A Frenchman who doesn’t drink coffee, eh! <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> That’s ok, You do have it right, water will boil at 100 degrees Celsius and 212 degrees Fahrenheit. However, water boils less than 212/100 the higher one goes in altitude. Water at my place (3745’ or 1141.48 m) boils at 204 degrees Fahrenheit or about 96 degrees Celsius.

The National Sanitary Foundation recommends that coffee in restaurants be served between 175-185 degrees Fahrenheit (80-85 C) McDonald's in response to consumer complaints of the coffee being too cold on arrival at work, raised the temperature to between 200 and 210 degrees F just slightly off boil. This was after a survey was done and 5,000 respondents complained of the coffee being too cold. However, about 7200 people complained the coffee was too hot when they first received the coffee. In settling the lawsuit (one of many) McDonald’s was told to turn the temp down. McDonald’s now serves their coffee from 185-190 degrees F.

Coffee can be made from boiling water by placing the grounds directly into the boiling water. This method has many different names, such as campfire and cowboy coffee. There are also a couple of ways to remove the coffee before serving. Method one is to take about ½ cup of cold water per 12 cups of coffee and pour it on the top. The grounds instantly sink. Method 2 is the press method or French press. Basically a special pot is used to steep the coffee and then before serving a plunger is pushed which “pushes” a wire screen to the pot bottom thereby pushing the grounds down. Either way, it makes for a very great cup of coffee. <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Take care,
Stargazer

ASAP = Always Suspicious, Always Prepared