Rachel's CafeAll things coffee…

What, in your opinion, is “The” way to prepare the perfect cup of coffee?

The ubiquitous pressured expresso coffee machine has all but taken over the art of coffee making on the high street… is there another way?

Hi
Well I like the expresso machine as here it can steam the milk….which helps the flavour to me and it seems more substantial.There are differing ways to make coffee.There is the steam way, the percolator way,the cafeteria and the jug….The jug and cafeteria are similar…jugs used in my case if the cafeteria breaks..and the filter machine(uses paper which has bleach and is perhaps better avoided not just because of the taste,also is left to stand for hours, fresh is best)
The percolator uses bigger grounds for the coffee….don’t see too many electric percolators these days but for some coffees they are better, that is percolators(you can get mechanical ones that are placed on the stove…Don’t fall asleep as the plastic handles can melt)…
Differing coffees are suited by differing preparations…If you take e.g.Kenya peabody coffee..it doesn’t taste that good averagish in a cafeteria..and though better in an expresso in the percolator its a very good coffee.Some coffees take more percolation or longer contact with hot water..the cafeteria and jug method means coffee is becoming colder as it stews…So it s experience but for some I’d prefer the percolator and some the expresso…
The other thing is the sugar can make as much difference as the coffee…demarra,light brown,muscovado, sugar crystals etc…I always like a good brown sugar…at least or honey..Honey also has many differing types….Then there’s the syrups hazelnut,and others as well as cinnamon,vanilla,chocolate etc…Cinnamon gives a calming effect in drinks overall and so is a good match for coffee…
Of course you can heat milk in a saucepan or steam it if you used a percolator or a jug..and of course the expresso…..
Basically first get a good coffee..which you like fairtrade and organic….Percol are very good as are traidcraft,cafe direct…sainsbury are ok…
Better to ground your own from the beans…but the powder is pretty good from a good
coffee..Here its taste dark for strong(especially real expresso, not to my taste usually..for small cups and black etc..) medium best for most and light…
Either a percolator or an expresso machine(the better quality ones are better,steaming and frothing milk etc instead of using a milk saucepan)
Cafeterias are next and cheaper…suited by finer grounds than a percolator,fine for expresso too…
and the instant I prefer the coop organic fairtrade..

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