![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 22 of 22. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 17:57:49
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah I have been hearing about Canadians and their filtered coffee... That isn't so big over here.
>
Oui! It's big over here, but not with me.
I had a press cafe but it broke.. and I have not been able to afford another.
At least I assume you're speaking of that alternative..If not and you're talking about brewed..
Well that just can't be.
My dad makes brewed coffee in an 8 cup coffee brewer, with ONE tablespoon of coffee, and he only ever has milk powder in his house..
I find it funny now.. I'll probably remember his coffee forever, And his saying "What? there's nothing wrong with that coffee" Which has now become a standard joke between us.
Posted by gardenergirl on August 28, 2005, at 18:17:33
In reply to Coffee - Alexandra K, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 17:57:49
I think my mom and your dad learned how to make coffee at the same place.
bleah!
gg
Posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 18:34:25
In reply to Coffee - Alexandra K, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 17:57:49
Ew.
I was never that keen on instant but I've managed to find a pretty good freeze dried instant variety.
Plunger coffee is okay... You can get flavoured ones. Toffee rum is my current favourite :-)
I guess we do plungers and instant at home. Some people have espresso machines but I haven't managed to get one yet. And they aren't anything like brought ones anyways.
When you buy coffee... Espresso's are standard. Then they turn them into short blacks / long blacks / flat whites / latte's etc.
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 18:46:00
In reply to Re: Coffee - Alexandra K » Gabbix2, posted by gardenergirl on August 28, 2005, at 18:17:33
> I think my mom and your dad learned how to make coffee at the same place.
>
> bleah!
>
> gg
Hell?
Posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 19:12:15
In reply to Coffee - Alexandra K, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 17:57:49
I’m embarrassed to say I make terrible coffee. I make the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted. Many people have tried to teach me but unless I’m being closely supervised I get it hopelessly wrong.
Cup of tea, anyone?
Posted by 10derHeart on August 28, 2005, at 19:16:55
In reply to Re: Coffee - Alexandra K » gardenergirl, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 18:46:00
Posted by 10derHeart on August 28, 2005, at 19:20:52
In reply to Re: Coffee, posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 19:12:15
Wellll, I like tea sometimes...but tell ya' what, let's just meet at my house, okay?! (Eeek...that means I'll have to clean up...!)
...'cause I make killer coffee and have several flavors to choose from at all times.
Each of us has our gifts, right? :-)
Posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 19:49:26
In reply to Re: Coffee » Tamar, posted by 10derHeart on August 28, 2005, at 19:20:52
> Wellll, I like tea sometimes...but tell ya' what, let's just meet at my house, okay?! (Eeek...that means I'll have to clean up...!)
No need to clean up for me! Your house can't possibly be worse than mine!
> ...'cause I make killer coffee and have several flavors to choose from at all times.
Fantastic! I love coffee; I just can't make it. What kind of flavors?
> Each of us has our gifts, right? :-)
I think we might have some gifts in common, like an eye for a good, er, inuendo... :-)
Posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 20:14:53
In reply to Re: Coffee » 10derHeart, posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 19:49:26
Uh, why can't you make it?
What kind are you trying to make?People are horrified if they watch me make them a cup of tea.
If they don't watch me make it they don't complain though.
I know you aren't SUPPOSED to squash the tea bag - but can anybody really taste the difference?????
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 20:17:51
In reply to Re: Brewing in hell - LOL, Gabbi! :-) (nm) » Gabbix2, posted by 10derHeart on August 28, 2005, at 19:16:55
I like knowing when I make people laugh,
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 20:20:42
In reply to Re: Coffee » Tamar, posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 20:14:53
> Uh, why can't you make it?
> What kind are you trying to make?
>
> People are horrified if they watch me make them a cup of tea.
>
> If they don't watch me make it they don't complain though.
>
> I know you aren't SUPPOSED to squash the tea bag - but can anybody really taste the difference?????YES! It makes the tea bitter. And if you put milk and sugar in it I can tell if you put it in after you poured the tea too, and I don't like it so much.
Now, for a long time people told me that it was a petty affection of mine. HOWEVER. . ahem
I found out that the reason is, if you put the tea in first, the milk is scalded and it alters the flavour.
Posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 20:34:20
In reply to Re: Coffee » alexandra_k, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 20:20:42
> > I know you aren't SUPPOSED to squash the tea bag - but can anybody really taste the difference?????
> YES! It makes the tea bitter.Can you actually taste that???
If so... Then you would be the first person I have met :-)>And if you put milk and sugar in it I can tell if you put it in after you poured the tea too, and I don't like it so much.
Hm. Thats interesting. I think I can taste the difference in coffee depending on whether the milk goes in first / last too... But it might be my imagination...
> Now, for a long time people told me that it was a petty affection of mine. HOWEVER. . ahem
> I found out that the reason is, if you put the tea in first, the milk is scalded and it alters the flavour.Ah. I have heard divergent opinions on whether milk is supposed to go in before / after water with respect to coffee making...
Some say that it should go in last. The hot water scalds the coffee so it releases its flavour. (Good thing)
Others say that it should go in first. The hot water scalds the coffee so that makes it bitter. (Bad thing)
I dunno...
Hadn't heard that about the milk.
I guess that makes sense :-)
Posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 21:03:00
In reply to Re: Coffee » Tamar, posted by alexandra_k on August 28, 2005, at 20:14:53
> Uh, why can't you make it?
> What kind are you trying to make?Any kind. I can’t make any kind of coffee. If I make real coffee I always put too much water in it and it’s weak. If I make instant coffee I can’t get it to dissolve properly.
But I have strong views about making tea. I don’t agree with people who object to bag-squashing. I think they object because the bag might split. I’m not convinced it alters the flavour. But I don’t do it because I know exactly how strong I want my tea and bag-squashing usually makes it just a teeny bit too strong.
And as for the milk… I suspect this talk of scalding the milk is the stuff of myth and folktale. What difference does it make whether you add milk to tea or tea to milk? How could one be more likely to scald than the other? The only reason to put the milk in first (as far as I can see) is if you live in a cold climate and use antique cups that could be damaged by boiling water. Surely all right-thinking people put the milk in afterwards (ideally after removing the tea bag) so that they can judge exactly how much milk is necessary according to the strength of the tea! If you put the milk in first you might put in too much or not enough; if the tea turns out to be stronger or weaker than you expected, you’re b*ggered.
But for you, Gabbi, I’ll put the milk in first if you really prefer it that way…
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 21:31:25
In reply to Re: Coffee, posted by Tamar on August 28, 2005, at 21:03:00
>
>
> > Uh, why can't you make it?
> > What kind are you trying to make?
>
> Any kind. I can’t make any kind of coffee. If I make real coffee I always put too much water in it and it’s weak. If I make instant coffee I can’t get it to dissolve properly.
>
> But I have strong views about making tea. I don’t agree with people who object to bag-squashing. I think they object because the bag might split. I’m not convinced it alters the flavour. But I don’t do it because I know exactly how strong I want my tea and bag-squashing usually makes it just a teeny bit too strong.
>
> And as for the milk… I suspect this talk of scalding the milk is the stuff of myth and folktale. What difference does it make whether you add milk to tea or tea to milk?No, there is plenty of science to back me up here, though I won't bother with links, there are many.
The reason is quite simple. If you pour the tea slowly onto the milk, first bit of tea will warm up the milk, and prevent the sudden temperature change that leads to scalding. It's really the same reason some recipes will call for pouring a hot liquid very slowly into the other ingredients, stirring all the while. The equivilent of that, in "Proper English" tea pouring is to move the pot up and down while you pour, to make air bubbles. I don't do that unless i'm only in the mood for a good cup of tea. But anyone who knows me, knows that adopting a meaningless "proper" way of doing something, just isn't something I'd do.
And if you can't taste the difference, well it doesn't matter, it's been proven that some people have taste buds far more sensitive to subtlety than others.
Posted by Tamar on August 29, 2005, at 9:02:50
In reply to Re: Coffee » Tamar, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 21:31:25
> The reason is quite simple. If you pour the tea slowly onto the milk, first bit of tea will warm up the milk, and prevent the sudden temperature change that leads to scalding. It's really the same reason some recipes will call for pouring a hot liquid very slowly into the other ingredients, stirring all the while. The equivilent of that, in "Proper English" tea pouring is to move the pot up and down while you pour, to make air bubbles. I don't do that unless i'm only in the mood for a good cup of tea. But anyone who knows me, knows that adopting a meaningless "proper" way of doing something, just isn't something I'd do.Interesting about the milk! And I never knew that was why people moved the tea pot about while pouring. Well, it's always nice to learn something new.
> And if you can't taste the difference, well it doesn't matter, it's been proven that some people have taste buds far more sensitive to subtlety than others.
Yeah. And I smoke so I undoubtedly have an imparied sense of taste.
Must go find my tea pot...
Posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2005, at 9:45:34
In reply to Re: Coffee » Gabbix2, posted by Tamar on August 29, 2005, at 9:02:50
I was told that the reason to add the milk first to a cup was so if the milk had gone off, you wouldn't have wasted an entire cup of tea on it. Harkens back to the days when tea was as valuable as salt and sugar in a household, and kept under lock and key.
Least, that's what I was told when I lived in England.
ClearSkies
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 29, 2005, at 10:03:40
In reply to Re: Coffee » Gabbix2, posted by Tamar on August 29, 2005, at 9:02:50
>
>
> Yeah. And I smoke so I undoubtedly have an imparied sense of taste.
>
> Must go find my tea pot...Funny, I was just going to post that now I've been wondering if the whole difference isn't perhaps that I just take more time with everything when I do it properly, and maybe it has nothing to do with when I put the milk in.
I'm going to have to see if I really can taste a difference. I'll need a friend and a blindfold
(And obviously I also need more to do with my time : )
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 29, 2005, at 10:09:33
In reply to Re: Coffee and now tea?, posted by ClearSkies on August 29, 2005, at 9:45:34
> I was told that the reason to add the milk first to a cup was so if the milk had gone off, you wouldn't have wasted an entire cup of tea on it. Harkens back to the days when tea was as valuable as salt and sugar in a household, and kept under lock and key.
> Least, that's what I was told when I lived in England.
> ClearSkiesYeah another thing that's also said is that people did that because the old porcelain cups would crack if you just pour straight tea in first. According to my British Boss, you have to put it in first and "make it bubble as you pour" That's where I found out it tasted different.
I think it could be that originally all was true, and people also found out that it tastes different.
I know if you put cream in last with coffee, often you'll get floaties, because it scalds the cream. You can't tell that way with milk unless it's full fat.
I've often thought I had rotten cream until I learned that..
So there is a difference, whether or not people prefer it one way or the other.
Posted by Nickengland on August 29, 2005, at 13:02:46
In reply to Re: Coffee and now tea? » ClearSkies, posted by Gabbix2 on August 29, 2005, at 10:09:33
Posted by rainbowbrite on August 29, 2005, at 14:56:21
In reply to Re: Coffee » alexandra_k, posted by Gabbix2 on August 28, 2005, at 20:20:42
>YES! It makes the tea bitter.
It does! very bitter.
>And if you put milk and sugar in it I can tell if you put it in after you poured the tea too, and I don't like it so much.
Ive never noticed if I can tell if milk was poured before or after tea BUT I can tell if milk was poured in while the bag is still steeping - yuk!
Posted by Gabbix2 on August 29, 2005, at 17:02:20
In reply to Re: Coffee » Gabbix2, posted by rainbowbrite on August 29, 2005, at 14:56:21
> >YES! It makes the tea bitter.
>
> It does! very bitter.
Crushing the leaves in the hot water releases more of the acid, some people like it that way, not me though.>
> Ive never noticed if I can tell if milk was poured before or after tea BUT I can tell if milk was poured in while the bag is still steeping - yuk!Oh I hate that too! Or when the restaurant gives you water that might have been hot enough for tea about 10 minutes before and then they bring it with the bag beside the pot, for some reason you talking about the milk reminded me of that..
maybe cuz it's YUK!
: )
Posted by rainbowbrite on August 29, 2005, at 17:51:54
In reply to Re: Coffee » rainbowbrite, posted by Gabbix2 on August 29, 2005, at 17:02:20
> > >YES! It makes the tea bitter.
> >
> > It does! very bitter.
>
>
> Crushing the leaves in the hot water releases more of the acid, some people like it that way, not me though.me either, I have overactive taste buds :-)
>
> Oh I hate that too! Or when the restaurant gives you water that might have been hot enough for tea about 10 minutes before and then they bring it with the bag beside the pot, for some reason you talking about the milk reminded me of that..
> maybe cuz it's YUK!
> : )Oh I know! That is yucky
I do love those restaurants that know to bring an extra steaming hot side of water with the little tea pot so you dont have to wait for ever for a refill :-) although Ive only experienced that a couple of times.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Social | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.