Kitchen Chemistry
By RVDaniels
The Art of Coffee
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The Art of Making Great Coffee
Coffee, it’s an American passion. Every morning millions of us awaken to the smell of coffee brewing. You might stop off at Starbucks or the doughnut shop on the way to class or work for our favorite latte, cappuccino or espresso and a fresh pastry. Break time comes and it’s a coffee from the machine that gives you the boost to get through the rest of your day.
Americans love coffee now but it hasn’t always been such a love affair. By the turn of the 2oth Century, many Americans thought of coffee as a slow poison and avoided it. The popular misconception that coffee was dangerous lasted until the 1920’s.
Practice the art of coffee
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How Coffee Got Saved by Science
Would you buy A $40,000.00 cup of coffee?
It might take more than some kitchen chemistry to brew up something that expensive but that is exactly what happened in the early 20th Century. The coffee industry in America paid $40,000 to an MIT researcher to create the perfect cup of America's favorite brew.
Falling sales figures prompted the coffee industry to strike out at the misconceptions about coffee. They chose science as their weapon and awarded a grant of $40,000 to an MIT professor to produce the perfect cup of coffee. In today’s money that is equal to nearly a half million dollars.
In 1920, Professor Samuel Cate Prescott took their 40K and with the assistance of numerous lab rabbits, secretaries and student guinea pigs developed the basics of brewing the perfect cup of coffee. His results proved that coffee was beneficial as a mild stimulant drink and not a slow poison at all.
Kitchen Chemistry-The four elements of a perfect brew:
Proportion
To make a perfect cup of coffee the ratio of coffee to water is important. Professor Prescott determined that the ideal ratio for regular coffee is one tablespoon of ground coffee beans to eight ounces of water. Most baristas today recommend using one tablespoon of coffee to six ounces of water but you may alter the ratio for making stronger coffees like espresso.
Grind
Most coffee makers work best with medium grind coffee and coffee presses work better with a coarse grind. The best quality coffee comes from beans that are ground just prior to brewing. No matter what grind you use, brew it as soon as possible after grinding to ensure the freshest and most intense coffee flavor and aroma. Keep your beans stored in an airtight container and use freshly ground coffee quickly for the very best flavor. Many coffee brewing machines now incorporate a grinder in the system so that you can grind only what you need to make one pot at a time.
Water
Good water makes great coffee. To get the very best aroma and flavor you should always use filtered or bottled water. Distilled water makes the best coffee but can be expensive. A cost effective solution is to buy a filter pitcher to add water to your coffee maker.
The filter in a system like a Brita or some other brand will remove chemicals and impurities from your tap water so you can make great coffee. The temperature of the water is important as well. To brew coffee the water should be heated to around 190F (just under boiling) but never boiling hot. If the water is too hot, the coffee can become bitter.
Making the Pefect Cup Of Joe
What is Your Favorite Coffee?
What is Your Favorite Coffee?
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Comments
Had to read and find out 'how' about your perfect cup of coffee. Though I am a tea-lover, you make it sound interesting. Thanks bunches!
Thanks for the comment Peggyw I really enjoyed writing this one.Your grans recipes are wonderful, the hub was so fantastic I shared it with all my followers.
We use the Brita filters in our house for our coffee and tea making and also just for drinking purposes. It truly makes a difference! I never drank coffee until in later years and now drink it daily. Love it! Thanks for an interesting hub.
Thanks Tammyswallow and thank you for your interesting hubs. I really enjoyed Confrontation with the Sea.
I loved this hub. Coffee is a big part of my life.. Great job!
I didn't drink coffee until I was 30. One day after little sleep and 2 young children I thought I'd see what the fuss was about (this had better give me some energy). Loved it! It worked. I had it every way I could think of (I was a little too energized though ;)) Everyday I have it, freshly ground and through a proper espresso machine. Great hub, thanks for sharing.
Rosemay, my thanks for the lovely comment and do not despair. A good cuppa is grand as well, even for us Irish.
Ah my day only starts after my second cup of coffee. I love my coffee and sometimes take some ribbibg being English everyone thinks I should be a tea drinker.
I always use filtered water and it does make a difference.
I didn't know it was once considered a poison, we learn something new everyday.
Thanks for the useful info,Chefni! I appreciate it and think that maybe you could write an interesting Hub about the types and history of coffee. Hub Pages has the very best treaders and writers around, IMO.
Did you know that there are 2 kinds of coffee, Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee being the superior quality as it is grown on a higher altitude sea level from between 4000 feet to 6000 feet and it takes 5 years for the plant to be ready before the yield is ready where as robusta is grown from somewhere between 2500 feet to 4000 feet above sea level and it yields every year. Hence increasing the acidity level in Robusta coffee.
Hey crockpotcooking! I love Turkish coffee. We used to have it from family back in Jerusalem. It's almost a powder its so finely ground and boy, what a kick it has! Thanks for the comment.
Hey crockpotcooking! I love Turkish coffee. We used to have it from family back in Jerusalem. It's almost a powder its so finely ground and boy, what a kick it has! Thanks for the comment.
A few days ago, I have heard about a real Turkish recipe for coffee.
Heat one cup of water, almost boiling. Pour half of it aside (in a cup).
Add 2 tsp ground coffee in a pot. Mix and put back on stove or fire, whatever you use.
Remove from fire just before it starts to boil.
Add the rest of water in it, and that is it.
Add sugar to your liking.
In Bosnia, people drink Turkish coffee as part of their traditional heritage.
Usual recipe is to add ground coffee in a dry pot and put on stove. Dry ground coffee starts to heat up and release intensive aroma. Then they would add water, stir a bit and leave it on stove. Remove it just before it boils (it is important never to leave coffee boiling).
Enjoy!
I just recently discovered my love (ok, ok... obsession) with coffee, so this was really helpful! I'm still figuring out exactly what I like, so this was useful!
I am a coffee lover, and this hub was great! I am used to perking my coffee but have used tap water. EE-gad! Since you mentioned using the Brita to filter the water and then adding to the coffee machine, I have noticed a big difference. It's a healthy habit, and thanks for the history on coffee, too.
I love the Christmas blend of coffee now at Starbucks!
Mmmm makes my mouth water just reading - there's nothing quite like a good cup of coffee! I was thinking of doing a barista course some time, but maybe all I need is to keep reading hubs! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the great comments, guys! I couldn't function without coffee. Since I quit tobacco it's my one remaining pleasure (OK Vice).
Great Hub! My 3 passions in life are my family, my work and my coffee. I dare say any 1 of those 3 would be negatively affected without either of the other 2. Cheers to a steaming cup of coffee while watching the sunrise!
Love this hub! Who doesn't love a good cup of coffee? It has been interesting to observe the ideas of coffee over time being dangerous to now being almost healthy. In fact, I have seen articles explaining how having more coffee is actually better for you form some ailments, like dementia and alzheimers and more. I find that fascinating.
Good water does make good coffee, and we like to grind our own beans as we can. Starbucks while I voted is my favorite is a true treat for me that I get only on occasion. I do love it though. Thanks for sharing. :)
Lynn S. Murphy 5 months ago
I love coffee and have just discovered the joy of cold coffee. yum!