Keeping The Coffee Fresh

I'm very grateful for all the gifts of American coffee I've gotten over the years, especially since I no longer go to the states. I must keep them as fresh as possible after opening. I saw that the tabs just didn't do the trick, even though instructions say they should.

As you see, I added a simple clothespin to keep the bag closed.

Even though we have a clothes dryer, I rarely ever use it. I have 20 meters of clotheslines and lots of clothespins.

American Ground Coffee in Israel, Where?

After years of filling my suitcases with American ground coffee before returning home from the states and having friends and family bring me more, I just heard that there is at least one store here in Israel that sells it.

Photo by Ruti Eastman

My friend Ruti not only insisted that her local grocer in Neve Daniel, Gush Etzion, sells American ground coffee, she later sent me a photo of the shelf. Of course, it's almost double the price it would cost in the states, but carfare is cheaper than the flights...

Does anyone know where else they sell Folgers here in Israel? Since it's available here, I'd try the Kroger, too.

Even though it cost lots more per 100 grams than in an American supermarket, it's very similar to what the custom-ground coffee cost me here in Israel. And as you know, I'm not very satisfied, to say the least, with the various coffees I've bought. And if anyone can get the importer's info, I'd like to try to get my local stores interested, too.

You Need Coffee #3, Ethiopian Gima

This post is the third and for the meantime final in the series of coffee reviews about You Need Coffee. From the size of the bulk of the impressive bag of Ethiopian Gima coffee, I was sure that I had bought quite a bit of it. A discernible aroma wafted out the minute I opened it, but so did the air. Yes, there was lots of air, too much packed together with the coffee.

Ethiopian Gima coffee served with milk and a bit of sugar

Finally, I realized why their, and other Israeli freshly ground coffee then stored for a few weeks or even days, tastes so disappointing. They make no real attempt to vacuum pack it. Other shops haven't a chance, since their bags are of cheaper materials. But You Need Coffee uses quality bags, and even if the sealing included very low-tech pressing to attempt "vacuum-pack" pushing out all the air possible, the coffee would keep fresh much longer. When I return to the shop, and I probably will some time after the Passover holiday, I will request better bag sealing.

In the meantime, I'll finish what I have and then perk simple Israeli Turkish coffee until after Passover. Gd willing I'll be getting some good American ground coffee from a friend. Then I'll even be able to "cold brew" coffee, though I do need a new French Press... but that's another story.

"You Need Coffee" Review Colombian

 Ever since it has opened, I've wanted to get ground coffee from "You Need Coffee." I love the name. It now has two stores both on Jaffa Road, Jerusalem, one near the Municipality and the other across from the shuq. This week I finally bought myself some ground coffee from there, three different ones.

I really must make it clear that I only buy the least expensive coffees available. NS10 for 100 grams of coffee is high enough a price, as far as I'm concerned. I try to always buy the strongest smelling of the least expensive.

Yesterday morning I opened the Colombian coffee. First of all, it was properly ground for the French Press. No powder. But although the beans seemed to have a nice aroma in the shop, it didn't fill my kitchen with even a faint scent. Maybe that's why it's one of the least expensive they sell. In terms of flavor and aroma, nothing here seems to be on the level of the packaged American ground coffee. What can I say, other than that I love the American packaged coffee. Its flavor beats pretty much everything I've bought in Israel.

Unlike every other place I've bought freshly ground coffee here in Israel, at the least the packaging in You Need Coffee is excellent. The other coffees I bought are safely stored.  I'm looking forward to trying them, too.

The staff was friendly and really seems to care about the coffee and customers. Gd willing, I'll be back.

What a Difference 7 Hours Make, Cold Brew Coffee

I didn't get a very early start with today's cold brewed coffee, since I was out all day yesterday and only washed out the French Press late at night. This is what it looked like when I poured simple tap water on the regular American ground coffee. Yes, it looks pretty pale and pathetic. Then I covered it with some plastic wrap and placed it in the fridge. 

About seven hours later I removed it, and look at how dark it got.

After admiring and photographing it, I gave it a stir, pushed down the plunger and am enjoying the coffee as I type this post! That's how easy it is to make cold brewed coffee with a French Press. The hardest part is remembering to prepare it in advance. And for me the logistics of making sure I'm supplied with good coffee is sometimes complicated.  But once it becomes routine, you're set.

PS I noticed that some of the FOX Homes in Jerusalem still have the giant French Press, which they incorrectly call "percolators" for sale half price.

Yummy Strong New Coffee

Dunkin' Donuts ain't what it used to be!

I no longer have to make do with my perked Elite Turkish coffee, at least for the next month plus. A new supply, (two 1 pound bags,) of coffee has arrived from the states via a friend. It was definitely worth waiting for!!

This is not the Dunkin' Donuts I remember. This is a nice strong dark coffee and highly recommended. And it suits the French Press perfectly. I have no doubt that it'll be great cold brewed, too. I wouldn't waste it in the percolator.

‪#‎morningcoffeehaiku‬ Tasty Genre

Yes, I'm still coming up with ‪#‎morningcoffeehaiku‬'s almost every morning. But I must admit that it does get harder. Even if you're not a coffee drinker, you may like them.

Bright morning coffee
My Jewish Birthday today
I must celebrate
#morningcoffeehaiku

Bright Sunday Morning
I need very strong coffee
Waking up is hard
#morningcoffeehaiku

Enjoying coffee
Only a few days remain
Bright summer sun day
#morningcoffeehaiku



Bright morning coffee
French Press coffee stock soon gone
Then will have to perk
#morningcoffeehaiku

Coffee sans sunrise
need to leave early today
so awfully tired
#morningcoffeehaiku

Enjoying coffee
perfect way to start the day
And soon to the pool
#morningcoffeehaiku

Bright blue summer sky
Strong hot wake-me-up coffee
Perfect start to day

#morningcoffeehaiku
woke very early 
saw sun over horizon
drinking my coffee
#morningcoffeehaiku

Too tired to wake up
Last night food too much too late
Coffee to rescue
#morningcoffeehaiku

Super busy day
certainly fueled by coffee
keeps engine going
#morningcoffeehaiku

Enjoy to the very last drop, or granule...

Coffee Saga, Dwindling Stock

This is all that's left of my 3 pound can a friend brought me from Costco. It is good for another day or two, that's barely two months of coffee, great coffee. So it looks like I'll be perking Elite Turkish again. I'll have to restock that, too. And I'll also try some freshly ground Israeli, even though it's ridiculously overpriced and too finely ground.

I wonder if I can "cold brew" Turkish... And then I can pour it through the special coffee filter. OK, bli neder (not a vow) I'll let you know how it comes out.

New Coffee- Post-Passover!

Yes, our house/kitchen is sort of back to normal. Of course there are a gazillion things that have to return to their proper places. A kitchen is a lot more complicated than a dish-drainer. We will get there, Gd willing.

This morning I finally opened a brand new, never tried before coffee. As you can see, it's a Kirkland, extra strong, and even though is claims to be "fine ground," it's a bit coarser than the Israeli "coarsest" and did absolutely fine in my French Press. Absolutely no annoying coffee grounds can be found on the bottom of the mug! And it does have that super-strong "dark roast" flavor, just like the label says.

I'll be enjoying this coffee for a nice while. Bli neder, not a vow, I'll let you know when it's finished.

More #morningcoffeehaiku 4U

#morningcoffeehaiku
"dial" 5-7-5
my morning coffee
keeps me alive!

Yes, especially since we're having one of those pre-Passover rains this morning, it's the perfect time to cheer up with some coffee served with a rising sun and haiku.

First coffee of week
Shiloh bright dawn of new day
Blue, White Israeli!
#morningcoffeehaiku

Drinking my coffee
Learning at Matan today
Trying to wake up
#morningcoffeehaiku 

perked to perfection
Chodesh Tov to all of You
even when still dark
#morningcoffeehaiku

Big Blue Victory!
Sun is happily shining
big blue mug, of course
#morningcoffeehaiku

bright coffee, dull sky
old fashioned one spoon sugar
grape leaves, spring's coming
#morningcoffeehaiku

Perked coffee calls
American stock finished
Also perked is good
#morningcoffeehaiku

combined two coffees
under strong bright orange sun
surprisingly good
#morningcoffeehaiku

Coffee please wake me
Late night after winning game
Thank Gd Lions won!
#morningcoffeehaiku
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI58TQgwTGI

Morning means coffee
even when there's rain outside.
Coffee needs water!
#morningcoffeehaiku

early, no sunrise
coffee from mini-French Press
busy day today
#morningcoffeehaiku

Trying new coffee
totally different flavor
Where's the caffeine kick?
#morningcoffeehaiku

Enjoying coffee
when sun is strong in the sky
Soon will be Shabbat
#morningcoffeehaiku

Laundry in House Day
Can't rely on sun to dry
Always good coffee
#morningcoffeehaiku

Stupendous sunrise
strong, hot, powerful coffee
Thank Gd Almighty
#morningcoffeehaiku

Join me on facebook where I post a new haiku every weekday morning.

Coffee Saga, In Suspense

I'm at the very tail-end of my American coffee, which I use in my French Press, so since I had a bit of time in Jerusalem yesterday, I decided to try to buy some freshly ground coffee.

Maybe I'm crazy, because the last time I bought some it was much too powdery and fine even though I had requested:

"as coarse as possible for use in a French Press"

So, this time I'm pretty sure I went to a different place. Most of the coffees were NS10 ($2.75) per 100 grams (3.5274 ounces). This was at Bashkovitz בשקביץ which is a very well-known and popular coffee and spice store in Machane Yehuda.

I asked for a "sample" to feel, but he refused. Grrr... I really wasn't in the mood to go from place to place, so I asked him to grind up 200 grams of the Kenyan coffee. Then he gave me the bag, and of course the coffee felt much too finely ground, nothing like the American stuff. And I told him that.

"All the Americans come here to buy for their French Press," he insisted.

I hope he's correct about it being the right consistency. It does smell pretty good. I'll probably try another place next time. The Israeli Turkish coffee is OK in the percolator, but with the electric hob we're using now, it takes eons to boil and perk.

Gd willing my new French Press, which has a better filter/press will make a difference and the coffee will come out well. I will let you know, so in the meantime we're all in suspense.

Recommendations accepted, thanks.

Trick to Speed Up Perked Coffee

As many of you probably know, I've been making my morning coffee in a French Press of late. I have a stock of American coffee, which brews great in it. The French Press doesn't give you a really hot cup of coffee, which doesn't bother me all that much, since I don't drink or eat anything super hot. But I really think, there should be thermal or even electric French Presses to provide nice hot coffee, especially for those of us who make a double or triple batch to get our inner motors functioning in the morning.

My old fashioned classic stove top percolator makes a really steamy cup/mug of coffee and can even be covered to keep hot or just leave it on the stove over a low maintenance heat. But the downside for me now is that I'm using an old electric hotplate type of stove which takes ages to heat up and bring the water to a boil.

So, today I decided to try a trick. I turned on the stove and also boiled up water in my electric kettle. While it was boiling, I put the body of the percolator on the stove with a bit of water. In the meantime I put the Turkish Coffee into the percolator, so it would be ready to quickly be assembled. Once I had boiling water,  I poured it into the percolator, assembled all the parts and left it to perk. When the absolutely delicious and invigorating coffee aroma reached the den, I returned to the kitchen and poured myself some coffee. Then I left what remained for mug-full #2  on the stove to keep warm. Electric stoves stay hot for quite a while.

I sure enjoyed my coffee this morning.

New Coffee

A friend is my usual coffee supplier and gave me a new one which I just opened a few days ago. It's a brand I've never had, so I was curious to try it.

I had never had Kirkland before. That's the Costco brand. It's OK, but not as strong as some coffees I've had, so I add more to the French Press. It could be that since it's "medium roast" and not "dark roast," it's not very strong.

An extra spoon of coffee does the trick for me. And it sure smells good.

More #morningcoffeehaiku

Please ignore my nails. Don't let them distract you from the great coffee and sunny morning. 

As you must know, I've been haikuing on facebook most mornings about coffee. See #morningcoffeehaiku. These haikus are sometimes illustrated by my coffee, but these photos are from today and were taken for this blog post.

Since I have a nice stock of American coffee, I've been making my coffee in a French Press. And since it has gotten colder, I've ceased making Cold Press coffee. When I have no American stock, or I'm just in a certain mood, I use my Israeli Elite Turkish Coffee for perking in a very classic stove top percolator.

Here are some of my more recent haikus. I hope they warm you and wake you. Enjoy!

a lovely morning
when water is followed by...
coffee, sugar, milk

first sip of coffee 
makes the day really begin
enjoy every drop

coffee and laundry
today's menu is simple
first drink my coffee

Why up so early?
So I can drink my coffee!
Will it rain today?

slept strange dreams last night
water and coffee to clear
now to start the day

hot Friday coffee
made it strong in the French Press
good sipping slowly

perked coffee calling
strong and hot to hit the spot
good morning to all

up very early
drank my water, now coffee
starting new today

Nice Strong Coffee From a Friend

Strong coffee from friend
nice, dark and very tasty
with sugar and milk

#‎morningcoffeehaiku

The friend who was with me when I bought that very disappointing coffee in the shuq was so horrified at the high price, she got me some American coffee that is so strong I need less in the French Press, so it will last longer than even Folgers. It's Italian Roast from a company called freshdirect. Apparently, not only do they have a good coffee selection, they also have lots of kosher food.

The coarseness/grinding of the coffee suits my French Press, which plunged easily. Sometimes, it gets stuck, even though I always give it a good stir beforehand.

This coffee cost just under $11 a pound, which is about NS42. The coffee I bought in Jerusalem was NS12, $3.14 for 100 grams. There are 453 grams to a pound, so if I had bought a pound of the Israeli coffee it would have cost me NS54, if I got it right. But even if it's not all that much more money, the coffee wasn't great.

And, no, I'm not enough of a coffee snob to add bean-grinding to my daily chores. When in New York I stay with people who have a very advanced electric coffeemaker that not only grinds the beans and brews the coffee, but it's on a timer, so it gets done for them rather effortlessly. All they have to do is to set it up the night before.

What I really wanted to blog about this morning was to ask if you take sugar with your coffee or not. Nu, do you?