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I like  love coffee.  I welcome the term coffee snob with pleasure. This world would be a happier place if we were all drinking our coffee in a taste bud-inducing fashion.  It’s possible, it  really is…and in 8 easy tips I will show you how.
1.Stop Drinking Drip Brew Coffee
  Right now. Stop it.  We call this kind of coffee “brown hot,” because that’s all it is. It’s the color Brown and it’s hot. So, now that you are tossing the little bubble carafe away right now (seriously, go do it), let me introduce you to my friend the french press. He’ll be your best friend, and he’s so small, he can travel with you wherever you go. Josh and I have become great friends with this GSI Large Lexan Java Press  Not only can he travel with you, but, yes, your two year old can throw it across the room (minus the hot coffee of course!!!)
    2. Start purchasing whole bean coffee
        Grinding your own coffee is about 100 times better than purchasing the pre-ground junk.  I don’t care if it’s Starbucks premium coffee, if it’s pre-ground it’s crap. At the very least, purchase your beans whole, and then grind them in the store before you leave. Your coffee will taste the best the longer the beans are left whole.
    3.  No more Foldgers
       There. I said it. If it comes in a can, toss it. (see above) And since we’re here, let’s use some logic. Just because the bag says “premium” or “gourmet” doesn’t mean it actually is.  Let’s not fall into advertising techniques ok?  It’s still Foldgers. It’s still mass produced.  It still tastes like burnt poo.  My suggestion is to stop shopping at a mass store like Wal-Mart, and start supporting business’ locally.  Purchase your coffee from a local shop.  I am telling you now, the coffee will taste better and you will have the satisfaction of being a part of your own community.
     4.  Learn the term “Micro-Roast”
        
  This will help you when choosing the best blend of coffee.  Coffee roasted in small batches tastes so much more delicious then anything else. The beans roast more evenly, and the small batches are easier to time to achieve the best possible flavor.  At our shop we use Alliance World Coffees. They are a micro-roaster from Indiana who have taught us the art of Coffee snobbery. These guys know their stuff, and are always working at making what they already do so well even better.Â
    5.  Don’t you be skimping on them beans!
      One of the biggest mistakes an aspiring coffee snob makes, is how much of the *freshly* ground beans you actually use.  In your new french press (go ahead and refer to number 1, if you need to), if it is a 33oz., you will use 3/4 of a cup of grounds.  I know it seems like a lot, but try it.  You will love it, and never go back.
    6.  Water Temperature does matter
      You will use a kettle to heat up your water…..on the stove. If you have a liquid thermometer you want your water to hit 200 degrees.  If you don’t.  200 degrees means just before the kettle whistles.  In my case, I let the kettle whistle and then set the kettle aside for a few minutes, mostly because I’m a busy mom and I don’t have time to watch a pot almost boil. Besides, we all know the watched pot wouldn’t boil even if I was watching it. 
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   7.  We’re almost there! But don’t go too fast!!!!
      It is imperative to let the coffee steep in the 200 degree water.  Four minutes. Time is money, I know, I know.  But go potty, get dressed, pour your cereal…there’s other things you can do in this four minutes, and it’s worth it.Â
    8.  Go get your newspaper
      Enjoy that cup of better than starbucks coffee you just created. And spread the word.  Together we can stop the pesky “brown hot,” and live in a much tastier world, where everyone reads their favorite mammainthescene blog (why yes, that is a shameless plug for myself).
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Nice coffeeesque changes. Hmmmm. i was going to say something snarky like: “I didn’t read this.” But.. *sigh* I did. And actually.. I proudly will say.. I think I have 5 out of 8 covered. The other three will have to wait for now.. or until you bring me a bag of them beans. Oh, and a grinder. And uh, a water thermometer. And spend the night and make it for me? I’ll supply the newspaper!
I’m far from a coffee snob. I’ll admit it- I drink gas station coffee, only because I can put half cappaccino from the machine in it! But I love the smell and the atmosphere that usually surrounds a good cup. Does that count? haha I was wondering if the Alliance Coffee is affilliated with the missionary alliance church? And specifically, Muncie Alliance? Guy something? I went to a church plant of that church while in college, and know coffee was a big thing with it. Just wondering, for my own knowledge. I have lots of coffee loving friends that I can pass the word on to. =) And, I like the new blog. Alot.
We have a plunger (or “french press” as you say), and we don’t even drink coffee! We just have it for when coffee drinkers visit. Our housemates used one in Australia, and we thought it was neat. Sometimes Dave uses it to make tea.
And, I used to watch pots boil at a part-time job. It rocked… Although I discovered that watched pots do, in fact, boil. It just makes your day go on forever…
coffee?
ew.
I love the new look! It is so totally you
[...] So You Want Delicious, Better Than Starbucks Coffee? Here’s 8 Tips How by Grace Brindle [...]
Oh yeah, you guys have got it down! Kourtney won’t drink his brew any other way! (Well, unless it’s an Americano) If only I drank coffee….
french pressed coffee is amazing…absolutely. you can’t beat that little oily ring that it leaves around the edge of your coffee mug. i was actually just kicking myself for not having any decaf hanging around the house for our chilly pre-fall day yesterday….i wanted to press a pot sooo badly.
I love coffee too. We use French press and illy coffee, but we do buy our coffee ground and keep it in the freezer.
I can’t drink Starbucks. It’s horrible.
I scored a 4 out of 8. I will give the larger grounds and steeping an try. Then I will enjoy.
Cheers.
Saw you in Problogger killer titles. you can check out mine if you wish.
How To Be A Prostitute Farmer?
http://www.robschaumer.com/blog/2008/02/20/how-to-be-a-prostitute-farmer/
[...] So You Want Delicious, Better Than Starbucks Coffee? Here’s 8 Tips How by Grace Brindle [...]
ooh, I want the French Press you have… I’m hate being so careful not to break mine while washing it.
I find that the best way to make your water boil quickly is to start changing a poopy diaper — the whistle will inevitably start to blow while you have a naked, poo covered baby bottom lifted up in the air, and are about to apply the wipe.[insert squirming child, poo on fingers, mess on floor...]
All your tips are right on the money. We love our Costco roasted coffee, 2 lbs whole beans for $12-15. They roast it themselves right in the store – smells yummy when you walk in too.
Sarahs last blog post..my family…
[...] that’s cheating. Plus, if you look at my featured post on my home page, you’ll notice my post “So You Want Better then Starbucks Coffee? Here’s 8 Tips How†and, I’ll have you know that is my most commented post, per the life of [...]
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