Days like these call for coffee, and lots of it. Hot steaming mugs of caffeine to take away the chill and grey.
Oh who am I kidding. I’m a pure and simple caffeine addict. I need at least two cups of strong, stand-your-spoon-up-in-it black coffee before I can function properly. Which brings about it’s own problems of the first-world kind.
I get up around 5:30am to head to the gym, so I can make myself a coffee to sip on the way in a travel mug, which is great for a kick start, but by the time I’ve travelled to the gym, and done a work out, the coffee is barely warm and I’ve wasted half of it.
Over a week that’s three mugs of coffee tipped down the sink.
Thermos, however, are promising to come to the rescue, with their latest range that promises 24 hours of hot coffee.
To prove it, on our arrival at The Foundation Coffee House, we were presented with a flask that contained, we were assured, had been made that morning. Though you can’t tell from the picture (photographing steam is rather difficult) the coffee was hot, pleasantly so, and though it was late in the evening, I poured a second just because.
To help us make the most of the flask and travel mug, The Foundation Coffee House were on hand with fresh coffee and a range of contraptions for us to make it with.
And with that came my confession, two of those little pieces of kit, I have at home. And if I can manage them, anyone can.
Our first demonstration was with an Aeropress. This works in a similar method to a cafetiere, but is usually used to create a single cup of coffee. It also involves a lot less washing up which is why I favour it.
The chaps used what is known as the inverted methods (i.e. upside down) which I have tried, and failed with. It involved a lot of mess and me with a very cross face. It works for some, but not for me with my clumsy manners.
For those curious, there’s a video of the ‘normal’ method here, and one of the inverted method here. Both admittedly look a little more fiddly than they are, but I promise once you’re used to your coffee of choice and how strong you like it, it becomes second nature.
The Aeropress creates a very clean coffee, both in colour and taste.
The second method was the one I use at home, the V60. This is even easier to use than the Aeropress and just as easy to clean (if not easier still).
As you can see, it involves your mug (or jug if you’re serving more than one person), a filter paper, your V60, some coffee and water. It’s no wonder I use it for my first-thing-in-the-morning-dear-god-where’s-the-caffeine coffee.
For those curious to see how easy it is, there’s a video here. Again, once you’re used to how you want to brew it, you can do away with scales and timers, and you can do it in your sleep. I almost do.
Of course, Foundation don’t just have those two methods for making coffee, and were happy to show us two of their siphons that can be used. As a geek, they are things of beauty, but for practicalities, not worth the effort. Indeed the chaps at Foundation will happily tell you that their method of choice is the V60.
But the siphons are pretty.
Coffees and methods compared, we were sent home with a travel mug and a suitable breakfast nibble (Granola for me thank you) to try it out for ourselves.
I all but raced home, and made coffee before bed so I could really test it out.
The next morning, I checked my flask before I headed to the gym. My coffee was hot, delicious and gave me that kick up the backside I needed. I decanted some to my travel mug for the gym.
Later still, after I’d done an hour’s class, washed and changed, headed to the office, and put my face on, it was time for breakfast. And yes, in that mug is the second half of my mug of coffee, still piping hot, still tasty and I no longer have to waste caffeine.
And the flask? Yes, that evening, my coffee was still piping hot and delicious. So much so, I had a few mugs in the evening while I cleared an email backlog.
Admittedly, the travel mug is more likely to find its way into my handbag than the flask. The flask holds over a litre, so is perfect for taking soup to the office, or out on an adventure. The mug, keeps your drink warm for around 5 hours, and seals completely, perfect for me, so I can almost throw a brew in my handbag and head out.
I feel a coffee coming on….
