Aningan: I know GOG has members from all over the world and I was curious of how coffee is brewed in different parts of the world. Of course I don't mean using an espresso machine.
I know in some parts even the material from which the kettle is made is important. So, how do you make your coffee? What blends/brands do you use?
Here in China people typically don't drink coffee, or if they do it's the instant stuff.
Back home I've grown rather fond of Toddy. It's a cold brew form of coffee that takes about 13 hours to brew a batch, but from there you can either add hot water for hot coffee or ice and milk for cold coffee. It's great because it lacks the bitterness that you often times find in hot brewed coffee and it means you can get a cup of hot coffee in barely any more time than a nescafe stick.
The link is very similar to the process I go through. It's a bit of work up front, but the results are worth it, especially if you like iced coffees. I think most decent coffee shops do something similar. (Read, not Starbucks)
http://www.equalexchange.coop/how-to-brew-toddy JaqFrost: Come to Vietnam: smooth silky coffee with a soft aroma like none other. :) I tend to skip the condensed milk, though -- too sweet, but in summer it's a nice treat over ice.
Before I moved here, I lived in China and it was all 3-in-1 instant Nescafe coffee sticks and the cheapest coffee maker I could find for purchase was RMB 800.
lowyhong: I would
kill for a serving of coffee from Vietnam. I took Vietnamese 1 during one semester, and we had a social gathering comprising of local and Vietnamese students, as part of a culture-learning experience. One of the Vietnamese teachers brought coffee she brewed herself.
That was the best coffee I'd ever tasted!
I might be able to arrange that. I've got a friend going to Vietnam in January. I'm not sure what the import and export requirements on coffee are. But I might be able to arrange it.