Coffee fanatics unite! This episode is dedicated especially to that enchanting morning elixir. We demonstrate our best quick-and-easy coffee-making method on the air, and share a favorite coffee-centric dessert. Plus, a visit to indie Indy coffee roaster couple Blue Mind Roasters and a special giveaway.
How to Make Coffee with an Aeropress
Mocha almond fudge vegan ice cream
Peppermint ice cream and hot chocolate affogato
Local craft coffee at Blue Mind Roasting
The inspiration for the business name? Alexi Murdoch’s song: Blue Mind.
Want an Aeropress coffee maker? Enter to win or order one.
Enter to win the giveaway!
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Thanks for listening to the A Couple Cooks podcast :)
58 Comments
Bridgette
April 13, 2016 at 9:17 amWonderful article and interesting tips on coffee making…Thanks a bunch
Doug Fellegy
April 13, 2016 at 9:19 amYes! Love your ideas here!
Nina at FocusedonFit.com
April 13, 2016 at 9:49 amCan’t wait to try an Aeropress! Seems like a great Mothers Day gift!!!
Lindsay
April 13, 2016 at 9:49 amOn Sundays I wake up early before my kids and enjoy a hot cup of coffee…usually while reading blogs!
Rachael Mathews
April 13, 2016 at 10:04 amOne of my most memorable coffee experiences was a cup of espresso outside, at a cafe across the street from our hotel, when my husband and I were visiting Prague. It was a cool (but not cold) morning, and the coffee was the definition of perfection – bold, smooth, aromatic, and comforting. Been trying to recreate it ever since!
Very curious about the aeropress! Love dabbling in different brewing methods! Great post!
Joe Shoemaker
April 13, 2016 at 10:09 amFrom one coffee snob to another…great work! I need to have you to my place for a cup…or three. ;)
Laura Sessions
April 13, 2016 at 10:28 amI am looking forward to trying an aero press! I love coffee and look forward to this new method. I have a cup every morning while it’s quiet in my home before my kids wake up! One of my favorite parts of the day!
Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb
April 13, 2016 at 10:36 amI am used to the French press, so I would definitely love to try the aero press…it looks fun to use :)
Maisie Greene
April 13, 2016 at 10:45 amThat was great. We’ve been trying to master our coffee game for a while. I’m really interested in trying this. If heard of them and been eyeing one for awhile.
My best coffee experience was going home from college and I sat out early one morning with my mom on her back yard looking at the garden and drinking a cup from the French press she had just made and feeling so happy to be home and in her presence.
Louise
April 13, 2016 at 11:03 amI love the idea of trying new ways to drink coffee! Thanks for the opportunity!
Kristin Roberts
April 13, 2016 at 11:09 amNice job! I am fascinated and looking forward to stepping up my coffee game. I would love to to try the aero press!
Jillian
April 13, 2016 at 11:10 amLove hearing about other coffee drinkers’ routines!
Janice
April 13, 2016 at 11:18 amLove the slow process of making coffee in the Chemex. So nice.
Veronica
April 13, 2016 at 11:45 amGreat episode! Lots of inspiration for a fellow blossoming coffee snob and it was interesting to learn about the aeropress!
Eileen Dagenhart
April 13, 2016 at 11:45 amMy morning begins around 7:30 am eastern time. Can’t wait for my organic coffee dark roast 2 cups then at 3pm usually decaf . Love the down time to sip and read my fb pages. Thanks for all the great info I gleaned .
Thia
April 13, 2016 at 11:57 amEnjoyed the podcast, guys. It was nice to actually hear your voices. It will add another dimension to your blog posts for me. Now I will actually HEAR you when I read. Gives me a better feel for who you are. Cool.
Not sure what my “best” coffee experience has been, but it was a great pleasure for me to find a little, cozy coffee shop -called Panacea – tucked away in a small mountain town (Waynesville, North Carolina) that roasts their own beans in small batches, much like Blue Mind. I stumbled in one day, drawn by the smell of roasting coffee, and it immediately became “home base” for me to do my morning coffee and journal ritual. I even felt so at-home there that I eventually began to bring some of my creative work and set up at a table on the patio during slow hours. And…..MMMM, that dark roast coffee, with just a splash of half and half, to take the edge off and add richness to the smoky tones…MMMM!
Katie
April 13, 2016 at 12:12 pmI’ve had some great coffee experiences, but my first affogato experience was within the past year and it was AMAZING. Ice cream + espresso = Yes.
Betsy
April 13, 2016 at 12:46 pmTo me, coffee is one of the greatest pleasures on Earth. Probably my most memorable experience was when I went to New Orleans and made a trip to Cafe Du Monde. There I had cafe au lait with beignets, and it was divine.
Kendall
April 13, 2016 at 1:37 pmMy New Year’s resolution was to up my coffee game. Thanks for the informative episode!
Chris
April 13, 2016 at 2:08 pmMy favorite coffee experience is roasting a small batch and brewing in my French Press Pot. Amazing!!!
Chris Whonsetler
April 13, 2016 at 3:07 pmThanks for sharing your experiences with coffee, my fav is also Guatemalan (Ethiopian is a very close second)! My best experience was traveling down to central Guatemala and drinking freshly grown/roasted coffee straight from a friends farm :)
Elise Gahan
April 13, 2016 at 3:15 pmThe best cup of coffee I think I have had was in Chicago at Bow Truss. So smooth and delicious!! I live in Bloomington and LOVE Hopscotch here too!
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
April 13, 2016 at 3:25 pmLoved this ep! I think my uncle kind of got me hooked on coffee (or I should say espresso, actually) when I was kind of young by ordering me a cappuccino at his local coffee shop. I got hooked on espresso as soon as I stepped foot in Rome in college, because drinking an espresso was the first thing I did. I’m still not a black coffee drinker, but I’m fascinated by all of this third wave coffee stuff.
Question – which hand grinder do you guys use?
Alex
April 13, 2016 at 3:36 pmThanks! We use this guy: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Skerton-Storage-Capacity/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1460576147&sr=1-4&keywords=hand+coffee+grinder it takes quite a bit of muscle, but it’s cheap and consistent :)
Sara @ Cake Over Steak
April 13, 2016 at 4:23 pmThanks! How does that compare to an electric burr grinder? Is it the same quality but cheaper since you’re going hand-cranked? Or would an electric burr grinder still get you a better grind?
Alex
April 13, 2016 at 5:12 pmMy understanding is that they will give you pretty much the same result — probably slightly more consistent on a nice electric grinder.
Laura
April 13, 2016 at 4:24 pmMy favorite coffee experience is a cold coffee concentrate made by New Orleans Coffee Company called CoolBrew. It’s absolutely delicious and it’s so hot in New Orleans I can’t drink hot coffee during the summer without almost melting. I think the experience of sitting at Café Du Monde, drinking coffee, and eating beignets is a quintessential New Orleans experience, but I don’t actually care for their coffee.
Katharine
April 13, 2016 at 4:25 pmI was never into coffee until I went to Ethiopia last year and was introduced to how wonderful it can taste, especially when the beans are roasted and ground right in front of you. Ever since then, I have been on a quest to find something that comes close to what I had over there, but without much luck. Would love to see how the Aeropress measures up!!
Jaselle
April 13, 2016 at 6:03 pmMy best coffee experience was when I tride french press for the first time. My mind was blown!
Janet T
April 13, 2016 at 7:04 pmI feel my best coffee moment is starting each and every new day with a cup,
Aaron
April 13, 2016 at 7:10 pmMy favorite coffee moment was the first time I really nailed a roast on my moddified popcorn popper. It had lovely body, a blueberry aroma, with a great dark chocolate finish. I love this little bean.
Barbara McCrary
April 13, 2016 at 9:44 pmLove visiting NY and finding a quaint little coffee shop. Nothing beats it!
Emma Blanche
April 13, 2016 at 11:49 pmOne of my favorite coffee experiences was trying Turkish coffee for the first time! Trying coffee roasts and techniques from all over the world is a joy.
Lori
April 14, 2016 at 9:05 amA really good cup of coffee is like a warm hug….(written as I drink my new favorite which is a spoonful of Coconut Coffee (CAcafe) and a little half and half to French Roast.) I need to try the Aeropress!!
Joanna Grabarek
April 14, 2016 at 9:41 amEnjoying a cup of coffee on the front porch (morning or evening) is my favorite! Oh, and Sumatra from AG Coffeehouse :)
Beth
April 14, 2016 at 11:57 amFor me, anytime the Chicago weather is warm, meeting up with a friend for coffee and sitting outside is the best thing. Also the donut shops here all have great coffee like Dark Matter or Heritage – can’t beat it.
Caitlin R
April 14, 2016 at 6:45 pmMy favorite coffee moment is every weekend when I can slowly enjoy my brew, instead of gulping it as I do during the work week. I would love to have an aeropress!!
manda overturf
April 14, 2016 at 8:00 pmMany of my first dates with my hubby were at coffee shops.
Jessica
April 14, 2016 at 10:32 pmWe’re French press people as a rule. But I love pour over! We are big fans of small batch roasted coffee and we try a lot of different roasts. There is even a good roasting community in Toledo, Ohio. This is a great podcast! I love it!! yayy third wave coffee like fine wine!
Dag
April 15, 2016 at 9:19 pmLike you, the best coffee I ever had was in Europe, Belgium specifically. Probably because I was used to drinking drip coffee and over there when I ordered a coffee they’d serve up an Americano. And nobody takes it to go.
LynneT
April 15, 2016 at 9:29 pmMy best coffee experience was many years ago when at a buffet in Atlantic City. They had the most delicious coffee I had ever had before (or since then). I don’t know what brand it was or how it was brewed, but it was just really good.
Andrew Minion
April 15, 2016 at 9:31 pmMy best coffee experience: a friend gave me some solar-roasted coffee—slow and low temperature. That made the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.
Catherine
April 18, 2016 at 12:19 amCoffee is so comforting in the morning. It reminds me of the precious time I had at home with my mom before anyone else was awake. It felt as if we shared something special. It still is the best coffee to me whenever I visit her.
Natalia M
April 18, 2016 at 10:42 amIt’s really hard for me to pick one great coffee experience, because simply I can’t live without my coffee. I do make sure that everyday I is a good coffee experience, my everyday starts with a pour over, it’s my daily ritual. Coffee is one of those things that I can’t imagine cutting out, and the only thing I always justify splurging on. I’m lucky that one of the best coffee roasters in the country is right in my city, Madcap Coffee in Grand Rapids. Each unique coffee variety is roasted to perfection that brings out the unique flavors, no two coffees are alike. What makes it even better is that it’s sourced directly from farmers, who are paid well for their hard work, so I feel even better knowing that I’m supporting some hard workers. The odd time I enjoy going out on a coffee date with my husband, but most of the time I look forward to brewing my own cup every morning (or two in a chemex.) My husband and I now both have grinders, tea kettles, and pour overs in our offices, to make sure we have great coffee experience everyday. I have yet to try an aeropress, maybe that’s what will change my life forever. Who knows.
Kelly
April 19, 2016 at 10:21 amMy little brother gave my a Chemex for Christmas years ago, and I love that I think of him every time I use it. It’s a part of my coffee ritual that reminds me to be grateful!
Monique
April 19, 2016 at 4:31 pmI love starting the morning with coffee. We have two little ones and no matter how tired I am, I make a point of getting up early before they wake up so I can savor a cup of coffee in quietness. It is a wonderful way to start the day!
Robert Pope
April 20, 2016 at 1:32 amWonderful Podcast, I think I will become regular listener!
Corcoran
April 21, 2016 at 11:35 amWere a military family and coffee is a staple in our house – loved the podcast and would love to give the aeropress a try!
Jasmine
April 21, 2016 at 11:37 amMy most memorable coffee experience is when my brother got his hands on his first espresso machine and we put together a soy latte. It wasn’t good (AT ALL haha), but we worked so hard on it. spilled a ton, did not know how to work the grinder, but most importantly, had so much fun!
M Bustillo
April 21, 2016 at 11:42 amCan’t beat home made cold brew on summer mornings before heading to lab (I’m a grad student) – so easy to roll out of bed and pour a mason jar full :)
Quinn
April 21, 2016 at 11:43 amMy most memorable coffee experience was this past fall when I visited Lassen National Park in California with some friends. We sleepily stumbled outside of our tent to discover the most incredible view of the mountains. There was nothing better than a steaming mug of camp coffee to make that morning even more amazing.
Chris
April 21, 2016 at 11:45 amI love a good almond latte with a little vanilla. Can’t beat that to start the day each morning
Lisette
April 21, 2016 at 12:00 pmMy best coffee experience had to be at this little cafe in Baltimore. It was so good, and so unassuming. Living in San Francisco, there’s a lot of hype behind coffee shops, but none have been as good as that little cafe.
Molly Herbolsheimer
April 21, 2016 at 12:45 pmMy favorite coffee moment happens every Thursday morning during Donut Day. Each Thursday my kids and I pick out donuts and sharing them with friends while drinking coffee together and talking about life and chasing toddlers with frosting covered faces.
Caitlin
April 21, 2016 at 1:29 pmMy best experience was just walking in San Francisco and randomly finding a little coffee shop.
Rebecca Nudelman
April 21, 2016 at 4:50 pmMy best coffee experience was walking into my friend’s roasting shop near a university track in Tamsui, Taiwan. Gary, the owner, has lived in the apartments above the shop since 1976 and after breaking his finger caused him to step away from his job as a surgeon in the ER, he developed a deep love for coffee. Him and his wife invested a lot of their savings into the highest quality imported raw beans, roasters and espresso machines around the world and he does everything himself by hand in the shop. Their place is a place to sit around and drink pourovers together and the only cost for the coffee is good conversation. They are hat passionate about sharing good coffee with the community. So not only is the coffee the best quality roasted coffee in the area, but the company and conversation is always passionate and welcoming. Coffee is meant to be savored and shared!!
Christina
April 22, 2016 at 1:39 pmMy best coffee experience was learning how to drink coffee while studying abroad in Madrid. Since then, I have been trying to find coffee to match that feeling I got every time I got a cup while there. Any suggestions?
Colleen
April 23, 2016 at 11:40 amBecause of you and your podcast, I now own an AeroPress. I recently needed to eliminate caffeine from my diet and I needed a separate coffee making system from my caffeine consuming husband. I had bought a very simple system, but the end result was not ideal. Walking down the coffee aisle at our local food co op, I saw the AeroPress. Sold. I love your podcasts and the recent, “coffee lovers only”, was perfect timing.
I made my very first cup this morning. The directions in the box were a bit confusing, so I went back to the podcast and show notes for some expert advice. Wala, perfect cup of coffee. Thanks!