I'm a great cook..

[DrPizza]

For years, making coffee at work meant cutting a pre-measured bag open, dumping the contents into a filter, then adding one full pot of water. I still cannot manage to brew a decent cup of coffee at home, because I'm horrible at estimating how much coffee to use.

Oh well, if the coffee's too strong, you can always add water (is my philosophy). So I err on that side. (And quite a bit on that side today.)

 

[Insane3D]

It's easy to make a good cup of coffee.

1. Grind your own beans at time of brewing
2. Use filtered or spring water
3. Use a good coffeemaker that keeps the water hot during brewing. A lot of cheap makers don't keep the water hot enough when it gets to the coffee, and extraction is not as complete.
4. Keep said coffeemaker clean

I'm sure Descartes has another level of things to do for good coffee...but that's my list.

 

[DrPizza]

Well, for the coffeemaker, we're replacing the "Mr Coffee" with a really nice coffeemaker when the kitchen remodeling job is complete. My only problem is really figuring out how much grounds to use. Oh well. The last 2 cups seem to be rotting out my stomach; just a tad too strong.

 

[cyclistca]

I tried filter water for awhile but switched back to regular tap water. I did not notice any difference in the taste and it's cheaper.

Keys I found

1. Grind your own coffe
2. Buy good quality beans

 

[Feldenak]

Get a decent burr grinder. I'm swinging by CostCo today to look into that Cuisenart burr grinder they have for ~$30. I'm using a blade grinder now, and while better than preground beans, could be better.

 

[DrPizza]

darn it! darn it! darn it!! We just bought a new coffeemaker; I told her to go for the more expensive one that ground the beans before brewing. Maybe I can talk her into taking it back and exchanging it.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
I tried filter water for awhile but switched back to regular tap water. I did not notice any difference in the taste and it's cheaper.

Keys I found

1. Grind your own coffe
2. Buy good quality beans

It really depends on your tap water, and how you make coffee. I have a PUR water filter/dispenser thing in the fridge I just fill up. The cost of the filters spread across the months they last is negligible...

 

[SVT Cobra]

Grind you own beans for sure!!! I started doing it 2 years ago and would never dream of not doing it again.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
darn it! darn it! darn it!! We just bought a new coffeemaker; I told her to go for the more expensive one that ground the beans before brewing. Maybe I can talk her into taking it back and exchanging it.

I'm not a fan of those coffee machines/grinders. I would pick up a nice Braun or Krups 12 cup unit that uses #4 cone filters, and a separate grinder.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It costs more, but you could try one of those brewers that uses the pre-meausred pods.

 

[SSP]

I don't use a coffee maker. 1 1/2 teaspoons of nestle/folgers, fill hot water to 80%, 2 teaspoons of sugar. Thats the way I like it.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
It costs more, but you could try one of those brewers that uses the pre-meausred pods.

Sure, but then you are locked into a certain strength, and the coffee has been ground eons ago...

 

[shilala]

I have a grinder and beans. I've tried all sorts of beans. Aside from Blue Mountain super expensive Jamaican stuff, they have all sucked. The Amber Estate Blue Mountain tasted wonderful, but the caffiene was way too much.
I take that back. I got some Pumpkin Spice beans that were good.
I have a bunn and it makes a wonderful cup of coffee.
Maxwell House is where it's at.

And Pizza, get a little tupperware scoop and put it in your coffee can. Then you wil know how much coffee to use by trial and error.
If your coffee is too bitter, toss a little salt in it. Makes a HUGE difference.

 

[BoomerD]

I've used Bunn coffemakers for many years. 3 minutes for a full pot of coffee...and I usually drink a LOT of coffee...

Perhaps the biggest thing that will affect your coffee, is the quailty of the water you start with. Even one of those nearly worthless PUR faucet filters will improve marginal water, and a good in-line water filter or Reverse Osmosis set-up would be better.
I've "enjoyed" coffee in all strengths...from squad bay coffee that doubled as battery acid, to stuff so weak you'd think it was watered down tea...Personally, I like it somewhere in the middle ...for my 8 cup Bunn coffeemaker, I use 2 lightly rounded scoops (yes, buy a good coffee scoop...approx 1/8 cup size) per pot. That makes coffee that is medium strength, not so strong it eats you up, yet still has enough flavor to enjoy...
Whether tou grind your own or not, is more a matter of personal choice. I've done it, but MOST of my daily drinking coffee comes out of a can...Yuban...good flavor, not horribly acid, medium dark roast.

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
I've used Bunn coffemakers for many years. 3 minutes for a full pot of coffee...and I usually drink a LOT of coffee...

Perhaps the biggest thing that will affect your coffee, is the quailty of the water you start with. Even one of those nearly worthless PUR faucet filters will improve marginal water, and a good in-line water filter or Reverse Osmosis set-up would be better.
I've "enjoyed" coffee in all strengths...from squad bay coffee that doubled as battery acid, to stuff so weak you'd think it was watered down tea...Personally, I like it somewhere in the middle ...for my 8 cup Bunn coffeemaker, I use 2 lightly rounded scoops (yes, buy a good coffee scoop...approx 1/8 cup size) per pot. That makes coffee that is medium strength, not so strong it eats you up, yet still has enough flavor to enjoy...
Whether tou grind your own or not, is more a matter of personal choice. I've done it, but MOST of my daily drinking coffee comes out of a can...Yuban...good flavor, not horribly acid, medium dark roast.

Never heard of Yuban. I'm going to try it if I can find some.

 

[DrPizza]

All of our water in the house is filtered. (we have well water)... The water tastes awesome. The filter is there to help out the water softener which has a ton of work to do. (Without the filter and softener in place, our bathtub goes from white to bright orange from the rust within a week.) But, I agree; the water does make a huge difference. Before the filter and softener, the coffee always sucked.

 

[Howard]

Try a burr grinder + AeroPress?

 

[SVT Cobra]

I like the Columbian beans at Trader Joe's.