FamiLee Life

It's Snowing, Let's Talk Coffee

Winter (the snowy kind) finally arrived in Minnesota. So much so, in fact, that the University even closed its doors (gasp) on Thursday afternoon. Despite it being a balmy 28-30 degrees outside, they shut down because of the blustery winds and accumulating snow. I stayed at work till normal hours and then drove home slowly. The highways were actually open and safe to drive. Of course, the University is back open today. I decided to work from home, in part because of the weather and because I have a cold (and no voice).

But I am not here to talk about weather -- that's b-o-r-i-n-g! Instead, let's talk coffee!

I grew up hating, HATING, coffee for the simple reason that my parents drank tons of the cheap, fake stuff (Taster's Choice) by the cup full when I was a child. Moreover, their breaths stank of bitter, sour coffee. I vowed to not drink coffee for this reason alone. I held my ground too all through college and graduate school. I only drank hot tea. Then, I started teaching at UT-Austin and began to eat Starbucks coffee and chocolate chip ice cream to cool down from the hot weather. This got me enjoying the flavor of coffee. One day, while actually in a Worcester (MA) diner off the highway, I decided to take the coffee plunge. Diner coffee - the only way to get indoctrinated into coffee culture.

Since that fateful day, I have mixed coffee consumption into my daily routine, along with hot tea (which I still prefer to drink in the afternoons). I even have bought three coffee machines in these intervening years, but (I confess) I am a horrible coffee maker. First, I bought the non-electric kind that requires you to boil water and then pour it into the plastic cone-shaped filter. Next, I bought a cheap Hamilton-Beach electric machine which coffee-fiend friends said would make terrible coffee because the filter was not cone-shaped. Finally, I got myself a nice Cuisineart electric machine with a cone-shaped filter and even a water filtration system. Still, despite all these upgrades in coffee machines, I continued to make terrible coffee.

Eventually, over time, I discovered Americano coffee which I really enjoy more than regular coffee. I particularly like it when it is made with 1/3-1/2 water, so there is a nice crema on top. I also learned that I like the "long pull" which apparently means it is run through the espresso machine twice. Then, while traveling through Europe, I learned to appreciate adding a bit of cream and sugar to this drink. Yum! I found the perfect taste for me.

But still, I could not master coffee making in my home. It's quite embarrassing when you love to cook and host dinners, but then end the night with badly made coffee.

Fortunately, I recently discovered the Italian aluminum drip coffee maker! A few people had recommended it in recent months, so I finally found one - a Pezzetto - for $12 while discount shopping at Marshall's! What a deal!

I did not know how to make coffee in this machine, so I went online for some help. I came across this useful site. Next, I bought some nice Morningstar espresso Italian roast ground coffee yesterday and made a fresh cup this morning. Oh my! I love it! Perfecto! Strong, flavorful, full. Ah...finally the kind of coffee I have been trying to make for years!

And what I love best about it is that it's completely manual! No need for electricity (just a gas range stove or open fire pit). I can bring the aluminum pot with me camping even. Wonderful.

Well, as for the bad breath fears due to childhood memories, I just drink plenty of water, brush my teeth regularly, and make sure to not consume gallons of coffee all day long.

Posted by richlee at March 2, 2007 09:59 AM