Dolores Borunda's
easycook.com
The Java Shop

Brewing the Perfect Cup If ever a case can be made for the virtues of simplicity it is in the act of brewing a good cup of coffee. In fact, it takes more effort, time, and, in the case of most home brewing machines, expense to make a bad cup of coffee. Good coffee is made by mixing freshly ground coffee with freshly boiled water which has just cooled to 195 degrees F. for no more than four minutes (o.k., five or maybe six minutes for very coarsely ground coffee); at this point the liquid (now coffee) and the coffee grounds must be separated. Issues of grind setting and the amount of coffee used are important but are chiefly matters of personal taste and the separation method used when brewing is completed. The things that can go wrong with brewing are basic and easy to avoid. The simplest brewing methods are the best and they all start with boiling a freshly drawn kettle of water immediately before brewing. Then the pitfalls start and the following links cover the big ones: 1.TOO LITTLE COFFEE. 2.THE WRONG (USUALLY TOO FINE) GRIND 3.OVEREXTRACTION 4.THE "HOLDING" FACTOR. 5.BAD WATER. Another good, easy way to make great coffee is with a kettle, a filter cone, matching paper filter and a pot, either plain glass or insulated. Of critical importance here is to use the largest filter cone so you can use a generous amount of coffee, and to pour the water through quickly rather than dribbling it through. If your grind is too fine it will clog the paper filter and extend the brewing time. Also, some plastic filter cones don't allow the coffee to pass through quickly enough. Feel free to enlarge the holes slightly in whatever safe and sensible manner you can devise. (Twelve-inch chef's knives and firearms of any caliber are not recommended.) Some coffee experts claim that paper filters contribute undesirable tastes to the coffee. You might try pouring a little boiling water through the filter and cone first, throwing this rinse water away and then beginning the brewing process. Most people, however, do not notice the difference, especially when the coffee is  strong. If you object to paper filters you can seek out a permanent "gold filter." These filters use a fine-plated gold mesh which is made in the same way the foils for electric razors are produced. The metal mesh is mounted in plastic and these filters come in various shapes and sizes, allowing them to be used in most plastic filter cones. Finally, you could just try "cowboy coffee." Put the desired amount of freshly ground, freshly roasted coffee in a tall pot. Pour freshly boiled water on top and let steep for two to three minutes. Stir the grounds which have formed a crust into the brew and after another minute skim the foam and any grounds from the top with a large spoon. Slowly and gently pour the coffee into cups or a thermos, being careful not to disturb the grounds. The coffee at the bottom, close to the grounds, will contribute to the dreaded over-extracted flavors you want to avoid. There is no filter here and the coffee tastes rich, clean, and pure; the brew is just a little murky when compared to paper-filtered coffee, but a small price to pay for a great cup.  Sometimes the simple things are the best.

Dolores Borunda's
easycook.com
Phone# (714) 969-7469
Fax# (714) 969-7490
PO Box 7050
Huntington Beach, CA 92646

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