Coffee

[SOUNDBOUNDER]

Originally Posted by boogins

Anyone seen a hand operated bean grinder? I did a quick web search and couldn't find one.

\\bruce

They are around. Not real common, but camping stores usually have a version for sale.

Campmor: Camp Coffee

[badsanta]

I use nescafe clasico instant. I cant stand the coffee grounds of a french press, it's to much of a mess for me.

[Guidera48]

I use a Senseo machine. It heats up in under 90 seconds and makes excellent coffee. The pods are available in many diferent cofees and store well in their own round container. It does put a load on the inverter, but a short one.

[dsmylie]

What constitutes medium ground? Is it something you can buy off the shelf or do you have to ground it yourself? I have an old french press that I like but I'm just using Maxwell house med roast which seems like a fine ground to me.

[hellosailor]

If the can on the shelf says "ground coffee" that's medium ground. That's most canned coffee.

Some of them say "fine" or "extra fine" for automatic drip machines, the medium ground is better suited for percolators and other gizmos that take a long time to pass the water through the coffee.

But the water temperature and the time the grounds are in contact with the water, will make as big a difference as the "ground" choice. The finer the grind, the more coffee essence comes out in less time. That can be too much, if you are using very hot water and boiling them over and over, the way some percs do.

[dsmylie]

Thanks

[mazzy]

Anyone have an opinion on the portable espresso makers such as the Handpresso Wild or the Preva? Thinking of adding one to the galley.

Mike

Just saw something else called a Java Wand, for sipping french press straight from the mug

[sww914]

I just bought a 3 cup aluminum stove top espresso maker, it's great and it was only $6.00 at a big discount store. It does not taste exactly like professionally made espresso but it is good. If you want perfect espresso AFAIK you need to spend some real money on an electric machine and then find some electricity. There are many ways to brew coffee and each has it's own flavor. This is merely another variation.

[Keldee]

To make sure the coffe is REALY good get an old fashioned coffee grinder and grind it fresh every day.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by mazzy

Anyone have an opinion on the portable espresso makers such as the Handpresso Wild or the Preva? Thinking of adding one to the galley.

Mike

Just saw something else called a Java Wand, for sipping french press straight from the mug

Mazzy,
I realise you posted this a couple of months back but you are still around the place so I hope you will see this.

The HandPresso Wild only uses those pod things. Where I want to go cruising they will probably be impossible to find. So the HP is out.

The Preva looks more promising but I wonder whether it can hold enough coffee to make it practical. We like our coffee espresson strong but would have the equivalent of two short blacks per cup. With the Preva that means loading the thing four times to make two cups of coffee. Too much mucking about.

OTOH for $30.00 would be worth a shot....no pun intended.

There is a European brand of 12v espresso machine that looks capable of making two short blacks at a time.

::: Velox Italy s.r.l. ::: - Un collaboratore per la casa -

(by my reckoning an espresso is half a short black. short black is a double espresso. all else is a crime against good coffee.)

OTOH I'm wondering if an inverter with a minimal espresso machine might well be the answer. We have one in the office that you fill with water each time you use it, putting in only enough for your immediate need.

I've posted this before, maybe even in this thread, but for now we also use one of those stove top Italian jobs. They don't do a bad job but the result can be a tad bitter for some tastes. the stainless ones are the best and you need one with the broadest flatest base possible or it won't sit happily on marine stove's gas ring.