This year I am as they say “old.” If I’m still alert at 10 p.m. it’s a feat. My freshman self could run circles around my weathered been-around-the-globe-and-back body. Very rarely do I stray outside of our apartment late at night. Unless of course it’s an emergency.
But when our coffeemaker broke Friday night I flew out the door to Ralphs despite my lethargic body screaming in protest. This was an emergency. We needed vinegar to de-calcify our coffeemaker and we needed it stat.
This brief but frightening flash of life without a coffeemaker made me realize just how wonderful it is to brew coffee at home. I specifically took notice of just how frequently we use it and how much we’ve learned about coffee from using it.
My apartment may be an extreme case but it’s safe to say that Gaston (our coffeemaker) often makes a surplus of 20 cups a day. Gaston is one hardworking appliance but I’m starting to think he likes the attention.
The frequent use of Gaston of course means that we blow through coffee. We average about a pound a week between three of us and because of this heavy consumption I’ve learned some valuable tricks that make at-home brewing far more delicious and much cheaper than simply purchasing your morning coffee.
First I learned that freshly ground coffee tastes far superior to pre-ground coffee. Investing in a $15 coffee bean grinder from Target and then grinding the beans before brewing results in much more rich and fresh-tasting coffee. Think about it: Pre-ground coffee purchased from a grocery store or coffee shop were ground packaged shipped and bought; all the while the oils are seeping out of the coffee beans and onto the packaging. Whole bean coffee which is ground right before brewing keeps those delicious oils where they belong (in the coffee bean) so they can get to where they should belong (in your belly). And if you are looking for even richer coffee invest in a French press. The oils have more of an opportunity to soak and thus a much fuller flavor ends up in your coffee cup.
Second I’ve learned that whole bean coffee though not as cheap as a tub of Folgers doesn’t have to be expensive. Tully’s coffee is often on sale at Ralphs averaging about $6 per pound. The whole bean Sumatra roast is especially delicious. Buying whole bean coffee from Costco or Sam’s Club is also great way to save money. Sam’s Club online for example sells a two and a half pound bag of European Café Whole Bean Coffee for $14.83 rivaling Starbucks in taste for almost half the cost. Amazon also has some great deals on bulk-coffee (and if you buy whole bean it lasts much longer).
Third using filtered water makes a world of difference in both your coffee and the performance of your coffeemaker. Hard unfiltered water contains a myriad of minerals that slowly build up in the coffeemaker. This leads to the calcification within the coffeemaker which may be the reason why only eight cups show up in the coffee pot instead of the 10 you swore you measured out. It also may be the reason for watery or not as rich tasting coffee; calcification leads to water pressure loss and weak water pressure won’t absorb as much of the coffee flavor. Using filtered water slows down the calcification process by more than half and prolongs the life of the coffeemaker.
One of the most imperative parts to a great coffeemaker and therefore a great coffeemaker experience is the delay brew setting. Buying a coffeemaker without a delay brew is like buying a textbook from the bookstore: It’s just not the smart option. I hit my snooze button too many times in the morning so waking up to coffee already brewing after prepping it the night before liberates my morning. Plus I get to wake up knowing my coffee is the most delicious and freshest possible.
