Dangerous Grounds

[martyup]

If you love good coffee and reality adventure TV, you've got to see the Travel Channel series Dangerous Grounds.  Here's is a description from their website:

Todd Carmichael travels the globe, hunting for the highest-grade coffee in the world. Why? Because nearly a billion people drink coffee each morning, making it the number 2 commodity in the world, second only to oil. Todd focuses on the very best coffee out there -- beans so rare, they are sought after by the world’s top chefs and restaurants. Todd has to go to some of the most exotic, fascinating and dangerous places on earth to find it: from the cities, villages and mountains of Haiti, Bolivia, Madagascar, Borneo, Cuba and Vietnam. Buying the coffee beans direct from the farmers means Todd must encounter treacherous terrain, danger and sometimes, even opposition from entrenched middlemen. There’s an amazing story behind every cup.

This guy holds the World Record for the fastest solo trek to the South Pole.  It took him 39 days to walk from the edge of the Antarctic to the pole, pulling a sled with his food and supplies.  This guy is amazing.

The best thing about it is that you can buy the coffee beans that he finds through his website.  It is unbelievably delicious and not too pricey either.

[ca245]

Does Todd gather his kopi luwak coffee personally from the producer?

[martyup]

Does Todd gather his kopi luwak coffee personally from the producer?

Not sure about that one.  However, I watched the episode on Ethiopia.  He found a village high up in the mountains that was harvesting coffee from wild heirloom plants.  He bought their entire production.  I was fortunate to purchase a bag of whole bean Ethiopian Kaffe from the La Columbe website before it sold out.  With my first cup, it was like I had never tasted coffee before.

[Publius]

Does Todd gather his kopi luwak coffee personally from the producer?

I've had it, but not from this particular producer.  Tastes like sh!t.

Thanks for the tip martyup.  Just bought 2 sample packs.

[stupac2]

I've had it, but not from this particular producer.  Tastes like sh!t.

Thanks for the tip martyup.  Just bought 2 sample packs.

I know a vegan guy who refuses to drink anything made with Kopi.

[CowboyIndian]

You know things aren't too bad when you can make up rules for what you'll eat.

[doublespiral]

You know things aren't too bad when you can make up rules for what you'll eat.

Yes, you can consider yourself lucky that your plane didn't go down in the Andes or a blizzard didn't hit you as you were departing Truckee.  ;)

[BostonCard]

[quote author=ca245 link=topic=9866.msg88218#msg88218 date=1397958193]
Does Todd gather his kopi luwak coffee personally from the producer?

Not sure about that one.  However, I watched the episode on Ethiopia.  He found a village high up in the mountains that was harvesting coffee from wild heirloom plants.  He bought their entire production.  I was fortunate to purchase a bag of whole bean Ethiopian Kaffe from the La Columbe website before it sold out.  With my first cup, it was like I had never tasted coffee before.
[/quote]

Having grown up in Latin America, I will always be biased towards central and south american coffees.  However, I have to say that the coffee from Ethiopia is phenomenal. They have more varietals there than anywhere, many of which you cannot get anywhere else.  My roaster friend says that if he were forced to pick one country to get all his beans from it would be Ethiopia.

BC

[Publius]

Any thoughts about how to make coffee at home?  Suggestions for grinders and makers?  I'm ready to graduate from my dummy proof Clever.  Thinking about getting an Aeropress (invented by a guy who was a Stanford ME lecturer at the time), but that only makes a small serving.  Also thinking about getting a large Chemex.

Also noticed this interesting looking manual espresso maker on the La Colombe website.  I love espresso, but don't think I'd drink often enough to justify buying an expensive machine plus we don't have the kitchen counter space for one.  The aeropress claims to make espresso, but there seems to be some skepticism around that.

[Redrum]

For your all natural coffee beans....Chemex.  The "Morning Blend" of  Ethiopian beans and (NH4)2CrO4.

[BostonCard]

If you are going to invest money, invest in a good grinder, not a good coffee maker.  An electric kettle plus a chemex or other funnel system is all you need for good coffee.

The aeropress is decent and with practice you can make good coffee with it.  It is more concentrated than a traditional brew, but far from a good espresso.

Redrum, I googled ammonium chromate and coffee and didn't figure out your reference.

BC

[Redrum]

Just playing with the juxtaposition of Chem as in chemicals to something purists worship as natural and wholesome.  First on a handy list of of semi-exotic chemicals.  But, as we know, if you have to explain a joke...

[CowboyIndian]

But, as we know, if you have to explain a joke...

I probably told it.

[ca245]

I still use an old Mellita cone coffee maker, the type that has plastic holder for the filter that sits over the glass coffee carafe. It is close to 40 years old. I like it better than Chemex because, if in a hurry I can set the filter/holder aside and deal with it later.

[Publius]

If you are going to invest money, invest in a good grinder, not a good coffee maker.  An electric kettle plus a chemex or other funnel system is all you need for good coffee.

That seems to be the opinion of the coffeegnati.  Do you have a recommendation for a coffee grinder?  I don't want to spend too much money because I only make it myself on the weekends, but I do want to make great coffee after a week of drinking mediocre but convenient and free Keurig-made coffee.

[Mick]

I think the beans are a matter of personal choice.  I've always preferred "real" Kona-grown coffee.

[Redrum]

Not picking on coffee or the extra effort to get the last drop of cosmic flavor nor calling out practitioners of same.  But having been to both extremes in the coffee "experience", I find that the focus on the making process offers diminishing returns vs. time and bandwidth spent maintaining the ritualistic discipline.  Although, the idea of a mind-blowing cup of coffee from wild beans harvested at high altitude in Ethiopia seems like I'd like to experience.  Once.  Maybe twice.

[SUBuddha]

[quote author=Boston Card link=topic=9866.msg88272#msg88272 date=1398110203]
If you are going to invest money, invest in a good grinder, not a good coffee maker.  An electric kettle plus a chemex or other funnel system is all you need for good coffee.

That seems to be the opinion of the coffeegnati.  Do you have a recommendation for a coffee grinder?  I don't want to spend too much money because I only make it myself on the weekends, but I do want to make great coffee after a week of drinking mediocre but convenient and free Keurig-made coffee.
[/quote]

Publius-
Invest in a good burr grinder. Blade grinders have improved and I use one, simply because my wife cannot tell the difference in the taste (she puts flavored creamer in her coffee, sacrilege in my family). Burr grinders grind the beans between 2 plates of burrs and result in a more even grind, and hence a more consistent cup of coffee. Any burr grinder worth the money will allow you to adjust the grind for your preferred brewing method.

If you are only making it for yourself, and on weekends, get a french press. They, in my experience, produce one of the best cups of coffee. An added bonus to a press is you can still make your coffee if you have it ground and access to a gas stove even when the power is out.

Who knew my time as a manager for Starbucks would result in information worth sharing. :)

[Hank 91]

Here's a serious question from a coffee novice. (I prefer loose leaf green tea. The coolest birthday gift I received last year (aside from Arizona's victory over Cal to open up the Rose Bowl) was a cast-iron tea pot from my wife.)

Anyway, here's the question. Please rank (and comment, if you choose) the taste and quality of coffee from these three places: Starbucks, your local independent coffee shop, your kitchen.

[SUBuddha]

Hank-
I personally feel that Starbucks over-roasts their coffee. It is not on par with Peets IMHO. My friend owns a independent shop here in town, he only sells locally roasted fair trade coffees. I think I like his brew since the beans were all roasted withing the last week, and therefore very fresh. In my kitchen I have to tone it down (even using my friends excellent Sumatra beans) since my wife does not like the coffee as strong as I do.
So I would rank them as follows:
Roasted Tea and Coffee (my local shop)
My kitchen
Starbucks (I rank Peets higher here, but they are not in my part of AZ)