Coffee beans lifespan

Gryzor

Hi all

looking at getting going down the grinder and french press route at the moment. I like my coffee but might only drink one or two cups at home on weekdays, so i'd say i'd be slow going through the beans???

once a bag is opened, how long do they last, how are they stored etc??

RE*AC*TOR

It depends on how fresh they are to begin with. I'd say 1 250g bag would last you between 1 and 2 weeks, which is perfect.

I'd generally keep the beans in whatever bag they came in, but put that bag into an airtight mason jar (at room temp) once opened.

They will of course last longer than a month, but within 2 weeks of roast is generally the peak.

Mr Magnolia

Coffee beans are available normally in 250g bags. A 3-cup french press makes about a mug of coffee and takes about 4/5 level tablespoons of ground coffee. This is equal to roughly 25g, can anyone confirm this exact figure? At one cup a day you'll only have a 250g bag open for 10days. You'll have no problems with freshness. I'd throw the whole 250g bag into the hopper of the grinder and forget about it until it runs out.

Freshly roasted beans generally de-gas for up to 8 days. It will start to deteriorate after this slowly.

Gryzor

cool, thanks lads....

now to go shopping

Mr Magnolia

Which grinder are you thinking about?

Gryzor

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

Which grinder are you thinking about?

Was looking at the Iberital MC2, advised by your good self on another thread, although any other suggestions welcome. Is there much of a difference between the auto and the non-auto models in the MC2??

Mr Magnolia

Gryzor wrote: »

Is there much of a difference between the auto and the non-auto models in the MC2??

What does the 'auto' refer to?

Gryzor

linkage

it shows the 2 models on this page, and has one as an auto??

This seems to be the differance:

The MC2 auto really shines when used in the 'home user' scenario. This machine does not have a dosing hopper on the front, it has a shute, this eliminates the need to grind more coffee than is needed. No more coffee left to go stale in the dosing hopper !

not 100% what theat means exactly??

Mr Magnolia

It's refering to the dosing chamber on the front of the grinder.

The doser has advantages and disadvantages. It means that ground coffee will sit and go stale unless you go through the pain staking task of cleaning it out after useage. It's main advantage is that it breaks up clumps.

Clumping won't be a worry for a french press grind so I'd recommend the doserless model. I'd actually recommend it for espresso applications too.

Gryzor

nice one, sounds good to me

thanks for all the info

Mr Magnolia

No probs. As Gran Hermano said on that other thread you may need to mail Steve or call him to place the order as the site doesn't seem to want international business, he does though. Sound bloke he is.

Gran Hermano

It's Scott in happydonkey - I think I was responsible for the original typo
confusing him with HB's Steve last year !

eclectichoney

Mr Magnolia wrote: »

A 3-cup french press makes about a mug of coffee and takes about 4/5 level tablespoons of ground coffee. This is equal to roughly 25g, can anyone confirm this exact figure?

Uh oh, I've been using 21 grams (in homage to the film ) - next time i'll give 25g a shot so, or more accurately a 'press' Thanks Mag!

RE*AC*TOR

7-8.5g per 125ml is the typically accepted range.

I use 250ml water in a 3 cup french press, which equates to 17g of coffee (at the 8.5g level).

Mr Magnolia

By all means vary your amount and try the result, I couldn't remember the recommended quantities when I posted that earlier eclectichoney. RE*AC*TOR's post details the generally accepted detail for the best results

RE*AC*TOR

Different coffees benfit from different ratios of course. What I indicated is just a guideline, with everything in coffee, let your tastebuds guide you.

Grind dose, grind coarseness, brew temp, steep time - all variables.

eclectichoney

Thanks guys - I love the way it's perfectly acceptable to get ridiculously anal over 4g of coffee on this forum

ch2008

Sometimes its 0.4g! If you are going to get a cafetiere i'd advise on picking up a few three-cup cafetieres from tk maxx.they only cost about 8 euro there and not only do they give great results,they're also really good for experimenting with different doses and variables.its also more suitable for making coffee for one. also,if you have an eight-cup,everyone will end up fighting over who gets to plunge,this way everyone gets to do it!

eclectichoney

ch2008 wrote: »

Sometimes its 0.4g! If you are going to get a cafetiere i'd advise on picking up a few three-cup cafetieres from tk maxx.they only cost about 8 euro there and not only do they give great results,they're also really good for experimenting with different doses and variables.its also more suitable for making coffee for one. also,if you have an eight-cup,everyone will end up fighting over who gets to plunge,this way everyone gets to do it!

Thanks a mill ch, but I've got one already so it's ok (a nice bodum columbia actually!).

awww I'm the only one who drinks coffee so I never get to fight over the plunging

IsThatSo?

eclectichoney wrote: »

Thanks guys - I love the way it's perfectly acceptable to get ridiculously anal over 4g of coffee on this forum

a home away from home

Mr Magnolia

eclectichoney wrote: »

Thanks guys - I love the way it's perfectly acceptable to get ridiculously anal over 4g of coffee on this forum

Yup, love it :-D

the coffee forum.