Moka pot?

[tertius]

I am plugging along in exploring my new found love affair with coffee.

I picked up a little Bialetti moka pot, and I have to say I really like the results, at least with the Guatemalan beans I have roasted at the moment. Yet to try it with anything else, but I'm looking forward to seeing how a Yemeni dry-roast responds. My only complaint is that the finished coffee/ground coffee ratio is pretty low compared to a french press.

Y'all have opinions on this coffee production device?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I've never used one of these. It cannot be actual espresso, without the fast pressure. Right?

[tertius]

I've never used one of these. It cannot be actual espresso, without the fast pressure. Right?

It's not espresso, correct. You use a medium grind, don't tamp it, and it brews at way lower pressure (though higher than atmosphere), and it's done over a low heat. It produces a "softer" brew than a french press, I think.

They are labelled in espresso cup sizes, though. So a "3-cup" version only produces about 200 ml of coffee. Which is fine for me, since I drink a small amount at a time, but two full mugs needs the "12 cup" version, and probably quite a lot of grounds. So maybe not very economical... but that's the Italians for you.

[Brandin138]

I picked up one of these recently and haven't been super stoked on it. It takes a while to get up to temperature (you get better results if you use a lower heat). My go-to method for coffee making is my Aeropress. Super easy to use, makes very strong & very smooth coffee and is very easy to clean. I use it at work (office) and I've had several other people convert as well. Check it out if you've never heard of it...

http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPr.../dp/B0047BIWSK

[Mark Rippetoe]

I sure like my HandyBrew: http://www.amazon.com/Handy-Brew-Tea...ords=handybrew
and here: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmari...e-dripper.html

While you're at Sweet Maria's, look at their page for the AeroPress: http://www.sweetmarias.com/sweetmari...ml?source=side

More information on coffee at Sweet Maria's than anywhere else, and a damn good company to do business with. They're all about the coffee.

[The Emancipated Freak]

Yo Mark, don't you roast them beans yourself? And if you do, where do you get unroasted beans?

[Travis Rask]

The Bialetti's are nice. Good in a pinch. So are Comet percolators...great for camping!

If you're looking for a good brewer, the Techinvorm Moccamaster is a man among boys. The BEST. We've gone through a lot of brewers at the firehouse. None of them stack up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKoIs_oEM0Q

I've been considering doing home roasting via some of the gear they have on there. Worth it?

[Mark Rippetoe]

It will ruin you. You'll never be able to be happy at a restaurant again. Get your green coffee from Sweet Maria's.

[tertius]

It will ruin you. You'll never be able to be happy at a restaurant again. Get your green coffee from Sweet Maria's.

Take this seriously, Rip's not kidding. I didn't even like coffee before I started roasting it at home, and now I love the stuff, as long as I produce it. Every-single-time I try some coffee out and about, though, I am reminded why I didn't like "coffee".

The difference between a roasted-exactly-how-you-want-it, single origin coffee and what you'll get most places is just total night and day. And there's so many combinations of varietal, source, process, roasting, and brewing methods that you could spend the rest of your life exploring ways to make coffee.

I still can't decide whether or not to curse or thank stef for getting me started on roasting my own.

[wal]

While your enjoying your coffee have you considered the health benefits of a coffee or two, they seem to be numerous.

Most expensive coffee beans in the world.

http://www.luwakcoffeeaustralia.com/