Coffee convenience: I hate powdered coffee more and more

[Zak33]

Right, first up, anyone who's made me coffee... I'm not digging you, cos I'm sure it was lovely as can be

But the fact is... coffee in a jar, be it cheapo su[ermarket ownbrand powder, or expensive granular freeze dried chunks... aint coffee any more.

So, as a few of you know, I have beans and ready ground in my cupboards for most occassions. BUT.. when I'm working, I need proper coffee, or as good as t gets, without all the mess. I won't put my caffettiere in the dishwasher cos I don't want the mesh to rust, so everything needs cleaning by hand. Not a problem on a relaxing day.....no use with 6 hours of spread sheets and power point to sort with 300 miles to drive inbetween.

And therefore I've been looking for disposable solutions.

Individual Filters are in packs of 10, and they are a plastic filter cups that sit on top of your mug.. the bottom of this "cup" is a two layer paper filter with coffee sealed into it. You pour boiling water into the "filter" and leave it, with a little plastic lid on to stop the weater evaporating away the heat, until the coffee has filtered into your mug.

And then you chuck away the filter and keep the little lid for the next time.

Whiler they feel quite "1980'" dinner party, they've done me a great service, and taste pretty good. Waitrose do a good selection and at about £1.10 for 10, you get a good coffee for about 11p. In value for money terms not bad at all, and 100000 times better than freeze dried dross.

But they seem to only come in one sealed bag.. ie all 10 are in one bag, so once open, you need to stick them in a good polythene bag and suck the air out and re seal to keep very fresh... (yeah. coffee fume inhallation... my favourite )

But there are also "coffee bags" like tea bags, and I'm drinknig one right now it's a very good blend of uber conventient and not bad taste. It doesn't get the air into it in the way tha tthe steady "drip..drip... drip" of a filter seems to, but it's very easy to get the flavour and strength right, by just leaving it in for a bit longer and they come in individual vacuum sealed easily tearable bags.

Same sort of price as the filters.. and less waste, but not quite the flavour.

Question.. does anyone else have any tips or produts that I/we should all try?

[0iD]

Coffee bags are ok & like you say, less waste, but I prefer the Rombouts individual filters for a reasonable cup of joe.

[Grey M@a]

Hot Java Lava from Taylors of Harrogate if you want a nice strong coffee. I drink this stuff on a weekend as its the only time I have to make it.

So grab yourself one of these:

http://verdecoffee.com/accessories-6...s-pot-451.html (Get the bigger 12 cup ones as it will fill about 4 mugs)

Can get these from Tesco for about half the price.

Then grab a few bags of this:

http://www.taylorsofharrogate.co.uk/....asp?itmid=595

[Zak33]

Waitrose individuals (good choice too)have been better taste than the Lyon's individuals that I tried.. but the Lyon's coffee bags are lovely.

[Flibb]

Have you tried one of the pod systems? My reason for going nespresso was that I wanted to cut down on coffee, but when i wanted a cup i had to be good. I tried keeping ground coffee in the freezer but it always lacked something, the shelf life with pods is long so its always good. My preferance was nespresso, but that was purely down to having familly with it so could try. Costs a fair amount, but I drink less per month, but that less is more satisfying.

Another option would be an aerobie aeropress, possibly combined with a gold filter. One thing to add, the water shouldnt be boiling, it needs to be just under to extract the best taste.

[Zak33]

Originally Posted by Grey M@a

Hot Java Lava from Taylors of Harrogate if you want a nice strong coffee. I drink this stuff on a weekend as its the only time I have to make it.

So grab yourself one of these:

http://verdecoffee.com/accessories-6...s-pot-451.html (Get the bigger 12 cup ones as it will fill about 4 mugs)

Can get these from Tesco for about half the price.

Then grab a few bags of this:

http://www.taylorsofharrogate.co.uk/....asp?itmid=595

I've got a good selection of plungers Grey M@a.. I want more conventient than that chap.. I want one cup stops

[Zak33]

Originally Posted by Flibb

Have you tried one of the pod systems? My reason for going nespresso was that I wanted to cut down on coffee, but when i wanted a cup i had to be good. I tried keeping ground coffee in the freezer but it always lacked something, the shelf life with pods is long so its always good. My preferance was nespresso, but that was purely down to having familly with it so could try. Costs a fair amount, but I drink less per month, but that less is more satisfying.

Another option would be an aerobie aeropress, possibly combined with a gold filter. One thing to add, the water shouldnt be boiling, it needs to be just under to extract the best taste.

I don't have any space for another machine. the bread machine's not been out for a few weeks cos I can't get at it.. it's blocked in a cupboard

[BigFatCat]

I picked up a Melitta Ready Set Joe basket with an approximately sized gold filter for a few quid whilst driving across the US last time round. Works quite well if you let it work slowly and tastes OK too. Quite convenient for a cup in the morning.

[Grey M@a]

Originally Posted by Zak33

I've got a good selection of plungers Grey M@a.. I want more conventient than that chap.. I want one cup stops

Ah, a junkie's quick fix of caffeine I must admit the faff with the plungers gets to you when you really want a coffee, but the wait is worth it

[Zak33]

Originally Posted by BigFatCat

I picked up a Melitta Ready Set Joe basket with an approximately sized gold filter for a few quid whilst driving across the US last time round. Works quite well if you let it work slowly and tastes OK too. Quite convenient for a cup in the morning.

you are a little SUPER STAR

I have never seen those.. and yet I am already in love



thank you

edit: none on ebay!

[Zak33]

bingo.... porcelain dishwasher safe

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/COFFEE-FILTER-...item1c0c376213

[burble]

What I do is keep a supply of filter papers and a ceramic filter cone in my office. Usually on a Monday night I'll grind (medium to medium coarse) up a few days worth of coffee and take it in with me on Tuesday (I'm only in the office Tuesday - Thursday).

When I want coffee I'll put a filter paper into the filter cone, pop it on top of the cup and pour through enough boiling water to completely soak the paper. This is quite an important step as it washes away the papery taste that you can get with an unwashed filter (this is the reason I don't like the plastic disposible filters). Then I chuck the required amount of coffee into the filter, empty the cup and add enough water to the filter to just cover the grounds. Wait until the bloom has gone (30 seconds or so) then top up to about half way with water.

As the water drips though the grounds will make a sort of a well shape - don't be tempted to push the grinds flat. Add more water until it reaches the top of the grinds making sure you add it to the centre of the filter. Add more water when that has dripped through and if all has gone well you'll have a pretty much full cup that has taken around 4 minutes to brew.

I always purchase my beans (though I buy them green and roast them at home) from Has Bean.

The ceramic filter cones are worth the extra over the plastic ones, I find that the taste is a fair bit cleaner and brighter using ceramic. Filter cones are a doddle to clean, chuck the filter in the bin and give it a quick wash or rinse. Done.

[Zak33]

Originally Posted by burble

What I do is keep a supply of filter papers and a ceramic filter cone in my office. Usually on a Monday night I'll grind (medium to medium coarse) up a few days worth of coffee and take it in with me on Tuesday (I'm only in the office Tuesday - Thursday).

When I want coffee I'll put a filter paper into the filter cone, pop it on top of the cup and pour through enough boiling water to completely soak the paper. This is quite an important step as it washes away the papery taste that you can get with an unwashed filter (this is the reason I don't like the plastic disposible filters). Then I chuck the required amount of coffee into the filter, empty the cup and add enough water to the filter to just cover the grounds. Wait until the bloom has gone (30 seconds or so) then top up to about half way with water.

As the water drips though the grounds will make a sort of a well shape - don't be tempted to push the grinds flat. Add more water until it reaches the top of the grinds making sure you add it to the centre of the filter. Add more water when that has dripped through and if all has gone well you'll have a pretty much full cup that has taken around 4 minutes to brew.

I always purchase my beans (though I buy them green and roast them at home) from Has Bean.

The ceramic filter cones are worth the extra over the plastic ones, I find that the taste is a fair bit cleaner and brighter using ceramic. Filter cones are a doddle to clean, chuck the filter in the bin and give it a quick wash or rinse. Done.

great advice.. though I like the bloom.. I like to keep that head of froth on the go

[stytagm]

Along similar lines, I use one of these for making one cup of filter coffee: http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item110100.aspx, then buy the 1+2 Melitta filter papers from the supermarket


Coupled with some ground coffee from Monmouth, it's awesome and very convenient. Coffee pods are money for old rope in my opinion. Tied in to one vendor, loads of packaging to throw away, and no guarantees of how long they were sat in a warehouse before they get to you.

[Clingy]

I cannot drink instant coffee, which in my book includes those capsules.

Luckily I am full time in an office so use ground coffee (usually Taylors Hot Java), but at home I have got to ordering 2 kilos of beans at a time of my favourite (Skyberry Estate) and grinding in a burr grinder at the time. I have yet to move to roasting my own beans, but I guess that's the next step.

Not really sure what you can do to get something portable other than a DIY job.

[Funkstar]

Originally Posted by Zak33

I won't put my caffettiere in the dishwasher cos I don't want the mesh to rust, so everything needs cleaning by hand.

I've never seen a single bit of rust on any of my caffettiere's or my mums, and we dishwash them all the time. Especially the one at work which the cleaner keeps shoving in the dishwasher when all it needs is a quick rinse and I can re-use it.

The filter paper holder stytagm linked to is great, I have a couple.

There is also the Aeropress. It's awesome! Great coffee without any gunk, quicker to make than drip coffee, uses less paper and is very very easy to clean.