http://coffeegeek.com/ http://www.sweetmarias.com/index.php http://homeroasters.org/php/news.php Here is another good one http://www.sweetmariascoffee.com/forum/
No beans get ground in my house until I'm prepping to load either the Technivorm or the French-press to make coffee right then & there.
You have a Technivorm. That's a good start. Now let me entice you over to the dark side (espresso drinkers). We have Biscotti.
Have any of you coffee aficionados tried the vacuum brewing method? If so, I would like to hear your thoughts compared to french press.
I have seriously contemplated getting a vacuum brewer, but every time I mention it to my wife, she's under the impression I'm trying to convert the kitchen into a research lab... Folks who have used this method claim it produces a quality cup, but the clean-up is one of the biggest disadvantages to this process...so I'm told.
Advantages: Cleaner cup, better tasting, Disadvantages. If you use cloth filter and don't keep the filter clean you will contaminate the coffee. Way around the problem is use a Cory Rod. Tough to clean. The glass is easy to clean it is the grounds. You do not want to let them go down the garbage disposal. The grounds mix with fat and grease and clog the drain. Lots of glass to break.Stalling lots of it until you learn. After you learn it seldom is a problem. Probably the best tasting way to prepare coffee but requires time patience and equipment. If you live near Portland I would be glad to teach you. See tutorial at Sweet Marias
My palette isn't discerning enough to really notice a significant difference between a french press and a drip machine. Since I drink 6-8 cups a day I just drip it in the morning and maybe do a french press or espresso on the weekends. I grind my own beans with a cheapo disk burr grinder (not as consistent a grind as a conical burr grinder but it does everything from French Press to Espresso just fine). I'm not a coffee snob, but I do like good tasting coffee so I try to avoid anything that comes in a can, and I usually avoid the pre-ground bags as well (the exception being Dunkin Doughnuts Seasonal Peppermint Mocha which I can't get in whole bean).
Some things are self-evident. @Barry Sometimes the coffee-making process (the vacuum brewer clean-up hassle) is sooo much work that the end results aren't worth it, IMO. As much as I find the VacBrew process intriguing, the post-brew hassle makes me prefer a good drip or press method.
That's why I got away from Vac brewing. Might I suggest the Technivorm. It is price fixed at 299 but can often be found on e-bay for as low as 214 NIB. http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/technivorm-brewers.html?source=grid or: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmarias/coffee-brewers/filtercones.html?source=grid I have never used the Clever Coffee Brewer myself. Many people I respect,however love them and swear by them.
Been a fan of the Technivorm MoccaMaster KBT-741 for years. Picked it up on sale 4-5 years ago & use it daily. Great machine. Nice comparison here:
I haven't ventured into the realm of vintage coffee brewing yet, but couldn't imagine a day that doesn't start out with a cup (more like a pot actually) of Joe. My M.O. Is usually a French Press with some Spanish Expresso ( I know...not the common technique but it's high octane for sure). Common drip coffee maker is a secondary preference. K Cups or a Tossimo if I'm in a rush.
Came across a good deal on a Technivorm Grand at Williams-Sonoma. normally $370.—close-out pricing them now for about $240—which is less than the cost of the model I currently use. I have them holding one aside until I decide.....
I use a four cup Mr. Coffee coffee maker. It does the job. Drink it black. That way I can taste the coffee.
They make Coffee Makers that coast $370 . That makes my wife's Keurig look affordable. Does it really taste that much better than a drip or even a french press?
The Technivorms are superior to the vast majority of drip-machines out there today, and rival a good, strong French-press. Better than French press? I'd call it a draw, in most cases. But with all things, quality and, in this instance, convenience comes at price. You should price some of the top home expresso machines if you want sticker shock. But to many coffee aficionados, the convenience and control is worth the cost of admission. Some see a sticker price of $150-200 on a DE razor and wonder, "Does it really shave better than a $25 model?"
