Do you buy already ground or grind the beans yourself???

Both, but I usually buy whole beans. Right now I prefer espresso though, and I can't grind the beans that fine myself, so it's pre-ground for the moment.

I usually by pre-ground, but have whole beans also. To be honest, I have not really tasted a difference in the "freshness" of the coffee.

Already ground, im way too lazy to grind beans in the morning.

Tea

I've been spoiled now by the Italian espresso and cappucino. It's going to be difficult having to settle for Starbucks when I go back home.

You called?

Coffee should be purchased in fairly small amounts, from somewhere that roasts their own beans. My personal belief is you buy only what you think you'll use in 1-2 weeks time. Some say a month, I disagree.

Always buy whole beans, and grind 'em as you go. Store the remaining beans sealed in a cool, dry place. Freezer is a horrid place, as it will suck out the flavor very quickly.

If you buy coffee straight off the roaster (as in like, still warm), for the first pot, grind and wait 10-15 minutes before brewing to allow the gas to escape. Failure to do so results in some seriously funky tasting coffee.

After brewing, if you are a serious coffee nazi, immediatly take coffee off the heater and store in a carafe. Leaving coffee on the heat will screw up the taste after awhile.

Oh, and never re-heat coffee, unless you are utterly desperate. Re-heated coffee tastes like shit.

A truly good pot of coffee takes a little bit of effort, proper ingredients, and technique. Just like a good quality steak.

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
You called?

Coffee should be purchased in fairly small amounts, from somewhere that roasts their own beans. My personal belief is you buy only what you think you'll use in 1-2 weeks time. Some say a month, I disagree.

Always buy whole beans, and grind 'em as you go. Store the remaining beans sealed in a cool, dry place. Freezer is a horrid place, as it will suck out the flavor very quickly.

WOW :eek:

Did not know about the freezer being such a coffee killer! :eek:

I always grind my own beans now, can't stand buying ground coffee. Just got a new pot that will grind and brew the coffee in one step on a timer, can't wait to use it.

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
You called?

Coffee should be purchased in fairly small amounts, from somewhere that roasts their own beans. My personal belief is you buy only what you think you'll use in 1-2 weeks time. Some say a month, I disagree.

Always buy whole beans, and grind 'em as you go. Store the remaining beans sealed in a cool, dry place. Freezer is a horrid place, as it will suck out the flavor very quickly.

If you buy coffee straight off the roaster (as in like, still warm), for the first pot, grind and wait 10-15 minutes before brewing to allow the gas to escape. Failure to do so results in some seriously funky tasting coffee.

After brewing, if you are a serious coffee nazi, immediatly take coffee off the heater and store in a carafe. Leaving coffee on the heat will screw up the taste after awhile.

Oh, and never re-heat coffee, unless you are utterly desperate. Re-heated coffee tastes like shit.

A truly good pot of coffee takes a little bit of effort, proper ingredients, and technique. Just like a good quality steak.

Woah! I thought Coffee Warlord was only some funky nickname you had given yourself. Now I see where it comes from... :)

FM

*laughs*

My handle came from the fact that I was/am the mastermind behind a certain event known as the Coffee Wars.

There's a computer security (aka a few thousand geeks doing geeklike things) in Las Vegas every year known as Defcon. A few years back, I and a few others got together and created a side event called the Coffee Wars, which is basically a big taste-test of coffee on the first day of the convention. It'll be in its fifth year come next July/August.

Yes. I am a coffee nazi. Now you know. :)

Ground up or not it seems to taste the same to me. Mind you, I drink instant coffee.

"My personal belief is you buy only what you think you'll use in 1-2 weeks time."

Two barrels it is.

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
*laughs*

My handle came from the fact that I was/am the mastermind behind a certain event known as the Coffee Wars.

There's a computer security (aka a few thousand geeks doing geeklike things) in Las Vegas every year known as Defcon. A few years back, I and a few others got together and created a side event called the Coffee Wars, which is basically a big taste-test of coffee on the first day of the convention. It'll be in its fifth year come next July/August.

Yes. I am a coffee nazi. Now you know. :)

My friend is a Navy computer warfair expert. Last year he came home with a scraggly beard and long hair. I asked him if the Navy had really relaxed their standards.

The reason he was allowed to do that was because he was being sent to Defcon by the Navy to learn about hacking techniques. The Navy sends a couple of people from his unit every year. Imagine a week in Vegas being paid for by the government, all with a pretty healthy expense account.

Another little tid bit: people have a contest called "find the fed." If you find an undercover government agent you are given a tee shirt and they are given a tee shirt. Every year the Navy guys get tagged. All except the year my friend went. :)

Originally posted by Killebrew
Ground up or not it seems to taste the same to me. Mind you, I drink instant coffee.

yep, that would be me too...

FM

I just let the trout make the coffee.

Coffee! I don't drink coffee, but I vote in all polls! - that's me:D

Originally posted by Coffee Warlord
You called?

Coffee should be purchased in fairly small amounts, from somewhere that roasts their own beans. My personal belief is you buy only what you think you'll use in 1-2 weeks time. Some say a month, I disagree.

Always buy whole beans, and grind 'em as you go. Store the remaining beans sealed in a cool, dry place. Freezer is a horrid place, as it will suck out the flavor very quickly.

If you buy coffee straight off the roaster (as in like, still warm), for the first pot, grind and wait 10-15 minutes before brewing to allow the gas to escape. Failure to do so results in some seriously funky tasting coffee.

After brewing, if you are a serious coffee nazi, immediatly take coffee off the heater and store in a carafe. Leaving coffee on the heat will screw up the taste after awhile.

Oh, and never re-heat coffee, unless you are utterly desperate. Re-heated coffee tastes like shit.

A truly good pot of coffee takes a little bit of effort, proper ingredients, and technique. Just like a good quality steak.

good god man!

I thought I was a coffee snob, and then some warlord dude came along and showed me just how far I still have to go.

Good 'ole Folger's mild

Originally posted by GrantDawg
Another little tid bit: people have a contest called "find the fed." If you find an undercover government agent you are given a tee shirt and they are given a tee shirt. Every year the Navy guys get tagged. All except the year my friend went. :)

I cut a deal with an NSA agent one year for our shirts.

Along a bunch of other government swag, including, yes, an NSA coloring book!

The Mellita Grind and Brew may possibly be one of the greatest inventions of the last quarter century. You can buy one at Target for about 60 bucks.

The machine grinds the beans in the filter and then brews the coffee. Cleanup is a snap (not the case with the competing grind and brew from Cuisinart.)

Set the timer, set the grind and wake up to fresh ground coffee every morning FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

You can thank me later.

If you don't wake up will it keep grinding coffee until they find your body?

Originally posted by Subby
The Mellita Grind and Brew may possibly be one of the greatest inventions of the last quarter century. You can buy one at Target for about 60 bucks.

The machine grinds the beans in the filter and then brews the coffee. Cleanup is a snap (not the case with the competing grind and brew from Cuisinart.)

Set the timer, set the grind and wake up to fresh ground coffee every morning FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

You can thank me later.