What Ireland Taught Me About Coffee
So Ireland spoiled me to good coffee. And, no,
it wasn’t the fantastic Irish coffee I drank late one night hanging out
with members of the Irish Lotus Users Group.
It was the French Press coffee service delivered to my Morrison Hotel room every morning. The French Press produced by far the most outstanding cup of java my taste buds had experienced to date -- rich, full, and creamy.
It was the French Press coffee service delivered to my Morrison Hotel room every morning. The French Press produced by far the most outstanding cup of java my taste buds had experienced to date -- rich, full, and creamy.
So Ireland spoiled me to good coffee. And, no,
it wasn’t the fantastic Irish coffee I drank late one night hanging out
with members of the Irish Lotus Users Group.
It was the French Press coffee service delivered to my Morrison Hotel room every morning. The French Press produced by far the most outstanding cup of java my taste buds had experienced to date -- rich, full, and creamy.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that I had brought along one of my favorite Starbucks blends for the brew – Viennese. (Um, forgive me, but neither Folgers or Maxwell House is good coffee no matter what brew method is used.)
By the end of the week in Dublin I had become a convert. The day after I returned from Ireland I purchased this French Press from Starbucks.
And now I worship at the altar of French Press coffee every morning.
The secret to the wonderful taste of French Press coffee is the mingling of the coffee grounds and hot water for 3-5 minutes or so. As the coffee steeps in the hot water it releases more of its oils and, thus, more flavor. Press the plunger to separate the grounds from the water and pour a cup of Joe like no other.
So why don't we see a French Press in the home of every coffee fanatic/junkie? Simply - time and effort.
It takes time to brew a cup of French Press Coffee -- an ingredient we seem to have very precious little of nowadays. Add another 4 minutes or so for the boiling of the water prior to the 3- 5 minutes of steeping and it takes 7 - 10 minutes to prepare two cups of coffee in the morning. While this may not be much longer than it takes to produce a cup of traditionally brewed coffee, it definitely takes more human participation.
And it produces less coffee. Starbucks' says its French Press is an eight-cup decanter. Maybe - if you're using demitasse cups. Pour yourself a real mug of coffee and you'll get only two. This method will definitely be shunned by the crowd who leave a pot on the burner all day for instant availability.
As for me, for now I have banished my Braun AromaDeluxe (complete with clock and pre-programmed timer) to a cabinet only to be retrieved to satisfy the coffee needs for large gatherings of people.
It was the French Press coffee service delivered to my Morrison Hotel room every morning. The French Press produced by far the most outstanding cup of java my taste buds had experienced to date -- rich, full, and creamy.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that I had brought along one of my favorite Starbucks blends for the brew – Viennese. (Um, forgive me, but neither Folgers or Maxwell House is good coffee no matter what brew method is used.)
By the end of the week in Dublin I had become a convert. The day after I returned from Ireland I purchased this French Press from Starbucks.
And now I worship at the altar of French Press coffee every morning.
The secret to the wonderful taste of French Press coffee is the mingling of the coffee grounds and hot water for 3-5 minutes or so. As the coffee steeps in the hot water it releases more of its oils and, thus, more flavor. Press the plunger to separate the grounds from the water and pour a cup of Joe like no other.
So why don't we see a French Press in the home of every coffee fanatic/junkie? Simply - time and effort.
It takes time to brew a cup of French Press Coffee -- an ingredient we seem to have very precious little of nowadays. Add another 4 minutes or so for the boiling of the water prior to the 3- 5 minutes of steeping and it takes 7 - 10 minutes to prepare two cups of coffee in the morning. While this may not be much longer than it takes to produce a cup of traditionally brewed coffee, it definitely takes more human participation.
And it produces less coffee. Starbucks' says its French Press is an eight-cup decanter. Maybe - if you're using demitasse cups. Pour yourself a real mug of coffee and you'll get only two. This method will definitely be shunned by the crowd who leave a pot on the burner all day for instant availability.
As for me, for now I have banished my Braun AromaDeluxe (complete with clock and pre-programmed timer) to a cabinet only to be retrieved to satisfy the coffee needs for large gatherings of people.
Posted: Thu - November 3, 2005 at 12:40 AM
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Published On: Sep 15, 2007 10:59 PM
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Published On: Sep 15, 2007 10:59 PM