Pressed Joe

Here’s the thing, I bitched and moaned about how terrible K-Cups are for the world, but I didn’t rightfully give you instructions on how to live without.  So, without further ado, here’s how you make a perfectly great cup of coffee (even at work).

First, go buy yourself one of these: Bodum Chambord 4-CupFrench Press Coffee Maker.  This thing makes coffee magic!  The proverbial coffee money shot.  And, with a little hot water, some freshly coarsely ground coffee and 4 minutes, PRESTO, you’ve got a steaming cuppa joe!

Second, coffee.  For all French Presses you’ll need a coarse grind so as to not clog the metal filter as you press it.  Can you press coffee with store-bought, ground beans?  Yes, but with greater degree of frustration (and slightly harder to clean).  That said, I prefer a medium to dark roasted bean.  There are many options about how to get them from bean to grind.  Personally, I prefer to grind my own using the KitchenAid BCG111OB Blade Coffee Grinder.  Using a pulse technique, it allows for all the beans to get down to the blades and get the correct particle size on the grinds.  An alternative to that is to store grind it when purchased.  This is getting increasingly harder to do as some ShopRite’s I’ve been in don’t even offer beans.  Therefore, hit the Trader Joes for some affordable and environmentally friendly beans, and use the grinder in store to get that coarse grind going.  In a pinch, you can get over to any StarBucks and they’ll do it for you when asked. 

Third, take two heaping scoops (approx. 3-4 tablespoons) and drop that into the bottom of the carafe.  You need hot, but not boiling water for this.  At a properly adjusted water cooler, you can get steaming, I’m-going-to-burn-myself water…but in this modern age, you can just as easily nuke a cup for about 3 minutes.  Make sure you nuke slightly more water than coffee you want to drink as some of that will be absorbed by the grinds.

Then, slowly add the water, carefully stirring to ensure that all the grinds are soaked.  Let it sit for no less than 4 minutes, and press. Ta Dah! You’ve made yourself a fantastic cup of coffee.  Treat it kindly with a drop of full fat half & half.  DO NOT put any of that International Delight crap in it…you’ll ruin a perfectly good cup of coffee!  If you’re going to shorten your life, make sure you do it with natural ingredients and not chemicals. 

Why is it better?  It’s richer, and creamier.  In fact, there’s a slightly lighter brown foam that forms at the top while it’s brewing.  It’s referred to as the crema, and it’s a combination of gas being released from fresh beans and natural coffee oils which contribute to the persistence of flavor and texture of a brew.  Now, to be honest, while delicious, this is the part that will kill you.  Literally.  The crema, and brewing coffee like this, tends to allow the drinker to ingest more natural coffee oils which have the bad LDL cholesterol.  But, in the name of a great cup of coffee, is it worth it?  I think so.