand correctly, green tea is highly consumed in China. I believe this would have a significant impact on breaking into the market.
It will be hard to convince an ancient tradition to change, but there can be a marketing ploy right there. An advertising campaign making tea look for the old and weak, and coffee for the new man of the modern era.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: China, coffee, Consider, environmental, factors, Marketing, NEED, Some
How can I make a good iced coffee at home?
Question by hieatthouse: How can I make a good iced coffee at home?
I am a coffee lover and I would love to have access to making a good iced coffee at home ..if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them..
Best answer:
Answer by bc.schmidt
By cold brewing it.
Use good coffee, medium grind. Put it in a container with bottled or filtered water (tap is OK, but it’s nice to use good stuff) at a ratio of 3 or 4:1 water to coffee. So for a 1/3 cup of coffee use a cup or bit more of water.
Cover it to keep it clean, and let it sit for at least 4 hours. I like it to sit overnight. Generally 4 hours on the counter then into the fridge.
The end result will be considerably more potent than basic iced coffee, so you can either dilute it to taste all at once, or mix it with water on a per glass basis. Try diluting it with an equal amount of water to start, and add more as you go. Remember that when you pour it over ice, some of the ice will melt and further dilute your coffee, so use cold water or pre-chill it well.
Add milk and sweetener to taste. Using Splenda works nicely by the way, since it dilutes easily whereas sugar will gather at the bottom of a glass of cold liquid unless you stir or shake for about 3 days.
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: coffee, good, home, Iced
What is the difference between instant coffee and regular coffee?
Question by Malgorzata B: What is the difference between instant coffee and regular coffee?
ANd I don’t mean that instant coffee disolves in the cup and regular coffee doesn’t.
How is the instant coffee made?
I really want to know
Best answer:
Answer by Bert C
Instant coffee is brewed coffee with the water removed (dehydrated). Kind of like powdered milk.
Bert
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Categories: Coffee Questions Tags: between, coffee, difference, instant, regular