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How to make coffee...

31 replies

craftymadam · 31/10/2021 13:44

DH and I are tea drinkers...
DH will happily drink a latte when we're out, but I really can't stand the taste of any sort of coffee. I actually have no idea how to make decent coffee but would like to be able to offer friends a nice coffee when they pop round.
I don't want to make instant coffee as I'd like it to look like I've made an effort...i'm happy to buy a cafetiere, or whatever I need (nothing too expensive though as it won't get much use!)
Can anyone suggest a nice coffee that I can buy that won't go off quickly, is easy to make & tastes nice?

OP posts:
HoardingSamphireSaurus · 31/10/2021 13:49

Get a £10 stovetop mokka pot and a packet of Lavazza red coffee.

Coffee can live in the freezer.

It takes about 5 minutes to get the basic espresso coffee made, add hot water and milk as the drinker requires.

It's cheap and easy and tastes good, can be made as strong/ weak as the drinker likes their coffee.

user1477249785 · 31/10/2021 13:49

I'd buy a cafetière and then just keep your coffee grounds in an air tight container in the freezer. It keeps well and you just take out scoops as you need it.

Etinoxaurus · 31/10/2021 13:50

Coffee goes stale. If you want nice coffee to offer occasional guests a pod machine would work. Big investment and not very sustainable though.

Interested in this thread?

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HoardingSamphireSaurus · 31/10/2021 13:52

Royalford Moka Express Stovetop Coffee Maker | Aluminium Italian Coffee Maker Pot | Cafeteria Percolator for Ground Coffee Latte Mocha Cappuccino Macchiato | Gasket & Filter Included, 150ML, 3 Cups www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LB5GMG3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_glt_fabc_218RCXF7ZPJCV78YARPH?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

LadyDanburysCane · 31/10/2021 15:44

Coffee bags are pretty good. Many are individually wrapped so won’t go stale quickly.

Tootyfilou · 31/10/2021 15:47

This reply has been deleted

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Brusca · 31/10/2021 15:52

I'm an infrequent coffee drinker and keep coffee bags in, as a PP said, they're sealed so stay fresh for ages.

If you want a gadget a cafetière is probably easiest option.

bigbluebus · 31/10/2021 15:54

Coffee bags would probably be good compromise. Some specialist coffee companies do them if you want ones with decent coffee in. We use a cafetiere at home but when we go camping we use the coffee bags which a not bad. Otherwise, buy a cafetiere in the supermarket and keep ground coffee in the freezer if you won't be using it very often or buy small amounts from places which grind beans as required.

Quickchangeartiste · 31/10/2021 16:05

@Tootyfilou

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.
What? That seems racist to me.

It’s Italian, but even if it wasn’t , that’s not an appropriate comment.

Quickchangeartiste · 31/10/2021 16:06

Ah, thanks @mumsnethq, beat me to it.

WeAreTheHeroes · 31/10/2021 16:13

Taylors Lazy Sunday coffee is good - for hardened coffee drinkers and those who aren't so keen.

saraclara · 31/10/2021 16:36

A cafetiere is by far the cheapest and easiest option, and you can make enough for one person or four. It also looks nice and the person can help themselves to a little more if they want it.

Any supermarket 'finest' type ground coffee with a strength number of 3 to 4 will be perfectly respectable. I'm loving the Tesco Colombian Supremo for a really rich and full flavoured coffee. No mistaking that for instant.
Use one of those plastic clips to seal the bag, and keep it in the fridge.

amusedbush · 31/10/2021 16:43

@WeAreTheHeroes

Taylors Lazy Sunday coffee is good - for hardened coffee drinkers and those who aren't so keen.
Yes, I second this. I'm a massive coffee fan but Lazy Sunday is great for everyone, really smooth and enjoyable. It's very affordable too.
Tootyfilou · 31/10/2021 17:27

Are we not allowed to comment on Israeli goods on Mumsnet? Who knew?

IloveJudgeJudy · 31/10/2021 18:16

Costa coffee or Starbucks blonde coffee is lovely and mild. We have many different coffee makers and I think the easiest one for just two cups is the Breville express (other makes are available).

WeAreTheHeroes · 31/10/2021 18:34

We keep ground coffee in the freezer with the bag clipped. I agree with pp who said a cafetiere is the easiest, and one of the best, ways to make coffee.

Libertaire · 31/10/2021 18:41

I have tried using a moka pot, but I can never achieve a decent crema despite using fresh Lavazza coffee. There is obviously a knack to it which I haven’t got.

I use a cafetière which is simple to use and makes excellent coffee.

scottishnames · 31/10/2021 20:11

I'm going to say this again at the end of my post, but here goes. Coffee tastes are very individual. There's no 'right' or 'wrong'. I am not not not being critical of other peoples' preferences.

BUT I prefer an old-fashioned cone filter wth papers, perched over a clean warm jug. No hotplates or any fancy warming devices. That way, the coffee isn't stewed, which sometimes happens with a cafetiere. And there's a smaller chance of stray grains in the cup. level dessertspoon of fine ground coffee per person for a mug; less for a smaller cup. If you like it strong, that is. You can always add a bit more hot - just off the boil - water if you like it weaker.

Can't stand Starbucks' or Taylor's coffees. Starbuck's in particular I find coarse and over-roasted and just generally nasty tasting. And Lazy Sunday - no. (To me, it's the equivalent of milk chocolate - which I loathe - as against dark and crisp and bitter plain.) I wouldn't use Lavazza with a filter paper for different reasons - it's designed for espresso. But I'm not saying I'm right - I'm just saying what I like. I KNOW we all have very different tastes.

Fresh ground coffee is best of all, but that means having a coffee grinder. For ground, I like Cafe Direct's Macchu Pichu. Lidl's single estate fair trade ground coffees (when they have them) are also good and interesting. You might like to find out about different coffee varieties, often based on location: Java is often very strong; Kenyan is mild, Caribbean is very fragrant; south American varieties can have rich flavours without too hefty a kick etc etc etc.

Sadly, ground coffee does go off very quickly once it's opened. (The oxygen in the air interacts with it.) As others have said, keeping it very tightly closed in the freezer is a very good idea.

craftymadam · 31/10/2021 20:21

Thanks so much everyone! I've learnt so much from this thread! I hadn't even thought of freezing coffee! Brilliant idea as whatever we buy always goes off before the next coffee drinkers visit!! Grin

OP posts:
dixiebloom · 31/10/2021 20:31

we have a nespresso machine, cafetaire and an aeropress that I bought for in the campervan.
I was very impressed by the aeropress tbh.

hotmeatymilk · 31/10/2021 20:32

Definitely cafetière or stovetop espresso pot! I’m averse to pods but purely on instinct, they just seem so naff – but apparently they’re the most sustainable of all coffee options: www.wired.co.uk/article/coffee-pods-nespresso-recycling

People suggesting coffee bags – do you mean the teabag-style system but with coffee in? Because they’re fucking awful, what has your mouth ever done to you?

saraclara · 01/11/2021 00:07

@dixiebloom

we have a nespresso machine, cafetaire and an aeropress that I bought for in the campervan. I was very impressed by the aeropress tbh.
Love my aeropress! But it's not as flexible for someone who wants to make more than one cup.

My kids laugh that I have every means of making coffee known to man (but not electrical). A filter and jug, my aeropress, two cafetieres, a moka pot, and a vietnamese coffee filter thing!

HopingForOurRainbowBaby · 01/11/2021 00:26

I have a tassimo. The L'Or macchiato and L'Or caramel macchiato are really nice. In fact I prefer them to the Costa ones. Downside they're expensive unless they're on the 3 for a tenner offer and they aren't decaf so I tend to just have them as a treat now and then. More often than not I just buy a a jar of L'Or decaf and a tub of coffee mate. Also makes going out for a coffee for enjoyable too if I just have a bog standard coffee at home

MinnieMountain · 01/11/2021 07:13

An aeropress is quick and takes up very little room.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 01/11/2021 08:48

@Tootyfilou

Are we not allowed to comment on Israeli goods on Mumsnet? Who knew?
Which goods though? I didn't see your post before it was zapped and can only assume it was my post/s you commented on.

An Italian coffee house with a non profit Foundation supporting growers, women and kids in their supply chain?

Or the random Amazon sample of a moka pot - Royalford, head office in Dubai?

I would guess that if you wanted to comment on Israeli goods you'd have to start with identifying some actual Israeli products.

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