Single-Serve Coffee

[sudsmaster]

Tea

At home, I usually heat the water to 200F (190, really) in a Saeco 2 qt digital hot pot, and then use loose leaf tea in a small (four cup) glass teapot with integral tea screen. Usually the tea is an oolong type like Jasmine or Ti Kuan Yin.

At work, I bring in quality jasmine tea bags. There's already a 205 F hot pot there that is always kept filled (thanks to a predominantly Asian workforce). I use a Zojirushi covered stainless vacuum mug to brew the tea. Its only drawback is that it holds the heat a bit too well, so that it takes a while for the temp to drop to a drinkable level.

 

[petek]

How not to make American tea

First off the water has to be boiling
Secondly the boiling water, must hit the tea or teabag in a prewarmed teapot which is preferably china or stoneware, never metal, a Sadler Brown Betty for example.
The teabag must NOT under any circumstance have a string attached.
It has to steep or brew up to 5 minutes and never stirred.

 

[toggleswitch]

Because *kimono* comes from.............

You'd die if you ever saw my mother make tea.
We never HAD a tea pot or a tea kettle.
(What the hell for?)

In a 2 quart saucepan.
Fill with water.
Add one teabag.
Boil for a short while.

Makes up to 4 servings. LOL

Great for kids,reduces caffeine level.

Done this way because Greek tea (Chamomile, Mountain Tea) is just twigs and herbs and flowers dumped in a pot of boiling water. Then strained and served.

Here is where I think the word came from.

Chinese for "tea" OH-CHA
Became CHAI [CH-AH-EE] (IN ENGLISH/GREEK)
Became TSAI [TS-AH-EE] (IN ENGLISH /GREEK)
became simply "T" (TEA) (In ENGLISH).

So I LMFAO when I see those fancy $6 spiced "designer" teas called "CHAI".
New word? HARDLY!




Notice the more natural honey in the jar ready for the tea, rather than sugar?

 

[perc-o-prince]

First off the water has to be boiling

I thought you weren't supposed to boil the water? Don't remember where I heard that, but.....

I always add water to the tea and not the reverse. Seems to brew quicker plus a little air gets into the bag making it float near the surface and easier to remove (unless you stir the tea and knock the air out!) since there's no string on these bags.

Chuck

 

[foraloysius]

Water always has to boil. If you have tea that requires a lower temperature you let it cool off a bit. Tea made from water that hasn't been boiled gives nasty tea.

I remember a scene in a British movie or series in which an older secretary says to the youngest assistance that she can taste that the water for the tea hasn't boiled! Wonderful drama over a cup of tea!

Tetley's is one of my favourites too. I prefer the bags with the double string.

 

[Jsneaker]

What I use...

I would never use regular-auto-drip grind coffee, let alone America's Choice!!! For authentic Turkish coffee, I use ultra-fine powder from Turkey that our "sister" brings for us(she is Turkish)and a nice copper vessel. You can very easily get Turkish coffee here from the MANY Turkish stores around! Besides, unfortunately, until I finish my chemotherapy, all liquids taste horrible to me.

 

[foraloysius]

"Authentic Turkish coffee"

So you are making mud coffee or Kopi tobruk?

 

[whirlcool]

Tea? Up until about 20 years ago it was my morning beverage of choice. Give me a good strong cup of Lifeboat Tea and I was set for the day.
But after going to a coffee tasting at one of the local roast in house coffee shops I switched over to coffee, but still drink a good cup at night sometimes.

My favorite tea was Fortnum & Mason's "Royal Blend". But about 5 years ago Fortnum & Mason stopped exporting it to the US. Our local British store said that Fortnum & Mason decided to become a "boutique" tea brand and is now only available at their own shops in Britain. So I would love a tin of that stuff next trip over maybe.

 

[toggleswitch]

I would never use regular-auto-drip grind coffee, let alone America's Choice!!! For authentic Turkish coffee, I use ultra-fine powder...

I would not use that coffe for Turkish coffee either! It was for demonstration purposes only and a photo-op. Not what I do etched in stone! I did have a bag of Vassilaros and/or Loumidis brand coffee "powders" for Turkish coffee around. But after so many years of not using it, it was tosseed in the bin.

Darlings, once again, it's all relative. I don't taste the tiny, minute, differences the rest of you fuss over, so I don't care! I choose to be low maintenance and not fuss over such small trivial things. Life is very big. Let's not get ourselves into routines that makes us difficult.

I had a partner fuss that I put too much/not enough coffee in his cup, or that the milk goes in before the sugar, or it was too hot or cold. I finally said.
(sarcasticly/sardonicly) "You are most welcome that I always made your coffee, served you, and did it ALL for YOU, and transported it TO you. Now, since you are so demanding, negative, picky and unappreciative do it yourself."

It was then "Coffee is done. Self-service".
How many fingers am I holding up?

Please birng me my coffee...
Dirty look and walk away.

Train them correctly, from the beginning, or it's a lifetime of hell.

 

[kevin313]

Toggs,

AMEN, brother!!

Favorite quote of the day:
"I choose to be low maintenance and not fuss over such small trivial things. Life is very big. Let's not get ourselves into routines that makes us difficult."

That's why I prepare plain old Maxwell House in a perculator, but it's lovingly made - take it or leave it! I'm a lucky dog because he always takes it and always says "thank you!"

 

[qualin]

A friend of mine was talking about an experience he had in the UK where while he was staying at a friends house, they would put a bunch of Red Rose teabags in a pot and then just simmer the water constantly, adding water as needed. When the water wasn't dark enough, they'd just add more teabags.

Apparently, it was like drinking tar.. I'm not sure how many Brits drink their tea this way but I can probably say that after a few cups of that, I'd probably be ricocheting off the walls..

I find that I personally like most coffee's provided that I add the necessary sugar and a bit of milk, although I can drink coffee black with sugar. Otherwise I find it too bitter.

Another Belrusian friend of mine would drink this extremely bitter Tzar Russian tea. Four cubes of sugar in a 10 oz cup would just barely sweeten it up.

So, if I do drink tea these days, it's usually Pu-Erh or Oolong. I have a large bag of Ti Kwan Yin tea at work I use with a Zojirushi Samovar. That's for another thread.

I use my K-Cup maker when I want a cup of coffee or tea really fast. If I want to spend some time making coffee, I'll use my Bialetti Mukka Express. I have two of them, an aluminum two cup and a glass single cup model.. I'll find the strongest espresso beans I can find and grind 'em up until they're like sawdust. They make a great little cappuccino and they're simple enough to use but a pain to clean.

The link below is not mine, but shows what a glass one looks like.

 

[sudsmaster]

Louis,

I worship your opinions on washers and laundry, but in the case of tea and water I beg to disagree.

As I understand it, boiling water takes the air out of it. If boiled too long, it makes the resultant brew (tea or coffee) taste flat.

There are three boils to water: the first is at 160F, the second around 190F, and the final around 212F. If you listen carefully to water being heated gradually and evenly, you can hear the three "boils".

The water used in the kettle should be just drawn, not allowed to sit around and lose air.

Black tea should have water that is brought to a boil, just.

Oolong or semi-fermented tea, does best at 190F.

Green tea does best at 160F.

And the brewing time is important. I usually brew an oolong tea (Jasmine or Ti Kuan Yin) and find that three minutes is the max for best flavor. Longer makes it bitter. And loose tea leaves are far better than most any tea bag.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thanks Rich, I knew I heard that somewhere, and I never boil the tea water. I also remember hearing not to use distilled or pure water (because of the lack of minerals). And, yes, too long a steep does make for a bitter result!

Of course, putting a bag in the mug with water then zapping it is just plain wrong!

Chuck

 

[foraloysius]

Boiling water

Overhere in the Netherlands the opinion is that you can only use water that is not boiled, if you have high quality water. But if your water is hard (and most of the water in the Netherlands is) it''s better to boil the water (up to 5 minutes depending on the hardness of the water) and then let it cool off to the desired temperature.

I also found a Dutch tea website, that says water for green tea should never contain chlorine, have a low alkalinity and should be soft. Boiling makes the water softer. Also this website advises to use mineral water in case of bad drinking water.

 

[MaytagA710]

Keurig

I used to use a boiling water coffee maker/pourover/hot water drip coffeemakers and measure out the right amount of coffee until I found a Keurig machine on sale. They are expensive, but I feel they are worth it. Especially when you spend an additional $20 bucks and get the My K-Cup attachment. It is worth it and less wasteful than using the K-Cups. I find you can use a K-Cup twice with no issue.

I am going to brew a cup of Irish Creme coffee now. Any one want a cup?

 

[qualin]

To MaytagA710

The Breville K-Cup machine we purchased was a TOL model. We got the model without the 4 oz water selection, before they cheapened it and used a plastic lever instead of the metal one ours has.

It has a compartment ontop which contains a My K-Cup thingy like the one you put in your post. Great so we never lose it and can swap out the conventional K-Cup holder with it when we need to brew our own tea..

I think when I bought it, it set us back a shade under $300.. but it's worth every penny.

 

[MaytagA710]

We bought the BOL model haha, its a great machine though, two cup size option. Unfortunately, unlike yours, it doesn't have a storage compartment. It would be really handy though because I'm afraid it might go missing, and plus you have to take out the K-Cup holder in order to use the My K-Cup, so I am also afraid that might go missing too.

And I agree, it is worth every single penny!

 

[toploader55]

Christmas Present

My Dad gave me a Keurig for Chistmas.

He and his wife made the worst coffee in the world. Colored Water. They bought one a month ago, so I got them for Christmas a couple of assortment boxes, and now I have one. They're good for making one cup. I was always over pouring, (Drank one cup or one and a half) and threw the rest away.