Cup of Coffee
Unless you have a fancy machine that
automates the whole process of coffee making, you'll have to do what we
do when we want a nice cup of good, strong coffee. The French
Press is an inexpensive device which makes a small amount of coffee
quickly and tastily. Grind the beans to order, and have ready a
thermometer to monitor the water temperature...possibly the most
critical part of the whole operation.
You'll need to work out your own quantities of beans to grind and water to pour to achieve your preferred strength.
Grind coarsely as the French Press manufacturer recommends.
Use your finger to get every last grain of ground coffee into the beaker.
Use your thermometer with a protective holder so you don't burn your
fingers, and make sure the temperature is between 195º and
205º...200º is just about right most of the time. (Note this is below the boiling point of 212º at sea level, so if you live in NYC and the water boils, it's already too darn hot. Check your own elevation and adjust accordingly: reduce boiling point 1.9º per 1000 feet of elevation.) As
you get used to checking the temperature, you'll recognize and
associate the appropriate sound your kettle makes when it gets to the
right point. In time you won't even need to consult the
thermometer...you can play it by ear.
When it reaches temperature, pour the water into the beaker to your
pre-arranged mark. Use a spoon to stir vigorously without banging
into the sides of the beaker.
Align the pouring slots of the plunger with the pouring spot of the
beaker, fit into the opening, and push down slowly on the plunger until
the spherical plunger end rests on the plastic beaker top. You should feel lots of reistance. The
plunger pushes a screen which catches all the coffee grounds and
promotes rapid brewing as it makes its way to the bottom.
Pour out a cup.
Add heavy cream and sugar, as you like it. If you use artificial whitener and sweetner, you should be drinking instant coffee!
And...if you can't sleep, remember it's not the coffee, it's the bunk.