@@andyswibes Same here. I drink coffee everyday; my partner only occasionally drinks de-caf cuz she loves the smell and taste so we keep it in the freezer but I didn't think to pre-dose it!!😅😄
James, i've been watching you for years and love how you deliver your knowledge and your production level just keeps getting better and better. Kudos to you and the team!
I’d like to give recognition to the colour grading in that dining room and kitchen. Brilliant work! And also, I LOVE that you’ve created a video about this. It’s so relevant, and great!
I'm continually amazed by the increasing production quality while not taking away from the information and story telling. Definitely does not go unnoticed, great content!
Moka pot "americano" is what I plan to do when I go out sailing or camping with my friends. Easy to bring with you, easy to prepp, easy to clean up! At home I tend to make one or more batches of pour over unless someone specifically asks me for espresso. I find pour over with medium roasts to be the easiest coffee to please everyone's palette. 😊
Watching you use the Bambino for the first example in this video brought lots of happiness over here! I’m grateful that, despite your access to so many ultra high end espresso machines, you chose to use an affordable espresso machine in this illustration to show the practicality of what you’re suggesting here. Thanks James, you’re a breath of fresh air!
For me this embodies everything James is about. Yes he is a committed coffee snob, willingly acknowledging that, but ALL he wants is for you to find the coffee you like and enjoy but doesn’t judge you in that.
My first “espresso” machine was a $40 Amazon purchase that most certainly just makes concentrated coffee, but because it makes four portions, and most people want milk drinks, I find it’s a perfect tool for hosting. My friends aren’t the most coffee snob types, and I’ll happily dismount my high horse to have a good dinner party
With a simple regular pourover brewer and a properly sized carafe you can do one brew in the kitchen, boil water again, bring everything to the table and do your pour over show to the guests with the second brew (on top of the first). The temperature of the two combined batches will be also closer to perfect
Haha I definitely have the identity of the "Coffee Guy" in my friend groups. Fun Stuff! Chapters: 00:00:00 - Making Coffee for a Group 00:01:15 - Brewing Specialty Coffee After Midday 00:02:29 - Adjusting the Dose and Grind Size for Espresso 00:03:41 - Making Espresso-based Drinks 00:04:50 - Being Present with Others 00:05:58 - Explore Different Meditation Techniques 00:07:08 - Brewing the Perfect French Press Coffee 00:08:25 - Brewing Tips with the AeroPress 00:09:40 - Brewing a Double Strength Coffee with an AeroPress 00:10:58 - Introducing Large Format Pour-Over Brewers 00:12:17 - A New Large Format Pour-Over Brewer 00:13:33 - Considerations for Brewing Coffee for a Group 00:14:41 - Technique for Brewing with Different Brewers 00:15:52 - Brewing Tips for Better Tasting Coffee 00:17:13 - Brewing for Brunch 00:18:19 - Considerations when serving coffee with food 00:19:28 - Thank You for Watching
My husband is known as "The World's Slowest Barista". But, that's okay, because our kitchen/great room is also where everyone gathers in our house, so he makes coffee (Aeropress and/or french press) right there at the kitchen Island where they are gathered. Thanks for another fun and interesting video!
Where we live, having a open kitchen integrated with the dining area is kinda the norm, at least for anything built in the last 20 yrs. So me, I'm not leaving the group when I make coffee, even if I just use my trusty old bean-to-cup machine anyway :-D
I absolutely love the editing of this video and the cuts! It's super fun the way it is shot and the coffee looks fantastic. This was super inspiring and makes me wanna throw a dinner party soon! Thanks James
Why embarrassing ? It's a great knowledge to have in such a central part of people's life. It's like being embarrassed for being a food enthusiast, or a being really into fitness etc. As long as you don't talk about it as every moment with people that aren't as interested of course, but that's less about your interests, and more about you 😂
As a numbers person and a weaver and a political junky, I'm often the weird person in any group. Being the coffee person would make me seem almost normal.
One thing I would add from my experience is that if I’m taking the role of coffee brewing at breakfast brunch, it’s almost critical that someone else handles the majority of the cooking. Love the bit about the eggs affecting perceived acidity. Did not know this.
When making coffee for groups I always pick the smallest brewer. No better excuse to be by yourself for 40+ minutes then making amazing coffee! The group is happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy!
That would have been the perfect solution for me when I used to be required to go to big events at my in-laws. I should have thought of it! (no longer necessary since the central people are gone and I can and do skip all the big events).
UA-cam should add love in addition to like button just for your videos. Someone once said to me that doing something special with a lot of ingredients is easy the interesting thing is do something special with a few ingredients… you are the best example of it. You and your passion for coffee not just give love for coffee but also love for life. Thanks a lot
My go to method for a large group is to use my bodum Santos syphon. The capacity is huge, you can brew at the table, and the theatrical element is fun. If you've got a rep as the weird coffee person, may as well go all out weird.
I was just commenting elsewhere that I like to dig out my late fathers refurbished Cona Syphon. People love to watch it brew at the table & it fills the room with a great coffee scent. The Bodum Santos looks a lovely piece of kit.
I found this so weirdly entertaining and helpful. I've definitely had several hangs at my apartment where people considered me the "Weird coffee enthusiast" and I've felt the pressure to deliver a delicious cup. I've always found it surprising how long you do end up being away from the group (I usually end up making espresso drinks since people see it as a bit of a "special treat"). There's a weird amount of stress that comes with timing things and considering how hot people's drinks are and who gets their drink first etc. Anyway, loved the video and felt seen 😅
Serving order at a dinner table is traditionally counterclockwise, starting with the person to the right of the host, so the host gets served last. So, if you're the host, you'd make your own drink last anyway, because there's no point in leaving it to cool down, while you're making others'
Rather surprised you didn't mention the OG in large format pour over style brewers: The Chemex! This has been my go to for brewing for groups for a long time since it has a large capacity, is relatively straightforward to brew and looks nice on the table to boot.
@@SheilalaHerz I have a 1 liter, which is big enough, and it's cooler to look at. It does brew slower, which I think was James' complaint in past videos, but I've had chemex serviced with desert at restaurants and it's a great touch because it looks so classy.
@@SheilalaHerzRealtalk, when I have to serve that many people, I pull out my 25-year-old drip Mr. coffee. I've tested hand-pour vs drip for my friends and the key is freshly roasted beans, ground at that moment. And I have time to clear the table, prepare dessert, etc. Edit: Yes, I realize this is not the appropriate audience for that level of convenience 😂
I love how the AeroPress XL just makes it look like theres a child sized version of you holding a normal sized AeroPress. This is of course because I'm used to the normal sized AeroPress.
I keep being blown away by the production value of your videos. It keeps on getting better and better. Props to everyone involved both in front of and behind the camera! 👏👏👏
The non-coffee people I've served have always said my ratios have been a big strong, and the coffee enthusiasts in my life say it's perfect. I generally have never served more than myself and two others at a time, just because I don't have a large circle of coffee enthusiast friends. With that said, I'm really excited to use this video as I try to move into the realm of serving larger groups and continuing to learn about coffee and palette's!
I don't remember when was the last time when I'd have 8 guests and they would ask for a coffee at the same time (if ever). That said if this happens it would take me more than an hour to make the coffee for all of them.
@@todorkatsarski7487LOLOL! Me too! I excitedly grabbed my 10 cup Chemex thinking it would cover an 8-9 guest brunch coffee delivery, but my humble hand grinder produced so many fines that it took over 10 minutes to finish the draw down! And that with stirring and lifting the filter! I REALLY need a good grinder!
I use a 6-cup Chemex for the three coffee drinkers in my family nearly every morning, I'm sure the 8-cup version would work just as well. As Mr. Hoffman mentioned, the trickiest part is having enough hot water on hand. I bought a $20 kettle off of Amazon and use it to top off my Fellows gooseneck when water gets low. The Etkin looks interesting, thanks for the vid!
The timing on this is remarkable. I just came back from 2 weeks camping (luxury camping) with a dozen people and as the coffee weirdo in the group, I was in charge of the daily offering. About a third of our group were committed tea people, so that got us around the 8 guests in your example. Like you, I went with the French Press for the masses. I used some Costa Rica medium roasts ground medium. I measured out 55 grams for a 1-liter pot. (Probably could have gone higher) I did catch some comments on my scale, but where I go, so goes my scale. We made three pots a morning and it worked fairly well. I did bring a 9-cup Moka for a more 'espresso-like' experience, but truthfully, I only used it once. I also did do mid-afternoon Vietnamese coffee pick-ups, using 5 phins, which were very easy to do over ice with canned sweetened condensed milk.
This video totally nailed my experiences with guests and serving coffe at home! And I really liked the idea of brewing to different coffees for comparison or use two different brewing methods 👌🏻. Thanks James! 🙏🏻
I really like that, even though sponsored, you brought up how you can just have some quiet breathing moments while making coffee. Coffee is literally part of my mental healthcare. If my therapist asks how I'm going to take care of myself after a particularly taxing session, it's usually making coffee for myself. Sitting outside with it for a few moments with the plants and trees. It's not much, but it helps.
You nailed this subject. I’m telling its down right stressful being the “coffee guy” being “new” and having a big Hispanic family.. 😅.. thanks for your knowledge, your kind spirit and downright awesomeness you bring to everything you do.
We regularly host for our small Italian family. The 6 cup moka pot and 2 cup pour over seems to please everyone. I absolutely think the moka pot is the way to go for large gatherings. Get two 12 cup moka pots going on 2 stovetop burners and you can still enjoy conversations with 23 others while waiting for the sound of the boil. :)
If you want the worst possible coffee experience of all the ones listed and this, choose a Moka Pot. If you want to do something special, do any of these except a Moka pot. People use those in their daily life, it's not impressive or special whatsoever. Zero control of the brewing process you just wait and hope it hasn't been overdone.
@@DNGR369 Like I said, it is my family from Italy and it is what they are used to. They are the ones who introduced me to that style and it is what we do for all occasions so we spend more time together and less time fiddling with a 2 cup machine. My American friends seem to enjoy it too. Also, the trick to keep it from burning is to heat the water separately first and then assemble the moka pot. Take it off the burner as soon as the coffee reaches the bottom of the spout and it will stop boiling right as it finishes. Hope that helps!
James actually has a really nice series on the Moka pot. It's been a go-to brewer for me and my family for years (we're Polish). Awesome for family gatherings, but I would say definately boil water before brewing, and don't hold it on the stove until it starts making sounds - take it off as soon as the sputtering starts. Requires you to watch the pot the whole time, but it lasts no more that a few minutes, and the results are much better imo. My parents never do it though, and the coffee is still fine most of the time. I'd say to me the taste of a well-brewed moka pot is preferable to most pour-overs usually, and I definitely wouldn't say there's zero control over the process - it doesn't offer as much control as say Aeropress, but it's a well designed brewer, so it can produce consistent results.@@PandaD2
I have my barista express and realistically a half decent brew on that is enough for me most of the time. I can make a great French press too (thanks James!). But I still watch all these videos - that’s a testament to the quality of James’ content!
It can make sense to prepare a batch of cold brew, too, and offer that as an option. If some guests go for that, it means less time spent in the kitchen during the dinner/brunch itself.
That's my thought. Easy and crowd pleasing. You could also have some cold sweet cream to pour on top to have that beautiful contrast, and it will taste so much better than Starbucks
It's definitely an option to consider but cold brew, although can be enjoyable, it doesn't taste as crisp and bright as fresh brews and doesn't really represent the qualities of coffee beans you paid for. Not ideal when you're the "coffee guy" trying to impress your guests and showing them what the fuss is all about.
@@moeleraky - Very much in agreement. I can't stand cold brew coffee and even though I'm all for people enjoying what they enjoy, if I'm going to show off my coffee, I'm going to show it off the way I enjoy it.
I honestly never had 8 guests over I think 😂 For groups of 4 or less I usually make espresso based drinks. Anything other than that, I’ll use a large Moka Pot. It’s my personal favourite whenever I can’t have espresso, so I like sharing that with everyone, since most people don’t have a Moka Pot at home.
I have had 8 guests over, however coffee is never a consideration. The dinner is usually barbeque, pizza, something involving the outdoor kitchen, and the drinks are usually beer.
In my experience, I found that a very large mokka pot (10+ cups) works wonders. It's strong enough that people wanting an espresso will be satisfied as is, it can be made into an Americano or a milk drink very easily. Besides, the look of the brewer tends to have people reassured in some way that this is not a completely out there experience, and is going to be somewhat traditional
But from this U.S. coffee-drinker's POV, the "very large" Bialetti type pot actually isn't large at all. Our 6-cup Bialetti makes a nice-sized cup of coffee. For people after dinner in my house, a 10-cup would maybe give us enough for 2 people.
@@TamarLitvot that's... A concerning amount of caffeine A 10 cup mokka pot holds about 35-40g of ground coffee, and a shot of espresso takes about 7g. So that's about 5-6 shots of espresso worth of caffeine in one of those.
@@wenchbyattthis, the only reason my european ass bought the 6 cup is because i sometimes have 5 coffee drinkers in my house and brewing once is way easier than brewing, cooling, cleaningand then brewing again. I usually just make americanos or espressos.
James health episode and now this are probably some of the best edited and shot videos. The whole script, cuts, lighting. He has defined his own directing style. Even Wes Anderson would be proud.
My preferred method of making coffee for a crowd after dinner is using a large siphon coffee maker with a wick (Cona) and letting it brew on the table. Watching it brew is quite relaxing and a great conversation piece, and as a bonus your time away from your friends is kept to a minimum.
Such a creative, thoughtful, and practical approach to this topic. Thank you for helping us weird coffee people share our hobby with more social grace.
I have not been into seriously making coffee for very long, but having tried most methods of making coffee, my go to coffee maker is the French press. Having two of them allows for a huge lot of different things , and hosting people all the time, I've already converted quite a few friends to specialty coffee. Excellent video James, keep these coming.
@@endymion2300I can perfectly imagine everyone at the table turning in slow motion with joyful expressions, Ave Maria playing gently as the host walks in while dual-wielding two French presses like a pro. Hell yeah.
This was great, thanks! I love making espresso drinks for parties at my house, and we have a ton of flavor options and syrups to be able to give the coffee shop experience. My bit of advice is this: make a menu! I would take half my time just telling people what options I have available, so putting together a menu gave them the fun of the experience, while taking way less time away from being with the group. I actually created a full website with online ordering, and put a QR code on my coffee bar, so guests could have fun looking at the crazy and hilarious names and descriptions of all of our drinks. It’s always the most fun thing for people coming over for the first time.
I've become the coffee guy on scouting camp and I must say that making really good coffee is manageable for larger groups. I just find or make whatever that holds a paper filter, chuck it on an old water bottle and pour with a ladle or something (with the help of my trusty hario scale of course). Making coffee like that with other people is really fun and a great way to have a nice calm chat in the morning while doing something you love :)
Alos a big help when making coffee for your friends - have an open kitchen directly next to the dinner table. You would of course need to plan ahead. A few year mostly, around the time of choosing your appartement or building your house.
I know it might not be everyone’s cup of coffee but preparing a litter of cold brew 12 hours prior is just the quickest cup you can possibly prepare if you really don’t want to stay away from the table. Also James’ japanese Ice coffee also works pretty well since you’re using less water so you can prepare about 4 cups in a v60.
This is what we do for shape note singing conventions in Seattle -- 3-4 tins of preground Costco beans turned into cold brew concentrate diluted with hot water day of.
Wonderful video. Love the humor and the details. For some reason the video carried me back to 1958 or so when I was a third grader at a U.S. Catholic school run by nuns. My one and only occasion to visit the convent, I wound up in the kitchen where the nuns were boiling a vat of coffee on the stove, to which they'd added egg shells. When they determined it was done, they strained the coffee into a big pot for all to enjoy. I was from a tea-drinking family, and this large-scale coffee prep was exotic to me. Even when coffee drinking finally overtook my family, we used instant. 😲
I thought you had a new coffee assistant working in the background and realized far too late that it was you haha. Great video and love the fact that you mentioned mise en place and people sharing the experience at the same time - something that seems to be overlooked even in some restaurants/cafes!
The production value on this video is absolutely ridiculous. The shot selection, the lighting (especially the kitchen practicals) and the use of the space, A+. Great set design, and the camera work was subtle and didn't try to do too much. Only minor improvement is the very tip of the boom mic in the shot from approximately 11min-14min (on the widest shot), so close to not being in the shot. Love this style and the info, and I appreciate how much work went into this. One of the best videos from this channel so far, incredible!
I loved all these suggestions! My personal go to is my Sage Precision brewer. Yes, it's not quite as enjoyable as other processes, but it makes nearly 2L with minimal fuss, less time away from guests, and the thermal carafe is excellent so I can set it running a little earlier than it needs to be served and serve up at a near ideal temperature. I then use the french press for my milk, and voila!
I've made the mistake of serving my guests some really nice single origin Ethiopian coffee in the past. They always asked for cream and sugar after the first sip. I served some of my guests latte/cappuccino made with the coffee from my moka pot. All they said was, "it's good, but it's very strong". So I stopped serving my precious coffee to non-coffee people. I just keep a jar of instant coffee for them.
When I have a bag that gets a little stale I'll put it in the freezer for those types of people. It is still better than what they are used to, and a bit different, but not wasting fine coffee on course pallets.
Punish them by getting a jar of Mellow Birds instant "coffee". I stopped accepting coffee at peoples houses until I knew what they drank after a cup of that. Thankfully not many people drink it anymore.
Some people prefer a higher water to coffee Ratio. For my friends I make an effort to serve them what they will probably like and so far it‘s been appreciated. No need to punish anyone just for a different taste..
@@lisakaramba3251 Haha, sorry I was joking when I said punish them. They're my friends & I want them to have a nice time. So if they don't like my themed or good coffee I'll happily make them what they want. One of the reasons I like the Philips bean to cup machine I have is that I can just punch in the drink they like & allocate them a slot in the memory.That way they get what they like whenever they like it & it doesn't distract me from whatever more complicated method I'm playing with for others. Food & drink are best experienced & shared with friends.☕😃
Thank you so much for this. You sent me on a search for tools to do this. FYI, if you haven't seen, Melitta makes a pour over kit with a 52oz carafe and its own filter basket. Then there is the Big Joe Large Pour Over, which claims to be able to do 2L of brewed coffee. Both are out on Amazon. I've been doing multiple 500ml on my V60 when I have friends over. This never occurred to me to just stick to the ratio and find bigger containers! This is awesome, and I will look for the Etkin. Thank you so much!!
Production on your videos has always been great, and somehow, you and your team find a way to raise the bar every time. Fantastic content as always, James. Thank you!
That video was, perhaps, the best that I ever saw from you and your team. In terms of photography, editing, content and timing. Amazing, kudos to everyone involved and I will see you, next week.
James - There’s 8 of us Me, sipping my espresso knowing I will never invite 8 people to my house because I don’t even have 8 friends - *starts sweating* Seriously though, the video is awesome and super handy if you ever do make coffee for a crowd!
sipping my tea because I don’t even make coffee at home. The fact that I watch coffee videos is funny in itself, but watching a full video about how to make coffee for a group of 8 is kinda absurd 😂 I guess James videos are just that good haha
Don't worry, Hames will set the record straight to remind us that it was all an illusion, I was home by myself the whole time and don't have any friends.
Having recently held a coffee tasting over brunch, it’s so nice to have it confirmed that it is EXHAUSTING. Partially my fault for trying to do a comparison of 4 different coffees. Great video with great tips! Looking forward to trying some of these ideas at my next tasting!
I work in a café and I also have a nice set up for brewing coffee at home and whenever I get the chance I make coffee for friends and family. I gotta say there is some special energy to sharing your passion for coffee with the people you love.
I absolutely loved the idea behind this video. It was incredibly practical and useful. I have been in this situation countless number of times and learned a lot. Thanks as always James!
I usually don’t like to serve coffee to guests because I feel like the biggest problem is that the more you are into coffee the less likely it is that your friends like the type of coffee you enjoy yourself. Therefor they will most probably not be too happy with the coffee you serve, especially when it comes to acidity.
@@UloPe So do i. But I don’t enjoy serving it too much. People expect sth. special from me because they know I’m into coffee but the moment I serve sth. special they don’t like it. That’s not too much fun.
Yeah, but that's all part of hosting. Its like choosing the right playlist for a party - you can't just put on a load of songs that you like, you have to play something the crowd are going to enjoy as well. Its the same with coffee in a group setting. Pick a crowd pleaser, a nice washed Brazilian or Colombian with some sweetness and body to it. You're more likely to win people over that way than by giving them a double thermal-shock, anaerobic, lactic, carbonic macerated cup of coffee.
I just have a huge french press and a huge Bialetti Aluminum Moka pot for these situations. Moka's concentrated flavour just means everyone gets a strong Americano, meaning less brewing needed, as you'll dilute a little bit and the coffee will serve more people.
Hi James! I think that another great option for a bunch of people would be to use the moka pot. It can make a strong cup of coffee (one that the espresso lovers would be more satisfied with) and at the same time you can dilute it for people that want americanos, or just put some steamed milk for lattes and it will still look fancy and taste delicious. Another advantage is that they exist in really big sizes and you can brew coffee much faster than with other methods.
You have no idea how practical this is! Yes, we always get asked to make coffee, which we love. But how to serve that much coffee is always a bit of a trick. I have also found the French Press works wonderfully. The Chemex usually ends up tasting a bit harsh, and I have occasionally brought out larger 10 cup old school coffee makers. They get the job done, but I always wonder if there are better options. THANK YOU! And yes, we have groups over ALL the time. Coffee is always a part of the evening or afternoon parties.
During Christmas morning this year I’m planning on making aeropress lattes for my family members. Homemade peppermint mocha syrup along with it. I look forward to the quietness of it to give me a way to serve my family and have something to do! This video was helpful!!!
Absolutely amazing content. My love for coffee started as a kid at my first cup. But i had no idea the world of coffee could be so fun and interesting. This channel opens my mind. These videos are my meditation! ❤
Hopefully this doesn't come across in a condescending way . It's just that i have been watching your videos for about 6 months now, and i feel as though I have entered a completely different world. But it's brilliant! . the way you talk , the way you explain things, your whole thaught process behind everything , your whole persona has me captivated. From what i thaught was just a case of making and drinking coffee, you really have opened not just my eyes , but whole brain.and for this i personally thank you James. Every video is a lesson and it's taught by a fantastic person, who doesn't patronise,but draws me in further to learn and understand. For this i thank you James. This video is just another wonderful lesson. Thank you James.
For bigger groups I have Moccamaster 1,8 l, or I give them options and they can choose from different brews (V60, Aeropress, Bialetti, French press, Hario Vacuum pot is popular due to using open fire)... And I try to stay close to guests while brewing 😊 James, you are great inspiration, and I love to watch you videos, even if it's a bit expensive - last month I realized also because of your video, that I need to buy Comandante grinder 😂 best regards from Czech republic
Love my comandante, been my brew grinder of choice for a long time. For parties I usually am away from home so I’ll bring an induction hot plate, stove top pouring kettle, scale, comandante and a Hario drip decanter. Make 550~mls of coffee from 600g of water and I can do two batches in like 15 min and have enough for 8 people. I don’t have to leave the conversation space for more than a few seconds to fill the kettle and toss the spent grounds, Plus people love the novelty of the hand grinding which takes less time than boiling the kettle anyway so it’s no time loss. I’ve also done several back to back aeropresses, espressos and big chemex brews for groups, but I think the v60 and small servings is best.
Unfortunately I discovered this channel and this genius of a man only a few weeks ago! I‘m binge watching every video James made ever since! 😅 Keep on with these videos, showing your knowledge and your wonderful British sense of humour! Greetings from Munich, Germany! 🇩🇪 ❤👍
Recently I offered 8-10 flat-whites in the row with a single boiler espresso machine.. I must have been stuck in the kitchen for 1 hour!! Good thing though the open kitchen format, people's curiocity drove them close to me checking my weirdness (commentating it along the way) as I was preparing each drink! That was fun! WDT seemed to be the most peculiar of my coffee toys; the voodoo coffee wand!! In the end, for a one time thing it's nice, people perceived it like a show but I don't believe it will keep up their curiocity for a 2nd or 3rd time; neither will my enthusiasm keep its high when I will have to spend a 2nd or 3rd hour of my life brewing coffees with a domestic espresso machine. I think having two-three brewers as a tasting experience would actually be more interesting from now on!
I just finished two weeks camping in remote Greenland field work with a pour over and the new XL Aero press with 3 other people. The Aero press was a great and quick way to make multiple small batches, trying different coffees between batches.
The best suggestion I can give about serving coffee to groups is to listen to what the group speaks about their coffee, hear it, and then do not diminish it even if they are wrong about what they think good coffee is or their methods. Some folks just like a tasty cup and don't mind whatever brand or method, and that's totally okay. :)
Interesting video! I’m always the coffee weirdo, here in Italy you can’t do all this stuff, people don’t trust anything. In this kind of situation espresso is ok, but traditionally we just make one or two mokas and everyone drink with their preferences: plain, with milk, short, corretto and such! Personally, I love this french press approach! ❤❤❤
One thing I’d say regarding large pour overs: the size 03 hario has been around for a while and can brew up to 1L, maybe 1.2 at a push. Certainly not a new thing, but I’m still very much looking forward to that Orea Big Boy.
I like having a number of flavoured coffees to present as options for an after dinner/dessert drink. My favs are chocolate raspberry, french vanilla, and coconut delight.
You know you are a weird coffee person, when you pull out a ready portioned amount of decaf coffee from your freezer.
My partner loves a decaf and we absolutely have it in the freezer portioned out!
@@andyswibes Same here. I drink coffee everyday; my partner only occasionally drinks de-caf cuz she loves the smell and taste so we keep it in the freezer but I didn't think to pre-dose it!!😅😄
never looked into decaf, why do you guys keep it in the freezer?
😂. But that’s probably part of his likability among his friends.
I feel seen! I have coffee (decaf and not) in the freezer packed in 30g portions ready for a moka pot
James, i've been watching you for years and love how you deliver your knowledge and your production level just keeps getting better and better. Kudos to you and the team!
When your favourite chef comments on your favourite coffee person's video! 🥳
+
We need a collaboration gents!?
We need the two of you asap doing something fun! Please make it happen!!
Couldn't agree more
Fair play to James for making an elaborate meal, and some nice coffee for everyone at the table. It’s rare to show such hospitality to one’s hostages
The brilliant editing makes it impossible to spot the moment he adds the iocane powder to all of the espresso drinks.
@@StrixyNbut only slightly less well known is this, never serve a sicilian milk based espresso beverages when death is on the line!
...Checking to see if James has the normal amount of fingers....
I don’t know about the elaborate meal part. His kitchen does not look cooked in. :)
@@blutcherama well, its probably a studio set, not a proper kitchen.
I’d like to give recognition to the colour grading in that dining room and kitchen. Brilliant work!
And also, I LOVE that you’ve created a video about this. It’s so relevant, and great!
Definitely some thoughtfulness in every way going on. I truly felt like a welcome guest.
turn up orange... done.
I'm continually amazed by the increasing production quality while not taking away from the information and story telling.
Definitely does not go unnoticed, great content!
That spotlight/push zoom at the beginning was CRISP.
@@benjaminnanke That was so sick! It brought a huge smile to my face.
Yeah, I'm loving this era of James Hoffman.
My thoughts exactly😊
@@benjaminnanke i had to replay it . very nice 😊
Moka pot "americano" is what I plan to do when I go out sailing or camping with my friends.
Easy to bring with you, easy to prepp, easy to clean up!
At home I tend to make one or more batches of pour over unless someone specifically asks me for espresso. I find pour over with medium roasts to be the easiest coffee to please everyone's palette. 😊
Watching you use the Bambino for the first example in this video brought lots of happiness over here! I’m grateful that, despite your access to so many ultra high end espresso machines, you chose to use an affordable espresso machine in this illustration to show the practicality of what you’re suggesting here. Thanks James, you’re a breath of fresh air!
100%
Same for me with the DF64 grinder which is what I use at home.
I love my bambino machine for my lattes so noticed it right off!!
It's an excellent choice, especially considering that it shows you don't really need a dual boiler for the occasional dinner function
For me this embodies everything James is about. Yes he is a committed coffee snob, willingly acknowledging that, but ALL he wants is for you to find the coffee you like and enjoy but doesn’t judge you in that.
My first “espresso” machine was a $40 Amazon purchase that most certainly just makes concentrated coffee, but because it makes four portions, and most people want milk drinks, I find it’s a perfect tool for hosting. My friends aren’t the most coffee snob types, and I’ll happily dismount my high horse to have a good dinner party
James seemingly has the ability to clone himself, which no doubt comes in quite useful when your awkward friends order 5 different drink types.
aka Dr. ManHoffttan :)
Seemingly? We already know and love his fruity clone with the moustache.
Just be wary of his evil twin brother, Hames Joffmann.
And also have his clones live in a sped-up timeline. this is OP
With a simple regular pourover brewer and a properly sized carafe you can do one brew in the kitchen, boil water again, bring everything to the table and do your pour over show to the guests with the second brew (on top of the first). The temperature of the two combined batches will be also closer to perfect
Haha I definitely have the identity of the "Coffee Guy" in my friend groups. Fun Stuff!
Chapters:
00:00:00 - Making Coffee for a Group
00:01:15 - Brewing Specialty Coffee After Midday
00:02:29 - Adjusting the Dose and Grind Size for Espresso
00:03:41 - Making Espresso-based Drinks
00:04:50 - Being Present with Others
00:05:58 - Explore Different Meditation Techniques
00:07:08 - Brewing the Perfect French Press Coffee
00:08:25 - Brewing Tips with the AeroPress
00:09:40 - Brewing a Double Strength Coffee with an AeroPress
00:10:58 - Introducing Large Format Pour-Over Brewers
00:12:17 - A New Large Format Pour-Over Brewer
00:13:33 - Considerations for Brewing Coffee for a Group
00:14:41 - Technique for Brewing with Different Brewers
00:15:52 - Brewing Tips for Better Tasting Coffee
00:17:13 - Brewing for Brunch
00:18:19 - Considerations when serving coffee with food
00:19:28 - Thank You for Watching
This needs to be pinned at the top of the comments.
My husband is known as "The World's Slowest Barista". But, that's okay, because our kitchen/great room is also where everyone gathers in our house, so he makes coffee (Aeropress and/or french press) right there at the kitchen Island where they are gathered. Thanks for another fun and interesting video!
Where we live, having a open kitchen integrated with the dining area is kinda the norm, at least for anything built in the last 20 yrs.
So me, I'm not leaving the group when I make coffee, even if I just use my trusty old bean-to-cup machine anyway :-D
I was going to say that's how my kitchen is and I'm still part of the group while making them coffee ☕ .
I absolutely love the editing of this video and the cuts! It's super fun the way it is shot and the coffee looks fantastic. This was super inspiring and makes me wanna throw a dinner party soon! Thanks James
Being the ‘coffee guy’ in group situations is equal parts embarrassing and also my time to geek out!
Need to change your name to Andrew McBean
@@LowTide941 😂😂😂😂
Why embarrassing ? It's a great knowledge to have in such a central part of people's life. It's like being embarrassed for being a food enthusiast, or a being really into fitness etc. As long as you don't talk about it as every moment with people that aren't as interested of course, but that's less about your interests, and more about you 😂
As a numbers person and a weaver and a political junky, I'm often the weird person in any group. Being the coffee person would make me seem almost normal.
I have almost an identical name to you (my last name has the Americanized spelling). Is it a prerequisite that we're into coffee?
One thing I would add from my experience is that if I’m taking the role of coffee brewing at breakfast brunch, it’s almost critical that someone else handles the majority of the cooking. Love the bit about the eggs affecting perceived acidity. Did not know this.
When making coffee for groups I always pick the smallest brewer. No better excuse to be by yourself for 40+ minutes then making amazing coffee! The group is happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy!
That would have been the perfect solution for me when I used to be required to go to big events at my in-laws. I should have thought of it! (no longer necessary since the central people are gone and I can and do skip all the big events).
Idk man, I'd be pretty upset about waiting 40 minutes for a cup of coffee...
@@helgijonsson3537and cold coffee, at that!
UA-cam should add love in addition to like button just for your videos. Someone once said to me that doing something special with a lot of ingredients is easy the interesting thing is do something special with a few ingredients… you are the best example of it. You and your passion for coffee not just give love for coffee but also love for life. Thanks a lot
My go to method for a large group is to use my bodum Santos syphon. The capacity is huge, you can brew at the table, and the theatrical element is fun. If you've got a rep as the weird coffee person, may as well go all out weird.
You just maxed out the kudos points. Great idea.
I was just commenting elsewhere that I like to dig out my late fathers refurbished Cona Syphon. People love to watch it brew at the table & it fills the room with a great coffee scent. The Bodum Santos looks a lovely piece of kit.
I found this so weirdly entertaining and helpful. I've definitely had several hangs at my apartment where people considered me the "Weird coffee enthusiast" and I've felt the pressure to deliver a delicious cup. I've always found it surprising how long you do end up being away from the group (I usually end up making espresso drinks since people see it as a bit of a "special treat"). There's a weird amount of stress that comes with timing things and considering how hot people's drinks are and who gets their drink first etc. Anyway, loved the video and felt seen 😅
Serving order at a dinner table is traditionally counterclockwise, starting with the person to the right of the host, so the host gets served last. So, if you're the host, you'd make your own drink last anyway, because there's no point in leaving it to cool down, while you're making others'
It's good to hear that I'm not the only one of these scenarios 😅
Rather surprised you didn't mention the OG in large format pour over style brewers: The Chemex! This has been my go to for brewing for groups for a long time since it has a large capacity, is relatively straightforward to brew and looks nice on the table to boot.
Yeah. Seems like a rare oversight.
That’s also my choice for this kind of situations.
What's the capacity? Does it work for a group of 8?
@@SheilalaHerz I have a 1 liter, which is big enough, and it's cooler to look at. It does brew slower, which I think was James' complaint in past videos, but I've had chemex serviced with desert at restaurants and it's a great touch because it looks so classy.
@@SheilalaHerzRealtalk, when I have to serve that many people, I pull out my 25-year-old drip Mr. coffee. I've tested hand-pour vs drip for my friends and the key is freshly roasted beans, ground at that moment. And I have time to clear the table, prepare dessert, etc. Edit: Yes, I realize this is not the appropriate audience for that level of convenience 😂
I love how the AeroPress XL just makes it look like theres a child sized version of you holding a normal sized AeroPress.
This is of course because I'm used to the normal sized AeroPress.
I keep being blown away by the production value of your videos. It keeps on getting better and better. Props to everyone involved both in front of and behind the camera! 👏👏👏
The non-coffee people I've served have always said my ratios have been a big strong, and the coffee enthusiasts in my life say it's perfect. I generally have never served more than myself and two others at a time, just because I don't have a large circle of coffee enthusiast friends. With that said, I'm really excited to use this video as I try to move into the realm of serving larger groups and continuing to learn about coffee and palette's!
I don't remember when was the last time when I'd have 8 guests and they would ask for a coffee at the same time (if ever). That said if this happens it would take me more than an hour to make the coffee for all of them.
@@todorkatsarski7487LOLOL! Me too! I excitedly grabbed my 10 cup Chemex thinking it would cover an 8-9 guest brunch coffee delivery, but my humble hand grinder produced so many fines that it took over 10 minutes to finish the draw down! And that with stirring and lifting the filter! I REALLY need a good grinder!
Palates
I use a 6-cup Chemex for the three coffee drinkers in my family nearly every morning, I'm sure the 8-cup version would work just as well. As Mr. Hoffman mentioned, the trickiest part is having enough hot water on hand. I bought a $20 kettle off of Amazon and use it to top off my Fellows gooseneck when water gets low. The Etkin looks interesting, thanks for the vid!
I was surprised he didn't mention the Chemex. A V60 would handle the two decaf drinkers
I was surprised to see the lack of chemex mentioned in video
@@Phannydantommusicas I.
I got the large Chemex for Christmas for this reason. Works well, for me.
Yeah, I feel like Chemex isn't too liked in the modern specialty coffee circles, but these are the kinds of contexts it excels at in my opinion.
French Press all the way! Its Quick, Easy and Cheap while still making good coffee. The Caraffe also looks quite nice on the table!
The timing on this is remarkable. I just came back from 2 weeks camping (luxury camping) with a dozen people and as the coffee weirdo in the group, I was in charge of the daily offering. About a third of our group were committed tea people, so that got us around the 8 guests in your example. Like you, I went with the French Press for the masses. I used some Costa Rica medium roasts ground medium. I measured out 55 grams for a 1-liter pot. (Probably could have gone higher) I did catch some comments on my scale, but where I go, so goes my scale. We made three pots a morning and it worked fairly well. I did bring a 9-cup Moka for a more 'espresso-like' experience, but truthfully, I only used it once. I also did do mid-afternoon Vietnamese coffee pick-ups, using 5 phins, which were very easy to do over ice with canned sweetened condensed milk.
Anyone with 5 phins is a "weird coffee person" in my book. High five!
That alone is enough to make me like camping.
This video totally nailed my experiences with guests and serving coffe at home!
And I really liked the idea of brewing to different coffees for comparison or use two different brewing methods 👌🏻.
Thanks James! 🙏🏻
I really like that, even though sponsored, you brought up how you can just have some quiet breathing moments while making coffee. Coffee is literally part of my mental healthcare. If my therapist asks how I'm going to take care of myself after a particularly taxing session, it's usually making coffee for myself. Sitting outside with it for a few moments with the plants and trees. It's not much, but it helps.
You nailed this subject. I’m telling its down right stressful being the “coffee guy” being “new” and having a big Hispanic family.. 😅.. thanks for your knowledge, your kind spirit and downright awesomeness you bring to everything you do.
We regularly host for our small Italian family. The 6 cup moka pot and 2 cup pour over seems to please everyone. I absolutely think the moka pot is the way to go for large gatherings. Get two 12 cup moka pots going on 2 stovetop burners and you can still enjoy conversations with 23 others while waiting for the sound of the boil. :)
If you want the worst possible coffee experience of all the ones listed and this, choose a Moka Pot. If you want to do something special, do any of these except a Moka pot. People use those in their daily life, it's not impressive or special whatsoever. Zero control of the brewing process you just wait and hope it hasn't been overdone.
@@DNGR369 Like I said, it is my family from Italy and it is what they are used to. They are the ones who introduced me to that style and it is what we do for all occasions so we spend more time together and less time fiddling with a 2 cup machine. My American friends seem to enjoy it too. Also, the trick to keep it from burning is to heat the water separately first and then assemble the moka pot. Take it off the burner as soon as the coffee reaches the bottom of the spout and it will stop boiling right as it finishes. Hope that helps!
James actually has a really nice series on the Moka pot. It's been a go-to brewer for me and my family for years (we're Polish). Awesome for family gatherings, but I would say definately boil water before brewing, and don't hold it on the stove until it starts making sounds - take it off as soon as the sputtering starts. Requires you to watch the pot the whole time, but it lasts no more that a few minutes, and the results are much better imo. My parents never do it though, and the coffee is still fine most of the time. I'd say to me the taste of a well-brewed moka pot is preferable to most pour-overs usually, and I definitely wouldn't say there's zero control over the process - it doesn't offer as much control as say Aeropress, but it's a well designed brewer, so it can produce consistent results.@@PandaD2
I have my barista express and realistically a half decent brew on that is enough for me most of the time. I can make a great French press too (thanks James!). But I still watch all these videos - that’s a testament to the quality of James’ content!
Always wanted James to do a deep dive on food pairings with coffee, only got a tease today
I've heard mint goes well with coffee
The editing and story boarding of this video is amazing.
It can make sense to prepare a batch of cold brew, too, and offer that as an option. If some guests go for that, it means less time spent in the kitchen during the dinner/brunch itself.
That's my thought. Easy and crowd pleasing. You could also have some cold sweet cream to pour on top to have that beautiful contrast, and it will taste so much better than Starbucks
Yeah I am not sure why this was not covered
It's definitely an option to consider but cold brew, although can be enjoyable, it doesn't taste as crisp and bright as fresh brews and doesn't really represent the qualities of coffee beans you paid for. Not ideal when you're the "coffee guy" trying to impress your guests and showing them what the fuss is all about.
Yeah and James hates cold brew
@@moeleraky - Very much in agreement. I can't stand cold brew coffee and even though I'm all for people enjoying what they enjoy, if I'm going to show off my coffee, I'm going to show it off the way I enjoy it.
This was such a comforting video to watch.
I honestly never had 8 guests over I think 😂
For groups of 4 or less I usually make espresso based drinks. Anything other than that, I’ll use a large Moka Pot. It’s my personal favourite whenever I can’t have espresso, so I like sharing that with everyone, since most people don’t have a Moka Pot at home.
I have had 8 guests over, however coffee is never a consideration. The dinner is usually barbeque, pizza, something involving the outdoor kitchen, and the drinks are usually beer.
folks always like when I bust out the 18 'cup' moka pot, even if they've seen one they've rarely seen the big boy
I have two large Bialettis just for guests. It's pretty fast, makes great coffee and doesn't take up too much space to store.
I own two large 8 cup siphon brewers, they're always a hit with guests!
Two economical options with less hands-on time that weren’t mentioned: the drip machine (breville, etc) and Moka pot.
When he says batch brewer he means drip machine EDIT: he means a fancy drip machine
Came for the weird coffee person, stayed for the impressive writing, directing, and cinematography! WOW 🤩
In my experience, I found that a very large mokka pot (10+ cups) works wonders. It's strong enough that people wanting an espresso will be satisfied as is, it can be made into an Americano or a milk drink very easily.
Besides, the look of the brewer tends to have people reassured in some way that this is not a completely out there experience, and is going to be somewhat traditional
that's how my dad has always done it, get out the big boy moka pot for most guests, with instant as a backup
But from this U.S. coffee-drinker's POV, the "very large" Bialetti type pot actually isn't large at all. Our 6-cup Bialetti makes a nice-sized cup of coffee. For people after dinner in my house, a 10-cup would maybe give us enough for 2 people.
@@TamarLitvotBro… you’re not supposed to drink it like a mug of an Americano or something…
@@TamarLitvot that's... A concerning amount of caffeine
A 10 cup mokka pot holds about 35-40g of ground coffee, and a shot of espresso takes about 7g. So that's about 5-6 shots of espresso worth of caffeine in one of those.
@@wenchbyattthis, the only reason my european ass bought the 6 cup is because i sometimes have 5 coffee drinkers in my house and brewing once is way easier than brewing, cooling, cleaningand then brewing again. I usually just make americanos or espressos.
The silt in the bottom of a French press is the best bit!!
James health episode and now this are probably some of the best edited and shot videos. The whole script, cuts, lighting. He has defined his own directing style. Even Wes Anderson would be proud.
I’ve been struggling with this exact thing for years. Thanks for this video!!!
My preferred method of making coffee for a crowd after dinner is using a large siphon coffee maker with a wick (Cona) and letting it brew on the table. Watching it brew is quite relaxing and a great conversation piece, and as a bonus your time away from your friends is kept to a minimum.
A friend had one of these in the 90s it was great, sadly his exploded once at the table it was a tad messy…
Followed your frenchpress brew method to brew six in parallel for a wedding. Worked out perfectly. Minimal effort with excellent results 👌
James i ADORE the editing and style you put into this video, very well done.
Such a creative, thoughtful, and practical approach to this topic. Thank you for helping us weird coffee people share our hobby with more social grace.
I have not been into seriously making coffee for very long, but having tried most methods of making coffee, my go to coffee maker is the French press. Having two of them allows for a huge lot of different things , and hosting people all the time, I've already converted quite a few friends to specialty coffee. Excellent video James, keep these coming.
indeed. walking out of the kitchen dual-wielding two french presses is almost biblical. like, where's my slo-mo roll and theme music?
@@endymion2300I can perfectly imagine everyone at the table turning in slow motion with joyful expressions, Ave Maria playing gently as the host walks in while dual-wielding two French presses like a pro. Hell yeah.
This was great, thanks! I love making espresso drinks for parties at my house, and we have a ton of flavor options and syrups to be able to give the coffee shop experience.
My bit of advice is this: make a menu! I would take half my time just telling people what options I have available, so putting together a menu gave them the fun of the experience, while taking way less time away from being with the group.
I actually created a full website with online ordering, and put a QR code on my coffee bar, so guests could have fun looking at the crazy and hilarious names and descriptions of all of our drinks. It’s always the most fun thing for people coming over for the first time.
One of my cousins did the same thing with his in home bar
Gotta love that title reference, and I love you for it ❤️
That introduction was masterful.
I've become the coffee guy on scouting camp and I must say that making really good coffee is manageable for larger groups. I just find or make whatever that holds a paper filter, chuck it on an old water bottle and pour with a ladle or something (with the help of my trusty hario scale of course).
Making coffee like that with other people is really fun and a great way to have a nice calm chat in the morning while doing something you love :)
I often host people for D&D groups, but have never thought of serving small cups of coffee. Thanks for the idea. I’ll be trying it at my next group.
Love all the philosophical side of making coffee for friends! Thanks for the great video!
Alos a big help when making coffee for your friends - have an open kitchen directly next to the dinner table. You would of course need to plan ahead. A few year mostly, around the time of choosing your appartement or building your house.
I know it might not be everyone’s cup of coffee but preparing a litter of cold brew 12 hours prior is just the quickest cup you can possibly prepare if you really don’t want to stay away from the table. Also James’ japanese Ice coffee also works pretty well since you’re using less water so you can prepare about 4 cups in a v60.
This is what we do for shape note singing conventions in Seattle -- 3-4 tins of preground Costco beans turned into cold brew concentrate diluted with hot water day of.
Too much caffeine in cold brew
Yes making cold brew before the time as a concentrate and then diluted with warm water, is such a beautiful coffee.
Wonderful video. Love the humor and the details. For some reason the video carried me back to 1958 or so when I was a third grader at a U.S. Catholic school run by nuns. My one and only occasion to visit the convent, I wound up in the kitchen where the nuns were boiling a vat of coffee on the stove, to which they'd added egg shells. When they determined it was done, they strained the coffee into a big pot for all to enjoy. I was from a tea-drinking family, and this large-scale coffee prep was exotic to me. Even when coffee drinking finally overtook my family, we used instant. 😲
This is such a great subject to cover, especially since most coffee content centers around brewing for one. Thanks, James!
Love the content, always something new and always improving in production quality. I even stayed for the ad read!!
I thought you had a new coffee assistant working in the background and realized far too late that it was you haha. Great video and love the fact that you mentioned mise en place and people sharing the experience at the same time - something that seems to be overlooked even in some restaurants/cafes!
The production value on this video is absolutely ridiculous. The shot selection, the lighting (especially the kitchen practicals) and the use of the space, A+. Great set design, and the camera work was subtle and didn't try to do too much. Only minor improvement is the very tip of the boom mic in the shot from approximately 11min-14min (on the widest shot), so close to not being in the shot. Love this style and the info, and I appreciate how much work went into this. One of the best videos from this channel so far, incredible!
I loved all these suggestions! My personal go to is my Sage Precision brewer. Yes, it's not quite as enjoyable as other processes, but it makes nearly 2L with minimal fuss, less time away from guests, and the thermal carafe is excellent so I can set it running a little earlier than it needs to be served and serve up at a near ideal temperature. I then use the french press for my milk, and voila!
Totally agree! what's with the course grind recommendations on French press? No flavor! bad extraction! Been doing that since I was 20!
I've made the mistake of serving my guests some really nice single origin Ethiopian coffee in the past. They always asked for cream and sugar after the first sip. I served some of my guests latte/cappuccino made with the coffee from my moka pot. All they said was, "it's good, but it's very strong". So I stopped serving my precious coffee to non-coffee people. I just keep a jar of instant coffee for them.
When I have a bag that gets a little stale I'll put it in the freezer for those types of people. It is still better than what they are used to, and a bit different, but not wasting fine coffee on course pallets.
Punish them by getting a jar of Mellow Birds instant "coffee". I stopped accepting coffee at peoples houses until I knew what they drank after a cup of that. Thankfully not many people drink it anymore.
Some people prefer a higher water to coffee Ratio. For my friends I make an effort to serve them what they will probably like and so far it‘s been appreciated. No need to punish anyone just for a different taste..
Specialty coffee is really not for everyone
@@lisakaramba3251 Haha, sorry I was joking when I said punish them. They're my friends & I want them to have a nice time. So if they don't like my themed or good coffee I'll happily make them what they want. One of the reasons I like the Philips bean to cup machine I have is that I can just punch in the drink they like & allocate them a slot in the memory.That way they get what they like whenever they like it & it doesn't distract me from whatever more complicated method I'm playing with for others. Food & drink are best experienced & shared with friends.☕😃
Thank you so much for this. You sent me on a search for tools to do this. FYI, if you haven't seen, Melitta makes a pour over kit with a 52oz carafe and its own filter basket. Then there is the Big Joe Large Pour Over, which claims to be able to do 2L of brewed coffee. Both are out on Amazon. I've been doing multiple 500ml on my V60 when I have friends over. This never occurred to me to just stick to the ratio and find bigger containers! This is awesome, and I will look for the Etkin. Thank you so much!!
Production on your videos has always been great, and somehow, you and your team find a way to raise the bar every time.
Fantastic content as always, James.
Thank you!
That video was, perhaps, the best that I ever saw from you and your team. In terms of photography, editing, content and timing. Amazing, kudos to everyone involved and I will see you, next week.
James - There’s 8 of us
Me, sipping my espresso knowing I will never invite 8 people to my house because I don’t even have 8 friends - *starts sweating*
Seriously though, the video is awesome and super handy if you ever do make coffee for a crowd!
I think I invited a total of 2 people within the last 5 years. I still bought all the coffee gear.
Funny and relatable!
sipping my tea because I don’t even make coffee at home. The fact that I watch coffee videos is funny in itself, but watching a full video about how to make coffee for a group of 8 is kinda absurd 😂 I guess James videos are just that good haha
Don't worry, Hames will set the record straight to remind us that it was all an illusion, I was home by myself the whole time and don't have any friends.
@@stirfryjediand don’t even really like coffee…
I’ve been using your French press method for large groups for a while now and it never fails.
Having recently held a coffee tasting over brunch, it’s so nice to have it confirmed that it is EXHAUSTING. Partially my fault for trying to do a comparison of 4 different coffees. Great video with great tips! Looking forward to trying some of these ideas at my next tasting!
I work in a café and I also have a nice set up for brewing coffee at home and whenever I get the chance I make coffee for friends and family. I gotta say there is some special energy to sharing your passion for coffee with the people you love.
It is great to see the amount of production value you are putting in your videos. It is like watching a short movie.
Great job!
I absolutely loved the idea behind this video. It was incredibly practical and useful. I have been in this situation countless number of times and learned a lot. Thanks as always James!
I usually don’t like to serve coffee to guests because I feel like the biggest problem is that the more you are into coffee the less likely it is that your friends like the type of coffee you enjoy yourself. Therefor they will most probably not be too happy with the coffee you serve, especially when it comes to acidity.
That’s why I always keep a bag of „traditional“ espresso roast around (and even have one myself once in a while)
@@UloPe So do i. But I don’t enjoy serving it too much. People expect sth. special from me because they know I’m into coffee but the moment I serve sth. special they don’t like it. That’s not too much fun.
Same just have something a little bit on the stronger roasted part at hand. Most people like that.@@UloPe
I have a more medium roast washed coffee around for exactly this reason.
Yeah, but that's all part of hosting. Its like choosing the right playlist for a party - you can't just put on a load of songs that you like, you have to play something the crowd are going to enjoy as well. Its the same with coffee in a group setting. Pick a crowd pleaser, a nice washed Brazilian or Colombian with some sweetness and body to it. You're more likely to win people over that way than by giving them a double thermal-shock, anaerobic, lactic, carbonic macerated cup of coffee.
Such a great video, so bloody relatable and Ive never seen this process spoken about in such detail.
I just have a huge french press and a huge Bialetti Aluminum Moka pot for these situations.
Moka's concentrated flavour just means everyone gets a strong Americano, meaning less brewing needed, as you'll dilute a little bit and the coffee will serve more people.
exactly...
I’ve just come across your channel, and I have to say, you have a real presenter personality!
The perfect video to watch while I'm making espresso!
Its THE moment
Hi James! I think that another great option for a bunch of people would be to use the moka pot. It can make a strong cup of coffee (one that the espresso lovers would be more satisfied with) and at the same time you can dilute it for people that want americanos, or just put some steamed milk for lattes and it will still look fancy and taste delicious. Another advantage is that they exist in really big sizes and you can brew coffee much faster than with other methods.
I have to double check if it's James Hoffman or Hames Joffman just to ensure I'm on the right state of mind 💀
From Colombia, thank you very much for teaching me more about coffee with each video.
You have no idea how practical this is! Yes, we always get asked to make coffee, which we love. But how to serve that much coffee is always a bit of a trick. I have also found the French Press works wonderfully. The Chemex usually ends up tasting a bit harsh, and I have occasionally brought out larger 10 cup old school coffee makers. They get the job done, but I always wonder if there are better options. THANK YOU!
And yes, we have groups over ALL the time. Coffee is always a part of the evening or afternoon parties.
During Christmas morning this year I’m planning on making aeropress lattes for my family members. Homemade peppermint mocha syrup along with it. I look forward to the quietness of it to give me a way to serve my family and have something to do! This video was helpful!!!
Absolutely amazing content. My love for coffee started as a kid at my first cup. But i had no idea the world of coffee could be so fun and interesting. This channel opens my mind. These videos are my meditation! ❤
I regularly make 1L of coffee in my Chemex. It wakes a wonderfully, sweet, clean, and luscious cup for numerous people
The editing on this fantastic
Hopefully this doesn't come across in a condescending way .
It's just that i have been watching your videos for about 6 months now, and i feel as though I have entered a completely different world. But it's brilliant! . the way you talk , the way you explain things, your whole thaught process behind everything , your whole persona has me captivated. From what i thaught was just a case of making and drinking coffee, you really have opened not just my eyes , but whole brain.and for this i personally thank you James. Every video is a lesson and it's taught by a fantastic person, who doesn't patronise,but draws me in further to learn and understand.
For this i thank you James.
This video is just another wonderful lesson.
Thank you James.
For bigger groups I have Moccamaster 1,8 l, or I give them options and they can choose from different brews (V60, Aeropress, Bialetti, French press, Hario Vacuum pot is popular due to using open fire)... And I try to stay close to guests while brewing 😊 James, you are great inspiration, and I love to watch you videos, even if it's a bit expensive - last month I realized also because of your video, that I need to buy Comandante grinder 😂 best regards from Czech republic
Love my comandante, been my brew grinder of choice for a long time. For parties I usually am away from home so I’ll bring an induction hot plate, stove top pouring kettle, scale, comandante and a Hario drip decanter. Make 550~mls of coffee from 600g of water and I can do two batches in like 15 min and have enough for 8 people. I don’t have to leave the conversation space for more than a few seconds to fill the kettle and toss the spent grounds, Plus people love the novelty of the hand grinding which takes less time than boiling the kettle anyway so it’s no time loss.
I’ve also done several back to back aeropresses, espressos and big chemex brews for groups, but I think the v60 and small servings is best.
This new (?) studio looks great. So warm and inviting. And brown. Like a good cup of coffee.
@ 00:10 One day I will suddenly and randomly launch into a monologue towards the corner of the room during a dinner party to freak the guests out lol
😶
They’d probably interrupt you, which would be unfortunate. I’d stay silent to hear your monologue
Unfortunately I discovered this channel and this genius of a man only a few weeks ago! I‘m binge watching every video James made ever since! 😅
Keep on with these videos, showing your knowledge and your wonderful British sense of humour!
Greetings from Munich, Germany! 🇩🇪 ❤👍
Recently I offered 8-10 flat-whites in the row with a single boiler espresso machine.. I must have been stuck in the kitchen for 1 hour!! Good thing though the open kitchen format, people's curiocity drove them close to me checking my weirdness (commentating it along the way) as I was preparing each drink! That was fun! WDT seemed to be the most peculiar of my coffee toys; the voodoo coffee wand!! In the end, for a one time thing it's nice, people perceived it like a show but I don't believe it will keep up their curiocity for a 2nd or 3rd time; neither will my enthusiasm keep its high when I will have to spend a 2nd or 3rd hour of my life brewing coffees with a domestic espresso machine. I think having two-three brewers as a tasting experience would actually be more interesting from now on!
I just finished two weeks camping in remote Greenland field work with a pour over and the new XL Aero press with 3 other people. The Aero press was a great and quick way to make multiple small batches, trying different coffees between batches.
The best suggestion I can give about serving coffee to groups is to listen to what the group speaks about their coffee, hear it, and then do not diminish it even if they are wrong about what they think good coffee is or their methods.
Some folks just like a tasty cup and don't mind whatever brand or method, and that's totally okay. :)
Just wanted to take a moment and praise the amazing colour grading on this video. The production quality is amazing
i wanna go to James' house for a coffee ☕
You know you're in trouble when @UA-cam wants to come to your house...
left on read :p
Leave James alone
@@p.c1892 🤣🤣
I am not gay, but I would marry James just for the morning coffee.
Clever dripper with a #6 Melitta filter. Drip 600 ML then immersion at the end for 200-300 ML. That’s my go to for guests.
I also do breathing exercises while brewing. Great minds think alike;)
Interesting video! I’m always the coffee weirdo, here in Italy you can’t do all this stuff, people don’t trust anything. In this kind of situation espresso is ok, but traditionally we just make one or two mokas and everyone drink with their preferences: plain, with milk, short, corretto and such! Personally, I love this french press approach! ❤❤❤
One thing I’d say regarding large pour overs: the size 03 hario has been around for a while and can brew up to 1L, maybe 1.2 at a push. Certainly not a new thing, but I’m still very much looking forward to that Orea Big Boy.
I like having a number of flavoured coffees to present as options for an after dinner/dessert drink. My favs are chocolate raspberry, french vanilla, and coconut delight.