MIDItheKIDMar 1, 2024

I want to get into coffee, where do I start?

https://lemmy.world/post/12596035

I want to get into coffee, where do I start? - Lemmy.World

So I have drank coffee on and off since I was a teenager, and I recently took probably a 2 year break from it. When I was drinking coffee, it was usually because they had a pod system at work, and it was an excuse to get up from my desk and take a break. With that said, I have been watching this Netflix show Resident Alien recently, and there is a lot of coffee drinking in it, and I started craving a hot cup. On my way home from dropping my daughter off at daycare, I stopped at the local gas station\market and got a cup and was like “Man, I miss coffee, and this coffee is pretty terrible.” So this got me thinking that I want to get back into morning coffee tradition, but I no longer work in an office, I work from home. I don’t want to go pod system because they are wasteful, weak, and a pain in the but to clean\maintain. My wife doesn’t drink coffee, so I don’t need to make a whole pot. So I was thinking of going French press, as that seems to be suggested in a lot of places for single-serve. Do you folks have a suggestion on French press brands? I know it’s a pretty simple mechanism, but I’m not against spending a couple extra bucks to get something that will enhance my coffee making\drinking experience. Additionally, I am looking for something that will filter out as many grounds as possible. Are you guys for\against paper filters? Should I get a metal one? Do I need one of those things that goes on top of my mug to hold the filter? Where do I start? I know coffee can get really mad scientist really quick, and I’m not trying to go that route (yet). My brother-in-law has one of those electric kettles that gets to an exact temperature, and he grinds his own beans and weights them, and does the whole swirly pour to get “the perfect cup” and while that seems cool, I am not ready to take it to that level. So what is your suggestion on “starter builds”? Also, what about beans? Do I grind my own? Do I start with store bought stuff (I always liked Cafe Bustelo)? Any and all advice is welcome.

Show threadUTJD16Mar 1, 2024

Oh man there are so many starting points! If I understand the goals you gave us, they are:

  • Want good coffee
  • No pour over
  • Willing to do French Press
  • Minimize grounds in the brew
  • Single serve
  • Brother-in-law is too intense about it for my current state

With that I would recommend an AeroPress. It is great for single serving, it extracts using immersion first (similar to French Press) then pressure, the paper filter ensures it will be a clean cup (no grounds), it is much easier to clean up than a French Press, and there a lot of different recipes to play with should you ever choose to. Plus it’s relatively cheap.

Cold brew is also nice, especially when made in batches. You can probably already do this with vessels you have at home. Toddy cold brew is a well-known system. I also have (and prefer) the Oxo cold brew system - I find it easier to handle and looks better on the counter.

If you are willing to get a burr grinder you will immediately make better coffee, regardless of the method you choose! There are many directions to go here, so you will need to research to find what makes most sense to you. Skip the blade grinder. Conical burr is fine for what you’re getting into. A safe bet that will work fine for French Press, AeroPress, and/or Cold Brew is the Oxo Brew Conical Burr Grinder that you can find for around $100 in the US.

There are so many deep rabbit holes from there. Maybe you’ll come join us someday…it’s a lot of fun and one of my favorite hobbies! Sounds like your brother-in-law is lost somewhere down here too. We all started asking the same questions as you!

Show threadMIDItheKIDMar 1, 2024
After reading through some replies. I don’t think I’m going to rule out pour-over. It sounds like a lot of people like that method. It looks like I have some research to do, but I’ve been given some good starting points. Thanks!
Show threadSpathiFwiffo

I would say burr grinder and French press. I usually use a machine to do my coffee, because I'm lazy. Machine tries to mimic a pour over.

But when i choose between my aeropress and French press, I almost always use the French press.

I have a baratza encore grinder, which is a decent entry level grinder. I think my French press is a Bodom, that makes a single 10oz cup.

For research. James Hoffman has a great YouTube channel on lots of coffee topics.

Mar 1, 2024 at 6:36pmWeb