>There's a couple of things you can do to get the right temp water. First, you can get a candy thermometer (or a meat thermometer, but they tend to allow moisture in) or digital cooking thermometer, boil the water and then let it sit until it reaches the proper temp. Boiling and then letting it cool is the suggested method no matter what, and I believe even most programmable kettles do this.

Derp. Didn't think of this. I have a digital thermometer. Thank!

>As far as your steeper, that is a pretty standard piece of equipment but I would suggest getting a basket infuser. They're only about 5-10 depending on where you go and will let the leaves have a bit more room and thus produce a better flavor.

I'm getting this guy from amazon: Finum Brewing Basket, Medium
http://amzn.com/B000I68NCS

>The absolute first and most important thing you need to learn about tea is that you need to drink what you like, and avoid what you don't. Green tea isn't for everyone, and as long as you have had a cup you knew was brewed right (go to a tea shop if you can, use distilled water, etc...) if you don't like it, don't drink it! If you love lots of sugar and milk in your tea, go for it (just watch the calories if that is a concern for you). Tea is a very personal beverage and should be consumed the way you like it, not the way you are told to like it.

>That being said, I always suggest trying new teas without any sweetener. Some of the teas do not mix well with sweetener, others have their more subtle and pleasing flavors become more pronounced. Some teas are simply something that, due to the complexity of its flavor, are best enjoyed plain and if you want it sweet you should go for a different tea - not because you can't sweeten what you want, but because you can achieve an optimal cup without paying so as much for the higher end teas (for instance, if you're going to load up on honey, a good sencha will not vary significantly in flavor from gyokuro). But if you like a certain thing - by all means to it! Some people LOVE bitter teas, and I recommend they get a good black tea boil the water and leave it steep for 15-20 minutes. It isn't for everyone, but that's what makes tea so special - it is your cup, drink it how you want!

I plan to try everything straight and by the brewing guidelines they come with adjust from there. Thank you so much for the detailed post!

Things you'll need:

• Brewer — I highly recommend the AeroPress for your first brewer. It's practically a giant syringe/plunger with a filter on the end, so you immerse the grounds in hot water for a while then plunge them through the filter. Definitely an unconventional way to make coffee, but one of the most flexible. It produces a smooth, balanced cup, and it's cheap, quick, portable, durable, consistent, forgiving (i.e. not heavily dependent on equipment), and easy to clean. It offers a variety of brew methods with complete control over all the variables, so you'll learn a ton about coffee.
  
  
• Grinder — By far the most important piece of equipment. For entry-level grinders: Skerton/Slim ($30) ≈ Porlex ($50) <<<<< Encore ($130) <<< Virtuoso ($230) < Lido ($180). Absolutely do not get a generic Chinese knockoff, it will be terrible and break. The Hario Slim/Skerton will get the job done, but in addition to being a lot of work, they won't be very consistent; the Encore represents much better value, and the Lido is the best grinder you can get under $500. Spending as much as you can reasonably afford on the grinder won't be regretted.
  
  
• Beans — You want fresh roasted single origin. I'd start with light-medium roasts from South America (e.g. Colombia), as they'd probably taste the most familiar, then branch out from there.
  
  
• Dialing in your brew — Here's the fun part. Take a look at the Coffee Compass. The basics: underextraction = sour, whereas overextraction = bitter; you want to hit the sweet spot. You can increase extraction by decreasing grind size (grinding finer), brewing longer, agitating (e.g. stirring), or increasing water temperature. Try one variable at a time; I recommend varying grind size and keeping everything else constant first.
  
  
  No need for a scale or kettle just yet if you're on a budget. If you do have the funds (and are interested in pourover), the Bonavita variable temperature gooseneck kettle ($64) is the gold standard — it allows you to choose the water temperature you desire and keeps it there for up to an hour, and the gooseneck offers an extremely precise pour.
  
  

  AeroPress
  

  
  Here's the standard Aeropress recipe that works for most things. You can use this as a starting point, then adjust the variables to your liking. Definitely use the inverted method: it's more convenient and less messy than trying to insert the plunger, and you get 100% yield.
  
  

1. Invert the press (pull out the plunger most of the way and turn it upside-down). It's much easier to use, and you won't lose any coffee this way. Wet the filter.
   
   
2. Use one scoop (~16g) medium-fine grounds. Add ~250mL of water (190-200 degrees, or if you lack a thermometer, just use boiling water), and stir a few times with the paddle until grounds are saturated. Steep for 1.5-2 minutes.
   
   
3. You can add a couple stirs here if you want. Then place the lid (containing the pre-wetted filter or metal filter), push to remove the air at the top, invert quickly/smoothly over a mug, and press slowly and firmly over 30-45s.
   
   Hope this helps! It may require some tuning to find the sweet spot between between flavor and bitterness. If you're overextracting/bitter, you can try a coarser grind, cooler water, less steep time, or less pressure (change one variable at a time to see how it impacts the brew). If your coffee is too weak/strong, try a different coffee:water ratio. Take a look at the Coffee Compass for troubleshooting.
   
   You can also take a look at the brewing recipes from Heart, Stumptown, and Blue Bottle. The Aeropress championship recipes don't seem as generalizable/reproducible without the right equipment, but they're fun to try out.
   
   I highly recommend the Able disk fine metal filter. It lets more oils through and produces a more flavorful cup with more body. It's also reusable and saves money in the long run. I prefer it to the Kaffeologie S filter, which has a greater tendency to warp.
   
   Keep tinkering with all the variables (inverted vs non-inverted, grind size, water temperature, water:grounds ratio, blooming with a small amount of water first, steep time, stirrs and turbulent wiggles, press pressure, etc). Enjoy your coffee!
   
   
   
   
   

   Things to avoid:
   

   
   

• Dark roasts. You're tasting more of the roasting process than the natural flavors. It's analogous to a well-done (overdone) piece of steak.
  
  
• Cold brew. It doesn't extract much of the flavors that make specialty coffee taste good. If you do want cold coffee, it's better to brew hot and then cool rapidly (cold crashing).
  
  
• Skimping on the grinder. Up to a certain price, it's the most important piece of equipment. An inconsistent grind with small and large particles will produce a cup that's simultaneously bitter and sour.
  
  
• French press. It's the method with the least clarity, so not the best way to taste nuanced flavors. It's also demands a very consistent grind (i.e. expensive grinder). Most people who do French press don't have the proper grinder for it, resulting in muddy, bitter brews.
  
  
• Feeling bad about adding cream/sugar. For many people, coffee is a bit of an acquired taste. Especially when you're making your first several brews, a bit of cream/sugar can help balance the cup.

I just got my AP for Xmas. My setup is a Skerton, these metal filters, and a Hario scale.

The AP doesn't demand a complicated setup or anything. It's nice and easy. I prefer the inverted method (the regular method drips a lot). I insert the plunger up to the (4) mark, and I find this holds 20 g of medium grinds and 200 g of water perfectly. You can make it more concentrated and add water to your cup if you want more; but I find I really like this 1:10 ratio.

The best thing I've found out so far is that the funnel it comes with perfectly fits the base of the AP when you are pressing, so if you have a mug/cup that is smaller you can use the funnel to press into it.

Cleanup is super simple; take the cap off (and metal filter if you are using one), and press the grinds "puck" into the trash. Rinse everything else off with water, separate plunger and chamber to let dry. I'd give a soapy cleaning every 1-2 weeks so the oils don't build up in the plastic too much; but I hear these kind of need to get replaced every few years anyhow.

I've been making 1:10 strong coffee with mostly light roasts, and it is sweet and nicely acidic. I use a medium grind and a 3 minute brew time. This is the first time I've ever liked my coffee more black, rather than with milk/sugar. Just before seeing this post, I made my first "Aerospresso" (I just did a 1:3 ratio and 1 minute brew). I've never even had much true espresso, but this was so thick/syrupy and complex I'll definitely try it again with a darker roast. Being able to make super concentrated coffee makes the AeroPress really versatile for me, and I can make any kind of drink I want or even make a bigger batch of concentrate to dilute if I want to make multiple servings.

Hands down best tea steeper: Finum Brewing Filter Basket with Lid and Drip Tray (large)
Believe me. Don't get any cute tea balls or devices. Novelty tea diffusers suck over time, as any tea enthusiast will find them clumsy and hard to clean in the long run. Trust me, this is the best one.

You could also get her a cute, large mug to go with and maybe a gift card to take her on a date to a place like David's Tea/teavana. That way she can pick out some new loose leaf teas to try, and you can see what flavours interest her.

A tea storage box is also a fantastic gift. Tea bags are inferior to loose leaf, but if you do get bags to fill the box, be sure to get some darjeeling or assam - the best teas in the world.

One thing that's rather overlooked in tea is a tea thermometer. Certain teas need particular temps to steep. I even have a chart printed on glossy photo paper we keep in a plastic sleeve and pinned to the inside of our cupboard (where we keep tea). It'd be a really sweet touch to include that costs practicly nothing.

I know tea. I've visited the tea gardens and tea factories. My great grandmother was a poor tea seller girl by the roadside and met my great grandfather who was a well-to-do soldier. The brigades would have to wait for a bridge to open and that's how they met. Its pretty romantic, lol.

But yeah, tea runs in my blood, so to speak. If you have any questions, feel free to fire away!

I'm fairly serious about my tea (although still a lightweight around these parts) and drink pretty much exclusively iced black tea.

Short answer: Harney & Sons Malachi McCormick ("Decent Tea") if you're looking for just a better version of what you're drinking; a good Irish Breakfast tea if you're wanting to really start exploring. (H&S also does about the best Irish Breakfast I've managed to find.)

Long answer: Icing tea does a couple of things. It kills aromatics and kind of damps down the entire flavor profile. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means that you want to emphasize different flavors to make sure you have a nice cup of tea. This means what you don't want is a low-body aromatic tea; what you do want is something with a lot of body and a strong characteristic taste -- black breakfast teas and similar blends will do you no wrong, here. Irish Breakfast tea is a (very) full-bodied tea with strong assam notes that takes very well to being iced; if that's a new one to you it's going to come out as a bit of an experience, so go slow and give it a chance to grow on you. Most put milk and possibly a little sugar in it; I drink it black, but it's definitely an acquired taste. The "Decent Tea" blend at H&S

(Note that all tea if cooled too quickly -- like icing immediately after brewing -- will have solids precipitate out, turning the tea opaque. This doesn't affect flavor at all; some consider it unsightly, but I actually have kind of come to enjoy the grey-brown of a good Irish Breakfast or the more orange tint of a Scottish Breakfast. Don't let the appearance put you off. Cheaper teas frequently don't turn opaque as there are insufficient solids; sometimes they will merely turn 'cloudy'.)

Normal rule of thumb is one teaspoon of leaf per 'cup' -- for iced you want it a little stronger, so i'll fill an 18oz glass with ice and do two solid teaspoons (maybe just a bit more), ending up with something like 16oz of chilled tea, which should be about right.

Note that details of brewing will make a big difference too -- it's not nearly so sensitive as coffee, but details still matter. For black tea, you want to get water to a boil and on the leaves and steep for 5 minutes. Use filtered water for brewing and (ideally) for the ice -- this makes a big difference, as the dissolved minerals in tap water not only affect the taste but reduce the solubility of the tea. Put the leaves in something decent -- try to avoid using a tiny cheap tea ball or something. I use this basket for brewing in a 12oz wide-mouth mason jar, which I then pour directly over ice in a solo cup (or thermos or w/e for travel).

If any of that is daunting, though, jump in with what you have and you'll easily be able to improve on what you've been drinking thus far. Twinings has a decent irish breakfast blend in tea bags at most supermarkets that makes an okay cup if you're curious about the blend.

Let me know if you have any questions; I'm a huge iced tea fan and could likely talk about it indefinitely.

What are you looking for and what does he like? You can get a standard infuser like this one that I use.

Or you could get him a "reverse french press". The reverse french press is one of the best and easiest ways to brew. It lets the leaves float in the water, but allows easy extraction of the water into a mug (it is much harder with a regular french press because pressing down the leaves can cause them to expel a lot of bitter flavor into the water).

Generally speaking, avoid anything that will smash the leaves, or will not let them float easily. If he generally uses a big teapot, make sure to get something for that. If he typically uses just a mug, the two things I listed will work great. I even use my regular infuser in my large tea pitcher/pot.

But, if you give me a price range and a general idea of what you would like him to have, what he already has or what kind of things he likes, I can definitely help you out. I love tea myself, and would hope that my wife would ask someone knowledgeable when she goes to buy something for me.

OH! And if you're looking to get the best bang for your buck, avoid teavanna. They're not bad they're just overpriced.

1.5 cups of water is ~354grams, so you're brew ratio is ~11:1. With optimal extraction that should be a strong cup. Standard is ~16:1. Not saying it's wrong, I happen to like stronger cups myself. One important thing you should know is that both the brewing vessel and grind absorb heat from the water, and this drops the temperature fast of the brew, and this is a less than ideal extraction. To workaround this you should preheat. In your case bring 700g, or 3 cups of water, to boil, instead of the 354. When it boils, pour 1/2 of it in and return the kettle/pot to the stove so it resumes boil. Quickly dump the water out of the vessel and throw your 30g grind load in. Now pour just enough water over the grinds to wet them, and stir, this is to prep the grind to accept water faster (bloom), stir for a few seconds and make sure there are no lumps. Start your timer. Finally, dump the rest of the water in and cover to prevent heat from escaping. Pour/plunge at 4:00min as you did before. It should taste much stronger now. If it's overly bitter, do this whole process over again but reduce the time by 15 seconds (3:45min) and taste. Repeat until its not overly bitter. The sweet spot will be when you can taste the coffee flavor but without too much bitter in there.

Regarding "sandy" mouthfeel, this is because the mesh screen in the french press (FP) has wide holes. Some people like it, some dont. I dont so when I pour I hold this in the stream, it filters out the grit and, as an added benefit, gives you a bit more flavor clarity. This is because the grit that you currently there continues to extract in the cup, and that muddies things up some. Again no rules here, just preferences, and ignore the comments you'll hear about boiling water burning grind, its not true. There's also a second option here which is to adjust your grind settings so the particles are larger, to prevent them from getting through the mesh, but then you have to extend the extraction time. I dont because I want a faster extraction. Just dont grind super fine powder like youd see in an espresso, thats not for FP.

Kalita uses a paper filter, delivering a thinner, almost tea-like cup, and works best with light/medium roast bean. These are beans that have more delicate flavor. The "espresso" bean, or darker roast youre using on the FP, has a heavier, less defined flavor, more body, and more carbon, so it wont benefit from paper filter so much. The tradition has been darker bean in FP and lighter roast for paper filter methods. Good luck, I hope I helped

First of all, if you're concerned about getting all of the flavor out of tea, you need to be brewing loose leaf, not bagged. Bagged teas are fine sometimes, but they have a fraction of the flavor of a good loose leaf tea. All you need to brew loose tea is hot water and a strainer to get the leaves out of the water. I use a brewing basket from Finum. you can buy it on Amazon, and Upton Tea sells it for a few dollars cheaper, but they charge shipping, so if you're not getting tea too, it's about the same. A lot of other tea shops also sell infusers, so you can probably add one to your order and get it all at once!

If you're shopping from Adagio, as /u/saltyteabag recommended, I suggest their Spiced Apple Chai, if you like apple cider type flavors. Brew that up and add some milk and a touch of honey and that's one of the most delicious drinks there is.

For regular tea (no flavors), I usually prefer Oolongs. Adagio has a good selection of those as well.

For a cold, what I like is some gunpowder green tea with peppermint and honey.

I just throw a spoon of tea and a spoon of peppermint leaves in a cup, drizzle with honey, and add hot water. Most of the leaves will sink to the bottom, and those that don't aren't bad to drink. That's one of my favorite ways to drink tea and relax. It's called "grandpa style" and it's mentioned in the FAQ in the sidebar (which I definitely recommend reading). It's easy and there's not a lot to mess up.

I get my peppermint leaves from Mountain Rose Herbs, as it's cheaper than buying it from some tea places, but Adagio has peppermint tea, and that would work fine.

The gunpowder green tea I used to get from Twinnings, but my local grocery store stopped carrying it. I got my last batch from Upton Tea, but Adagio also has gunpowder green tea.

I use a Keurig
(http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=keurig+machine&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&biw=1280&bih=821&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4330306323317567334&sa=X&ei=yn0aUPHyJeHo6wG2uoHYCw&ved=0CIgBEOUNMAA)
for times when I'm working on a project and just want to hit a button every few minutes and receive coffee and mornings when I'm desperate to get out the door. (This is changing, but it's the reason I got a Keurig and the logic has held up for quite a while.)

Main suggestion I'd give is to get one of their new system: http://www.keurig.com/vuesystem

-The cups contain more coffee.

-There is more selectability when it comes to size and brew strength.

-The cups are recyclable.

-If you like strong coffee, traditional Keurigs can't brew a full mug of it from one Kcup. Your cost skyrockets and convenience goes way down if you use two. The new ones are supposed to be better in this regard.

-Keurig and affiliated coffee makers are going to transition more and more to supporting the Vue over time. Selection still sucks for it in most grocery stores, but the balance is already tipping.

-Supposedly, it's easier to make your own cups with coffee that you like. If you do buy a 1st gen system, I'd recommend not buying the "Keurig My K-Cup". (http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI) I tried and tried but could not get any reasonable brew strength from it. Looking online, this seems to be a common problem. Again, if you do get a 1st gen system and want to make your own cups, look at some of the various products offered online or tutorials on how to reuse a regular Kcup.

-Also, if you buy a 1st gen system, look for brands that advertise "Extra Bold". Anything less will taste very watery on the largest cup setting.

-Don't buy tea with it. Complete waste of money. I never understood why they even bother. The quality is no better than bagged tea of the same brand and, if you want better; loose tea with a metal tea ball and a hotshot with an automatic start is just as convenient.

• Make sure that you get one with a programmable on/off timer. If you leave it on all the time, it costs a fortune in power. If you have to turn it on and wait the couple minutes for it to heat, the convenience factor is just about gone.
  
  In any event, good luck!

In my experience, flavored tea almost always smells better than it tastes unless you load it with sugar. On the other hand, high quality straight tea almost always tastes better than it smells. I've never heard this from anyone else, so it might just be me.

My first foray into the world of tea involved a microwave and a Bigelow variety pack. I can still remember how disgusting the green tea was. A microwave can get the job done, but I'd strongly recommend getting an electric kettle and a cheap thermometer (unless you get a variable temperature kettle). After a while, you'll get a feel for it and won't need the thermometer, but it's really helpful in the beginning to eliminate any doubt.

There are so many different ways to brew tea, and a lot of it comes down to personal preference. There's really no "best" method. The most important things are that the leaves have lots of room to expand, that the water isn't too hot, and that you don't leave the tea in for too long. Based on your post, I'd recommend this for now.

It sounds like your water temperature and steep time are alright, so the problem is likely the water or the tea. I'd experiment with bottled spring water. If it still tastes bad, the problem is the tea itself. I'd recommend getting a bunch of samples from a place like Adagio or Upton. Make sure to get black and oolong in addition to green, because no matter how well you brew plain green tea, it's still going to taste like grass (but without the feet), and maybe that's just not your thing. If you'd like some advice on which samples to get, just send me a message and I'd be happy to help.

*I'm not an expert but this is my personal experience!*

If you have teas that like to open up at all, getting stuffed into a tiny bag can prevent them from opening and steeping out all it's goodness! When I was first getting into tea I always made jasmine pearls loose in a teapot and it tasted amazing. Then I tried ordering one of those tiny novelty steepers to use at work and my tea tasted like nothing.. because the jasmine pearls had no space to open up!! and something like oolong? there's just no way it will be able to open up to its full potential in a tiny bag or steeper. It sounds to me like when the tea actually had room to open up and steep more in the bigger bag, it was getting over steeped at 5 minutes. When the tea was cramped in the smaller bag and wasn't steeping to it's full potential, you had to steep it longer to achieve a similar taste. It might be interesting to experiment steeping in a large basket or steeping free in the cup grandpa style to see if you get a similar effect!!

One caveat; I haven't had this problem with teas/tisanes like rooibos or certain black teas that already come in small fragments. If the tea itself doesn't expand a lot, the small steeper should be okay!

Nobody will think a pour over is sacrilege. Provided you're not using a blade grinder. . . :) Brew methods are a matter of taste. A french press isn't better or worse than a Chemex; it's just different. If you're going pour over, these are way better than these, because they're a true cone, so the water has to go through all the grounds.

You can buy beans online, but if possible it's best to buy locally roasted coffee to ensure freshness. Coffee is at its best around a week after roasting, and gradually loses flavor over time. Chances are you've got a decent roaster in your area. If not, look around online, and make sure you buy from a place that will tell you when yours was roasted.

And feel free to keep asking questions. I'm happy to tell you what I know.

As a general rule of thumb, the recommended preparation for most black teas is 1-1.5tsp or 2-3 grams of loose tea per 200mL or 6-8 fl oz of water (most standard-size mugs are around 8-10 oz depending on how much you fill them), and steeped for 3-5 minutes depending on your desired strength with water temperature anywhere from 190-212F/90-100C.

For me personally, I generally do about 1.5tsp or 2.5g of loose tea in a strainer like this, either directly in the mug or in a teapot. I steep with water around 200F/93C for around 4 minutes, or maybe only 3 minutes for a broken-leaf or CTC grade, then I pull the strainer out of the water. I find that full-boiling water makes the tea a little more bitter than I like, but feel free to play around with your brewing parameters and see what you like best.

Halmari Estate Assam is my favorite. I hope you enjoy!

For a teaware splurge, I'd suggest a Zojirushi instant hot water heater. I've yet to see anyone unhappy with that purchase.

A good water filter, if you need one.

As for teapots, cups, etc: there's the practical answer and the fanciful answer.

The practical answer is: if you're new, you don't know what teas you'll enjoy, much less how you'd like to prepare them. A good, solid bet would be a basic mug infuser like this or [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Extra-Loose-Infuser-House-Again/dp/B01N1OTXHW), or a gaiwan, or a simple medium-size ceramic teapot. From there, you can figure out if you prefer a certain variety, then get the best type of gear to maximize the brew for that variety.

The fanciful answer is: really, you can brew any tea in any set up. So, if you really love the look of a Japanese kyusu, you can still use it to brew a strong western breakfast blend. Go for it.

I did see a good suggestion here, that a lot of people who like yixing teapots really just like the aesthetic of them (guilty as charged!), in which case you can find ceramic pots that can work for any style of brewing for any type of tea. You can find these at vendors like: teaware.house, Dazzle Deer, Taiwan Tea Crafts.

Happy Anniversary!!!!!! What year is it? First? 5th? 50th? Either way, YAYYYY!!! My cat makes me incredibly happy, which is the answer to this question every time. He's just such an amazing boy and so sweet and playful. He loves belly rubbs, and sucking on your finger, and laying with you under the covers and stalking about the bedroom window. So amazing. This K-cup would be fantastic. Thank you so much!

Do you live in a major metropolitan area? A tea shop where you can ask for advice is a great place to visit, and usually you'll be able to sample a wide variety of teas on the spot. Check out the FAQ on the sidebar for some light reading or a site like Teaclass for a little heavier reading.

A supermarket isn't a bad place to start out, though there's usually more choices in something like a whole foods or trader joe's. An asian grocery store usually will have better quality chinese/japanese tea, both in loose leaf and in teabags, and specialized tea shops are the best places to go.

If you're set on online shopping, a site like Upton Tea or Adagio where you can order a wide variety of samples so you can find out what your tastes gravitate to is the best route to go.

In terms of tea preparation, start out simple. If you have a mug, great! All you need is a way to steep your tea. If you choose teabags, that's it. If you want to go for loose leaf, you need an infuser basket or a tea ball. You want a way to boil water, either a stove top kettle or an electric kettle, and a way to measure the water temp like a meat thermometer. Different teas have different steep times and water temperatures to use so your brew doesn't come out bitter from oversteeping or burning it with water too hot. That's it to start off with!

We can help you out a little better if you had some sort of budget. When I was 13 I got about $5-10 a week from my parents but I knew others that received more or even nothing at all. I'll try to aim for what a typical intro to coffee setup would look like.

So with any method you use the first and most important step is the beans. They should ideally be whole bean and roasted semi-recently (a couple days to weeks ago). This is going to be a reoccurring purchase for you/your parents depending on how often you drink coffee. Price could be anywhere from $7/lb to $15/lb.

Setup 1: You can buy the $8 reusable keurig pod and grind your own coffee. With this method you could get away with using a regular bladed grinder probably. Or you can step it up a bit and buy $25 this hand grinder that gets recommended on here a lot. I have it, it worked pretty well when I was first getting into coffee. You just grinder your beans, fill the pod, and use as normal. Cost for parts: $8-$34

Setup 2: If you get the same $25 hand grinder you can then get either a $24 french press (give a more oily cup, there will always be particulates in your mug, you can also make ~8 cups of coffee with this method) or you can go with the very often recommended, and my current favorite way to make a quick cup, the $26 aeropress. This only makes 1-2 cups at a time but it's hard to make a bad cup with it. Cost of parts: ~$50

You should look of reviews for both the french press and aeropress methods on here or online to figure out what meets your needs better. If these are still to expensive then you can try goodwills or garage sells.

Having recently transitioned from bagged to loose tea, I enjoy it. Their Irish Breakfast is great, and their English Breakfast is also very good. The Earl Grey is pretty good, albeit a bit finicky. I've found the spiciness of the bergamot (both aroma and taste) is at its best if steeped for 3.5 minutes using about 1 and 1/3 tsp per 8 oz., which is not how Twinings suggests making it. Their Lady Grey is fantastic.

Also, you may want to invest in a very fine mesh infuser, if you haven't already. British distributors tend to have very small leaves, apparently to maximize the caffeine content of the steeped tea, which does result in some tea dust. I've gotten great use out of this one, which comes in a couple sizes and colors: http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Large-Basket-Black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397428756&sr=8-1&keywords=finum+brewing+basket

Sleeping: my husband and I have slept on a 4"-thick memory foam mattress topper for years. We find them to be very comfortable, definitely on the firm side but that's what we prefer. I love sleeping on memory foam. They're cheap as far as beds go, easy to pack up and move, and easy to fold in half to give you more floor space. I've only ever used them on carpet, though, directly on a hard floor I think wouldn't be very comfortable.

Regarding kitchenware: This really depends on how much cooking you like to do and plan to do. I do a significant amount of home cooking, and my bare-bones set up would be (and has been): chef's knife and paring knife, plastic cutting "board", (cast iron) frying pan, large and small saucepans, spatula, wooden spoon, ladle, set of mixing bowls, cookie sheet, set of measuring cups/spoons, dish towels. Possibly add a colander and a baking dish of some kind, oven mitts, a rice cooker or slow cooker IF they will save you a lot of time (not useful for making rice just occasionally), and a [French press](
http://www.amazon.com/French-Press-Coffee-Maker-20/dp/B0084ORV60/ref=sr_1_9?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1407221402&sr=1-9&keywords=french+press) or pour over coffee maker if you drink a lot of coffee.

I'd also recommend a table of some kind, either high or low, to eat at and use your laptops.

Sure, I spent a year making all kinds of extracts and tinctures and reading endless forum discussions about it. There is a great technique called the Quick Wash Ethanol Extraction Technique. QWEET. There are other methods that work, too, but this one is my stand-by now. Feel free to ask if anything is unclear.

Anyway, you basically use 190 proof grain alcohol chilled to 0 degrees F in a freezer. You then decarboxylate your crumbled plant material for an hour at 240 degrees F in your oven, then freeze it, too.

In my recent batch I had a couple ounces of Charlotte's Web flower, so I crumbled that into a half gallon mason jar after the decarbing process, then put it into the freezer, too.

So you end up with two things in your freezer at zero degrees:

• 1 bottle with 500 or more ml of grain ethanol. A fifth is 750 ml.
  
  
• 1 half gallon mason jar containing 60 grams (2 oz) of crumbled decarboxylated cannabis
  
  You should also have another 2 jars to collect the filtered extraction. They can be quart jars.
  
  After things have chilled to temp, the process goes like this:
  
  

1. Bring out the frozen jar of cannabis and the bottle of chilled ethanol. Have the second and third jar ready. You now pour the ethanol into the jar with the cannabis until it is just covered, no more. Just enough for it to slosh a bit. You slosh it around in that jar for one minute. Some people don't even do it for a full minute, but I do.
   
   
2. This slurry is then quickly poured through a small kitchen strainer into the clean empty jar. This is just a pre-filter to remove most of the plant material. Let the ethanol drain out of the material, then discard the spent cannabis.
   
   
3. The third empty mason jar is now covered by one of those personal coffee filter holders, with a [quality unbleached coffee filter] (https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Care-Unbleached-Filters/dp/B005P0FTYM/ref=pd_sim_79_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005P0FTYM&pd_rd_r=6a4bbfb5-cf5c-11e8-ab44-9143b7b890b1&pd_rd_w=AdTtr&pd_rd_wg=mHLjJ&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=18bb0b78-4200-49b9-ac91-f141d61a1780&pf_rd_r=Q31XVYZ0VWC9SAXJVC0F&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=Q31XVYZ0VWC9SAXJVC0F) in it. Start pouring. This takes a while, so you pour an amount in and wait for it to drain, then add more, etcetera. Eventually it has all been filtered and is in the third jar.
   
   After that you can do a few things. It is technically already a tincture, but you can evaporate off some alcohol to concentrate it more. You can also turn it into thick oil or dabbing material by pouring it into a clear pyrex baking dish and letting all of the alcohol evaporate. The longer it sits the thicker it gets. You then use a razor to scrape it up.
   
   For a truly ideal tincture I will evaporate off all of the alcohol as described, because frankly alcohol tinctures DO taste like shit. I scrape up the thickened oil and then dissolve it into 60 ml (two ounces) of MCT oil. It easily dissolves with just a bit of heat and stays that way, and there is very little taste at all. Now it can be used sublingually for maximum absorption. You can even get all fancy and add flavors. 2 or 3 drops of this oil-based flavoring is ideal.

You two are amazing, truly!! So inspiring and such a huge part of why I'm in love with this sub, thank you. And you look gorgeous!!

Gift One: This because beer

Gift Two: This because coffee

C'mon...gimme.

There is a whole world of gadgets you can get to make tea in! Our FAQ is really helpful here If you are just stepping into loose tea an infuser mug like this is a good place to start. They're not super expensive and they make tea just for you and if you decide you are done with tea forever you have a nice mug. This is a good one too.

Teapots come in a ton of shapes and sizes, I'd pick something that 1. Is not too big (cups of tea should be small not big imo) 2. Won't break easily 3. Is easy to clean.

Give this a read while you're at it.


EDIT: Points 2 and 3 mean stay away from glass pots if you're clumsy like me and is made of a material that won't degrade and absorb like plastic. Good old ceramics are your best bet unless you know what you are looking for in a clay pot.

That looks like a good starter green tea. I'm not sure how happy you'll be with "Mister tea" though. It doesn't leave a whole lot of room for the tea to expand, and that gunpowder green definitely will. The basket for your contigo mug looks pretty good. You may want to look in to a basket type infuser for normal mugs, as well. This ForLife infuser and this Finum basket are both pretty popular around here.

Welcome to the world of tea. Cheers!

Before you go out and buy a lot of tea, only to find out it's not to your liking, explore your options a bit by trying out sampler packs.
A bunch of good samplers where linked to over here, but that's mostly for straight unblended teas.

I hardly drink flavoured teas myself, so I can't really give you any good recommendations on that, but perhaps someone else will chime in.
Adagio carries a lot of samplers, many of them containing fruity tea blends, so you might want to check that out.

If you don't have anything to steep your loose leaf in, I recommend picking up an infuser basket that allows you to brew directly in your cup/mug. If you end up liking hot tea, you can always invest in teapots and whatnot later. (And so begin the hopeless teaware addiction many of us suffer from!)

This, and this should do well. Avoid smaller infusers such as this, as your leaf needs the room to expand and interact with the water while steeping. A cramped infuser will not allow your leaf to do so, and may lead to an inferior brew.

> I think I will start with some fruity tea, is it acceptable to put honey/sugar into that?

It's your tea, you're free to drink it however you like it best. I do recommend steering away from your usual preferences every now and then to experiment a bit. There's a lot of different flavours to be found in straight tea, and it'd be a shame not to give it a shot. If you like it better with sweetener though, by all means drink it with sweetener.

> I had some tea bags but wasnt a huge fan, not very strong of a taste, would loose leaf tea be better?

You betcha!

Alternatively

Get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/

And a box of these: https://www.amazon.com/Optional-Coffee-Filter-Ekobrew-Single/dp/B00H4F3A88/

Drop the filter into the cup, the lips will match up, don't force it down into the basket, the cup will close and seal around the lip of the filter just fine. Grind your coffee a little finer than usual, fill until the filter is 3/4 to 7/8 full, gently pack it with your thumb, insert into Keurig, hit the smallest cup button. It's only slightly better than a run-of-the-mill drip machine but it's decent enough to be enjoyable without additives.

Edit: This will never net you great coffee, only slightly better than a Black and Decker drip machine coffee. It's pretty much the best product you will ever get out of a Keurig. Have fun.

For a cheaper intro to cold brew check out CoffeeSock

Cold brew works best with coarse ground beans, but the coffeesock works with any grind. It takes roughly 12 hours to brew medium/fine ground beans so it can be set up at night to be ready the next morning. Each batch makes 2-3 days of coffee. I find that this makes roughly a 1:1.5 coffee-to-water concentrate.

If you want to make a stronger concentrate, you can double brew. Brew for 12 hours, discard grounds, add new grounds and brew for another 12 hours. This produces a concentrate that's closer to 1:3 coffee-to-water.

I enjoy cold brewed coffee either cold or hot, straight black. No sugar/cream. I cannot tolerate hot brewed without some sugar and creamer. Cold brew has no bitterness, and really lets you experience the full flavor of the beans.

If you do happen to get into cold brewing coffee, the best coffee I've ever had was from KingdomCoffeeRoasters.com. They are a little more expensive, but it's the first coffee I've ever tasted that let me taste what people describe as "fruity". It's more expensive, but definitely a great occasional treat.

Package Contents:

• Pitcher: Rattleware Steaming Pitcher ($18) Having something with a spout helps pour cleanly into the Aeropress in addition to being a good heating vessel.
  
• Water Heater: Norpro water heater ($11) The time to get enough water to temp is a little longer than the grind time on the hand grinder.
  
• Grinder: Cozyna Grinder ($20): Less than half the price of the Porlex option. I figured if it breaks I can get another one or upgrade to the Porlex.
  
• Brewing: Aeropress ($35)
  
• Filter: Able Aeropress Metal Filter ($13)
  
  Optional:
  
  
• Scale: American Weigh Scale AWS-600-BLK ($10) Just don't get it wet. This could easily fit in the pouch, but by now I've been able to eyeball the bean/water volume required for a particular weight.
  
• Thermometer: Thermapen ($79, refurbished): This was not purchased specifically for this kit. But it's a great thermometer to have in your kitchen anyway! At $10, a simple drink thermometer [like this one](Taylor Precision Products Classic Line Hot Beverage Thermometer for Coffee or Tea https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U1XRA8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_L9b3xbTDWY3MS) would be perfect.
  
• Mug: Ultimo Coffee Camping Mug ($12): Any small mug will do. Ultimo Coffee is one of my favorite local roasters so I'll be traveling with a piece of home wherever I go
  
• Silicone mat (~$15) About the size of a mouse pad. Lets me not worry about putting hot/wet/messy things on the hotel or Air B&B desk.
  
• Bag: S.A.W. Pouch (~$11) designed to hold 6 standard 30 round magazines for automatic weapons... or coffee gear. Got it at my local army surplus store.

Are you talking about hand drip or like a standard coffee maker? If you are talking about hand drip I find I like it more then french press. Here is hand drip : http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-C104943-Porcelain-Coffee-Filter/dp/B001B194FY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1322493186&sr=8-3

If standard drip coffee maker I think you will like french press more. You'll find you like drinking coffee black more from hand drip and french press. Hand drip is very smooth.

Ok. There's been some great advice in this thread and I don't want to step on anyone's toes. But I went through a similar process when I wanted to stop drinking shit coffee a couple years ago, and this is my current setup.

The Grinder. You want a conical burr grinder. You can do this without breaking the bank: I got a Breville for less than $100 and it kicks ass. Grinds like a boss, whisper quiet, and it looks like a robot.

But why, you ask, should you splurge on the grinder? You could get a little Krups grinder for $15. And that would be great -- if all you wanted, ever, was to drink french pressed or drip coffee. But if you ever want to make espresso, then you need a conical burr grinder. And it sounds like you are going to want to do some experimenting.

The Brewer. My personal thing is this: I don't brew coffee through anything that plugs in. There's just no reason to.

Get yourself a kettle for your stove - I like this one, because you can see that there's nothing growing inside. And you avoid the mineral-y crust that you would have to scrape off of an electric kettle.

Use filtered water. It makes a difference.

Get yourself a simple drip cone or, if you want to be a little fancier, a Chemex carafe. You put a filter in the top, you grind the beans, you put the beans in the filter, you pour hot water over the top of it. The beans get thoroughly steeped and you end up with an even, smooth coffee with little to no bitterness.

Because you've saved so much money on coffee makers, splurge a bit. Get yourself a French press for when you want something with more oomph. And get yourself a little Italian stovetop espresso maker. You put fine espresso grinds in the top, you put water in the bottom, you put the whole thing on the stove - voilà.

There. If you wanted all this shit to plug into the wall you would have spent $1000. But you can get all of this for less than $200.

The Beans. Here's the dirty little secret about coffee beans: freshness matters more than brand. You could get the finest quality beans shipped to you from halfway across the country if you like - but they're going to be stale by the time they get to you.

Here's what you do instead: find a cafe that roasts their own beans and buy from their cafe. They'll have been roasted within the last few weeks. The beans will have this great oily sheen to them - that's how you know they're good. Buy them one package at a time and keep them in an airtight canister. And for christ's sakes, never freeze coffee beans.

There you go! With this setup you can make almost any type of coffee drink available at your local Starbucks, for cheap. There'll be no gunk to clean out of the musty interiors of a complex drip coffee maker. And a lot of this stuff has a great aesthetic, so your kitchen will look fantastic.

Edited for spelling.

As someone who has enjoyed the pleasures of his lovely above the tree line many times, I suggest the following:

1. A condom is a pain in the arse. If that is not your normal BC don't worry about it. See below.
   
   
2. Bring some hypoallergenic (fragrance free and flushable) baby wipes. Have both of you clean up BEFORE and AFTER. Advantages to this:
   
   A. You can enjoy the oral manifestations of the situation
   B. Baby wipes can be used to clean up in general, clean the face, hands etc.
   C. To get rid of them you just throw them in the fire or bury them like toilet paper.
   
   
3. Other than that, just make sure you are in a remote camp site.
   
   If you are camping (as in car camping) just bring blankets and forget the sleeping bag. Blankets will absorb the moisture without getting gross and you can just wash them. If you are hiking in and camping, e.g; backpacking then bring some lightweight camp towells and just wipe down when done.
   
   Coffee while camping is easy just get one of these:
   
   http://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1368721513&sr=8-3&keywords=tea+filter
   
   Morning meal? Bring some freeze dried peppers, eggs, onions and potato slices and make a kick ass omelette.

So all you really need is a brew basket and a cup (and the brew basket is optional if you're willing to drink around the leaves). Also you'll need some tea.

I imagine you have a mug. As for a brew basket, something like [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS) should be good. Just put leaves in a basket and add hot (usually not boiling) water.

When I started out, I bought a bunch of tea and samples from adagio.com. It's good to find what kinds of tea you like (there is black, green, white, oolong, puerh, yellow, but tons of subvarieties). It's been a while since I've purchased from adagio, so I'm not sure how they are now.

I like buying from verdant tea now. It's pricey and has a smaller selection, but it's delicious.

Best of luck!

Just re the caffeine, it does make tremors worse so put a lot of effort into getting rid of it or at least reducing way down.

I had to do that myself a few years ago, and didn't think I could do it. I only had one big strong cup of coffee in the morning, or sometimes black tea (during day or in morning), but I was really seriously attached to that dose (as well as flavor, ability to clear my throat/lungs/etc).

For me the hardest part turned out to be just finding a decaf coffee (and black tea) I could still drink and enjoy, but eventually did after reading many reviews online then trying a bunch of different ones.
The ones that work for me are Peet's Mocca Java Decaf coffee, and Luzianne (black) tea.
I buy the tea at amazon in "family size" bags, cut open the bags to pour into a jar, then make it strong and brew it in a Finum "brewing basket" or a single cup mini basket with hinged lid for a Keurig coffee machine.
I buy the coffee locally at Safeway (I'm in California) or at a Peet's store, but should be online too.
Here they are if you're interested:
https://amazon.com/Peets-Coffee-Mocca-Java-Ground-12-Ounce/dp/B00857ZBSG (btw, it's not really "chocolatey" or only a tiny hint)
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B008EJRS54
https://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J3JFJU
https://amazon.com/MaxBrew-Reusable-Filter-Keurig-Single/dp/B016TZKU54 (mine is black though)

Oh, and I no longer drink soft drinks because I eat low carb (LCHF in my case) which also helps with other health/etc problems (and no longer really get "hungry," and never shaky from hunger--and carbs). They either have a lot of sugar I don't want, or have various alternative sweeteners I can't stand the taste of. But before I started low-carb, the Decaf regular Coke tasted the best to me, and there are a few like Ginger Ale, etc, that at least don't have caffeine.

I now also drink other hot and cold beverages though, especially when I'm sipping or just want a taste in my mouth, etc. Had to figure those out too.

I think you answered your own question. If you have been using and enjoying a french press then stick with it there is a whole range of size and price options and even places like Target sell them. As far as other inexpensive options there are a variety of pour over devices that use paper filters which may be easier to clean up. I have a Cilio #4 that I use at work with a Hario Skerton grinder and a cheap electric kettle. The Cilio is porcelain and has held up well but there are some stainless ones. There is also the Aeropress which is a fun little gizmo and makes great coffee. The Porlex grinder nests nicely inside the Aeropress plunger so it takes up very little space in a bag.

Holy crap, I didn't know they had metal filters! That's amazing!

For those that are wondering, this one and this one are the two highest reviews that I've found.

I'll be picking one of these up as soon as possible, though I've always managed to get good extractions out of my Aeropress following this guide minus the swirling at the end, and it always works out pretty great. It's true though, the paper feels like it detracts from the overall body / "creaminess" of the cup, compared to other methods I've tried.

Not for long, though. =)

If you're looking to brew a single cup at a time then you might consider getting an Aeropress. They run like $30 on Amazon. They work kind of like a French press, but they're much easier to clean and maintain. They make excellent coffee, and you can get a steel filter if you don't like the disposable paper ones.

Being to cheap for $100+ for a grinder, I picked up a hand grinder. It does well enough for me, and I got the grinder, Aeropress, and steel filter for under a bill.

Just going to toss this out there, the sweetened Starbucks tea will be much different to a plain Japanese green tea or matcha. My husband can drink the Starbucks/other shops version but complains that my tea tastes like bitter vegetables and grass.

You might have better luck with mild Chinese green teas or, as was suggested, a Jasmine green tea since it is a sweet Chinese tea. It can be iced. Some of the greener oolongs are mild and sweetish, too. A milk oolong and oolongs in general are good for anyone that doesn't have much tea experience. (They can be easier to brew)

If she doesn't have tea ware or much experience with loose leaf (if you get her loose leaf) then you might look at a Finnum brewing basket. I know with my mother in law that she claims to really like tea but doesn't have much experience, interest, or patience for anything beyond bagged teas. Not everyone wants more then 1-2 step teas.

Steeping = leaving your tea leaves in hot water so you can get the flavour (and the caffeine) out of them. Different teas do best with different temperature and times. For green tea, you want around 165°F for 1 minute, or check the instructions your tea comes with. Adjust to your liking.

You can use teabags or "loose leaf", which is when the tea leaves come as they are. Both are easy to use and loose leaf can be cheaper, especially if you know where to look or order online. If you do decide to use loose leaf, you will need some kind of basket strainer or other infuser, to hold the leaf while it steeps so that you don't get bits of tea leaf in your cup. My personal favourite is this Finum Brewing Basket.

You don't need to use a teapot. I just brew and drink my tea out of a mug. The teapot I have is only used if I'm sharing tea with someone else.

For brands, check out the User's Choice list from the wiki. I started off buying from Adagio and Upton. Nowadays, I buy from Adagio, Verdant Tea, O-Cha, and Yunnan Sourcing, but all the shops in that list are good ones. As for supermarket brands... I don't really like any of them, because I don't like flavoured tea, and those non-flavoured teas tend to have been on the shelf long enough that they're a little stale. (Also I have a huge backlog >_>)

Some green teas worth trying out:

• Chinese Dragonwell a.k.a. Longjing
  
• Chinese Jasmine Green Tea
  
• Japanese Sencha
  
• Japanese Genmaicha (this is green tea with toasted rice added, great when it's cold out)
  
  Hope this helps.

Teasource is a great company you can order loose leaf tea from. Their basic stuff (earl grey, breakfast teas, simple oolongs) is like $6-10/4oz and the nice stuff goes to like $20/4oz.

I like very black teas like some Assam blends for mornings, and greener-oolongs in the afternoons with honey.

And also Harvey and Son’s “Paris” is my favorite bagged tea. Only floral black tea blend I like

Idk if you have a strainer for loose leaf already but they are cheap online and can take you to new places tea-wise. Nice metal ones with really small holes are best

Finum (63/421.50.00) Brewing Basket, medium , black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_EeXWAbHYC1EG4


Tea Infuser,Tea Strainer,2 PACK 304 Stainless Steel Water Filter with Double Handles for Hanging on Teapots, Mugs, Cups to steep Loose Leaf Tea and Coffee,Cold Brew Coffee Maker. FDA Approved. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075KK731Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TfXWAb6P870HT

I use this in my teapot, or the medium one in an individual mug. Works perfectly and solves almost every one of your problems. Taking it out is easy because the top is plastic and the lid acts as a drip tray. This is the most important part for me because it solves the prepared tea storage issue with only one vessel. Also, I've found that the tea does have plenty of room to expand, though I'm sure it has a little bit more freedom in the press.

I have 3, two 24 oz and a 45 oz. I love them. The infuser on the 45 oz is too small, so I use a large Finum basket instead.

I like the 24 ounce for teas that can be brewed in volume- blacks and herbals, mainly. I use smaller glass pots for teas that can be resteeped, like oolong. The Forlife pots look great, are easy to pour from, have nice brewing baskets (on the 24 oz), they're durable, and the gasket on the lid keeps it in place both with and without the basket.

There are a lot of very long comments here. To summarize:

It's good that you bought some loose leaf.

First, though, depending on the size of your tee ei, you should probably look into an upgrade, even for western-style brewing (lots of people love Finum: https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B000I68NCS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85Z%C3%95%C3%91&qid=1504620481&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=finum)

Second, keep trying new tea. Green teas are great, but there are many great prolongs, blacks, whites, puerh, and herbal tisanes.

Third, consider trying gongfu style (Chinese-style) brewing. For many of us, it was a revelation. In terms of convenience, o often don't have time for gongfu brewing, but it is a special treat when I do.

Of all the pourover brewers, I've heard that the V60 can produce the best cup, but is very easy to mess up due to the large opening. I have a Chemex and I love it, but it does take some experimenting. Also, it produces an extremely clean bodied coffee, so that is also something that should be considered. Although I haven't used it, I've also heard that pourover brewers with a channel, such as this HIC brewer, are more forgiving and consistent. I believe that Counter Culture uses these in their stores.

Congrats on the 150 days of sobriety! That's fantastic!

Coffee is the bomb. I do cold-brew because there's less acid, by 97%, so it's nicer on the stomach. And it's also got more caffeine because hot-brew burns away the caffeine. It's also a lot sweeter naturally, since the acidity is what brings out the bitterness in hot coffee. I use much less creamer in that than I ever did any hot coffee, so it's healthier that way too.

It can also be kept in the fridge for a month before going stale. So it cost a lot less in the long run if you just make a gallon or so at a time.

I'd suggest buying a cheap kit like this to start!And this short video will give you a basic step by step to get you started!

There's tons more in-depth videos so you can learn more, or if you have any questions, I'd love to help!

> How do the infusers work with the dunking?

Just pour the hot water over it and let it sit (OK, sometimes I will dunk mine once or twice if some leaves didn't get wet, or there's a lot of foamy scum floating on top). When it's done, pull the infuser out and let it drip back into the mug/pot/whatever until it pretty much stops dripping.

> It says you can have multiple infusions so do you...

Not all tea is really suited to that. Sometimes 1 infusion pretty much gets all the good stuff out. Ususally it's tea in big pieces or whole leaves that is good for this. As you say, just set the used leaf aside in the infuser and use it again with fresh hot water.

> which infusers would you recommend

Ones that are basked-shaped, with fine mesh, and big enough to let the leaf unfold/unroll/expand. Something like this.

Oh thanks tea! I'm super excited and grateful! Need your opinion though, for the reusable filters did you recommend ones like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00LHCCR92/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1450026014&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX118_SY170_QL70&keywords=reusable+k+cup&dpPl=1&dpID=41vYq1d3Z5L&ref=plSrch) or [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000DLB2FI/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1450026195&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=reusable+k+cup&dpPl=1&dpID=51Dz0b%2BJp5L&ref=plSrch)? I have never owned a keurig before so I'm clueless!

The standard opinion toward the Keurig is not a positive one. The consensus is that the pods contain subpar, already stale coffee, and the machines are not capable of heating water to a high enough temperature to properly brew coffee.

But what really matters is if you like it - if coffee comes out that you enjoy drinking, fuck the haters, and keep using the Keurig. I personally dislike Keurigs, but I think that they are not quite as bad as the community makes them out to be.

Some companies do make reusable K-cups that you can put your own coffee in, but they don't fix the low water temperature issue, and apparently they don't keep a seal well either, leading to underextracted coffee.

Basically, experiment a little and find what you like. You may end up learning that the best coffee that a Keurig can make is coffee that you make without ever touching a Keurig. Remember: the only good coffee is coffee that you like - even if it's from a Keurig!

I've used a coffee filter to filter my bacon fat and the end result is crystal clear, melted gold.

edit: if you find that you're needing to filter bacon fat often, I'd buy one of these, granted you aren't filtering gallons of the stuff at a time.

I haven't used this gold filter for bacon fat, but in terms of coffee making, some fine dust particles will make it through this filter. If you want something that'll filter out almost every solid, maybe you can go with this.

Wait until your fat has cooled off a bit, then plop this filter cone on top of an open jar, put a coffee filter in, and pour away. I have seen both of these filter cones in multiple grocery stores like Wal-mart and Kroger. Super cheap and reusable!

Hey man, great work so far. A few food tips from a guy closing in on two years of keto:

• Celery juice used to cure meat still turns into a nitrate when it enters your body. Because it's not technically a nitrate when it's on the shelf, they can advertise the meat as "nitrate-free." That said, we have people in this sub eating bacon every day, and I've yet to hear reports of health issues as a direct result. You can get meats that are cured only with salt, like prosciutto, but it's usually expensive and really salty.
  
  
• EVOO is ideally a salad dressing ingredient, just FYI. It's wasted as a cooking oil. Use coconut or avacado oil for cooking, or bacon fat.
  
  
• As for beverages, don't forget that tea is also an option. I'm practically a coffee snob, but I have to say that tea is faster, easier, and cheaper. This is all the tea-specific equipment you need. A ~$15 brew basket that you just drop in your mug with a few teaspoons of loose-leaf tea in it. Heat up your water, pour it into the mug, put the included lid on top to keep the water from cooling off too quickly, let it steep for a few minutes, pull the basket out, toss or compost the leaves, rinse the basket, done. No fussy timers, ratios, pouring techniques, or grind adjustments to deal with.
  
  
• Don't overlook the importance of salt. Liberally salt all your food. You need at least 5g a day for keto to fire on all cylinders.
  
  Good luck, and thanks for sharing your story so far :)

Neat...

You can still make a good cup of coffee with the keurig.

Get a few of these, a hario hand grinder, and some good beans and you'll be pretty happy!

There’s a couple companies that make cold brew coffee pouches that are similar to a tea bag, you put the pouch in a jar with water in the fridge and in like 18 hours you have coffee ready. Chameleon makes some but I didn’t think they were strong enough.

Or you can buy a filter like this on Amazon that fits into a Mason jar and you can use whatever coffee you want.

KLEIN Cold Brew Kit - Cold Brew Coffee Maker - Wide Mouth Mason Jar Filter for Brewing Coffee Concentrate and Infused Tea at Home - 100 Micron Mesh - Stainless Steel - Free Spoon & Silicone Seal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0721RVRYN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ehpoDb1NN89BK

That was extremely calming and relaxing. Really painted a good picture. The only thing is (Not your fault), it seems you can only make one at a time with that filter, which is rather disappointing. But the video was wonderful, minimal, and well done. Should be proud!

Edit: After going to the items Amazon page, one customer question includes usability with half gallon mason jars, which they say it works with and will hold enough grinds for. Im sold!

To echo everyone else, gaiwans are inexpensive and really great to use. I find making tea in mine a lot of fun :D If you would still like to brew western style, I'd recommend getting the Finum Brewing Basket, which is really easy to use and also not expensive ($10). I find that, although I prefer gongfu brewing, it demands more time and more attention, and isn't something I can do while I'm working. So I end up using the brewing basket and my gaiwan about equally.

Since I worked 12 today (thurs) I get Friday off! I'm going to spend it lounging around with the bestie and having a hopefully brief meeting with my counselor. And sleeping. Lots of sleeping.

Oh! And I'd love this if the shipping isn't too much.

Also, I vent all the time on the daily thread. It's very therapeutic. Don't hesitate to express your feelings there. it's a great place to get support and the people here are so great, with so much helpful advice.

Almost all of the Keurigs and other K-Cup brewers will dispense just hot water, you just press the brew button without a K-cup in the brewer.
This is a reusable K-cup for using your own coffee.

Some other things to consider, is cup sizes and water capacity. Most brewers have more options on how much water to dispense for a cup of coffee. Which is handy when you want to make smaller or larger cups of coffee. Along with that, some have larger hoppers that hold water before it gets heated for making a beverage. The only real benefit of a large water tank is you don't have to fill it as often. If your boyfriend is only a light coffee drinker, the tank size wouldn't matter too much as it wouldn't get drained that often anyway.

All that being said, This is probably the least expensive one, only does 8 ounce cups, only holds enough water for one cup.

Something like This is your typical Keurig, 3 cup sizes (6,8,10 oz), 48 oz water reservoir

Personally, I have a model very similar to This one except I bought it from Costco. You can set it to automatically turn on and off in the morning on a timer, 5 cup sizes (4,6,8,10,12 oz) and a 72 ounce reservoir.

I would recommend looking at Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, etc. because you occasionally run into some deals. Good Luck.

I suggest starting with an infuser that can be used to brew right in your cup. This one is my favorite, the large one; not the floating basket. Alternately, or additionally, a small glass teapot is wonderful at first because you can see the color of the brew while you're discovering your preferences. Most loose leaf tea can be brewed for more than one infusion, sometimes many many infusions. An electric kettle is extremely handy, especially if it has variable temperature settings. One that's clear where you can see the size of the bubbles also works for gauging temperature. Ask questions in the forum if you're wondering about anything. Everyone here is keen to help. Enjoy your tea!

Really I'd recommend getting a filter like this one and an electric kettle. They have some cheap ones (like ~$15) that you should be able to use in your dorm room. Just put water in and hit the button, it shuts off when it's done. There are more expensive ones that allow you to set the temperature which is nice for some of the more delicate green and white teas but in a dorm setting, I'd just go for something like this.

As for tea, I highly recommend anything from adagio. They also have some kettles but they are Stainless Steel and more expensive. They are also the makers of the IngenuiTea which you can get from them or elsewhere. My coworker has one and it's nice. I prefer the strainer I originally linked to because I can just store it in my mug and it doesn't take up that much space.

I like your setup! I started with a Toddy, but when we were traveling I bought two nut milk bags that I've been using since. I steep the water and coffee in a regular pitcher, then pour through the bag when I'm done. It's replaced my Toddy now. Super cheap, portable, and makes great coffee.

Aeropresses are really the way to go: small, easy to clean up, and makes a really-good espresso-approximation (think you need to reach like 3 atm of pressure for a real espresso).

I also got a stainless steel filter to use instead of the paper-jobbies that come with it. You never have to worry about running out of filters: http://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1397759932&sr=8-2&keywords=aeropress+filter+stainless+steel

Also if don't have a burr grinder yet then get one. This one is a good bargain and capable of grinding fine enough for esspresso: http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1397759998&sr=8-8&keywords=burr+grinder

Am I the only one that uses these?! I mean, I love it.

I have one of these in my office, because no one here ever finishes a stupid pot of coffee and it gets moldy and gross. For like a week we used the k-cups that came with the machine, but we are all poor and didn't want to have to go buy a ton of those supper expensive (and as you so mentioned non-recyclable) pieces of trash, so we all just use the reusable cup. It was pretty cheap, easy to use and once you get the proportion of coffee you want in it, works AWESOME! I highly suggest you go buy one now if you have one of these machines.

Some like having the tea leaves float, others use an infuser. It's really your preference. I would suggest this. I use it quite a bit when making tea for myself. Word of advice, tea places like Teavana (while having some fantastic tasting stuff) are incredibly expensive/overpriced. There are much smaller shops that sell loose leaf at perfectly reasonable prices. Davids TEA and Adagio are my personal favorite online tea shops.

I've been using [Finum Brewing Baskets] (https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479061928&sr=8-1&keywords=finum+basket+large) for the last decade or so for brewing one cup of tea at a time. The fine mesh is easy to clean if you rinse is out right after steeping. The large one is ideal for most mug sizes. I find the medium-sized basket to be a little too small for mugs larger than 10 oz.

EDIT: If you're looking for a decent and affordable tea pot, [Hario] (https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479062141&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+tea+pot) makes some good ones. Despite the glass looking thin, it's actually quite sturdy.

I would highly recommend this. The coffee tastes better and works great. Also environmentally friendly. There is a small gasket on the needle that needs to be adjusted for the reusable cups to work right.

For western style brewing (little bit of tea to lots of water for a longer time) a brew basket is a good way to go for a single person. The ones from Finum are great, but theres a bunch of different options out there . I have been using a Davids Tea one for the last while and have no complaints about it at all.

If you want to get into brewing with gongfu parameters (lots of tea, little water, quick infusion times) then I'd recommend picking up a cheap gaiwan in the 100ml range to start out and see if you're into it or not. All you really need is a gaiwan and a cup or mug to pour it into. If you want to you can get little tea cups, strainers, and a fairness pitcher, but none of that is actually "needed". I'd start out simple and cheap then re-evaluate if you find it's something you really enjoy. This was my first gaiwan - its nice looking but simple, affordable and well built. Comes with a saucer too which is a plus for me. After a year or so of use I realized a smaller one would be more suited for me and I picked up a 55ml one from Bitterleaf that I love to death. The size really comes down to how you want to drink and you might not know whats best for you until you just buy something and use it for a while.

For some easy mug infusing, a brewing basket like this is a nice thing to have. Brewing tea this way is about as easy as throwing in a teabag, and you can use any tea you like.

I'll add on to what others said...yes it's ready immediately, what is "good" is subjective, and as mentioned, usually something like 4 cups is a minimum.

If you don't want a whole pot (and I'm the same) my suggestion would be to get either a $4 melitta pour over at the grocery store, or spring for a setup with something like:

Ceramic 1-hole dripper (HERE), and some #4 paper filters to go with

Electric Kettle (HERE)

Small Hand Grinder (HERE)

Then Check out BrewMethods and click on the pour over videos

And, get whole beans and grind prior to brewing. IMO, this will make much better coffee and no plastic taste.

Thanks for the reply!

Just checked the FORLIFE infuser, and here in Germany it's ridiculously overpriced. I quickly skimmed amazon.de and found for example this or this. Would they work? Is there anything that I should pay extra for? The first one seems to have slightly better ratings, but it's made out of plastic (if that makes a difference?).

Thanks again! :)

It's funny, I didn't even realize Finum made coffee filters, although that should have been obvious.

Instead I was referring to their very popular Finum basket infuser tea filter, which works perfectly for even very fine tea fragments.

The cold-brew I had last night (which my friend made, not me) was at least as good as premade, if not better. I drank it cold.

She apparently uses very cheap ground coffee, and by virtue of being cold-brewed, it tastes good enough to her (and she's pretty...discerning/discriminating when it comes to foodstuffs and flavors).

Her approach is to put 1/3 c of coffee grounds into one of these filters, stick it into a mason jar (sorry, not sure if it's 24 or 32 oz), and let it sit for 12-24 hours. After that period, she puts the cold brew into a jug in the fridge, and starts a fresh mason jar going.

People do realize they can use their own coffee grounds for the keurig, right?

http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI

Edit: I'm not trying to discredit you or the article, but there is a perfectly fine green solution already available and not mentioned by either you or the article.

http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-Reusable-Coffee-Filter-Single/dp/B000DLB2FI

http://www.keurig.com/Accessories/Keurig%C2%AE-2-0-My-K-Cup%C2%AE-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/p/keurig-2-0-my-k-cup


I might be missing something but it appears these are for sale from Keurig for the older and the newer machines. Beyond the fact that people have been selling these on ebay for years....

Help me get why I care about this Vancouver company doing what is clearly being done anyway.

If you REALLY have to go the kcup route( which I highly discourage) then you may want to consider getting a few of these. This way you can buy quality FRESH ROASTED coffee, buy a quality grinder and actually drink good coffee rather then stuff that was ground months ago and has been sitting in a warehouse. Doesnt really sound like anyone is drinking espresso so why not just get a really nice drip machine and grinder? Something like this. Grinding a dose of beans and putting them in a filter and pressing a button is not hard.

I use this thing at home. It's not as convenient but I'm the only coffee drinker in my house and I just want to make one cup so it works for me.

As much as I loved using K-Cups, the price alone isn't worth the convenience. But I'm also glad I'm helping the environment by being frugal.

Honestly something like this would be much better as it it half the cost and basket is bigger which allows more leaf expansion. I have the 300ml version that I like. Also consider a tea basket strainer like one of the following. Also reference the vendor list here for vendors in the EU.



https://www.hario.co.uk/collections/tea-tea-pots/products/hario-chacha-kyusu-maru-teapot-450ml

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KY69ZKH/

https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Stainless-Coffee-Infusing-Brewing/dp/B000J3JFJU/

Thanks for the reply! She isn’t as into tea as myself and for whatever reason prefers bags. I actually have a really nice Basket Infuser from when I first started exploring tea more seriously a few years back, and I still use it occasionally (especially when a tea has a good amount of tea-dust or is particularly small). The mesh is quite fine and leaves next to no sediment, and it really gives a great amount of room for the leaves to expand. I offered it to her before but she didn’t seem that interested. I can’t knock it too much, everyone has their own preference.

Have you looked into a coffee filter cone? I bought mine for $2.50.

In college, I boiled the water while getting dressed, etc. and then poured the water over the beans with one hand while eating breakfast with the other. It didn't cost me too much time in the mornings, and it tasted infinitely better than the shit coffee I was buying on campus.

Ahh, I see. I forgot that Amazon changed its non-Prime free shipping to $35 instead of $25, sorry. Have you considered buying it along with something else to trigger the free shipping?

You could buy this metal filter for another $12.50 for example, assuming you were considering buying a metal filter at some point to begin with. They have their pros and cons, of course, though I generally like mine. (Just be careful to note that they're not cost-effective, because $12.50 will buy you many years of paper filters!)

Coffee is best if you grind and brew it fresh. An Aeropress, a burr grinder, and a decent bean will make an amazing cup of coffee. You won't even want to put sugared shit in it because it tastes so good. Go to Starbucks and get a reserve coffee on the Clover machine if you want to try this brewing method.

Tea is best if you use loose leaf tea. Buy a single-cup, basket-style, tea strainer and some tea. I'd suggest Gunpowder Green Tea to start.

What you plan to do is a perfectly valid way to make coffee. However, it won't be a pourover. Since all the water will be in contact with all the coffee for a time, this would be called an "immersion" brew. You can buy a non-paper permanent filter at any supermarket for a few dollars, ie, a Melitta #4 that fits into a Melitta #4 dripper. You can use this same equipment to make pourover coffee as well.

Dripper looks like this and filter like this.

Finum one cup stainless filter

These are awesome. $10. No waste at all. Boil water, add coffee and filter to mug, wait 5 mins. Way cheaper than a french press and smaller. There are bigger filters out there if you need to make a pot.
I reuse the grounds 1-2 more times, sometimes adding a little if I really want it stronger.

Apparently not using paper allows more of the coffee oils to remain (you can see them on top). Good coffee has great flavor.

Also works for tea.

this is the exact model we have. The little piece the coffe cup is sitting on just slides out, and you can put a tall travel mug perfectly under the spout!
this is the filter you need to use ground coffee, it is easy to clean, and it won't leak grounds.
I love ours, let me know if you get one!

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420989185&sr=8-1&keywords=programmable+kettle

your mug is fine just the way it is, but it is better to heat tea in a kettle (electric or stovetop) to avoid superheating it and causing an explosion of water in your face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_OXM4mr_i0

http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420989221&sr=8-1&keywords=tea+filter+basket

these are highly recommended.

.

https://www.davidstea.com/

Davids tea has AWESOME "dessert teas" which is what I think you are looking for.

They also have some KICKING tea mugs with stainless steel infusers that are similar to the finium, but they also come with a lid doubling as a coaster for the filter.

I don't typically sweeten teas unless they scream for it, so i can't help you there.

[This K-Cup Filter] (http://amzn.com/B000DLB2FI) so I can get fresh ground coffee from my favorite local place again. I like to support my local shop, and the coffee is so delicious!

Hario Mini Mill and an MSR MugMate or equivalent will be an excellent office set up. I use the Kyocera CM-45 which I love but tends to be more expensive and harder to find - and the MSR mugmate every day in my office. It's essentially french press coffee. Coarse grind, brew for 4 minutes, enjoy!

Personally, manual drip pour over into a pre-heated thermos is the only way to go for me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BUDDTY/

Works great with fresh ground beans, pour the hot water over it in thirds, you're good to go. So many advantages and very little downside.

Just an fyi, I use [this] (http://www.amazon.com/RSVP-Manual-Coffee-Carafes-Thermos/dp/B000BUDDTY) with my thermos all the time, and works great. By no means am I turning you away from the bonavita, but you will get probably just as good results from the rsvp cone, although it will take an extra minute or two of effort on your part to brew. It takes both #4 and #6 filters.

...And single hole drippers typically don't take much technique at all to yield a good cup.

Edit- grammar and such

You should get a basket infuser like one of these:

1

2

These are large enough to let the leaves open up so you can the whole flavor. There are other options such as a gravity steeper or infuser thermoses, but these are a good place to start :)

A reusable filter like this eliminates the waste of the k-cups and allows you to use your own coffee grounds. I personally think it makes too weak of a cup though, considering the amount of grounds in it, especially if you chose the higher volume outputs (8 or 10oz).

Definitely consider buying an Aeropress if you want to experience a huge increase in coffee quality. It tastes a million times better than the Keurig, and are basically the same thing in terms of one cup convenience.

We have a few that are great but aren't made anymore. I think this is sort of the successor:

http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS

I wish they made it with a metal rather than plastic frame, though.

I'm curious about this one--if you try it let me know how well it works:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CO5KQ4O

This'll do ya:

https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-AeroPress-Slimm-Filter-Download/dp/B00SAEX73U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495773082&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=Aeropress+filter&psc=1

It comes with 2, but you'll only ever need one.

Also, if you haven't yet, google "aeropress inverted press" -- it sounds kinda crazy, but you can really see the difference in the flavor oils that make it into the cup. It's up to you to decide if you like it better that way or not, since it's all about flavor, but it's a fun experiment.

Hopefully you find a good coffee maker. You should consider this I have one, and it is amazing! Plus its way cheaper.

I haven't tried others, but ended up with the Slimm filter (truthfully, it was because the price was right -- two for $10 -- and the reviews were decent enough).

It's been pretty good. I don't have issues screwing on the cap or anything, and the edges aren't particularly hot when I go to remove the bottom and release the puck. I do brew with an inversion, so the only heat the filter really gets is when the coffee is passing through (and it's cooled down from the initial 200ish by that point).

It is a little bit more work than the paper, but the coffee is clearer and with the paper, I would occasionally get grounds in my cup.

Some of them are like that. I use ones like this because I find them easier to clean.

They're great.

I would highly recommend buying one of these though for those times when you do want fresh coffee, and for anyone else wants to use one:

http://www.amazon.com/Keurig-K-Cup-Reusable-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000DLB2FI/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375287013&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=refillabl+k+cup

I 100% advocate the pour over method. This is the best way to make one custom cup of coffee. You put it right on your cup and fill it to where you want it filled. Most delicious.

French Press is a bear to clean. It has to be broken down completely every 3 days to remove rancid coffee oils. It requires preheating the press pot. If you want simple, it's not FP. FP requires work and attention to very specific details. My FP setup looks like a meth lab with thermometers and beakers and such.

For simple, go with a pour over. Get a nice porcelain model and a box of #4 paper cones. Should run less then $20. Grind the coffee, pour into filter, add water. Cleaning? Throw away filter. Done. If you want to upgrade it, replace the paper filters with a #4 permanent filter for less then $10

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Frieling-C104943-Porcelain-Coffee-Filter/dp/B001B194FY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1302118746&sr=8-10

For a grinder model, the Capresso Infinity can be had new for $90 shipped. I've had mine for 6 years and still use it for FP and pour over. But in reality, pour over is extremely forgiving. If you really REALLY wanted to go cheap, even a whirly blade grinder would give results superior to a lot of sludge out there.

It depends on the packing - if you tap it on the counter to settle the grounds in and fill about 3/4 full (doesn't it have a 'fill to here' line in it?) then that should give you more than brown water.

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/ekobrew-stainless-steel-elite-k-cup/s100225?a=1552
That's ridiculously expensive but it's all steel and looks like it'll brew well.

I actually have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW but it has a screen on the sides and bottom, letting the water flow out barely touching the grounds. I added some tinfoil inside to force the water to stay in the cup a few milliseconds longer to get better brewing.

I had a similar debate with myself when I was in a rut with my Melitta brand 1cup cone (small a hole in the bottom - impossible to alter brew times effectively). Luckily, I had a $3 plastic generic "Melitta" cone (like this one, might be exact same but was cheaper in a store near me https://www.amazon.com/HIC-Coffee-Filter-Number-2-Size/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=pd_sim_79_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MV4E5QM7CJ2NAYRV9AXD) to try first and I think it's comparable to beehouse results. Have had some absolutely stellar brews that are in the same league as some of my favorite Kalita brews. In the end I stopped short of getting a Kalita because this plastic 'beehouse'/Melitta could take any (Edit**: could take the commonly available wedge) filter but was also as damage-proof as a Wave (and was cheaper/I had already bought it). And I'm confident with the same dialing in effort and grinder quality you can get equivalent cups.

Just my two cents - I'm always up for saving them!

You can buy refillable cups on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1425495809&sr=8-5&keywords=refillable+kcup

Use in my 2.0 and it works great. Has two bright neon orange stickers that attach on top of the cup that trick the 2.0.

> So I fill a mug with however much water I want to use (about 3/4 full) I pour this into a kettle and boil.

Once boiling, I add my measured kratom out (anywhere between 5-10grams) and swirl it around to mix it.

Then I set it back on the stove on low-medium heat (3 on my stove, simmering) for 10 minutes.

While this is happening I set up said mug with one of these on top (something like this below)

https://www.amazon.com/HIC-2662-Coffee-Filter-Number/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1537229608&sr=8-17&keywords=pour+over+coffee+dripper

with a filter that fits that (normal coffee filter?) and after the ten minutes is up I drain the kratom/water mixture through that.

After about 5 minutes of letting all the liquid drain through, i push the rest of any remaining liquid through by pushing a spoon on the filter. I kind of wrap up the filter so as not to get any kratom powder in the mug, press liquid out with spoon.

Then I add some ice cubes and I drink! My SO works at a coffee shop, which is why I had the pour over thing handy. It might seem like a lot, but it really is easy.

Hope this is helpful!

I do it the same way using one of these and a gold tone filter. I don't know if it's 'the best' way, but it works great for me.

Personally, I use one of these when brewing my tea.

I have 2 "favorites" (read: can't afford to try past what I already own) teas that I typically drink, which is Irish Breakfast and Cocomint (which is a rooibos, so I'm not sure if it can actually be called tea). For what teas you should go for, it would help to know what your tastes are (this can be considered a catch-22 as you can't really know what you like/don't like until you've tried it).

Are you looking for earthier teas, caffeinated teas, black tea, green tea, red tea, etc?

One suggestion I can offer is to find a local tea house. The one near me offers really cheap cups of tea which allows you to sample many teas in a relatively short amount of time. Plus, if you do find one tea you really like, they will most likely be able to offer up other flavors that are similar (kinda like the Pandora of teas!).

I like the EkoBrew reusable k-cup ($8 on Amazon here). Just buy whatever coffee you like and save money!

The lightest weight approach I've found is a pour over and a mini grinder. I found many of the pourover setups to have stiff elements that make packing them difficult. I've also found that most grinders are actually quite bulky (in fact, I returned the GSI JavaGrinder as I found it to be HUGE). The best selection I found was:

• Porlex mini mill (same as what /u/brett88 suggested). It's minimal, it creates a really great, adjustable grind, and it's made out of stainless steel (outside) and ceramic (grinder) http://www.amazon.com/Porlex-Mini-Stainless-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0044ZA066
  
• Cuissential SlickDrip Pourover. This collapsible pourover cone is entirely silicone, so it folds up in a snap and you can stuff it just about anywhere. http://www.amazon.com/Cuissential-SlickDrip-Collapsible-Silicone-Dripper/dp/B0051HEFAS/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1395682135&sr=1-5&keywords=cuissential

It's not Tassimo, but I use Keurig's refillable k-cup at home. I looked up "refillable tassimo" on Amazon and they had a few options, but I have no idea if they'll fit your pod. Most of them work great.

My husband prefers CTC assams so he uses this one. I also use it for my rooibos teas.

In my office where I have a smaller pot with a large opening I use this one that floats. At home I mostly use this one. It has larger holes but is much easier to clean than the mesh one. It fits the mouth of most of my tea pots.

I use one of these : https://smile.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/

and I just put it in a disposable coffee cup to catch any drippings between steepings. That way it doesn't sit in a puddle of liquid, and after I clean it out at the end of the day, it has space for air to circulate and properly dry out.

But if you want something nicer, a dark coffee cup would be better.

A reusable K-Cup filter, filled with good, fresh ground coffee from your favorite roaster! You can get a small hand-cranked grinder if you want to kick up the freshness factor.

I'm making a pot of coffee right now, though I'm probably only going to have a cup or two. So much coffee is going to waste! That's why I have a refillable cup for K-Cup Brewers on my wishlist. It's only $5! I have a Keurig, but the K-Cups can be so expensive.

As for a song suggestion, First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes.

Thanks for the contest!

I have a 3-liter pitcher that I fill with ground coffee and water. I filter it into another container with a filter like this: https://www.amazon.com/Medelco-Cone-Permanent-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000TCZRKW/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1542767070&sr=8-10&keywords=metal+filter

Total investment about $5 and tastes fantastic. One doesn't need special gear for cold brew coffee :)

The virtual machine interprets the game disc's machine code (now present as a game ROM) at runtime, but the virtual machine already has prepared translation pathways (from specific 64-bit addresses of the ROM code to software interfaces for rendering graphics or rendering sounds) based on the coding and compilation of the virtual machine to the operating system API's. This is why emulators can be OS specific. If they aren't OS specific, then they've been packaged with pre-compiled libraries for Linux API, Mac OS API, and Windows API.

As an abstract principle, the adapter pattern can be applied to any advance preparation of compatibility between two mechanical interfaces, not just software-to-software interfaces. If you buy a special coffee grounds container that allows you to use your own ground coffee in a Keurig K-Cup brewer, then consciously or not, you're relying on the adapter pattern. Or even a special USB to [Ethernet adapter] (https://www.amazon.ca/Cisco-USB300M-Linksys-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B001NLV4TQ). There are hardware to software interfaces (e.g., firmware and/or operating systems) and hardware to software interfaces (e.g., TCP/IP, I²P) as well.

I use a 64 oz Mason jar, have a reusable coffee filter that fits in it, and then rough grind some beans about 1/2-3/4 way up the filter. Fill the jar with water and let it soak in the fridge for about 24 hours. I've seen some people say 12 hours, but that was pretty weak tasting, and that's coming from someone that does not like strong coffee. I once forgot about it for 48 hours and that was pretty strong.

I bought something similar to this.

Nice, I'll have to check those out.

Best coffee I ever made with an Aeropress so far was a Gesha I ordered from Bluebottle....so smooth....but waaaay too expensive to do all the time :P. We have a local roaster here that does a decent job...it's fun using different techniques with the AP...one thing I'd recommend (besides a decent kettle if you don't already have one) is little containers for the filters. I grabbed some really cheap 2.5 inch tins containers from Amazon for the task. I'd avoid spending money on a reusable filter at first...and perhaps look into one that is part of the end-cap rather than a loose one as one thing I hated about using a loose metal filter is I'd constantly accidentally pop it into the trash. Hope you enjoy it!

edit: built in filter cap for later on :). https://www.amazon.com/Fellow-Pressure-Actuated-Attachment-AeroPress-Espresso-Style/dp/B079YBT2LJ

This strainer basket is the cheapest, easiest option. This infuser cup is a little more attractive and also easy. Then you just need tea, there are many great options on the vendor list on the right.
Edit: If you want to invest more, and in my opinion get more out of the experience, you could buy a gongfu tea set. This video explains tea brewing and gongfu. Yunnan Sourcing sells all the pieces of a gongfu set for good prices, but there are many other sources.

Upton Tea Imports is super cheap, US seller. They got a huge selection and quality range.

Upton is cheaper than Adagio - a quick look comparing Adagio's cheapest black, it's $8 for 3oz vs Uptons 4.4oz for $5.80 to $7.40

I do rec buying a bunch of samples first, about everything has a 12g sample to try out, then next size is the 125g/4.4oz

edit, then yeah, get an in mug infuser, Finums are cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ and hyjack a tin/tupperware from a dollar store to put the bag of tea in. Or put $20-$30 towards a travel tea tumbler.

So the Melitta filters that are "Natural Brown" ones I should avoid? Any chance you got a link on the ones you recommend? Also, this Medelco GF214CB #4 Cone Permanent Golden Coffee Filter (http://www.amazon.com/Medelco-Cone-Permanent-Coffee-Filter/dp/B000TCZRKW/ref=pd_bxgy_k_img_z) is recommended by Amazon under the "Frequently Bought Together" part with the Clever. If I bought that do I still have to use paper filters? Should I even worry about getting that or just stick with the Melitta's?

I have been using this one and the mesh is amazing, no dust or anything getting through, and it is easy to clean.
http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452869656&sr=8-1&keywords=brewing+basket

Hot coffee over ice gets oxidized and bitter tasting, unless iced thoroughly and instantly (look up japanese iced coffee)

Cold press is where it's at. Get a couple of these: https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Coffee-Filter-Pouches-2-pack/dp/B00QG1Y18E

You literally just put ground coffee in the bag, put it in a large container of water, and let it sit for 12-24hrs. Take them out and you have magnificent coffee that is strong and has super low acid content.

Ok cool. Here is what I ordered, a 3 pack...fine, very fine, and mesh.

[stainless steel filters ](3 Pro AeroPress Stainless Steel Filters by Corretto Coffee - FINE, ULTRA-FINE & MESH + Brewing Guide - Reusable, Permanent, Paperless, Premium Metal Filter Set for AeroPress https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C94E17C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6TqIybJQW8XCH)

I recently purchased this metal filter. The best I've seen out of these metal filters so far. Also, this grinder lets me get the most consistent grind for my money. I can't afford a fancy grinder and with this one, my aeropress, and a cheap scale, I can consistently make a fantastic cup of coffee no matter where I go.

Many of us use something like this. I drink enough tea that it is way more economical to buy loose leaf and I can get any tea I want and have control over how I brew it with nothing getting in my teeth at all. I don't doubt that there are good bagged teas out there but I just don't think they are going to be better than the loose leaf I can get at a much more reasonable price per gram. And I do believe that there are teas that are loose leaf that are, to my palate, of higher quality than what can be found in bags at a grocery store. But I do grab bagged tea for vacation etc. and I certainly don't wrinkle my nose or sigh and exclaim how I wish I didn't have to drink this stuff. I like Twinings bags etc.

A better option is getting a pour over or French press coffee maker. Metal filters for the pour overs work great, and let some oil through.

What tea have you had before and liked? Maybe I can give you some recommendations. I did my first order from adagio and rather liked it. Adagio is a good first website, as it does a good job making all the types of tea not seem overwhelming.

In order to start brewing, you're gonna need a way to heat up water, a brewing vessel, and some leaves. The way to heat up water can be as simple as the microwave or as complex as a zojirushi water dispenser. I'd recommend a stove-top kettle with a food thermometer or a variable temp electric kettle. As for the brewing vessel, it depends on how many people you're brewing for. I would recommend starting with a cup infuser like this, but there are plenty of ways to brew tea. And the leaves can be bought in many stores online or in person. If you're lucky enough to live close to a tea shop, I'd advise you to take a trip over, but I'd probably avoid teavana until you know a little more and can avoid their sales techniques.

Aeropress is good, however I think the best way is one of the over the top rubberized ones. You just put it over the top of a cup, drop in a filter , and put your grounds in. I have one of these I use when I'm camping but I know I've seen some silicone ones as well out there just can't remember where:

HIC 2662 Coffee Filter Cone, Black, Number 2-Size Filter, Brews 2 to 6-Cups https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XhqYAbK11QJ9Z

For single cups, I use one of these. I'm very happy with it. It allows the leaves to float freely when steeping, then I just pull the filter out and the leaves are removed from the tea.

I like the Able Brewing DISK for Aeropress

(The FINE DISK, I liked less, fwiw)

It will cost you but this will allow you to get a lot of Crema, I highly recommend!

Fellow Prismo - AeroPress Coffee Maker Attachment https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079YBT2LJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vba8CbC5346PJ

http://www.amazon.com/Finum-63-421-50-00-Brewing-Basket/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1394140218&sr=8-32&keywords=infuser

This one is cheap and really easy to wash/use and pretty big!

Not OP but I use a coffee sock (basically this kit: https://www.amazon.com/CoffeeSock-ColdBrew-Reusable-Organic-KIT64/dp/B00L7478JE/) and it works great.

I'm not big on tea balls, I prefer a nice tea basket.

Adagio is a pretty solid tea site. I used to get Mighty Leaf (a local place sells it) until I read about Adagio on Reddit.

The fix for expensive cartridges, and a solution to use your favorite fresh ground coffee beans. I make a mug full every morning and that's it. For this purpose it's incredibly quick and convenient.

I use, and really like, this brewing basket. I like it so much in fact that I keep one at home and one at the office. I'd be curious to hear other's thoughts on it, as I've only recently begun getting into drinking tea. Finum Brewing Basket

Agreed on the Finum. It's great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=twister_B07F4K3HXJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I've used something like this with filters and pre-ground coffee:
http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Filter-Medium-Coffee-Maker/dp/B001S353EQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409065942&sr=8-1&keywords=1+cup+drip+coffee+maker

I'm a coffee snob most of the year, but I converted to instant coffee for backpacking for the weight savings and love it.

This looks identical to the Finum basket which is five bucks cheaper on amazon. I highly recommend it. It's the best infuser I've tried and I make loose tea every day.

Edit: Just weighed mine. 1 oz. with the top, 0.65 oz. without.

Eko-Brew K-Cups are great if you're looking for a fresher solution. http://www.amazon.com/ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW

They let you put your own coffee into a K-Cup and brew that.

Everyone keeps saying aeropress, but I think that's overkill. Here's a really good review of a lot of the options: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/coffee_beautiful_cup.html#.U1E-2fldWSo

I just started using the MSR filter basket. I just make cowboy coffee and filter out the grounds. It takes a little practice to get it exactly how you like it, but it makes really good coffee for basically no size or weight penalty.

So you might just want to get him one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I68NCS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E58P81E/ref=aw_wl_ov_dp__9?colid=2DI74ENVN0D46&coliid=I2UYONSJDFZ9IF

Able metal aeropress filter. $12.50. Lucky number 13! Mine too :) same for 23.

Save yourself some money up front and get an electric kettle and a Finum basket filter. Focus on what really matters - the tea. Here's a sample pack for you that gives a nice overview on tea styles.

Do you 'true-flat' filters or the 'flat-cone' (the ones you linked to)?

Anyways, I'm not sure of anything that find your needs perfectly. Perhaps you could get a huge Melita cone and place it on top of the Chemex (or fashion a home-made lid that'd make up any difference)

Edit: Here is a photo of two options that could also work for you. Not nearly as pretty however. You could of course place the included carafe aside and just use the pourover over a Chemex

Edit 2: Here is a #6 cone sold by itself

This one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0721RVRYN

Mason jars come separately. I got a 12-pack of 32oz jars from Target for something like $15.

Cleanup is only slightly troublesome. What I do is take a paper towel, hold it over the mouth of the filter, then hold the filter upside-down under a trickle of water to catch the lion's share of grounds. Towel+grounds go into compost, and then whatever little remains in the filter just goes down the drain as I rinse it more strongly.

The coffee itself is pretty smooth, albeit a little muddy at the bottom.

I must concur. I starting using at home as well since it makes consistently great coffee.
Also picked this up http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVTQHVC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just got mine a couple of weeks ago and love it. The big advantage is you can do 'full immersion' (leave the grounds to steep for a minute). Without this accessory, you have to do this upside down maneuver that fell apart and coated my counters in wet grounds on several occasions.

> I can make it ANY strength i want (you know, meaning it wont taste like flavored water). And i can use any coffee bean i want in the entire world to make it. None of these ring true for the Keurig.

I can too with one of these, most of us use these.
http://www.amazon.com/Ekobrew-Refillable-Keurig-Brewers-1-Count/dp/B0051SU0OW/

Takes 30 seconds to make a cup, not 5 minutes.

Fits my Mason perfectly and two lasted two years!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QG1Y18E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

So on my second set; all I use, and use it a lot!

Ima leave this little hack right here for Hario:

Skerton Owners

Mini mills go here

That will improve your consistency. A lot.

Something that is becoming more common is the 'filtering out your fines and / or post grind rinse' . THis is something the last Aeropress winner stated they did to eliminate the dust that mucks up the cup.

Get a 250 micron screen (I use an Aeropress and the steel screens made for aeropress can do the trick. If you are brewing anything but espresso , get the NORMAL. For espresso maybe you get the superfine )

NORMAL

http://www.amazon.com/Able-Brewing-DISK-AeroPress-Espresso/dp/B00E58P7ME/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1413122354&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=steel+screen+aeropress

SUPERFINE

http://www.amazon.com/Filter-AeroPress-Ultra-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B00A1GVVMY/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413122354&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=steel+screen+aeropress

and press some COLD water through your freshly ground coffee .

That gets rid of a lot of the fines and that dusty crap you end up with regardless of how good a grinder you use - 10% of your mass is little more than dust, get rid of it so it's not being brewed and you will notice a difference.

Just saying - for the folks that measure grams and temps, this is worth a try. See what you see. For the folks already rocking an Aeropress + steel screen, it's a no brainer.

Hope this helps.

I've heard that, in terms of quality, the [Able filters] ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58P81E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_OyAdAbF4QCHC0) are the best.

I believe these are stainless steel and they have two fine options. The standard one (I linked) and Ultra-fine. I'd suggest getting both, because the coarser one makes a cup more similar to French press while the finer one makes a unique cup that only the Aeropress can really achieve.