Coffee in India: Does it get any better than this?

kristinm

K block... near where those 2 Cafe Coffee Day's are right opposite eachother - I think over the road from Picadelhi (or whatever its called) and then around the corner (to the outside of CP not the inside) and along a bit...on your right... Philips I only remember seeing in Mumbai, I'm sure not Delhi....

Aishah

Thanks kristin! Will look out for it next time (April)!

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"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Boomer

Hi we tried to get to Visak in Oct 07 but i messed up with the visas, stressful at the time but had a wonderful two week honeymoon in Sunny Sumerset and she did not go on about how I got the visa thing so wrong, but Visas are here now and we will be in Vizak in April, looking forward to Coffee, I used to order Breakfast Coffee, and Filter Coffee would arrive, We chose october because I have been before in Oct, I imagine April may be a little warmer, its bloody cold here so the change will be good.....

snonymous

Hello Boomer
April in Vizag infact in all of Andhra Pradesh is hot as hell, although you can certainly cool off at the beach. Filter coffee is best in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka so I hope you are not disappointed in AP. Vizag is the gateway to the very pleasant ARaku valley. You can take a train to best enjoy the scenery. Dont miss the Borra caves en route. The Araku road goes all the way to Jagdalpur in neighbouring Chhatisgarh. This is also a very forested and scenic tribal area to explore - if you do go, just check the news to ensure there is no Naxalite insurgency problem in the area. Enjoy your trip.

SFtoBLR

Please try a vacuum brewer if you can find one (this one is way over priced, but the best pic):
http://cgi.ebay.com/OLD-GLASS-SILEX-...cmdZView Item

They are still sold in Japan and France, and died out in the US after WWII. You put the water in the lower bowl to boil, fresh ground in the top. A vacuum forms and the water is pushed up into the top bowl to mix w/the coffee at the correct temp. The time it takes the liquid to cool enough to be "pulled" back into the bottom is the correct amount of brew time.

Makes the perfect cup of coffee, and it's like watching a science experiment every time you brew. We'll be bring a stainless model with us. Does anyone know if you can get a good grinder in Bangalore? Burr, not blade.

Can't wait to visit a plantation or two - thanks for posting the links all!

rebeccam

Very tempting: the perfect cup of coffee--sounds wonderful.
i'd break that kind of contraption in about a day--don't have good track record with glass! Even the Mr Coffee brew pots end broken up in the garbage, chez moi.

Anyone have a Nespresso machine? First saw it in Paris. makes foolproof awesomely wonderful espresso, quite easily.

(Hope you three can come to the meet up next week. it'll be my first with IMers!@)

PeakXV

Yes - those vacuum coffee pots do a great job! It's probably got to do with the heat seperation from the bean and the bubbling aerating of the finished product at the climax of the brewing process. You can find them cheap if you look around .... Here is a used/retro unit that looks good.

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We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

SFtoBLR

The glass can be a problem. Ships in WWII would carry a large number of bottom parts and 5x that number of top pieces! If you want to by one on ebay make sure the rubber part is soft and makes a tight seal - won't work otherwise. We collect and use them daily, and my kids friends were always fascinated when we made coffee - you do need a glass version to see the show.

We have several stainless or aluminum versions we take camping. They do impart a slight metallic taste that no one but me seems to taste, so you might try that if you're concerned.

What killed them I think is the rubber shortage in WWII (the glass seal versions don't always make the airtight seal needed) and the post WWII American fascination with "faster, easier and disposable is better", a real shame as the coffee is truly superior. Sunbeam produced a few electric models into the 50's, but that didn't last long. Charbucks did put out a lexan electric version a few years ago, but it disappeared pretty quick, it didn't work well anyway.

PeakXV

Wouldn't one of those caffeine intravenous thingies be lighter for the trail and there is a Coffeeholics Anonymous you know.


..... maybe I should sign up.

wonderwomanusa

I only drink coffee when I'm at my busiest, and use a cheap aluminum Italian-style espresso pot that works on the same principle as the Chemex and Silex. I use Bustelo (Cuban style espresso) in it; this is widely available in the Mission District. Nothing like a good cup of coffee!

SFtoBLR

Peak - if you invent one I'll be 1st in line for product testing!

snonymous

Well, every one has their own tastes and preferences. Ive tried percolators. In our family, we prefer the strength and flavour of an espresso type brew, but with hot milk and sugar - South Indian style. Of course you need best quality well roasted coffee beans to start with. Cant start my day without it.

SFtoBLR

These are vacuum brewers, not like percolators at all. The difference is greater than the difference between Kraft Mac & Cheese and the real thing! Do try one if you get the chance.

snonymous

Will do.

Scandojazzbuff

I take it your aware of the correlation between aluminum and Alzheimer's. Most of the manufacturers of these stove top aluminum espresso makers now offer them in stainless steel. Then again, you may dismiss this as another bit of 'old wives' lore if you think I'm being overly paranoid.