Coffee drinkers - Why don't we soak/make coffee like we make tea?

fuzzybabybunny

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I've always wondered this. We use teabags or place tea in stainless steel infusers when we're making tea. Others just throw the loose leaf right in the water but of course this wouldn't be good for coffee grinds.

What's stopping us from putting coffee grinds in a big tea bag or tea infuser, provided that the grinds don't leak out?

Something to do with taste?
 

m3ta1head

Senior member
Aug 28, 2006
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Brewing coffee is much less forgiving than brewing tea-it can easily be over-extracted, which causes bitter acids from the bean to leech into the brew. Coffee requires precise water temperature and water/grounds ratio for an optimum brew. Ideally, all aspects of coffee making should be precisely controlled, and the various methods of brewing help to refine this process.

In the case of a french press, the grounds only soak in water for a very short period of time before being forced away. The pressure involved in this process is one of the main contributors in the extraction of the grounds, and this could not be replicated by simply soaking grounds in a cup of hot water (or in a teabag).
 
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fuzzybabybunny

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What prompted this? Are you seeing how green tea is drunk traditionally? It's cool, huh?

No, I've been drinking tea loose and by the bag for many years as well. I guess I finally got around to asking this question just now.

For the layman, such as myself, I would just use a basic drip machine or get some coffee beans, grind them, put them in a french press, add in boiling water, wait for 3 minutes, and then dump out the coffee into drinking vessels.

It tasted ok by me?
 

destrekor

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Nov 18, 2005
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In the case of a french press, the grounds only soak in water for a very short period of time before being forced away. The pressure involved in this process is one of the main contributors in the extraction of the grounds, and this could not be replicated by simply soaking grounds in a cup of hot water (or in a teabag).

The Bodum French Press would like a word with you. ;)
 

Broheim

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2011
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I have one of these http://www.evasolo.com/productinfo/567670/

I don't drink coffee myself and only have it for when my dad shows up (he complains when I serve him instant coffee), supposedly it makes great coffee but you can't leave it in there for more than 10 minutes or so before it turns bitter.
 

fuzzybabybunny

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So what is the best way to prepare coffee if you can't use a machine or fancy equipment?

All you've got is coffee grinds, water, heat, and a cup.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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So what is the best way to prepare coffee if you can't use a machine or fancy equipment?

All you've got is coffee grinds, water, heat, and a cup.

Aside from the Turkish coffee which requires ultra fine grinding, I'd make a manual drip system(preferred) from paper towel and plastic bottle, or just cook the grinds directly in a pot.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
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I was going to mention that. I just can't get them flavorful enough even with a few of them and then it's pointless because of the cost.

They're usually an instant/bean hybrid. They use instant to boost the flavor a bit. I agree they suck, but it beats a blank if that's all you've got. I usually get them in hotel rooms, so they're tolerable considering the price(free).
 

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
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Brewing coffee is much less forgiving than brewing tea-it can easily be over-extracted, which causes bitter acids from the bean to leech into the brew. Coffee requires precise water temperature and water/grounds ratio for an optimum brew. Ideally, all aspects of coffee making should be precisely controlled, and the various methods of brewing help to refine this process.

In the case of a french press, the grounds only soak in water for a very short period of time before being forced away. The pressure involved in this process is one of the main contributors in the extraction of the grounds, and this could not be replicated by simply soaking grounds in a cup of hot water (or in a teabag).

Acids are sour and result from under-extraction, tannins are bitter are a result of over-extraction.
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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If I am not using my newly Xmas gifted Keurig, I am using a Bodum french press, which is a good way to make coffee.

I also really like the single cup way to make coffee where you take the flat bottomed funnel and put a coffee filter in it, add a tablespoon or so of coffee, and pour boiling water over, it slowly drips through and makes a pretty decent cup of coffee as well.
 

TXHokie

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Nov 16, 1999
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I blame ATOT for turning me into a gradual coffee snob. I used to be a simpleton dousing my coffee with sugar and cream. Now I drink straight black coffee from fresh ground beans (burr, not blade mind you). Problem with drinking black coffee is that now you become more sensitive to the aroma and taste of the coffee itself. I'm constantly searching for better method to brew my coffee. I have gone thru a couple drip machines, french press, perc, vacpot, even those little metal Vietnamese drip coffee thingy which worked surprisingly well. Whenever I see a new coffee thread I'm all over it. This madness has to stop.
 

D1gger

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
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Cowboy Coffee

Link

"Cowboy coffee" is made by heating coarse grounds with water in a pot, letting the grounds settle and pouring off the liquid to drink, sometimes filtering it to remove fine grounds. While the name suggests that this method was used by cowboys, presumably on the trail around a campfire, it is used by others; some people prefer this method. This method is still used in certain situations in Finland, Norway and Sweden, which have the highest consumption of coffee per-capita,[5][dead link] but filter brewing is the standard method there today.

Cowboy coffee is connoisseur coffee if made properly. It should never be boiled. About 200 °F (93 °C) is the optimal temperature to make coffee. Bring the water to a simmer then remove from heat and wait a few minutes for it to cool to the optimal temperature. Use a thermometer or experience to do this. This time can be used to grind the coffee beans. A hand operated grinder can be used where no electrical power is available. Cowboy coffee is associated with crudely made coffee with a burned flavor because often out on the cattle drives the cook was inexperienced or in a hurry and boiled the water with the ground coffee in it. It was often too strongly flavored if the cook used standard proportions of coffee to water. This method requires less coffee. Use only about two thirds of the amount recommended for drip coffee. If high quality freshly ground coffee is poured into very hot but not yet simmering spring, rain, or filtered water in a glass or ceramic container and stirred a few moments with a wooden or ceramic utensil then allowed to set about a minute then filtered through a gold plated coffee screen, the result is equal or superior to more expensive or time consuming methods
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
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Pour over is the simplest, and one of the best, ways of making coffee. I use one of these for weekdays: http://www.amazon.com/Chemex-Drip-Co.../dp/B0000YWF5E It's really easy to clean and doesn't take much longer to use than drip.

I use a french press on weekends.

My next coffee purchase will probably be the cheapest nespresso machine.

That thing is boss.
I used to have a single cup version of the same thing, (I mentioned it earlier)