Take the Plunge (pathetic pun...sorry...too much coffee)
September 4th 2006 04:01
With the price of 'Instant Coffee' set to rise, now is the time to forget freeze-dried beverages and look to higher 'grounds' (Hee hee - a little coffee joke...very little...oh forget it!). In fact, what were you doing drinking 'instant' in the first place?! The All Knowing Geek forgives you...there, there...shhhhhhhh. Come and suckle at my coffee flavoured teat and let me guide you to the gates of Coffee Valhalla.
I would recommend an Espresso Machine as the ideal but a cheaper and easier way to ease yourself in to the universe of serious coffee drinkers is the plunger. The humble plunger is a really decent way to make coffee; in fact sometimes it can gently ply subtle nuances from the coffee grounds that a machine can't (yes I'm a wanker - yes I did just say: "subtle nuances").
If you're making coffee on your onesy then just pick up a 1 - 2 cup plunger (usually around the $15 - $25 mark for a decent one).
1) Boil a decent amount of water (you'll need it for a variety of purposes as you'll soon see). Always use filtered water when making coffee in any of its manifestations.
2) Heat the plunger. I.e.: pour boiling water into the plunger and leave it for at least 30 seconds to a minute before pouring it out. This will create a more insular environment and keep your coffee warmer for longer.
3) Ideally use freshly ground beans (we'll talk grinders later). Please avoid getting your beans ground and put into a bag and certainly avoid supermarket pre-ground beans if you can also. Now ideally you should be throwing a heaped tablespoon in for each cup (e.g.: If you're using a 6 cup plunger throw in 6 tablespoons of coffee.)
You should begin to smell the aroma of oils being released as the coffee hits the hot plunger (remember you pre-warmed the plunger? What? You didn't? Ohhh...you'd better believe that's a paddlin').
4) Pour your hot water in. NEVER pour boiling water onto your coffee grounds. The water should be almost at boiling point but not actually boiling. You want to pry the flavours from your coffee gently - not bend it over and take it from behind!
As a rule - fill the plunger up to the metal band at the top.
5) Wait. Leave the plunger be for about 3 to 4 minutes. DO NOT stir the coffee, DO NOT disturb the coffee or you'll piss off the Coffee Gods and they'll curse you to forever drink Nescafe Noir!!
Whilst you're waiting you can heat your cup (see step 2).
You could also twiddle your thumbs, Draw a smiley face on your fridge with Barbecue Sauce or you should have just enough time to sing American Pie (the radio edit not the album version).
6) Break the cap. What the frig does that mean?! I'm glad you asked. The coffee grounds will have risen to the top of the plunger forming a 'cap'. This has trapped the Co2 and all the aromas, giving the coffee time to brew. Take a spoon and just break the cap up a little. You should see the golden crema escaping through the cracks. This is a good sign.
7) Whack the plunger's top on and slowly and steadily lower the plunger itself. This will push the coffee grounds to the bottom.
Enjoy! Drink it relatively quickly. The down-side to the plunger is that the spent coffee grounds stay on the bottom of the device so keep that in mind. For best results enjoy your plunger coffee as a long black. If you're using good coffee there should be no reason for you to add sugar.
Bon Happy Tits!
I would recommend an Espresso Machine as the ideal but a cheaper and easier way to ease yourself in to the universe of serious coffee drinkers is the plunger. The humble plunger is a really decent way to make coffee; in fact sometimes it can gently ply subtle nuances from the coffee grounds that a machine can't (yes I'm a wanker - yes I did just say: "subtle nuances").
1) Boil a decent amount of water (you'll need it for a variety of purposes as you'll soon see). Always use filtered water when making coffee in any of its manifestations.
2) Heat the plunger. I.e.: pour boiling water into the plunger and leave it for at least 30 seconds to a minute before pouring it out. This will create a more insular environment and keep your coffee warmer for longer.
3) Ideally use freshly ground beans (we'll talk grinders later). Please avoid getting your beans ground and put into a bag and certainly avoid supermarket pre-ground beans if you can also. Now ideally you should be throwing a heaped tablespoon in for each cup (e.g.: If you're using a 6 cup plunger throw in 6 tablespoons of coffee.)
4) Pour your hot water in. NEVER pour boiling water onto your coffee grounds. The water should be almost at boiling point but not actually boiling. You want to pry the flavours from your coffee gently - not bend it over and take it from behind!
As a rule - fill the plunger up to the metal band at the top.
5) Wait. Leave the plunger be for about 3 to 4 minutes. DO NOT stir the coffee, DO NOT disturb the coffee or you'll piss off the Coffee Gods and they'll curse you to forever drink Nescafe Noir!!
Whilst you're waiting you can heat your cup (see step 2).
You could also twiddle your thumbs, Draw a smiley face on your fridge with Barbecue Sauce or you should have just enough time to sing American Pie (the radio edit not the album version).
6) Break the cap. What the frig does that mean?! I'm glad you asked. The coffee grounds will have risen to the top of the plunger forming a 'cap'. This has trapped the Co2 and all the aromas, giving the coffee time to brew. Take a spoon and just break the cap up a little. You should see the golden crema escaping through the cracks. This is a good sign.
7) Whack the plunger's top on and slowly and steadily lower the plunger itself. This will push the coffee grounds to the bottom.
Enjoy! Drink it relatively quickly. The down-side to the plunger is that the spent coffee grounds stay on the bottom of the device so keep that in mind. For best results enjoy your plunger coffee as a long black. If you're using good coffee there should be no reason for you to add sugar.
Bon Happy Tits!
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Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I tried what you said and it made an awesome cup of delicious coffee (even with pre-ground beans). Keep up the coffee hugging, buddy!
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Jas
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Viva La Caffeine!
Comment by Jas
Stories: Put Them in Your Brain
Food, Wine and Coffee
One Planet