Different Brews For Different Views
Once upon a time there was only the lowly percolator. Coiffed housewives would sit lovingly staring at water being heated until pressure forced it up a small tube and over a basket full of grounds.
Well, it was amusing to watch even if the coffee couldn't be very good. Boiling coffee and running the liquid over grounds more than once can each produce a brew less than ideal.
Then in the 1970s, as with so many things, life changed forever. The drip method - inexpensive, quick and even an improvement in taste - came to dominate the scene. A cup of grounds thrown in a plastic container over filter paper, a few minutes of nearly boiling water dripping over the result and - voila! - coffee in a glass pot.
Later came pre-packaged 'pods' of a favorite blend, changes in materials and all sorts of controls to adjust the brew, and internal spouts that spread the water evenly over the grounds. Whether cone or flat, always near 200F (93C), please.
In the '90s, espresso makers became the rage, with the importation of European culture and the application of American ingenuity to lower the cost without ruining the flavor. Hot water is forced under pressure through finely ground dark roast and in a few minutes, out pours a delicious, aromatic drink.
Add steamed, frothy milk and you have a cappuccino or latte, depending on the ratio of milk to coffee. A definite improvement and the variety of espresso makers makes for delightful experiments in chemistry.
The French plunger is another device aiding the spread of European methods, anywhere open-minded coffee innovators are seeking the new. A metal rod extends through the center of a glass cylinder, where it is topped with a handle. At the other end is a filter, fitting snugly inside the container.
Put grounds into the container and pour nearly boiling hot water in. Unlike the drip method, the grounds steep until the plunger is pressed. The result is a dark, full-bodied brew served right from the device.
One of the more esoteric brew methods uses the vacuum brewer: two glass or metal bowls, one atop the other. Heat causes water to rise into the upper, similar to the percolator principle. Remove the heat and as the liquid cools slightly a partial vacuum is created, drawing the hot water through the grounds and into the lower chamber.
The process is a pleasant show at a dinner party and a wonderfully fresh cup, since it can be carried out right at the table.
Of course, none of these methods is really new - most go back centuries in one form or another. The Ibrik from Turkey may be one of the oldest. Water is heated in a brass or copper container with a long handle and a grooved tongue. Finely ground coffee is added directly to the hot water and then poured, unfiltered. Strong!
Any of these will produce a delicious cup, but all bring out distinctive aspects of the ground. Try them all! You may find that a history lesson can also be a delectable taste tour.
Tassimo Coffee - If you like coffee and the many ways you can enjoy coffee then Tassimo Coffee is for you.
Related Articles
Espresso Machine Rancilio- The espresso machine rancilio collection of coffee brewers are some the best made coffee brewers in the United States.
Coffee Facts - Coffee facts that all coffee lovers need to know
Different Brews for Different People - Once upon a time there was only the lowly percolator.
Growing Coffee Beans - For a tree grown in over 70 countries, from Indonesia to Brazil, it's curious how narrow a range of conditions is required to produce quality 'beans' and how relatively small the total output is.
Picking a Grinder - Coffee beans, like any food product, oxidize when exposed to air.
Coffee and Health - The last 25 years has seen the growth of a cottage industry in the study of the health effects of drinking coffee.
Coffee Bean Producers - From its origins in Ethiopia, where the main coffee production is still from wild coffee tree forests, coffee consumption has spread throughout the world.
Coffee In Food - Lovers of the drink know how delicious that liquid dream can be. But delights abound in using coffee as an ingredient in food preparation too.
Coffee Makers - Coffee makers have been around, not surprisingly, almost as long as coffee.
Coffee Decaf- Recently a variety of the coffee tree was discovered that naturally contains almost no caffeine.
Coffee History- Beer may be the oldest man-made brew, with wine a distant second.
Coffee Freshness Tips- For the freshest possible coffee the ideal is to obtain unroasted beans, then roast and grind on the same day you plan to brew.
Coffee From Beans to Shelf- From its origins over two thousand years ago, coffee bean processing has grown to a worldwide market whose output as a commodity has a dollar value second only to petroleum.
Coffee Judging Beans- A 'barista' is someone who makes coffee drinks as a profession. Naturally, that experience will shape how beans are judged.
Coffee Varieties Around The World Part 2- There are as many beans and coffees from around the world as there are grapes and wine - and as much delight to be had in sampling them.
Coffee Legends Reality- That a mere beverage could generate so many romantic tales and so much hard-headed business is a wonder.
Coffee Makers- Coffee makers have been around, not surprisingly, almost as long as coffee.
Coffee Recipes- One of the many advantages of drinking a beverage both ancient and international is the delightful variety of recipes for enjoying coffee in different ways.
Coffee Roasters- Coffee roasters - the mechanical device, not the human profession - come in all shapes and sizes.
Coffee Roasting Basics- Home wine makers will be happy to hear that roasting coffee beans is even easier - and the results are often as good as the pros.
Coffee Some International Reviews- The coffee from Brazil is world-famous for a good reason: it's stellar.
Coffee Specialty Coffees- In the 1930s, physicists started discovering a whole zoo full of exotic atomic particles. There were muons and kaons and who-knows-whatelse-ons.
Coffee Straight Mixed- For a tree grown in over 70 countries, from Indonesia to Brazil, it's curious how narrow a range of conditions is required to produce quality 'beans' and how relatively small the total output is.
Coffee Tasting Tips- Why should professionals have all the fun? 'Cuppers' taste coffee as an adjunct to professional buying, judging contests, writing reviews and so forth. But the joy of sitting before a half-dozen cups of Tanzanian Peaberry, Monsoon Mysore and the rest is a delight anyone can experience.
Coffee The Bean Grader Art- Ever wonder why one bean makes it to your local specialty shop and another doesn't?
Coffee Varieties Around The World Part 1- Once upon a time in America there was drip or instant, milk or sugar.
Espresso Coffee Making- For a tree grown in over 70 countries, from Indonesia to Brazil, it's curious how narrow a range of conditions is required to produce quality 'beans' and how relatively small the total output is.