Decaf pre-ground issues

[carina]

Hi all, I purchased some beans from a roastery and included some decaf for some visitors who dont like caffeine after a certain time of day..anyway I got it pre ground (have Lelit Combi) and it must be too coarse because it just pours out. Tried tamping quite hard which barely helped - is there anything I can do except bin it?

[Dennis]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

Use it in a plunger/french press. Not ideal as far as grind is concerned, but if the quality of the beans and roast is good you can still make a nice coffee with it.

[carina]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

Dont have either of those....would it work in a stovetop?

[Fresh_Coffee]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

If it has supposedly been ground for a pump driven espresso machine but turned out to be too coarse for that, then in theory it could be close to a stove top grind.

Try it and see, and adjust your technique to suit once youve run the first pot through.

Rgdz,
A.

[jamesfleming]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

Your going to find it virtually impossible to get good extraction using preground coffee in an espresso machine. The band for the right grind for espresso is very narrow and varies greatly between machines (and baristas), it will also need adjusting as the beans age. Denniss advice is good, a french press (or stovetop) will be much more forgiving.

Decaf is also notorious for its short shelf life, even as whole beans, so preground is probably best avoided. Why not buy beans and grind yourself, since your machine has a grinder?

[carina]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

Thanks all. Getting rid of the decaf and will get some beans and grind a small amount to use when we have people over so it stays reasonably fresh. Best i can do for those who dont want "real" coffee.

[Fresh_Coffee]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

Sorry but to keep any coffee beans or ground in the cupboard simply on the basis of or on the off chance that someone drops in and wants decaff, is to shoot yourself in the foot. This is because you would need to keep freshening up your supply of beans say for argument sake every two weeks, and chuck the old stuff whether it had been used or not otherwise it just wont make a palatable coffee the older it gets.

Unless you happen to have a reasonably constant turnover of decaff, if it is only going to be used sporadically and in small amounts it would be better to keep a jar of instant decaff in the cupboard for those that want it.

Rgdz,
A.

[ahighstead]

Re: Decaf pre-ground issues

You could always use it in cooking once it gets to needing to be refreshed - many lovely recipes out there.
Good quality decaf still makes a pretty rad tiramisu (and heaps of other delicious desserts!) without the unwanted "squirrel effect" at 12 am. :P