Yep, that's me a non-coffee drinker. My parents would be so ashamed. I don't remember ever seeing either of them without a cup of coffee from sunrise to bedtime, 12 months a year! We're talking some serious coffee lovers.
Every child and grandchild crawled up onto their laps to steal spoonfuls (if not swigs) of their forbidden coffee. I can still smell it if I think about it hard enough.
Yes, they may have been lifelong coffee drinkers but there wasn't a whole lot to it in those days. A good can of Maxwell House Coffee was all it took. No fancy coffee makers for these two. Shoot they even went to instant when they got older. But it was always the same old Maxwell House for them. And my sister and I always knew how to make a cup for them. Sugar and milk for mama and just sugar for daddy, no milk for a man.
And nobody would think of paying more that 50¢ for a cup of coffee. Starbucks - there was no such thing, gourmet coffee - Pshaw!
Why am I talking about decade old memories? Because for the last week, since I'm back on a morning schedule, I've been craving coffee. And it's not even winter! Crazy, hun? The problem is Maxwell House, just isn't doing it for me. It's not that I'm wanting a flavored coffee either. I just want something smooth, without that tinge of bitterness that I taste.
So in search of answers here's a tip I came up with from somewhere on the How To's of the web.
Start with a clean coffee pot. Remove the filter, discard the grounds (duh) and wash the carafe in hot, soapy water after each use. (yup, already do all of these). Run vinegar through automatic coffee makers periodically to clean inside. (do that too).
Use natural or gold filter. (got gold). Don't use filters that are bleached white paper, which can add unpleasant tastes.
Invest in a coffee-bean grinder or grind your own beans. (Is this what I've been missing? Really, I just want a good cup of coffee. Not opening a gourmet shop) Buy fresh-roasted and don't grind the beans until you're ready to make the coffee.
Add 2 tablespoons of coffee for each 6-ounce cup. Use a medium grind for a filter with a flat bottom. Use a finer grind in a cone filter.
Brew your coffee with cold bottled water. Don't use distilled water or water with added vitamins. Distilled water lacks the mineral qualities good coffee needs, and vitamin water can add flavors.
Drink the coffee within 20 minutes, or store it in a vacuum carafe for a few hours.
