Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Better Coffee

News Type: Event — Seeded on Sun Jul 12, 2009 9:58 AM EDT

Article Source: Lifehacker

Coffee doesn't always make work better, but you can definitely work to get better coffee. From four-cup hotel machines to French presses, from home-roasted beans to decorative foam—we've got a wealth of tips for enjoying a better cup.

Published to:

Michael Sautter's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Coffee Lovers, Foodies!
Regions: none

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

4.7

{"commentId":8170229,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

There are a few good ideas here.

{"commentId":8170229,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

2 votes

#1 - Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":8179894,"authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

Dr Know

The article left out the best thing to do to get better coffee. 95%+ of a cup of coffee is WATER. If you start with bad water you are DEAD in the water.

I started to distill my own water and found a great improvement in the taste of the coffee no matter whether it was generic store brand or premium beans. Most bottle water is nothing but tap water. Most "mountain' water has a LOT of minerals in it which will ruin the flavor and "feel" of the coffee.

{"commentId":8179894,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"DrKnow"}

3 votes

#2 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":8181210,"authorDomain":"Ask-A-Butcher"}

Steve Graves

Gotta agree with the water and coffee......just like the old addage GIGO (garbage in garbage out).

Got my own RO attached to the sink and use that for coffee and iced tea.

{"commentId":8181210,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"Ask-A-Butcher"}

2 votes

#2.1 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:59 AM EDT

{"commentId":8183788,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Oh yes, water - thanks!

{"commentId":8183788,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

2 votes

#2.2 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":8250764,"authorDomain":"robynlewis04"}

robynlewisTX.

I always use distilled water and by the way has anyone tried Dunkin Doughnuts coffee? If so, any recommendations? I like Starbucks but would like to branch out too.

{"commentId":8250764,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"robynlewis04"}

1 vote

#2.3 - Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":8182750,"authorDomain":"Griff69"}

Griff69

You could complain about how hard it is to find fresh-roasted, quality beans, or you can bootstrap your coffee routine and roast your own beans.

While I wouldn't say no one should roast their own, there are serious dangers involved. Make sure to research thoroughly before attempting...

{"commentId":8182750,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"Griff69"}

2 votes

#3 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:26 AM EDT

{"commentId":8183804,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Good reminder, thanks.

{"commentId":8183804,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:32 AM EDT

{"commentId":8235293,"authorDomain":"rochart"}

rochart

Purchase a good green bean if you are roasting your own. Then drink within a week after roasting.

If you are buying roasted, buy from someone locally or someone who roasts weekly or several times a week.

Drink all of your pre-roasted coffee within 30 days. It gets stale after that even in a sealed container.

Avoid ground coffee, grind your own. After a few days you have a different product entirely.

Roasting your own is both art and science. You cannot just toss it into the roaster and walk away. The biggest risk in roasting your own is that you over roast, unless you like a french roast. It certainly is not brain surgery.

Lastly, absolutely the water.

{"commentId":8235293,"threadId":"624903","contentId":"3019326","authorDomain":"rochart"}

2 votes

#4 - Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:01 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"624903","isPrivate":false}

MICHAEL SAUTTER

Backyard

Top 10 Tips and Tricks for Better Coffee

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: