Welcome to the Reference Room

[O. Van Bruce]

WELCOME TO THE REFERENCE ROOM

In this blissful place we invite you to enjoy with us different beverages and relax while reading your favourite VNs. Share with us your tea drinking experiences and blends, bask in the powerful taste of a nice cup of coffee or feel all cozy and warm with some hot cocoa. Any kind of infussed beverages (even mate) you want to share are fine, but tea and coffee will be the main themes of this thread.

Don't be shy and post pictures of the teas and coffees you drink.

Also, let us be grateful to our kind and beautiful host, BEST CLANNAD HEROINE AKA, Miyazawa Yukine.



Official BGM of the thread:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4xE9RHQrXA

[O. Van Bruce]

Rules of the thread

 

 

 

1. No juices or carbonated stuff in this thread, only infussed beverages. With the exception of hot chocolate.

2. Any fights bettwen the Coffee and Tea ganks won't be allowed.

3. The way you brew it is the way you like it. Though there is a theory about how to make tea or coffee, it's not like we are here to enforce orthodoxy. We will provide and encourage users to share suggestions and rules of thumb on how to make teas and coffee taste better.

4. You will worship Yukine as the goddess of this sanctuary

5. You will curse Key for dropping the idea of making her a main heroine

[O. Van Bruce]

About Tea

 

 

 

Here are a couple of stuff you may want to know about tea and how to prepare it and enjoy it:

There are so many variations and combinations that exist that it would be impossible to make an accurate short guide. If you buy you tea from a tea shop, allways ask the clerk about how to best brew it and with which kind of snacks drink it.

Try to allways use filtered or bottled water for your tea, or the particles on the water will change the taste.

- Use a tea pot for brewing the tea; no microwave:

- Use a kettle to boil the water

- Once the water is boiling, pour it on the tea pot and let the water warm it. It's extremely important to warm it beforehand. If not, the water will lose temperature , thus not having the right temperature for brewing the tea. Once the pot is warm, put the water on the kettle and heat it until it boils again

- While the water is on the kettle, put the tea leaves, the blend or the small bags (preferably without any paper or string) inside the heated pot. See below for quantitiy

- Once the water is boiling again, put it inside the heated pot with the tea and let it blend. There is a nice and cute piece of cloth calle "Tea Cozy" that english use to mantain the water in perfect temperature (once again, see below for temperatures):



Once it is brewed enjoy it.

PD: If you want to enjoy your tea with milk or lemon, remember to put those on the cup before the hot tea.

Steeping chart



A few tips:

+ How to get the right temperature:

- 98 C - Boiling Water

- 90 C - Boil the water and let it stand for 1-2 minutes

- 80 C - Boil the water and let it stand for 2-4 minutes


+ Don’t over steep the four teas highlighted in green or they may taste bitter

+ The longer you steep the first infusion, the less times you will be able to re-steep your leaves

+ If you want a stronger taste, add more tea and use the same steeping times above

+ For Iced Tea, double the amount of tea and follow the above chart for temperatures and times. Remember, the ice will dilute your tea.

+ To make Iced tea with cold water, double the amount of tea, cover and leave in a fridge for 4 – 10 hours

[O. Van Bruce]

About Coffee

 

 

The Equipment

Make sure that your equipment is thoroughly cleaned after each use by rinsing it with clear, hot water and drying it with an absorbant towel. Check that no grounds have been left to collect on any part of the equipment and that there is no build-up of coffee oil. Such residue can impart a bitter, rancid flavor to future cups of coffee.



The Coffee

Purchase coffee as soon after it has been roasted as possible. Fresh roasted coffee is essential to a superb cup of coffee. And purchase your coffee in small amounts—only as much as you can use in a given period of time. Ideally you should purchase your coffee fresh every 1-2 weeks.



The Grind

If you purchase whole bean coffee, always grind your beans as close to the brew time as possible. A burr or mill grinder is preferable because all of the coffee is ground to a consistent size. A blade grinder is less preferable because some coffee will be ground more finely than the rest. If you normally grind your coffee at home with a blade grinder, try having it ground at the store with a burr grinder. You may be surprised at the difference!

Do not underestimate the importance of the size of the grind to the taste of your coffee. If your coffee tastes bitter, it may be overextracted, or ground too fine. On the other hand, if your coffee tastes flat, it may be underextracted, meaning that your grind is too coarse. Tell the professionals where you purchase your coffee exactly how you will be brewing it. For example, will you be using a plunger pot? A flat drip filter? A cone drip filter? A gold mesh filter? They will grind it specifically for the preparation method you have chosen and the equipment you use.

Before using the coffee, try rubbing some of the grounds between your fingers so that you can 'feel' the grind and become acquainted with the differences in size.

Never reuse your coffee grounds. Once brewed, the desirable coffee flavors have been extracted and only the bitter undesirable ones are left.



The Water

The water you use is VERY important to the quality of your coffee. Use filtered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or imparts a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine. If you are using tap water let it run a few seconds before filling your coffee pot. Be sure to use cold water. Do not use distilled or softened water.



Ratio of Coffee to Water

Use the proper amount of coffee for every six ounces of water that is actually brewed, remembering that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods. A general guideline is 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences. Be sure to check the 'cup' lines on your brewer to see how they actually measure.



Water Temperature During Brewing

Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 90 - 95 degrees Celsius for optimal extraction. Colder water will result in flat, underextracted coffee while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee. If you are brewing the coffee manually, let the water come to a full boil, but do not overboil. Turn off the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute before pouring it over the grounds.



Brewing Time

The amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important factor affecting the taste of your coffee. In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your coffee using a plunger pot, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso, as the name implies, means that the brew time is short—the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds. If the taste of your coffee is not optimal, it is possible that you are either overextracting (the brew time is too long) or underextracting (the brew time is too short) your coffee. Experiment with the contact time until you can make a cup of coffee that suits your tastes perfectly.



After Your Coffee Has Been Brewed



Brewed coffee should be enjoyed immediately!

Pour it into a warmed mug or coffee cup so that it will maintain its temperature as long as possible. Brewed coffee begins to lose its optimal taste moments after brewing so only brew as much coffee as will be consumed immediately. If it will be a few minutes before it will be served, the temperature should be maintained at 80 - 90 degrees Celsius. It should never be left on an electric burner for longer than 15 minutes because it will begin to develop a burned taste. If the coffee is not to be served immediately after brewing, it should be poured into a warmed, insulated thermos and used within the next 45 minutes.

Never reheat your coffee.




Enjoy!
 

[O. Van Bruce]

Reserved

[Flutterz]

Some much-needed Yukine love?

[Tom]

Greetings from the underworld.

this thread is sadly not for me, but a quick hello wont hurt

[Nosebleed]

This thread is rather ironic as i was just preparing some black tea as i'm just about to watch another episode of Sakura Trick.

It's tea and yuri time.

All Hail Yukine.

[Guest]

I read this book:

 

Not so long ago (The book of tea).

And in ancient Japan, the tea ceremony was no joke !

 

Everything from the greeting to the setting, the atmosphere and even the way of living had rules.

A very peaceful and "natural" way of approching things. Trying to live in harmony with the world is the closest I can get to explaining this.

 

However, it's a great read that I recommend.

 

As for hot beverages, I like them after doing some effort, and in front of a nice fire. It gives this cosy feeling that can not be reproduced in any other way.

[O. Van Bruce]

Black tea, red fruits and roasted almonds. As allways, the aftertaste is pretty good

 

With some chocolate with almonds inside after drinking it.

 

 

[Izuru]

Its Teaa Time~!! Hahaha

 

 

Just Drop By Here Too :3

[Zakamutt]

At work, there is an automated coffee maker which also provides chocolate. Possibly the only perk. Flavor is, at the very least, decent. Didn't get any today though, some guy did maintenance on it precisely when I went for a break.

[O. Van Bruce]

At work, there is an automated coffee maker which also provides chocolate. Possibly the only perk. Flavor is, at the very least, decent. Didn't get any today though, some guy did maintenance on it precisely when I went for a break.

 

;_;

[zoom909]

Now that the weather is no longer frigid where I live, I'm drinking sweet iced tea again.  Goes great with fried chicken.  Is that served in the reference room?

[O. Van Bruce]

Now that the weather is no longer frigid where I live, I'm drinking sweet iced tea again.  Goes great with fried chicken.  Is that served in the reference room?

 

Please, be our guest. I even added some tips on how to make iced tea.

[Yeah Way]

I love you, man. ^^

 

Almost as much as I love Yukine. (Okay, not even close; but still!)

 

As for my preferences, I really only drink black tea with milk; but it has to be very strong! If I'm pouring it straight into my cup from the kettle, I'll even leave the bag in as I drink it. (Delicious )

 

I've only tried Americano coffee before, and didn't like it very much, but I'd love to try and find a coffee I like. (Suggestions?) Also, I unfortunately hate green tea.

[Guest]

I knew I had some ! Here for you my dear !

 

Brought these back from China ! Haven't tasted this one yet, but this might be the moment.

I don't have any french pasteries right now so maybe i'll wait for the "french cake+tea after skiing" super combo tomorrow (100% guartanteed or paid back)

[O. Van Bruce]

I knew I had some ! Here for you my dear !

 

Brought these back from China ! Haven't tasted this one yet, but this might be the moment.

I don't have any french pasteries right now so maybe i'll wait for the "french cake+tea after skiing" super combo tomorrow (100% guartanteed or paid back)

 

So jelly, please, send some over here ;_;

 

Today I had some Cinnamon and Clove infussion. It's extremely tasty and spicy.

 

A good supper to go with that is taking a pair of bananas and put then on an stir fry, add some sugar, powder chocolate and nutmeg. Then, when it has become an steamy mixture, put it on a crepe.

[jeftai]

I knew I had some ! Here for you my dear !

 

Brought these back from China ! Haven't tasted this one yet, but this might be the moment.

I don't have any french pasteries right now so maybe i'll wait for the "french cake+tea after skiing" super combo tomorrow (100% guartanteed or paid back)

 

We got a lot of that at my place.

I dont know why but my mom and dad bought a lot of it once like 3 years worth.

When i was younger that stuff tasted really well strange to me now its something to just use and relax.

Cuz what else would you do after drinking tea.

iam chinese so no reason not to have this stuff and other things right?

[krill]

my preference is extra strong black coffee or espresso if i can get it , but on occasion as a treat ill add creamer and sugar free sweetener as im diabetic and must stay away from sugar.

[RainHeaven]

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Edited August 2, 2020 by RainHeaven

[Stanleys]

First we had a thread about rice and jow there's one about tea and coffee. And that is why I love this place. As to which one I like I think it really depends on my mood and the time of day. If its morning and its slow going I'll drink coffee. If its in the afternoon and im in s more peaceful anf relaxed mood I'll drink so sweet tea, usuallt hot.