Coffee

TheOsprey · Jul 3, 2020

Not quite on topic, but I've got a DeLonghi ECAM 22.320 bean to cup machine, which was the top rated machine on beantocupcoffeemachines.net (catchy eh!) until it was superceded by a different DeLonghi machine.

It makes amazing coffee, but it doesn't quite have the pressure for a proper espresso.

I think the best espressos I've had have been from stove top machines.

And to join in with the best coffees, my town has a coffee house who roast their own coffee. Their dark roast Monsoon Malabar has rendered all other coffee void for me.

pilgrimhudd · Jul 3, 2020

foxbat said:
We should have a separate thread on the best small coffee suppliers that people have discovered. Personally I got into whole bean Union coffee after trying a bag from Waitrose. Super stuff, Gajah Mountain is my fave but we've currently got Maraba and it's just ace.

This is a good idea.

samale · Jul 3, 2020

Watching with interest, I love my coffee, only at the Tassimo standard at the min

strange-steve · Jul 3, 2020

TheOsprey said:
think the best espressos I've had have been from stove top machines.

I like the stove top too but I don't think it's really espresso.

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

strange-steve said:
Good question, and I don't really know. I believe I'm right in saying that as far as grinders go, if you're on a restricted budget then you're better off with a hand grinder? I probably couldn't go much higher than about £400 for both, which I know isn't a lot but I can't really justify spending more on a hobby!

Yes I would go for a hand grinder but make sure it is a burr grinder. Something like the Rhino Hand Coffee Grinder - Cafedirect Shop A burr grinder gives you the best even grind possible. Some of the little cheap electric machines just mash and cut the bean rather than grind. For a home machine I would invest in a hand pumped machine. To extract the right oils from the bean you will want your machine to extract at 9 bar of pressure. Most home espresso machines don’t really reach that pressure, or if they do, they get there by utilising water that is far too hot for extracting coffee.

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

strange-steve said:
I like the stove top too but I don't think it's really espresso.

You are right @strange-steve stove top is not espresso. Espresso is very specifically extracted using a 9 Barr coffee machine.

simon12 · Jul 3, 2020

I have been drinking french press coffee for years the biggest upgrade was moving from Redhill to Edenbridge the water here makes much better coffee.

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

samale said:
Watching with interest, I love my coffee, only at the Tassimo standard at the min

So big secret my friend.

If you want really consistent great quality coffee when you don’t know the science behind coffee extraction. Stick with a machine. Nespresso machines and pods produce great quality coffee consistently, time and time again. If like @strange-steve you want to delve deeper into the science etc behind producing great coffee then you will need a manual machine.

strange-steve · Jul 3, 2020

Fireside Ales Homebrewery said:
You are right @strange-steve stove top is not espresso. Espresso is very specifically extracted using a 9 Barr coffee machine.

Actually that reminds me of this 9Barista espresso maker, a stove top which does generate 9 bar pressure and through some ingenious internal wizardry doesn't use superheated water. I think it's a work of art and an engineering masterpiece, but not cheap at £300:

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

@strange-steve If I was to get an espresso machine for home of the type you are after I would look at something like this. La Pavoni EL Europiccola | Caffè Italia Hand pumped to get the correct level of pressure. Or the Electra at a slightly higher price point. Elektra Micro Casa Lever S1 | Caffè Italia

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

strange-steve said:
Actually that reminds me of this 9Barista espresso maker, a stove top which does generate 9 bar pressure and through some ingenious internal wizardry doesn't use superheated water. I think it's a work of art and an engineering masterpiece, but not cheap at £300:

Looks awesome

Clint · Jul 3, 2020

I used to drink lots of coffee...nothing fancy just the instant stuff. A few years ago I had a real bad chest infection and afterwards for some strange reason I couldn't stand the stuff...I haven't drunk coffee at home since but drink the dreadful stuff out the machine in work as it's the best of a bad lot...
As per Samale I've been thinking of a machine such as the Tassimo as a few in work have them and are always banging on about it..plus they do hot choc which is a winner as Mr Clint and my two boys are chocoholics...
So...those Tassimo gadgets...they're ok then..??

strange-steve · Jul 3, 2020

Fireside Ales Homebrewery said:
@strange-steve If I was to get an espresso machine for home of the type you are after I would look at something like this. La Pavoni EL Europiccola | Caffè Italia Hand pumped to get the correct level of pressure. Or the Electra at a slightly higher price point. Elektra Micro Casa Lever S1 | Caffè Italia

That's a beautiful thing, but almost twice the price of the Flair. @Surfingobo suggested this as a second hand option, which I'll certainly look out for.

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

Clint said:
I used to drink lots of coffee...nothing fancy just the instant stuff. A few years ago I had a real bad chest infection and afterwards for some strange reason I couldn't stand the stuff...I haven't drunk coffee at home since but drink the dreadful stuff out the machine in work as it's the best of a bad lot...
As per Samale I've been thinking of a machine such as the Tassimo as a few in work have them and are always banging on about it..plus they do hot choc which is a winner as Mr Clint and my two boys are chocoholics...
So...those Tassimo gadgets...they're ok then..??

Yes Tassimo are ok. Nespresso are the next level but a bit more expensive. The machines give good consistency and nice tasting coffee.

Fireside Ales Homebrewery · Jul 3, 2020

strange-steve said:
That's a beautiful thing, but almost twice the price of the Flair. @Surfingobo suggested this as a second hand option, which I'll certainly look out for.

I’ll see if I can scout out some good offers for you. I was in the coffee industry for 10plus years working in speciality coffee houses in Bath and Australia. Someone I know in the industry must be selling a machine

strange-steve · Jul 3, 2020

Fireside Ales Homebrewery said:
I’ll see if I can scout out some good offers for you. I was in the coffee industry for 10plus years working in speciality coffee houses in Bath and Australia. Someone I know in the industry must be selling a machine

That would be awesome :hat:

pilgrimhudd · Jul 3, 2020

Clint said:
I used to drink lots of coffee...nothing fancy just the instant stuff. A few years ago I had a real bad chest infection and afterwards for some strange reason I couldn't stand the stuff...I haven't drunk coffee at home since but drink the dreadful stuff out the machine in work as it's the best of a bad lot...
As per Samale I've been thinking of a machine such as the Tassimo as a few in work have them and are always banging on about it..plus they do hot choc which is a winner as Mr Clint and my two boys are chocoholics...
So...those Tassimo gadgets...they're ok then..??

I've got one, the Colombian americano and espresso's are good, the wife likes the flat whites but they are a bit artificial for me. Good for the price I'd say.

Surfingobo · Jul 3, 2020

In terms of coffee beans, I buy a lot from rave, and I like that the packaging is compostable and the little metal clips that they attach the card to are so bloody handy to have on hand, I never seem to have enough of them!

strange-steve · Jul 3, 2020

Clint said:
I used to drink lots of coffee...nothing fancy just the instant stuff. A few years ago I had a real bad chest infection and afterwards for some strange reason I couldn't stand the stuff...I haven't drunk coffee at home since but drink the dreadful stuff out the machine in work as it's the best of a bad lot...
As per Samale I've been thinking of a machine such as the Tassimo as a few in work have them and are always banging on about it..plus they do hot choc which is a winner as Mr Clint and my two boys are chocoholics...
So...those Tassimo gadgets...they're ok then..??

My Mrs uses a Nespresso machine, it's OK but entirely dependant on the quality of the pods, the cheap ones are pretty terrible.

joel · Jul 3, 2020

I just got a Kitchenaid Artisan dual boiler (made for them by Gaggia I believe, it's basically a dual boiler Classic in a retro shell) after struggling along with a dying Ascaso Dream I won for £1 online for the last year, both with the Iberital MC2 grinder. I always get a good espresso out of the Kitchenaid if my grind is right, sometimes excellent shots, and it steams milk well if you take the plastic sleeve off. As for coffee I was on a budget so no super expensive roasters for me yet. Wogan is good value, I don't mind robusta in an espresso blend so their Con Vivo has been my default, crema for days! Buy 750g instead of 1kg if you want cheaper postage. They have some lighter roasts and single origin if you like that sort of thing but I like the more old school blends.

If you're purely wanting to make shots then a lever machine is probably still the best way to go, and a used grinder.

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