CEO of Starbucks says 'best cup of coffee known to mankind' is made with a simple French press

Mail Online ^ | 17 April 2012 | JILL REILLY

[seton89]

The chairman and CEO of Starbucks, has controversially admitted that the best way to make a cup of coffee - is not his brand's way. Howard Schultz says he uses a Bodum French press - a coffee presser brand - which results in 'the best cup of coffee known to mankind.'

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Nope. The best cup of coffee is made at dawn from stream water brought to a simmer over a campfire and freshly roasted (over the same camp fire) coffee beans that have been ground only a minute ago. You lovingly spoon the ground coffee into a little hand drip coffee maker, hold it over your cup and s-l-o-w-l-y pour the water over the grounds.

Ambrosia!

[APatientMan]

“Most coffee makers brew their coffee to one pop, STBX two, Pete’s three.”

I think that many coffee roasters roast to the second crack. That brings out the flavor and grows the bean size quite a bit. Never heard of roasting to a third crack. Don’t think there is one.

[Betis70]

Thanks, I read after posting you used to do this for a living. Mine is a Zach & Dani’s but I guess they got bought by someone else.

The Behmor is the one that is out of stock I am waiting for. 1/2lb is enough for me, I like having lots of different coffee to try day to day.

[Cloverfarm]

Well, FRiends, now that we are discussing French press pot coffee, can someone give me a clue?

I’ve tried a coffee-maker, percolater and now a press pot, and my coffee still tastes like something out of a muddy hoofprint.

I must be doing it wrong.

[FreeAtlanta]

It is popular. We sell it, but I have had to refund several orders because of the manufacturer being out of stock. I sent out an update request today.

I need to figure out what is wrong with my quantity update module or take it off my site. We don’t make much on it and I know it is aggravating my customers as much as me.

When you get yours, you will really like it. You will need to roast outside or under a really good ventilation hood, but you know it is worth it.

[FreeAtlanta]

Hello Cloverfarm, #1. You have to have good water.
#2. You need good fresh coffee
#3. You need the right grind for your brewer. Course for French press, not so course for perk, finer for drip, finer still for Aeoropress and Chemex, and really fine (clumps together) for espresso #4. Use the right amount for the brewer. The Aerobie AeroPress has a small measuring cup that comes with it. One scoop for light coffee 2 for espresso strength. You can't really go wrong with this little jewel. :-) Oh, and, for the Aerobie, the water should be about 175 degrees Fahrenheit, not boiling.

[SamAdams76]

There sure is a lot of passion on this thread about coffee!

Personally, I find that the more expensive the cup of coffee, the better it is. The most I ever paid for a cup of coffee was $8.50 at some Manhattan restaurant and it was very good. When I first started getting coffee at Starbucks, I was not impressed. But over time, I started to acquire a taste for it. Still, I prefer Dunkin Donuts coffee, even though it is cheaper. I think because I grew up on Dunkin Donuts, I will always prefer it as a comfort food. Sort of like how I still like Kraft macaroni & cheese and hot dogs and baked beans.

On the other hand, the cheap coffee you can buy at gas stations and convenience stores is pretty horrid. The worst coffee I remember getting was at a 7 Eleven in Joplin, Missouri at 2 in the morning. I nearly threw up in my car.

I was on the big island of Hawaii last fall and got to taste Kona coffee at its source. The result was that I did not get a whole lot of sleep over there - I was drinking coffee constantly! With a lot of tropical drinks in between. If you ever go to Hawaii, I highly recommend the Big Island. It's much less crowded and I find that it is the cheapest of the islands to vacation on - despite the high price of Kona coffee.

[Fast Moving Angel]

Cook / owner was a former Navy Guy. I asked him what his secret was, and he said "I never wash the pot".

I believe it. My stepdad (retired Navy Chief) said that when they were out on a cruise, they never washed the pot, but just as they were coming into port, they'd throw the pot overboard. :-)

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

-—Try the apple empanada at Taco Bell. To DIE for!-—

It is now on my list. Gracias!

[LoveUSA]

Thanks for the link! The glass water "kettle" is the coolest kitchen utensil I've ever seen.

Use to brew my one cup of coffee in a similar plastic brewer when I was in college. You're right, the finer grind in this type of system is pretty darn good.

[reaganaut]

Ohhh coffeeeee.....

[Cloverfarm]

Thanks! I will keep trying :-)