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FoodProof Coffee Challenge
I was re-inspired today after visiting a new wonderful restaurant (which i will post a proper review of soon) that I LOVE coffee. I drink my coffee black, and love the taste of different coffees.
When I say this, I can tell that I am no coffee professional, but coffee to me is a simple thing. It is something I do at predicted intervals every day that brings my day a bit of pleasure that I can always rely on. It holds many memories, it has many connotations.
So today, I had a terrific cup of Blue Bottle Coffee which is a local roaster out of Oakland, CA. This is not the first time I have had Blue Bottle Coffee, but it has been a while, and it has reminded me once again that i should not be drinking my supermarket coffee if I can afford the good stuff. So I went to their Website and ordered a few pounds of coffee and decided that I would post my experiences and thoughts on FoodProof for all of you FPers to enjoy. I am really hoping that other FPers will participate in this exercise and that we can get some really good Pantry references going.
Here are my initial rules to this exercise. You don't have to follow these rules, but I am going to try.
1. One new coffee a week.
2. Whole beans, no pre-grinds (unless drank in a store or cafe of course)
3. Free Trade? (I am not an expert here, please weigh in)
4. One review per week.
So ... what do you all think? Are you interested? Please comment, create your own blog posts, get involved. This could be really fun ... and tasty!
You can either comment here, on this post, or even better, post in the FoodProof Coffee Challenge Pantry page. Want your Photo/Recipe/Blog Posting to show up in the FoodProof Coffee Challenge pantry page? Easy! just tag it FoodProof Coffee Challenge!
When I say this, I can tell that I am no coffee professional, but coffee to me is a simple thing. It is something I do at predicted intervals every day that brings my day a bit of pleasure that I can always rely on. It holds many memories, it has many connotations.
So today, I had a terrific cup of Blue Bottle Coffee which is a local roaster out of Oakland, CA. This is not the first time I have had Blue Bottle Coffee, but it has been a while, and it has reminded me once again that i should not be drinking my supermarket coffee if I can afford the good stuff. So I went to their Website and ordered a few pounds of coffee and decided that I would post my experiences and thoughts on FoodProof for all of you FPers to enjoy. I am really hoping that other FPers will participate in this exercise and that we can get some really good Pantry references going.
Here are my initial rules to this exercise. You don't have to follow these rules, but I am going to try.
1. One new coffee a week.
2. Whole beans, no pre-grinds (unless drank in a store or cafe of course)
3. Free Trade? (I am not an expert here, please weigh in)
4. One review per week.
So ... what do you all think? Are you interested? Please comment, create your own blog posts, get involved. This could be really fun ... and tasty!
You can either comment here, on this post, or even better, post in the FoodProof Coffee Challenge Pantry page. Want your Photo/Recipe/Blog Posting to show up in the FoodProof Coffee Challenge pantry page? Easy! just tag it FoodProof Coffee Challenge!
Comments (16) · Want to Comment? Log In!
mct · I'm not sure, but my sense is that if Free Trade / Fair trade coffee tastes any better, it's because you're toasting morality by drinking it.
dan · here here.
brady · I agree that Blue Bottle is incredible. I've only had it once or twice--they sell it (or used to?) at a bakery at the SF Ferry Building--but I knew I was on to something special after my very first sip.
I know a dude in the coffee industry who once explained to me the moral irrelevance of the Fair Trade label, but it was kind of confusing and I've forgotten it.
jessica · i can not wait for this coffee to arrive!
abt · My co-workers were talking about Blue Bottle the other day. I should try a cup of it, I think. There's really bad coffee around Union Square.
dan · would you and yours like to come over for a cup next weekend? Blue bottle only ships on tuesdays, and i got my order in on wed.
abt · Sounds awesome. I want to try their vacuum sealed stuff, too. It's a $20,000 machine from Japan that does some crazy coffee science, and I think I'm in love with it: http://youtube.com/watch?v=H5ZFiyTTSKI
lara · My problem with buying whole beans is that it's very hard for me to gauge how finely to grind it, so I often end up grinding too coarse and having weak coffee, or too fine and having a cup of silt. Advice?
dan · I have never had this problem before, maybe you have a much better palate than I do.
lara · Rats! No help!
Aimee · Get a grinder with a brew-method setting! It's the only way I can make a decent cup anymore.
Eoin · Depending on how you brew your coffee, the grind varies (you're trying to adjust the surface area so the oils and solids are extracted fully but not overly). For a paper or permanent filter (like in a machine) the grounds should be finely ground and should hold the shape of your hand if you squeeze them. For a press, the grind is coarser (less surface area) and should be like a medium sand. If you not using a paper filter, there will and ought to be some sediment in the bottom of the cup, but not more than the last sip. I have always found that the problem with weak coffee is measurement. 2 table-spoons of ground coffee per 6oz of water is best. If that is too strong, add water to the cup, not to the grounds as they will over extract. Hope this helps!
dan · This deserves a blog post devoted just to this! Great comment!
Aimee · Blue Bottle is AMAZING. I'm a dark roast kinda girl, but the three africans is my current favorite. You know you can go to their roastery on mondays and fridays and buy some, right? I think it says that on the website somewhere.
My default coffee, however, is McLaughlin's Max's Blend. How convenient that they are located so close to me!
dan · I will have to try that blend, and also maxs.
Aimee · It's often available at the berkeley and temescal farmer's markets (the three africans, that is). It is definitely a tiny bit lighter than I generally prefer, but it is SO smooth and tasty. It's an easy drink, and since I'm not one of those people who needs things to be difficult in order for me to enjoy them, I love it.
