Rights and Wrongs

HOW TO MAKE GOOD COFFEE

LATEST  JULY 09 ---COFFEE MAY CURE ALZHEIMERS DISEASE- ITS EARLY DAYS BECAUSE ITS ONLY A THERAPEUTIC DISCOVERY IN MICE

There is coffee and coffee. Nice Nesy and Nasty Nesy but the only way to make proper coffee is to perculate ground beans. But that doesn't mean expensive gadgets, of the like James Bond would have used, like the Italian expresso machines of old.

My way is handed down from generation to generation and I want to share it with you.

Good coffee comes from good coffee beans well roasted and fresh. Beans sealed and pre packed are Ok, but if you like the sack full idea then you can freeze coffee beans and grind them from frozen. There are so many types from dark roasted continental type to Kenyan Peaberry a milder but full of flavour bean. Find your own, based on taste or price.I am using Laos "Arabica" beans. I get them in a market at Nong Khai on the Mekhong and as far as I am concerned they could be smuggled into Thailand, but I don't think so. I think all this makes the coffee more interesting. Packets come as 450gms or 1lb. I get a discount for quantity too. They are cellophane packed and labelled too.

I grind what I need, in a small coffee grinder that came with the blender, and store the surplus in screw topped plastic containers. The packet of beans are stored in a similar plastic screw top container as the packet is opened.

Grinding should be sufficient but don't pulverize the beans.

Boil two medium saucepans full of water and when boiled turn off and add the ground coffee to taste. I use 4 heaped dessert spoonfuls. Stir the coffee and cover with the lid.

Stand the coffee as long as you need, but at least 4 hours to allow the stirred coffee to perculate through the water. Don't disturb the saucepans more than necessary.

When perculated pour the coffee gently through a medium sieve into a coffee pot. You will probably need two coffee jugs. I use plastic ones just now but I prefer the delight of kiln fired pottery hand designed pots for the effect only.They are a little more difficult to clean but a pleasure to pour your coffee from. I should say that the saucepans are best cleaned immediately after use. Coffee grounds are good for the drainage system as they as supposed to remove fat in the drains.

So now you have two jugs full of coffee. The rest is simple. As required pour yourself a mug full and add milk to taste. The less the better. Place the cup or mug in the microwave and heat on full power for one minute or until as hot as required.

Then sit back and enjoy a cup of caffeine concentrated coffee. With two jugs full the coffee lasts about two days and then repeat the making process. I always have a cup of coffee ready for visitors and my wife can make it just as I like it every time. Normally I make the jugs of coffee but as its so easy to make, the most modest of lady cooks can be left  to "make the coffee".

Is coffee good for you? Some say not, Some say it keeps you awake at night. But I say I have been drinking fairly large amounts for many years. The caffeine is a stimulant and it doesn't seem to have done me any harm. I am not addicted but the pleasure of a good mug of coffee is worth giving a rest to whatever you are doing, in this busy world.

Relax with a good cup of coffee

If you would like some Laos "Arabica" coffee packed as described I can send you a pack or two to try. Please see the classified section for details. (GBP 4.00 per 450gms,plus posting and packing)