The Coffee House-Come and Chat With Us!(January 2020)

[Val]

Hello, everyone! I hope you all are having wonderful holidays (if you have any).
I'm super excited and i'm literally "jumping out of my pants", as very very soon i'll be in Kazan' city, Tatarstan republic! (Going on a tour with our lyceum's kids).
Our train's departure is on Saturday, at 3.30p.m. (Moscow timezone), and meanwhile, i'm getting ready for the trip: this involves a lot of fuss, running around and buying a bunch of useful (and not so very) stuff. We're going to overpass 943 miles. It's not the most remote destination point that we've been to with our "team", but when you come to Kazan' - it doesn't feel like Russia at all: bizarre architecture, different mentality and different language! It's luck that they speak Russian too, but if you meet Tatarians on the street and try to ask something,- you'll regret, haha, as they just roll their eyes, because they simply don't get what you want from them (they act like aliens,- lazy and slow aliens, to be precise). But(!) you just have to start singing "Apipê" (an iconic national melody) and their attitude changes: they become open and friendly. Their cuisine is extremely heavy on meat and dairy, so one has to be very careful. I've been there before, and i made a couple mistakes, having accidentally devoured a pastry and macaroni containing butter, which cost me a lot of inconvenience with my guts and everything. At least, i learned a lesson: you can't trust Tatarians, as deception doesn't bother them at all, if it brings them any profit, lol. I'm hoping to be wiser now. Anyway, Kazan' is a fairytale city, especially on New Year vacations. Except that it's too frosty there for my liking.
In case if some of you haven't heard about Kazan',- here's a link:

Kazan - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Emma JC]

Happy New Year everyone.

Just thought I would put a link to a cool gift I received from my honey for Christmas.

A faux leather purse made of teak leaves.

Emma JC

'Gracie' Bag

2 tone crossbody bag with adjustable leaf strap 1 top zipper for main pocket. 1 inside zip pocket 1 front zip pocket. 23 x 22cm *item may not be exactly as shown as each item has its own unique patterning and shading based on natural variations and positioning of the leaves

leafii.ca

 

[Forest Nymph]

Well I have made it through a sober New Year's Eve, a break from tech (i.e. all blue screens, including phone) on New Year's Day, and today I am participating in Animals First on the Second and I intend to keep with a Dry January. I'm laying the foundation for a great decade. Or so I keep telling myself!

BTW, I haven't written a check since I was in my teens. People still do this?

 

[Second Summer]

It's back to work for me today. I'd left my phone in another room last night, so I didn't hear my alarm this morning. This is fine. It meant I spent another hour in bed, which was a good thing considering my jet lag and everything. Since I had missed the bus anyway, I had breakfast at home and then took the car to work (our cool electric car!) and now I'm catching up on my emails. It's a quiet day since a lot of my colleagues have apparently taken the day off.

 

[PTree15]

Happy New Year, everyone. Here is to a great 2020!

 

[TofuRobot]

Well I have made it through a sober New Year's Eve, a break from tech (i.e. all blue screens, including phone) on New Year's Day, and today I am participating in Animals First on the Second and I intend to keep with a Dry January. I'm laying the foundation for a great decade. Or so I keep telling myself!

BTW, I haven't written a check since I was in my teens. People still do this?

Good for you! Can't wait to see how you'll be feeling at January's end.

I write checks to the guy who changes my oil, the guy who cuts my hair, and the gardener/tree trimmer. I still have the same bunch of checks I bought almost 20 yrs ago, lol. Having checks also comes in handy when your debit card is compromised or lost (the only card I have - I do not have a credit card).

 

[Lou]

I've been using my new OXO single-cup pour-over coffee maker for a week now. I've discovered a big shortcoming. It brews the coffee so slowly that it is just barely hot.
I actually don't like my coffee too hot. I have to wait a few minutes for coffee to cool when I make it in the Melitta. And even longer at Starbucks. So at first, I didn't mind. but I've determined that the "correct temperature window" is very brief. So brief that it is a challenge to finish the cup before it gets cold. and. If you want to add milk to the coffee it immediately becomes "not hot enough".
No one mentioned this in the reviews on Amazon. so maybe there is something wrong with mine.

 

[KLS52]

I've been using my new OXO single-cup pour-over coffee maker for a week now. I've discovered a big shortcoming. It brews the coffee so slowly that it is just barely hot.
I actually don't like my coffee too hot. I have to wait a few minutes for coffee to cool when I make it in the Melitta. And even longer at Starbucks. So at first, I didn't mind. but I've determined that the "correct temperature window" is very brief. So brief that it is a challenge to finish the cup before it gets cold. and. If you want to add milk to the coffee it immediately becomes "not hot enough".
No one mentioned this in the reviews on Amazon. so maybe there is something wrong with mine.

Do you start out with boiling water or hot water that hasn’t reached boiling stage? My son always says not to use boiling water but I do anyway. And I love how my coffee turns out. But I always use only 6-8 ounces of water, never more than that. I like my coffee with creamer and sugar, and even using boiling water, the coffee isn’t hot enough. So I heat up the creamer 40 seconds in the microwave. That makes it the perfect temperature for me.

 

[Qwaychou]

Went to the asian store today! I love it! I got napa cabbage and a giant bok choy for 99 cents! They were out of canned jackfruit in brine though. But i got lota of rice vinegar and roasted nori for sushi bowls! I had a bit of extra time so i was able to slowly peruse the instant noodles and cool snacks for vegan options. I also found individually paxkaged seitan! So cool!

 

[Lou]

Do you start out with boiling water or hot water that hasn’t reached boiling stage? My son always says not to use boiling water but I do anyway. And I love how my coffee turns out. But I always use only 6-8 ounces of water, never more than that. I like my coffee with creamer and sugar, and even using boiling water, the coffee isn’t hot enough. So I heat up the creamer 40 seconds in the microwave. That makes it the perfect temperature for me.

Good suggestions.
I'm pretty sure I have read that when making pour-over coffee you should NOT use boiling water. But the directions for the OXO says to use boiling water. My guess is that since you aren't pouring the boiling water on the coffee grounds - just in the water tank- that boiling water is ok. And that is what I have been using.

I usually make 12 oz of coffee. And that is the maximum for this OXO. But i have been experimenting with 8 oz. Today I made 8oz and had a glass coffee mug and watched to see when it was done. As soon as it was done dripping it was cool enough to drink - adding milk would have made it cold.

I will try that heat up the milk trick. that sounds like a good idea. Or maybe I'll just go back to drinking it black.

 

[Emma JC]

Good suggestions.
I'm pretty sure I have read that when making pour-over coffee you should NOT use boiling water. But the directions for the OXO says to use boiling water. My guess is that since you aren't pouring the boiling water on the coffee grounds - just in the water tank- that boiling water is ok. And that is what I have been using.

I usually make 12 oz of coffee. And that is the maximum for this OXO. But i have been experimenting with 8 oz. Today I made 8oz and had a glass coffee mug and watched to see when it was done. As soon as it was done dripping it was cool enough to drink - adding milk would have made it cold.

I will try that heat up the milk trick. that sounds like a good idea. Or maybe I'll just go back to drinking it black.

I read a couple of reviews on amazon and some people pour a little water in first to allow the coffee to "bloom"? and other people wet the filter first so that it off gasses or off bleaches (that water could also warm up your mug ahead of time)

Not sure that I could deal with the plastic. It is the reason we got rid of our last drip coffee maker as so many of the parts were plastic that it was all I could taste. The French press cured that.

Emma JC

 

[Lou]

I read a couple of reviews on amazon and some people pour a little water in first to allow the coffee to "bloom"? and other people wet the filter first so that it off gasses or off bleaches (that water could also warm up your mug ahead of time)

Not sure that I could deal with the plastic. It is the reason we got rid of our last drip coffee maker as so many of the parts were plastic that it was all I could taste. The French press cured that.

Emma JC

I am under the impression that the slow dripping from the water tank takes care of all that stuff. When I had a Chemex the directions suggested putting in some water first to let it bloom and also pouring the water in slowly and spreading it around. I think the OXO's water tank takes care of all that. I like that about it - its just about idiot proof.

Pre-heating the coffee mug or maybe even preheating an insulated coffee tumbler might help out with the cooling.

The OXO is 100% plastic but I'm not getting any taste from it. And my coffee filters are un-bleached.

 

[shyvas]

French press all the way. No plastic, no fiddling about and the coffee is really hot.

It's cold over here and quite frosty. I always feel bad for the stray cats. We have a very large community of them and I can see them from my bedroom window.

I'm off very shortly as I'm invited to a friend's for lunch. I'm bringing the main course (cottage pie) but she must have misunderstood, as she will be making sauteed vegetables with meatballs. It's always the downside when you're invited to eat at omni homes.

I'm also invited to for afternoon tea somewhere else as it's the '3 kings celebration' over here which takes place on the 6 th January.

 

[hungryraccoon]

Happy new year & decade everyone I hope all who celebrate had an enjoyable Christmas too! It was my sons first Christmas so a special one for us. We had a great time.

It was also my birthday on nyd & we had a lovely day then too. I always feel thoroughly spoiled after receiving presents twice so close together.

Also I have never written a check in my life. They seem very outdated to me

 

[shyvas]

I very rarely pay by cheque; about 3 per year.​

The last one that I wrote out was for a specialist ; a whopping Euros 79 for the amount non reimbursed for 3 appointments ! ​

 

[hungryraccoon]

How are you Shyvas?

 

[shyvas]

How are you Shyvas?

Fine.

 

[Second Summer]

I don't drink coffee - never liked the taste. It smells nice, though.

 

[TofuRobot]

And my coffee filters are un-bleached.

OK, but are the acid-free?
I'm just going to leave this right here:

6 Reasons Why French Press Makes the Best Coffee - LifeHack

The temperature issue is addressed.
Also, aren't filters just one more thing to buy and throw away?
Also, make sure your using filtered water for you coffee and not tap water. Makes a huge difference in the taste. May not be recommended, but I used to use distilled.
... I'm so glad I quit coffee. Not only did it not agree with me but it's one more thing I don't have to buy or worry about.

On colds: Anyone every had a success with elderberry syrup? I've been sick since Thursday night. Missed days off work kind of sick. I just got some of it but I'm afraid I started taking it too late. #pityparty

 

[KLS52]

OK, but are the acid-free?
I'm just going to leave this right here:

6 Reasons Why French Press Makes the Best Coffee - LifeHack

The temperature issue is addressed.
Also, aren't filters just one more thing to buy and throw away?
Also, make sure your using filtered water for you coffee and not tap water. Makes a huge difference in the taste. May not be recommended, but I used to use distilled.
... I'm so glad I quit coffee. Not only did it not agree with me but it's one more thing I don't have to buy or worry about.

On colds: Anyone every had a success with elderberry syrup? I've been sick since Thursday night. Missed days off work kind of sick. I just got some of it but I'm afraid I started taking it too late. #pityparty

I did take elderberry syrup but did not find it helped at all. My daughter was giving it to my granddaughter and had suggested it. I just didn’t see any benefit to taking it, other than I love the taste lol.
I’m still an advocate of vitamin C. I feel like my colds are less severe when I remember to take it.
But honestly, I don’t really think anything works. I think if you eat a well balanced diet and get the recommended nutrients, your immune system will be in good shape to ward off germs. But when one grabs a hold of you, you pretty much need to ride it out. Having a healthy immune system will make it a bit easier. So in that respect, if you’re lacking in a particular vitamin/mineral, supplementing isn’t a bad idea. I’m just not sure if taking it after you get sick is going to help. IT’s got to be more of a preventative thing. But it’s just my opinion.

Good on you for quitting coffee. My husband did too. I drink Decaf but I can’t imagine life without it. I think it’s more of a psychological dependency. It gives me comfort.