Update on the Toddy Maker
I previously blogged about our purchase of the Toddy Maker, which purports to cold brew coffee that has less acidity than percolated or pressed coffee. The verdict is in.
I "brewed" thirteen ounces of perfectly good Arabica coffee for twelve hours. Submerging coffee grounds in cold water overnight creates a highly unappealing coffee syrup, which one is instructed to combine with three parts hot water.
If you think this sounds like a recipe for a weak substance that at best approximates coffee and at worst mocks it, you would be absolutely right.
Why didn't I see this coming?
Toddy Maker coffee offers the same satisfaction as flat pop. In its earnest quest to reduce acidity and bitterness, the Toddy Maker extracts everything that makes coffee so magnificently enjoyable. Maybe folks who like their coffee meek and mild would enjoy this. Any takers on the Maker?
In addition to drinking unpalatable coffee-like-substance this morning, we were out of cereal. I get out of bed in the morning to eat cereal and drink coffee. I begrudingly made a piece of toast to accompany my "coffee." The reconstructed conversation that ensued:
Husband: Why are you only having one piece of toast?
Wife: I don't like toast. I've never liked toast. I'm only eating it because we don't have cereal.
Husband: Well... I'm glad you were able to add some bitterness to your coffee.
(I'll go back to practicing gladness & generosity of heart at lunchtime.)
14 response(s):
I have to say, I wondered about that Toddy Maker. Sounded gross from the get-go to me : )
Your exchange with Ben has had me giggling all day. Hee hee.
I haven't responded to your blog in a long time--since you reported Clinebell's death, I believe--but I do still read you. All I can say is: get a Senseo (and not one of the competitors). It won't get you a gourmet Jamaican Blue Moutnain cup, but it'll get you a decent cup of coffee in under 2 minutes. I'm a convert.
hee hee. at least when things go awry, we can blog about them.
Hee hee. Ben is perfect for you. I Hee hee...bitterness...giggle
sorry about the poor coffee maker. however, you and ben make me laugh!
Glad to have found your blog through the RevGalBlogPals. Made me howl. Really, what is the point of a cup of coffee that doesn't bite you back just a bit?
Oh dear. My husband is supposed to drink low-acid coffee to control a bladder condition, but I think he would rather suffer. I've heard that coffee presses make excellent coffee, but they sound too labor and time intensive for me.
Oy! Gotta have my "leaded" coffee in the morning.
I'm really not fussy about coffee makers -- best one I ever owned was a no-brand cheapie that had its own grinder; that was cool. I'd rather pay extra for the coffee...Green Mountain Coffee and Higher Grounds Coffee are two great coffee companies with an emphasis on Fair Trade and organic coffees.
(As you can see, we Lutherans care about our java!)
thanks for all your giggles, howls, and tee-hee's. as i'm beginning to think that the toddy maker is really just a $25 joke, the added laughter makes me feel like we're closer to getting our money's worth.
the senseo sounds interesting & convenient, but i think i've had it with alternative brewing methods. the whole point of this experiment was to be able to get out of our trader joe's low acid bean rut - i'd love to support fair trade coffee, and branch out to flavored & half-caff. maybe i'll just invest in half & half to cut the acid the old-fashioned way.
bad alice, coffee presses aren't any more work than electric coffee makers. you just boil water and let the grounds steep directly in the hot water, and then depress the metal filter thingy.
its been three mornings of coffee-like substance and therefore three mornings bereft of joy. but this afternoon we went to coffee cartel in redondo beach, and i shared some passionate moments with an americano. mmm.
eBay. That's all. Just sell it on eBay. Excellent warning.
yuk
stick to tea dear friend :)
and use the coffee syryp in coffee cake. It'll be lovely there (snigger!)
Oh, you have to get back your joy! You know, there are quite a few providers of low acid coffee these days, I think. I've been looking into it on the IC network, to get a treat for my husband. Unholy expensive, usually.
Also, my husband sometimes uses something called Prelief, which cuts the acid in foods. You take a couple tablets before the acidid food, and it somehow de-acififies them.
I miss Trader Joes!!! There is no Trader Joes in the South. Waah!!
Oh, great spelling in my comment above--please forgive.
Fantastic blog. Ben
coffee makers
Post a Comment