Non dive related: Advice concerning presents

[scubavili]

My wife and I are coming to CA for a dive vacation from Finland, North of Europe. I have spent quite a lot of time in CA during my student years there but I realized I have never noticed how you guys make your coffee at home. We make a very special brand of coffee here that I would like to bring and give people. I was wondering how do you make your coffee there? Do you filter it or do you make it the traditional way (water and coffee powder mixed, boiled and then left to rest so that the powder and the water separates). I am asking this to find out which type of a powder I should bring.


Thanks!

 

[Scubagolf]

I was wondering how do you make your coffee there? Do you filter it or do you make it the traditional way (water and coffee powder mixed, boiled and then left to rest so that the powder and the water separates).

Trust me on this one. Everybody in California either (1) uses a drip-filter coffee maker, or (2) goes to Starbuck's....

 

[scubavili]

Trust me on this one. Everybody in California either (1) uses a drip-filter coffee maker, or (2) goes to Starbuck's....

Yeah, I guessed that. You know, that is a pity because the traditional way with larger fragments in the powder gives a lot smoother and softer taste.

 

[OE2X]

So I'm curious how do you make your coffee? Does it require a special coffee pot? How large of coffee grind do you use?

 

[scubavili]

So I'm curious how do you make your coffee? Does it require a special coffee pot? How large of coffee grind do you use?

Yes, a special coffee pot is good to have but not a necessity. There will be a difference in taste if you use a normal boiler. (I am not sure if boiler is the correct word - I am meaning a pot that you use when you boil rice for example).

http://www.finnica.fi/keski-suomi/kauppa/vuodet/img/kuparipannu1.gif

Here is a picture of a coffee pot. First, you put water in and heat it up untill it boils. Then you take the pot out of the stove and measure the powder in. Then you put the pot back on the stove for a very short time - you just need to get the water boiling again. During this re-boiling you make sure that the cap is not on the pot. The reboiling will last only 10 second or so. Actually you cannot boil the water longer than this. If you do the coffee will foam out of the pot. After reboiling you take the pot off the stove, put on the cap and let the coffee rest for about 5 to 10 minutes. When the coffee has rested for a while, most of the powder (grind) will settle to the bottom of the pot. Some will remain on the surface of the coffee though. For this reason, you will have to gently pour some coffee from the pot keeping eye on the composition of the coffee. When you see there are no longer any grind coming out, the coffee is ready for serving.

The grind for this type of a coffee making is much rougher than for filtering. The rougher the grind, the thicker the flavor.

 

[wreckchick]

Some of us here have what's called a french press which uses a coarser grind than a drip coffeemaker. You add boiling water to a small pitcher and then press down a strainer to seperate the coffee from the grounds.

Rachel

 

[speedhound]

Hi Scubavili,
I travel quite a bit between Europe and the US. Whenever I come back into the US I always bring chocolate - the "good" stuff, high cocoa %, Milka (good compared to US stuff). Also, from SW Germany, I bring Kirschwasser/Cherry Schnaps - do you have any equivalent local drink/candy?

I know this doesn't answer your question, but it's an idea if you're looking to bring gifts over.

 

[scottfiji]

Almost everyone will use a filter

I've had coffee the "boiling" way in bali, indonesia - it tasted really, really good.

scott

 

[HBDiveGirl]

Real coffee lovers are always looking for new ways to enjoy the magic.

Your special favorite coffee sounds like a wonderful gift with a touch of exoticism for the masses huddled safely within the Starbucks playpen.

Personalized brewing instructions from you would ensure that your fortunate friends would get to try it at its best.

Great idea!

May you enjoy a wonderful trip with deliciously aromatic memories.
Claudette

 

[headhunter]

This sounds like Armenian, Turkish or Cuban coffee. Depending on where someone is from seems to determine what they call it.

This is great stuff! I very rarely drink "normal" filtered coffee and opt for one of these or espresso when it's available.

That said, it seems that the overwhelming majority of the people I know filter their coffee.

Christian