How do I use actual, proper grown up coffee?

[MumOfGorgeousness]

There's been talk on here about instant vs machines vs filter coffee.

I buy good instant and use a tassimo when I want a treat.

How would I use beans and what do I need? Is that the percolator thing? I've used those at friends houses but never know when to plunge! Also what beans are recommended? Someone I know used to put instant in a percolator is that normal?

I don't want to spend a fortune on fancy gadgets, just a bag of beans and whatever it is I need to brew them!

Can anyone help?

I'd buy a bag of ground filter coffee. After you open it, put a clip on it and stick it in the fridge or freezer.

You need a cafetière. Put one desert spoon coffee per cup required in and then fill up with boiling water. I usually give ita gentle stir. Pop the lid on and leave the coffee to brew for 3 or 4 mins. Plunge. Pour into cups and feel sophisticated.

You can grind your own beans, but it's a big faff.

The plunge thing is a cafetière, a percolator is a different thing. A cafetière is fine though.

Just to add to what gunpowder said, one desert spoon does make a cup so if you're more of a mug drinker (like me) it's more like two spoons per cup/ mug.

Percolator doesn't have a plunger - that's a cafetière. Cafetière is an easy option you don't have to get into grinding and faffing.

Gunpowder is on my wavelength! I do exactly the same, and I warm the milk in the microwave whilst the cafetiere is brewing (1min for half a mug of milk, 1.5min for two half mugs).

Fabulous! Thank you for not laughing! I can get those in the week, then I can tick it off my 'being a grown-up' list.

Any recommendations for the coffee type? I usually buy douge egberts (sorry I know the spelling is bad) (mostly for the jars!), millicano or the Nescafé really fine stuff at a push.

Don't use boiling water, it's over extracts the grounds and makes for a bitter taste. Bring the water to the boil, but only pour it onto the grounds when the water in the kettle is completely still .

Buy a good ground coffee in tins such as Lavazza to save the faff of grinding and use a Bialetti stove top coffee maker. Two dessert spoons of powder per mug.

Otherwise Nespresso pods for convenience but high cost

Thanks! Freeworker we already have a tassimo so I won't buy another machine.
The tin of coffee sounds good.

When I used to have coffee in the cafetiere, I used to put the hot water in the cup as well to warm it through while the coffee was brewing, because by the time I added milk it wasn't hot enough for me.

Just a word about keeping ground coffee in a fridge. I understand why people do that to keep it fresh but it makes it very cold so the water cools too much when it hits the ground coffee - unless you take it out and leave it to warm up or use absolutely boiling water.

I find if you buy ground coffee in a tin and use it relatively quickly it wont lose too much flavour.

I like Taylor's of Harrogate coffee.

Cafetière is good, stovetop pots (like Bialetti) also good, though a different tasting coffee. I always drink mine black if making it with either of those methods.

I'll second Taylors, delicious stuff (even the decaff is palatable) and keep an eye out in Morrisons as they regularly have it on a special

Maybe these two then? I drink it black.

They look good . Experiment with strength (as someone said up thread it's 1 dessert spoon per cup, so if you like a mug then use more!). I also like mine black and we use 3 dessertspoons to 2 mugs.

Taylor's is lovely - great to buy on special offer (which it often is in most supermarkets). Lazy Sunday one is a favourite in our house!

I have an electric perculator which is great., but maily use the Caffitiere as easier. Grinding own beans is fine if you have a nutri or magic bullet.

Yes yes to Taylors of Harrogate Coffee is lovely.

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Dh loves his drip coffee thing I got him which you place over a mug. I almost got an expensive machine but this makes good coffee with a paper filter so easier to clean than caffetiere.

I got home coffee I found with good reviews called mule or something and he seems happy

Clever Coffee Dripper www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00EOM5RN0/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_Oj2uwbYX3809JJ

Oh and buy ground beans, domestic machines don't do a good enough job.

I hate coffee myself but researched extensively!

I drink my coffee black and have recently acquired a stove top coffee percolator - it's fab, wish I'd done it years ago! I like the fact that I don't have to buy pods etc, just straight forward coffee grounds. It's really simple to use, takes about 10 mins to make 3 cups of espresso. I pour one cup's worth into a mug then top up with boiling water to make an Americano.

grinding your own beans takes a whole 30 seconds, it is the sound of morning in this house. The grinder is an old Moulinex, they make 'em to last.

you also need a kettle and a cafetiere, the later cost about £6 from a supermarket. Boil kettle, grind beans, pour ground beans into cafetiere. Add boiled water. Wait a bit and then push filter thing down carefully. Pour and drink.

Mr Tesco's basic beans are deemed the best, special offer £2.20 sometimes. Bag lasts about 10 days at one, occasionally two brews a day.

if you have a septic tank don't put coffee grounds down the sink. They compost well.

M&S Christmas coffee is very nice! Also like the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference ones.