Best way to bring fresh coffee to the office

[Dieter01]

The coffee at work is horrible! The last few months I have been brewing a fresh pot each morning that I bring in a thermos instead. I share with my colleagues - enthusiastically telling about the origin, degrees of roast, grind quality etc. We try to compare with what we had yesterday. Sometimes they laugh at me, sometimes they laugh with me, but its all good fun and everyone enjoys the coffee It's usually gone within an hour or two.

Problem is though, it doesn't taste like it does fresh off the pot (or french press). My thermos is a good stainless steel type that one a few consumer awards for retaining heat etc. I keep it clean by using espresso cleaner quite often. It still tastes like thermos coffee..

I am not allowed to place a drip coffee machine in the office but there is semi-hot water available (its better than hot tap water but not close to boiling, I will bring a thermometer tomorrow to measure).

What should I do? Are there other types of thermos available? I have a Bodum pavina cappuccino glass with the double sided wall which I love. Is there a thermos with that type of "technology"?

What if I grind before I leave home and then make a french press once I arrive (an hour later with the semi-hot water)?

[cannonfodder]

I use to use the microwave to boil some water and made a press pot. Then I gave up and brought a grinder and espresso machine to the office and put it in my office.

You could try bringing in one of those electric water kettles and heat water in it if you do not have a microwave in a break room, but if you cannot have a drip pot than they probably would not allow an electric water kettle. Tell them it is for heating water for soup so you can work more efficiently and not leave for lunch.

[ppopp]

I think communism started with bad coffee at work

Seems to me you need to do your brewing at work, one way or another. Grinding at work would be best, but bringing in fresh-ground from home would be almost as good. You need to solve the hot water issue. If a kettle or microwave aren't possible, perhaps you can bring the hot water in with your thermos, and then brew the coffee at work. I have a single-cup Melitta pourover brewer that I use at work, and it's great for single cups. Easier cleanup than a french press too, IMO, and no sludge in the cup.

You can keep your water hotter in the thermos by filling it with boiling water and letting it sit for 5 min. (with the lid on), and then dumping it and refilling with fresh boiling water.

[Cathi]

How about an aero-press and a hand grinder? Or a Chemex if you want to serve more than one?

[Dieter01]

I have measured the water temp, it is better than expected. After pouring the liquid into a styrofoam cup it reads 190 deg F, or 87 deg C. Not sure how much it cools down from this, but 2-6 degrees is probably not too far off.

I will try the french press on Monday!

(still, does Bodum offer a thermos built like their Pavina glasses? )

[roblumba]

One thing I frequently do is make an extra double shot when I first wake up and have my usual double shot. Stick the extra double shot in a small glass jar and put it in the fridge until ready to go to work. Before leaving for work, throw the double shot in a thermos with some cold milk and a little vanilla syrup and you have a nice after lunch coffee drink.

Aside from my morning coffee, this is often the only other coffee I would have until perhaps coming home in the evening.

[jesawdy]

(still, does Bodum offer a thermos built like their Pavina glasses? )

A traditional glass walled thermos is probably a bit better than most stainless ones, at least I would think so. However, they are fairly easy to break .

[quiltmaster]

How about an aero-press and a hand grinder? Or a Chemex if you want to serve more than one?

I just couldn't get good coffee from the Aeropress. Mine was pure Dennys. Wish I could figure out how to use it. I did love the simplicity and the form.

[timo888]

If you fill the thermos with boiling water, let it sit, and then dump it, and then refill it with boiling water, you have the best chance of getting hot water.

Pre-heating the french press at work by filling it with hot water and emptying it, before filling it with brew water from your thermos, will help.

Finally, find some coffee that does well at lower temperatures. Here in the States, TerroirCoffee recommends ~194°F for their roasts whereas other roasters recommend ~202°F with theirs.

Regards
Timo

[Cathi]

I just couldn't get good coffee from the Aeropress. Mine was pure Dennys. Wish I could figure out how to use it. I did love the simplicity and the form.

Sorry that you were disappointed. I got one for my husband for his office and he really enjoyed it. Did you try alternating the water temperature or grind?

[Bushrod]

Just had two amazing days with this setup. Lem Butler's espresso blend FTW!

(Sorry for the poor quality!)

Yes, I am suddenly very popular!

[DigMe]

My favorite way to bring coffee to work is in my stomach.

Just had two amazing days with this setup. Lem Butler's espresso blend FTW!

(Sorry for the poor quality!)

Yes, I am suddenly very popular!


<image>

Interesting. I was curious as to the quality of grind with those grinders. How do the shots and the grind compare to your Rocky?

brad

[jmcphail]

What grinder is that? Looks interesting!

[Bushrod]

It's this one:

http://www.espressoparts.com/prod...rinder__Large.html

I'm still dialing it in and I'm far from an expert but I really like it. It can choke my Elektra.

Like I said, I'm far from an expert so I can't really compare with Rocky. For a work situation, it works really well.