How Do Make Your (good) Coffee?

Lapsang Souchong is a distinctive Chinese black tea from Fujian province, famous for its unique, bold smoky flavour, achieved by drying its leaves over pinewood fires, often with resinous bark, a method discovered by accident in the 17th century. This artisanal process imparts a rich aroma, notes of pine, plum, and sometimes spice, and a dark amber liquor, appealing to those who enjoy strong, aromatic teas, with traditional versions offering a soft, forest-like character compared to modern, heavily liquid-smoked teas.
And it puts hairs on your chest, fact.

 

I do a lot of traveling for work to random places within the British Isles.

I've been through Yorkshire a lot and have not as yet seen a tea plantation.

My conclusion is they don't grow Tea there so can't possibly call it that, it's very devious of them IMO.

 

Or a forward control Harley

 

as a full blown coffee addict, i can't function without it, first thing i am a crippled mong until i get a cup

currently LIDL and morrisons are doing an expresso machine for £50 to £60 which i think is a good way to start without laying out a load.

IMO a good machine will make good coffee out of most beans, even the CO OP does ok beans

i have a sage, which is excellent, pretty much bang on every time, although they are pricey, i like to be able to chop and change beans, a nespresso at my mums which is always good but i feel there is a lack of choice, and a portable one in the car, which is actually perfect if out for a picnic

 

Try Tregothnan, Cornwall. They grow tons of tea (Camellias) there.

 

That's a long way from here to there for a brew.

 

There's probably some Tea Roses in your local garden centre. Might save you a few hours drive!

 

It would certainly save the driving time, however the attack on my wallet should the 'Mrs' come along may not be survivable.

 

Connected only very slightly: SUPERMARKETS

And by the way, it should NOT be boiling water that you pour in the mug with a teabag, Boil and allow it to cool for a few minutes, so it is just very hot water that you pour over a teabag, I use two in a big mug as I like it strong!

Sainsbury is my closest supermarket and I can park close to the entrance, as I have a disabled badge. But the place pisses me off now as you are lucky to find one till open and for that one till will have a long queue. Reason being that most of it had been turned into "Do your own fecking unpacking, repacking, scanning, and working out why something does not scan, as we are too busy putting up prices, to bother serve you suckers! Actually, can you just feck off?"

I don't won't to be bothered by this shit, so I am done with that Sainsbos. There is an ALDI that I pass but my experience of the cheap places is that they sell shit and are shit! I went there once and left with nothing. Shit was just too complimentary!

I'll have to further afield. There is a big Waitrose in Chipping Sodbury, but the last time that I went there. most of the stuff I bought was off and had to be thrown away. I complained and they were not sorry at all. There is a Tesco in Cam and maybe I will try that out, but the car park is small and parking difficult. Perhaps, whist I am well-stocked with food, I should have a look around.

 

Going to Stroud in future. There is a bigger Sainsbury and I will see if they have gone full-on self-scan and there is also a Waitrose, who may - just may - have fridges that work rather than sell shit!

 

Maybe there's a market?

 

I use a old areopress for fishing, when rubber gets slack I swelled it up with some of Mrs T's acetone nail varnish remover. Got small cafetiere for breakfast black coffee.

 

Tesco bring your shopping to your house for a fiver so that might solve the parking issue? The app also keeps a list of everything you bought last time so you don't have to think about it too much. Just an idea.

 

As long as the beans aren't too dry I agree, one of the reasons I grind my own. Though all this talk of Lavazza Red is tempting me to try some pre-ground,, though I'm sure I must have had it before a few times.

Co-op beans are surprisingly OK, sometimes they're on offer too.

 

Agree, their fair-trade range are actually quite good.

 

Tried that years ago. Strangely enough, I don't feel the need to scour the shelves for stuff that is off, or about to go off. I think that the reason supermarkets do this is to get rid of the stuff that frankly looks unappetising, Is damaged, or is about to go past the sell-by date.

I would rather go and look to see anything that I fancy, or anything gives me an idea. Baking potatoes is an example. Sometimes they look clean and fresh and other times hey should be on a compost heap! I don't trust anyone under time pressure to choose my shopping for me. They used to do weird substitutions, like if they had not got carrots, you would get mince pies as a substitute. And then you have the hassle of rejecting their weird substitute!

 

If they are out of double cream, they substitute two pots of single cream

 

One of my mates gave me that coffee grinder after he ended up with two of them by mistake (he thought it was faulty but it turned out he just was wasn’t using it properly and the Amazon seller had already sent him a replacement).

I grind the beans very fine and then put 10-15g in a drawstring muslin bag, which I leave in the mug. Black, 3 sugars x 4 mugs of it per day. Yum.

 

I’m a long time fan of Aeropress and I think I’m on my 5th one now. However, I recently started making my own coffee bags and tbh, they make an even better cup of Joe, plus they’re portable.