Zachary's Coffee Corner
A place for me to share my coffee related chronicles. Notes on different brew methods, exciting recent caffeinated adventures, and what I'm looking forwards to in the future. This page is definitely not for everyone and I'm absolutely a complete amateur. Feel free to email me recommendations or tips & tricks!
Notes:
11/21/2024
- Recent coffee news:
- Newest coffee: "german brick"
- I bought coffee that is vacuum sealed and formed into a brick shape!
- Coffee corner still exists and I still drink coffee every day in my dorm
- I brew coffee using my hotplate equipped coffee machine
- If KU Housing & Residence life would like me to stop they need to come take it
- Amount of people killed by a hotplate (not allowed): probably less than 100
- Amount of people killed by guns (allowed in dorms): more than 100
- Amount of people killed by bikes (not allowed): probably less than 100
- Amount of people killed by pet sharks (not allowed): probably less than 100
COFFEE CORNER CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT 10/31/2024
- I regret to inform Coffee Corner's wonderful and appreciated visitors that the future of coffee corner as you know it is in danger.
- The University of Kansas Housing and Residence has DEMANDED removal of my most prized possesion: my Teccnivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select
- KU HOUSING AND RESIDENCE LIFE HAS EFFECTIVELY DECLARED WAR ON COFFEE CORNER'S VERY SOVERIGNTY
- The technical "justification" for this demand (as if such evil could ever be justified)
- The Moccamaster has a hotplate to keep coffee hot (like most drip coffee makers) which is banned in dorms
- Supposedly, the hotplate component could pose as a fire hazard
- This is an example of KU Housing targeting specifically yours truly and the wonderful beautiful readers of coffee corner (which there are literally 1s of!)
- Do they not know that the hotplate turns off after 100 minutes?
- DO they not know that I don't use the hotplate because I'm afraid of burning my coffee?
- This is a TECHNIVORM MOCCAMASTER IT COST $400 THIS ISNT A MR. COFFEE!
- The same rules should not apply to me
- Handmade in Norway vs a crappy chinese piece of plastic waste
- Do they understand the concept of NUANCE???
- To me this is a cut and dry case of rules for everyone else affecting me disproportionately
10/21/2024
- Peet's Coffee Major Dickason's Blend is an excellent grocery store coffee
- I think Peet out did Dunkin' and right now starbucks is so far back for me that it's out of the conversation
- I will be giving Alid's one more chance because I can't resist the value proposition but if it doesn't work out, I'm never going back
10/13/2024 - 10/15/2024
- Backpacking trip in central-southern missouri coffee notes:
- Considerations: Aeropress, foldable pourover setup, instant coffee
- I settled on using Starbucks Instant Cafe Via Packets due to weight restrictions
- Aeropress was next in interest level but the idea of carrying my grounds in a bag across multiple days was not attractive to me.
- Really didn't enjoy my Cafe Via packets...
- Despite using two packets which are meant to pair with 8oz of water each in a 12oz cup it was a weak brew at best
- This didn't taste full like coffee usually did and because I consider myself to be only mildly caffine dependent I would probably rather just go without any coffee if this was my only option.
- Next backpacking trip is going to have either an Aeropress and I'll just suck up the extra weight or I might get a Flair GO portable lever-action espresso maker...
- A benefit of an espresso setup is less grounds and I could water it down for an Americano if needed
10/10/2024:
- Yesterday I bought Peet's Coffee Major Dickinsons Blend Decaf
- Now I can have a cup of coffee at night and not worry about sleep
- Also bought whole bean non-decaf Major Dickinson's for non night time cups
10/08/2024:
- Preparing for backpacking trip in 4 days
- Coffee options:
- Starbuck's Cafe Via
- Aeropress and preground coffee
- Portable pourover setup and preground coffee
- Still enjoying my Dunkin' medium roast, can't complain, could be a robust and versatile daily driver
10/06/2024:
- Anshutz Library coffee machine needs to be banned
- Where should we put the disruptive and noisy coffee machine?
- In the quietest corner of the 3rd floor of course!
10/03/2024:
- Ground the beans in the Bartza Encore
- Dunkin' made a bean with a nice level of maybe acidity or like a lemony (not really but close) taste
- Very satisfying cup
- I'm still in love with my Moccamaster
10/02/2024
- Dunkin' Donut Medium Roast
- I have the whole bean medium roast 12 oz. package
- Enjoyable!
- I'll talk more about it tomorrow but I was pleasantly surprised by this coffee!
09/30/2024:
- Is there shame in tossing perfectly good coffee?
- I'm incredibly tired of the ALDIs Guatemalan but I can't justify throwing it out
- Side tangent:
- I've never had a good drink from an on campus Starbucks
- Never and I always fall for their trap
09/29/2024:
- Camping Coffee Session
- Went camping with my family at Clinton Lake very nice
- Brewed coffee using a triangular pour-over setup
- Starbucks French Roast
- Tasty and especially enjoyable on a crisp morning outdoors
09/26/2024:
- This was day two of ALDIs Guatemalan Coffee
- I think I understand it now
- I like it more than the Honduran beans
- Perfect Moccamaster operation this morning
- I get headaches when I wake up until I have coffee now
- Stay tuned for a nighttime update since I'll definitely be brewing a pot before my 8:00 P.M. chemistry test
09/25/2024:
- A human error & analysis:
- Coffee grounds were added to the filter holder without the filter being in place
- Upon realization of the error, measures were taken to minimize spread of damage
- Primary impact was a delayed cup of coffee and an erosion of my faith in my pre-caffinated brain
- A catch-22 scenario: only a person who is fully awake can perform the steps in the correct order however it is impossible to fully wake up without first performing the steps and brewing coffee
- Steps Moving Forwards:
- After the disappointing and frankly embarrassing situation this morning, many on the board are calling on me to resign
- I believe i'm still the best fit for the role (of brewing my morning cup of coffee) and will commit myself to the future of the program
- I pledge a 10 day no mistake period
09/24/2024:
- This morning, the air was crisp and the coffee grinder called my name, urging me to feed it
- I transferred 8 tablespoons into his hopper, satisfying his hunger
- In a game time decision, the grind setting was moved from 14 to 10, with a contract to buy back at 14 tomorrow if results weren’t satisfactory
- Double or nothing will also be discussed by the board in the event of an excellent cup
- Honduras is a cool country I went there when I was little
- ALDIs also went there snd they came back with a medium roast single origin bag of whole beans which I bought from them at their store
- Ethical considerations ALDIs takes?
- I’d like to know - I’m curious
- Practical:
- I’m bumping up coffee intake to 5 cups minimum to receive maximum caffeine benefits
- Plans in the works for tasting every espresso in Lawrence
- Personification of objects in Coffee Corner is here to stay
- Tomorrow I’m going to say I got into an argument with the Dunkin donut medium roast that’s in my drawer
09/23/2024:
- I measured hit water and grounds the night before
- All I had to do in the morning was flip a switch and the aromas were oh so nice
- Last bit of my Sumatra coffee
- Next plan is finish off Honduras aldi beans
- My dad liked the Honduran beans which surprised me
09/22/2024:
- Went out for breakfast and had a cappuccino
- I'm just not a cappuccino guy I fear
- Too milky not enough taste
- Milk was overly foamy
- The restaurant had a nice ambiance
- Should've gotten an espresso instead
09/21/2024:
- Used my parent's Breville Grind Control Machine
- It's the same price as my Moccamaster
- While it has more features than the Moccamaster, it is not SCA approved
- I suspect it has an immersion component in which the water is soaking in the filter holder
- It seems to do a solid job at brewing
- I can't trust the build in grinder and I suspect it's less nice than Encore(??)
- Also used their Bartza Encore grinder
- Ground some of my Simply Organic Honduran Origin beans
- Grind Setting: 14
- 4 TBSP of whole bean, didn't measure difference in whole bean and ground product
- Not sure I'm a fan of these beans
- Possibly too light, despite being labeled as a medium roast
- Almost a weird, vegetable taste buried in it?
- Not bad enough to not finish but likely won't be buying again
- From the perspective of being ALDIs $5.00 beans they aren't unreasonable
- Still excited for my other ALDI beans these were the least liked ones by the internet
09/20/2024 (TURNING POINT):
- Moccamaster arrived yesterday at 5:00pm
- I was waiting at my parents house for it and personally met the UPS driver
- With great care it was transferred inside, assembled and observed/admired
- After taking it back to my dorm I HAD to brew it's maiden cup
- I loaded 4 scoops of Sumatra and 6 cups of water and it got to work, producing a product within four minutes
- The end result was a delicious cup which was unmistakably filtered
- It looks soooo good in my dorm next to my vintage camera collection
- I would buy this for $800
09/19/2024:
- Moccamater package was delayed
- Probably the worst feeling ever when I checked the tracking info yesterday and it was still in Lenexa
- It is absolutely coming today and the tracking info says it's out for delivery
- I didn't have the heart to use the French Press
- Today was supposed to be the day
- Practical Information:
- I had the Nespresso because I was so disappointed I couldn't go do my French Press technique
- Nespresso Vertuo Starbucsk Pike Place pod
- It's crazy how fast the nespresso is
09/18/2024:
- Moccamaster arrives today
- Moccamaster is being delivered to parents house, I'm gonna drive home and get it as soon as it's delivered
- Today I had more sumartra it was fine
- Yesterday I went to ALDI and got Honduras Whole Bean, Peru Ground, Midnight Blend Ground.
- ALDI Coffee is respected by reddit
- They say that it's a great affordable single origin option
- I'd like to try German Medium Blend I didn't see it when I went
09/17/2024:
- Sumatra in french press day
- I think I have the french press fairly dialed in and have concluded it's impossible to have a non-silty cup
- Extremely excited for Moccamaster
- Felt a solid buzz about 500ml into todays drink
- Exploring different mug options
- I'd like to try some more specialty beans
- Secured contract for extended borrowing of Bartza Encore burr grinder from dad
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select has been purchased!
I did it! I ordered one of the internet's highest reviewed drip coffee makers: the Moccamaster KBGV Select. It cost me just under $400 after tax which is about 333% of my biweekly paycheck (i.e. it would take around 1.5 months to recoup the money if I cared). I couldn't care less! Money will always ebb and flow–like the tide–however I'm planning to use the Moccamaster for at least a year and it could easily last 10+ years (some redditiors have reported 20 years of use). It also is covered by a 5 year warranty out of the box. Moccamaster machines are hand assembled in Norway and in my humble–objective–opinion, the KBGV Select is the best looking non-espresso coffee making implement on the market right now. The design is timeless, functional, and they sell it in a bunch of colors (I got Yellow Pepper!). It isn't some ordinary drip coffee maker, which is probably what makes most people think of it as an unreasonable purchase. No, the Moccamaster KBGV Select is a Specialty Coffee Association approved home brewer. This is an exclusive list, requiring adherence to standards regarding extraction, brewing temperature, hotplate temperatures, and brewing time to name a few.
09/13/2024:
- same method as 9-11
- Also put pumpkin spice nespresso in hydro flask mug for breakfast
- Good
- Not sure if I like it more than veranda
- Cheap
09/11/2024:
- First day of SUMATRA
- 43 g grounds, 700 g water
- 1:16 ratio
- Full bloom this time
- 100g water
- 30 full seconds
- Might try to handle more carully
- Medium pour seed
09/10/2024
- 9/10
- Final day of veranda blend
- Bloomed for 20 secs
- Smaller amount since using last in bag
- 31 grams coffee, 460 grams water
09/09/2024:
- got scale
- 34.8 grams coffee
- 1:15 ratio so 522 ml water
- Pour slightly over 526
- Sorta bloomed but got scared
- Probably 10 sec bloom
09/06/2024:
- French press
- 700ml water, 7.5 scoops of coffee
- Excellent foam scooping technique
- Perfect amount quantity-wise (700ml for my hydroflask)
- Why so sludgy?
- I poured sooooo slow
09/06/2024:
- Used Nespresso pod
- It was very good and the foam is sooo enticing when in glass mug
- Might be better than the original line because of making full cup of coffee if needed
- Didn't have time for French pressing
- Is a French press more expensive?
- 1.20 per pod isn't awful
09/04/2024:
- 7 scoops, ~700ml water
- I thought I did like 600 last time?
- MAJOR CRUST after 4 mins
- Broke up full crust
- Got 90% of foam
- Please don't be silty
- Poured very slowly
- Took about a minute to pour entire thing
- Observed for silt, did not see any
- Tasty
- Im liking the veranda blend now
- Much better than the stuff in the dining hall
- Smoky? What seems a little smoky?
09/03/2024:
- 6 scoops approx 575 ml water
- Waited until water no longer bubbling to pour
- No stirring until 4 mins
- after scoop ALL foam out
- Wait 5 mins more
- Dip filter into top
- Pour (leave like 2 tbsp in carafe)
- Poured kinda quick? not a good thing??
- Tasty, not too strong
- Too much silt for last sip
- NEXT TIME:
- Pour slower
- Continue scooping all foam out