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this thread makes me consume more coffee than necessary.
after a year of being a cheap ass and using the nespresso at home & work non-stop I can no longer tolerate its wannabe "espresso" water unless drown in frothed or steamed milk
meanwhile my office is near a bunch of amazing independent coffee shops so I just go there and stare at their La Marcocco Strada and give them all my money... Something about the distinct smell of a quality coffee shop.
I started getting into coffee a year ago and picked up a cheap espresso machine and blade grinder as a package for about $150.
It took some work but after practise I was able to make a half decent espresso however, I realise my machine and more importantly my grinder totally suck so I want to upgrade.
I've got a $650 budget and I want a whole new set up - any recommendations?
BoogieWomanI've got a $650 budget and I want a whole new set up - any recommendations?
Rancllio Silvia (with PID) although that thing has gone up drastically in price. So go 2ndhand, they are constantly being sold by people upgrading to an E61 group machine
For a cheap grinder look at Baratza.
And again look at 2ndhand gear, I see people selling Mazzer Super Jolly's for a few hundred dollars that only need a light scrubbing and new set of burs.
Ok so my cousin just asked "aeropress vs French press vs percolator?" Can somebody help give him a weigh up of the pros and cons to each and therefore what's best?
razors-chazOk so my cousin just asked "aeropress vs French press vs percolator?" Can somebody help give him a weigh up of the pros and cons to each and therefore what's best?
There is no 'best', they all create a different brew with their own distinct flavour. They all require work and attention to get something good and they are all pretty cheap.
Most coffee nuts I know have at least one of each and not to forget a dripper.
I watched some review/comparison videos between different electric burr grinders and ended up getting a Breville smart grinder. I realized throwing in an extra $100 would get me a grinder a step up from entry level.
Hopefully induce some coffee jealousy. Just been to my friends new speciality coffee shop. He's got an interesting take on blends in that he believes that theres an inherent problem with espresso blends, and as such only uses single origin for all espresso, milk or not. The issue he feels, is that if a blend is say 50/50 of one bean to another, that in a 3 kilo bag, taken from a larger batch, you may not actually get exactly that 50/50 ratio. Then of the 18g you pull into a shot, you are again, not guaranteed to get the same ratio and indeed in a smaller dose the ratio could quite drastically be altered from one shot to the next. So its kind of like a single malt approach to coffee. Also its a bit of a purists approach to serving it in that the signage only offers you black, white or filter coffee. You can get variations but you need to ask. Had an awesome (flat) white coffee from Nicaragua this morning. They grind using a nuova simonelli mythos 1 (http://www.nuovasimonelli.it/index.php/en/prodotti/macinacaffe/4656-mythos1-eng-2) and also have an NS esspresso machine not sure which model (http://www.nuovasimonelli.it/index.php/en/prodotti/macchine-tradizionali). I wish i was in town more to go.
razors-chazHopefully induce some coffee jealousy. Just been to my friends new speciality coffee shop. He's got an interesting take on blends in that he believes that theres an inherent problem with espresso blends, and as such only uses single origin for all espresso, milk or not. The issue he feels, is that if a blend is say 50/50 of one bean to another, that in a 3 kilo bag, taken from a larger batch, you may not actually get exactly that 50/50 ratio. Then of the 18g you pull into a shot, you are again, not guaranteed to get the same ratio and indeed in a smaller dose the ratio could quite drastically be altered from one shot to the next. So its kind of like a single malt approach to coffee. Also its a bit of a purists approach to serving it in that the signage only offers you black, white or filter coffee. You can get variations but you need to ask. Had an awesome (flat) white coffee from Nicaragua this morning. They grind using a nuova simonelli mythos 1 (http://www.nuovasimonelli.it/index.php/en/prodotti/macinacaffe/4656-mythos1-eng-2) and also have an NS esspresso machine not sure which model (http://www.nuovasimonelli.it/index.php/en/prodotti/macchine-tradizionali). I wish i was in town more to go.
this sounds awesome! single origin espresso is getting more and more popular. i've run a good amount it, it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
CirilloI watched some review/comparison videos between different electric burr grinders and ended up getting a Breville smart grinder. I realized throwing in an extra $100 would get me a grinder a step up from entry level.
Well scratch this, after some deeper digging the updated model has been adjusted to be better for grinding espresso at the cost of coarser grinds. A lot of people said the updated one won't grind coarse enough for french press which is what I drink 90% of the time. I'm a little disappointed since this one has so many good features.
Changed my order to a Baratza virtuoso which has 40 settings compared to the 25 on the breville.
welp, apprently drinking 7x serving size of coffee concentrated all into 1 ouncce of liquid and drinking it as a shot on an empty stomach was a bad idea; puked 3 times......but hey, scored an 86
man this thread makes me feel like such a coffee gaper. I just got a new machine for my birthday, it was cheap £40, but if I put the ground coffee in at night I can then set a timer so there will be a fresh pot made when i wake up. Does it make a big difference if you grind beans yourself?
Also wondered who else takes a flask with them to work/skiing, been using a stanley flask for a while, seems to be holding up a lot better than supermarket ones
CirilloGot myself an espresso machine. Not the best but makes a decent shot for the price I paid. Here's my set-up right now.
This set-up was very short lived. My brother and parents started pulling a few shots each a day on top of me so I got something that could handle the volume and make a much better product
I've started making ghetto cold brew coffee. I have a couple of 2l mason jars brewing in the fridge overnight and will filter tomorrow. So far it's been pretty good, but I need to get newer/better beans (the ones I'm using have been sitting for a long time) and eventually need to get a better grinder for more consistency.
CirilloThis set-up was very short lived. My brother and parents started pulling a few shots each a day on top of me so I got something that could handle the volume and make a much better product
Inb4 three group La Marzocco and Mazzer Robur at the end of summer with this pace.
Been hearing and seeing a lot about cold brew lately, and how it's delicious and not as acidic as hot brewed coffee. So I tried making it, and I'm not sure. It wasn't as gross as normal, cold coffee, but it certainly didn't taste good. I don't understand why you would ever substitute a nice, tasty, warm cup of coffee with cold brew.
CorinBeen hearing and seeing a lot about cold brew lately, and how it's delicious and not as acidic as hot brewed coffee. So I tried making it, and I'm not sure. It wasn't as gross as normal, cold coffee, but it certainly didn't taste good. I don't understand why you would ever substitute a nice, tasty, warm cup of coffee with cold brew.
Because when it's 30*c I want something cold.
Really though, I get where you're coming from. I haven't noticed a huge difference, but I blame that on the fact I've only tried twice. Someday I'll pick up some pre made cold brew (ie. Stumptown, Chameleon, Grady's, etc) and see if there is a big difference.
saskskierBecause when it's 30*c I want something cold.
Really though, I get where you're coming from. I haven't noticed a huge difference, but I blame that on the fact I've only tried twice. Someday I'll pick up some pre made cold brew (ie. Stumptown, Chameleon, Grady's, etc) and see if there is a big difference.
Yeah, I get it, it was around 30 when I tried it. Still wasn't feeling it. But I don't know, maybe I just sucked at making it.
CorinYeah, I get it, it was around 30 when I tried it. Still wasn't feeling it. But I don't know, maybe I just sucked at making it.
The first batch I made I let sit for too long and it wasn't great. The second batch I let sit for around 14-15 hours and it was pretty good. The last batch I made (last night) sat for about 10-11 hours and it's definitely the best one yet. I've been using old beans though, so that's not helping things.
CirilloThis set-up was very short lived. My brother and parents started pulling a few shots each a day on top of me so I got something that could handle the volume and make a much better product
I was about to say that insta-pull did not look like it was coming from that breville haha
This morning finished the last of the four bags of espresso I had bought in May to clear off my university meal plan. The food co-op down the street has some nice local & fair trade roasts for $10 a pound (http://estatescoffee.com/ & http://alternativegrounds.com/), and if you join ($5), its 15% off on Wednesdays. Not bad, this assumes it doesn't taste like shit though.
CorinYeah, I get it, it was around 30 when I tried it. Still wasn't feeling it. But I don't know, maybe I just sucked at making it.
i haven't made it my self but one of the better shops in town makes it. i still would rather have an iced espresso drink i think. assuming the espresso goes straight onto the ice and gets cooled as quickly as possibly the flavour won't be effected too much. i wouldn't want straight cold espresso, that would be gross, but i always enjoy iced americanos, iced breves(not a big milk drinker so no lattes), and espresso/baileys/ice
curious what other people think about cold brew vs iced espresso drink
summersoverthis thread makes me consume more coffee than necessary.
after a year of being a cheap ass and using the nespresso at home & work non-stop I can no longer tolerate its wannabe "espresso" water unless drown in frothed or steamed milk
meanwhile my office is near a bunch of amazing independent coffee shops so I just go there and stare at their La Marcocco Strada and give them all my money... Something about the distinct smell of a quality coffee shop.
i need a coffee.
Marzocco, not Marcocco. Also, I work for a Marzocco dealer, and the Strada is overkill (in my opinion). We use the GB5 and it's amazing.
razors-chazOk so my cousin just asked "aeropress vs French press vs percolator?" Can somebody help give him a weigh up of the pros and cons to each and therefore what's best?
It's all person preference, but I prefer Chemex/Beehouse.
My brother has this thing in the apartment I used to live in, since I took both my Moccamaster and Bialetti back home. This machine is wasteful, expensive and gross, so today I bought a little Bodum french press for the place.
Have a temp crown (9) in atm while I wait for it to be replaced with a perm so I "cant drink" coffee or any other colored drinks as Im doing a whitening program atm
Problem is I got a good deal on an aeropress ($11 so I said fuck it) and am now drinking coffee with a straw, tilting my head back and swallowing. I feel like a baby bird that needs stimulants.
Anyway. Never thought I would buy an aeropress because Im not really in to the whole cheap plastic thing. It makes very ok coffee. I think its extremely overrated, its such a basic principle I dont really understand the hype.
I love the FP because it gives a cup so much more character then filtered brewing methods but I definitely see the appeal behind the aeropress. Quick and simple. Gives you a cup that tastes between a standard drip and a FP with basically no clean up time- that being said I am considering buying a metal filter so I can get the oily goodness that is expected from a FP- but then it kinda negates the cleanup convenience over a FP
Phil-X-Have a temp crown (9) in atm while I wait for it to be replaced with a perm so I "cant drink" coffee or any other colored drinks as Im doing a whitening program atm
Problem is I got a good deal on an aeropress ($11 so I said fuck it) and am now drinking coffee with a straw, tilting my head back and swallowing. I feel like a baby bird that needs stimulants.
Anyway. Never thought I would buy an aeropress because Im not really in to the whole cheap plastic thing. It makes very ok coffee. I think its extremely overrated, its such a basic principle I dont really understand the hype.
I love the FP because it gives a cup so much more character then filtered brewing methods but I definitely see the appeal behind the aeropress. Quick and simple. Gives you a cup that tastes between a standard drip and a FP with basically no clean up time- that being said I am considering buying a metal filter so I can get the oily goodness that is expected from a FP- but then it kinda negates the cleanup convenience over a FP
paper vs metal filter- there isn't a "better" only different. obviously the flavor and feeling that a metal filter allows is more to your taste than the paper.. it's certainly not "better"
Aaaron.paper vs metal filter- there isn't a "better" only different. obviously the flavor and feeling that a metal filter allows is more to your taste than the paper.. it's certainly not "better"
I prefer a little girt and oil, so in my opinion it would be better
Tell me more about PID. What difference does it make?
Before I get a PID, I'm pretty sure my next step is picking up a half decent grinder. I'm looking at probably something like a Baratza Encore/Virtuoso unless I can find another good deal on something better.
Tell me more about PID. What difference does it make?
Before I get a PID, I'm pretty sure my next step is picking up a half decent grinder. I'm looking at probably something like a Baratza Encore/Virtuoso unless I can find another good deal on something better.
Thoughts? Any other suggestions?
Espresso grinder on the cheap go with the preciso. Virtuoso is a good grinder but just doesn't have the small enough adjustments for espresso.
The PID will keep the boiler temperature very precise. The silvias stock thermostat (or whatever they call it) is known to vary +/- 20 degrees which is no bueno for espresso. Some people learn how to temp surf their machine but that's a whole different story.
omnidataRancllio Silvia (with PID) although that thing has gone up drastically in price. So go 2ndhand, they are constantly being sold by people upgrading to an E61 group machine
For a cheap grinder look at Baratza.
And again look at 2ndhand gear, I see people selling Mazzer Super Jolly's for a few hundred dollars that only need a light scrubbing and new set of burs.
I have a Silvia, love it a lot. It's pushing 10 years old and still runs fine because it's not abused. Just do yourself a favor and make sure to clean whatever machine you get a few times a year, or else it's like driving your car and never changing the oil.
I'm so jealous of all you people and your nice coffee making things. I'm also drinking Great Value coffee from work right now because it was free and I was desperate. Oh the shame, this tastes like sewage. :(
