PanHandler wrote:

"Sawney Beane" wrote in message
...

I heated two cups to a boil, stirred in case there were cold spots,
and brought it to a boil again. I poured it into my French press,
which is thin glass, from about four inches higher. In the stream,
my probe read 206, which would be 201 F. Pouring took three or
four seconds. Immediately, the water in the press read 197, which
would be 192 F.

Why the 5º discrepancy? Also, your elevation above sea level determines the
boiling point. It's 212º at sea level, and becomes lower with elevation.

You're right, it should be 6 degrees. In boiling water, my
thermocouple says 217 F. I'm at 600 feet, so, assuming normal
barometric pressure, my boiling water was probably 211.

I figured the best way to keep brewing water near boiling was to
boil it in a pan on medium heat, turn off the electric burner, stir
in the grounds, and cover. I tried it this morning. I found the
flavor similar to that from my aunt's stainless percolator.

Percolated coffee ain't the best by any means.

It was about as good as coffee made in a clean stainless pan.

My neighbor would agree with you about percolated coffee. If I
make coffee for him, I must follow strict instrutions. It must be
made with 3-1/3 tablespoons of coffee and 12 cups of water in a
10-cup drip brewer. The filter cup, decanter, and hot plate must
never be washed. I must not sample even an ounce before the
dripping is finished because it will be too stout.

His wife, who used to manage a restaurant, established the recipe.
She hates coffee.


Later I tried my usual method with pyrex, a plastic filter, and a
ceramic cup. The coffee had the delicious nutty flavor I'm used
to. Somewhere I've read that if you've been cutting onions,
rubbing your hands on stainless steel will deodorize them because
the nickel is a catalyst. I think contact with stainless steel
makes coffee less tasty to me. That may include the screen in my
French press.

I've never looked into that concerning coffee, but I do know plastic louses
it up.

I'm sure I'm using coffee-grade plastic.