Yet Another Cycling Forum
Off Topic => The Pub => Food & Drink => Topic started by: Feline on 31 January, 2011, 06:26:03 pm
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Last week I broke the glass beaker of my Bodum cafetiere shutting the dishwasher. It had lasted 19 years so I can't really complain. However I now find myself on the pointy horns of a dilemma. Do I replace the beaker or invest in a coffee machine?
My kids are trying to convince me to get something like one of their friend's parents have that you load sachets into and it does the rest for you. I think they may be especially keen on this idea since it can make frothy hot chocolate as well as various styles of coffee. I am always suspicious of machines that tie you to buying particular refills that may end up becoming obsolete. Probably the most important feature I would want is it being very easy to clean / keep clean. Dishwasher safe components would also be very useful.
Does anyone have any experience of the kinds of coffee machines on the market today? Can anyone recommend a good one? I am a fan of cappuccino and also Irish coffee so ideally would like to be able to make these. Can anyone recommend a particular make and/or model? Also, what type of coffee should I buy (I am a real coffee numpty, I know).
TIA!
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I have never been impressed with coffee from pods. I would go for freshly ground coffee always. You can get machines that will grind the beans for you, so it's a matter of keeping it full, and emptying from time to time. Machines of all types will need descaling every so often, depending on water hardness.
I can't give any specific machine recommendations if you want automatic. My Gaggia Classic (manual) is fine, but there is better out there. Ural will be along in a minute to tell you what to buy.
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Mmm, coffee :). What sort of budget do you have in mind, and how much effort are you willing to put into your morning brew?
Unless you're prepared to put a fair amount of time and effort in, you might want to steer clear of espresso machines (but they can be great, geeky, fun if you're that way inclined).
Otherwise, glassware-based coffee makers are a pretty good solution IMO. If you want something different from your old cafetiere, there's always one of these (http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item109802.aspx). Slightly more fiddly, but make really lovely coffee.
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Don't touch coffee from pods. I've not had a single good cup from one of those.
If thinking of espresso type machine, bean to cup types are very expensive (think around £1000.
Even if you go for a manual machine, like the Gaggia baby class, that I have, you are also going to have to invest in a grinder to get the best from it - and for one worth having, you can add at least £100 to the cost of the machine. So you are heading to a total of between 300 to 350 for a basic setup.
Not cheap, but SO worth it.
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if you wanted a pod based machine, the lavazza mio modo is pretty good and saves a huuuuge amount of faff.
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Thanks for the advice so far. Our water here is VERY hard because of the limestone hills all around. Even a single drop of water on a steel drainer dries to a white splat here. I have a kettle that filters tap water though so I can fill the machine with that if needed to minimise scale.
Budget wise I would probably go up to about £250 if it was a good machine. But ease of use will be important, if I want a coffee then I don't want to faff around making it. My pet hate is things that are a pain to wash after use so you put it off then find it dirty when you next want to use it. My cafetiere was a bit like this, the coffee would make a right mess of my sink when you tipped it out and bits would get stuck between the metal discs so you had to take it apart each time. It took longer to clean than the coffee did to drink :facepalm:
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The basket of an espresso machine is much easier to clean than a caffitiere. You don't want the coffee grinds going down the sink, that way lies trouble. You have to wipe the shower head as well, and wipe the steam nozzle. The basket would be dishwasher safe, as would I think the drip tray.
Gaggia Classic is inside your budget. I didn't spend £100 on a grinder, I spent about £50. That's better than a £25 one by a long way.
The beans I'm using at the moment seem to grind very messy for some reason. Dunno why, but the beans I normally use are much less prone to going everywhere once ground.
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I agree with the sentiments about pods. However, I'm not sure I'd rate bean-to-cup machines either. They seem to be set up to grind quite coarsely and pump quite a bit of water through in 10-15 seconds, which isn't my idea of caffeinated pleasure. To be fair, I've only really come across them in institutional settings though -- maybe if you have one in your kitchen and take some time to set them up, you can do a bit better than that. I'm not wildly optimistic though.
Ultra-hard water is an issue for espresso machines. You can get little ion-exchangers that sit in the water tanks of some models, but that's extra cost and faff.
Espresso machines do hit the "don't need cleaning out before you use them" point. Apart from knocking the grounds out after each shot, they do need a little bit of extra work, but not every day.
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By the way, agree that cafetiere's aren't much fun to clean. Vacuum brewers are a bit better, especially if you're using a ground glass filter (standard on the Cona I linked above), but still a little bit of effort.
Paper filter cones might actually be best in this regard. Lift whole lot out, dump in compost, rinse the funnel out if you're feeling particularly fussy, done.
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Is there any way round having to grind your own beans? I'm guessing not or you wouldn't all be doing it :D
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Is there any way round having to grind your own beans? I'm guessing not or you wouldn't all be doing it :D
If you want espresso, I'd say no. Even if you discount the freshly-ground-coffee-tastes-much-better factor, getting half-way decent espresso requires tuning the grind to match the type of beans you're using, your machine, and the conditions (grind does change a bit from day to day -- freshness of beans and air humidity both seem to matter). Even if you can get pre-ground stuff that's approximately the right fineness for espresso (most I've come across is far too coarse), you'll never get it quite right.
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Mmm, coffee :). What sort of budget do you have in mind, and how much effort are you willing to put into your morning brew?
Unless you're prepared to put a fair amount of time and effort in, you might want to steer clear of espresso machines (but they can be great, geeky, fun if you're that way inclined).
Otherwise, glassware-based coffee makers are a pretty good solution IMO. If you want something different from your old cafetiere, there's always one of these (http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item109802.aspx). Slightly more fiddly, but make really lovely coffee.
Spot on, in my opinion and experience. If you can abandon the idea of cappuccino then just get one of those plastic filter cone holders that sits on your mug and some papers and a grinder.
Accessories › Accessories for Coffee ::
H. R. Higgins (Coffee-man) Ltd. (http://www.hrhiggins.co.uk/accessories/coffee/plastic_filter_cones)
No faff, the coffee is great and the paper and grinds go on the compost. Total outlay is about a fiver, plus maybe £50 for a cheap burr grinder (like the Dualit)
There really is no easy or cheap way to get decent espresso.
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Anyway, grinding is a vital part of the ritual 8).
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I don't grind my own, but I quite enjoy the faff/ritual that accompanies the making of a cup of coffee with my machine. For that reason and to keep the choice of coffee as wide as possible, I wouldn't go for a pod-only machine.
I've got a Morphy Richards machine that does the job well, but it does get caked up with our hardish water quite easily, so Oust is a permanent fixture in our kitchen. Which gave the DeLonghi EC330 Coffee Maker top marks for taste with grounds & pods & it's about £90. Apart from an Argos one that doesn't seem to be in their catalogue now, every other recommendation is much more expensive and not much better rated.
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I like the idea of being able to put the paper and grounds in the compost, i could never do that before because they were floating in an inch of water in the cafetiere. I need to get my head around this grinding idea!
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It's really very easy... you get a bag of beans from the supermarket, you put a small handfull in the grinder, press the 'on' switch, and then when it has ground then you sprinkle it into the paper filter cone
;D
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It's really very easy... you get a bag of beans from the supermarket, you put a small handfull in the grinder, press the 'on' switch, and then when it has ground then you sprinkle it into the paper filter cone
;D
But do you then have to dismantle the grinder and clean it?
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Coffee is a popular forum theme:
Cheaper Espresso machine? (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=25959.0)
Plumbed in coffee machine (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6550.0)
Non plumbed in coffee machines (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6893.0)
Afterwards, these topics might be of interest:
Coffee Grinder/Mill recommendation (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=40984.0)
Rate my crema (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=37941.0)
When I did a forum search for coffee the results included ride reports of every Audax ever written ;D
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It's really very easy... you get a bag of beans from the supermarket, you put a small handfull in the grinder, press the 'on' switch, and then when it has ground then you sprinkle it into the paper filter cone
;D
But do you then have to dismantle the grinder and clean it?
No.
Get a Dualit grinder. 'bout £60
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It's really very easy... you get a bag of beans from the supermarket, you put a small handfull in the grinder, press the 'on' switch, and then when it has ground then you sprinkle it into the paper filter cone
;D
But do you then have to dismantle the grinder and clean it?
No.
Get a Dualit grinder. 'bout £60
Thanks :thumbsup:
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Now you only need to find a source of fresh roasted coffee. I'm really lucky. A local delicatessen roasts once a week, and has a really good range.
Its an obsession I tell you.
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You don't have to grind your own, at least not to start with. I was making fine espresso with pre-ground Lavazza and Illy for years. Not superlative by any means, but better than any pod stuff and better than many cups I paid for in cafes.
However, things got markedly better when I got a grinder, and it was a quantum leap when I got some freshly-roasted beans.
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Everyone is a coffee numpty when you meet someone who really knows his stuff. Anyway, it's a big faff this coffee business and you end up chasing something that is never.....quite...right. I have a Gaggia Classic. Great machine, not expensive, does what it does well ie it makes espresso and that is really all I want it to do. VFM? get a stovetop Moka pot by eg Bialetti. Stainless steel ones can go in the dishwasher. Bean>cup? Poss. the Jura at £600 :o is a good machine but its grinder may not be variable enough. Nespresso machines are good for what they do and are relatively inexpensive BUT you have to order the pods from Nestle so you are hostage to them.
Decide what sort of coffee you like (I use a cafetiere or moka pot in the am). From there, if you don't need mochachoccafrappachinolatte then you don't need a trick machine. Source of good beans? Monmouth Coffee, Wilson Roberts in Lancs, Absolute Coffee in Yorkshire. Going to a class at Coffee Supplier - Commercial Espresso Machines - Barista training - Wholesale coffee suppliers for the trade - Commercial coffee equipment (http://www.absolutecoffee.co.uk) (may have had a name change) was an eyeopener. The tutor,Youri, was a master of coffee making. He could do the latte art stuff superbly, knock out a flat white or superb capuccino and was v.v.funny.
Grinders are a whole saga to themselves and if you get an electric machine you have to understand that your coffee can vary literally hour to hour and that freshness from both bean and grind are essential (plus temp,water pressure,tamp pressure etc).
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I use an Aeropress (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=42683.0) at work now. It makes lovely coffee :smug:
At home we have one of these (http://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/product/essenza-coffee-machine-magimix-m100-automatic-eco-silver):
(http://www.comparestoreprices.co.uk/images/ma/magimix-m100.jpg)
The Aeropress makes better coffee because I can use the beans I want, ground the way I like. But for "good enough", ultra-convenient espresso, the Nespresso machine is okay.
I want a Gaggia, though. You probably will eventually, too :)
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I want a Gaggia Rancilio, though. You probably will eventually, too :)
FTFY ;D
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This is all madness. People get obsessed by coffee and end up spending a fortune and worrying about everything.
Get a Delonghi BAR14 for £60 and stick Illy or Lavassa pre ground espresso in it and it will make decent coffee. it even has a frother on the side to froth your milk for capachino (which is espresso + frothy milk). Once of these will blow the spots of chain coffee shop coffee. Alternatively get one of those little stove top single cup makers they work well as well and cost <£20.
Talk to people about coffee and its like talking on here about bikes people will tell you that you cant get away with anything less than a titanium frame and utegra when what most people really need is a decent quality bike rather than the BSO that supermarkets sell.
If you get the coffee bug then splash out on a burr grinder and an expensive machine but really you don't have to unless you are trying to replicate that perfect shot you once had in that extra special cafe in that little town near Florence.
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I want a Gaggia Rancilio La Marzocco, though. You probably will eventually, too :)
FTFY ;D
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No, you'll want a La Spaziale with a twin boiler and then want a commercial La Spaziale (£3k). Coffee machines at UK Coffee Suppliers - Happy Donkey (http://www.happydonkey.co.uk) or
Espresso Machines, Coffee Makers, Grinders, Coffee Accessories For Gourmet Coffee Drinks
(http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk)
Price however is not a guarantee of quality. It's water/steam/electrics - not a great mix. Avoid anything with led screens and scroll thro' menus in a choice of languages. It's about constant high pressure and water temp
But, decide what you wan to drink. A coffee machine is not a chocolate maker altho' it can provide steam and hot water. Oh, and who will be cleaning it and the knock-box for the grounds?
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No, you'll want a La Spaziale with a twin boiler.
They're very, very, good -- really, my only complaint is that it's running off a tank rather than plumbed in, and that's more a matter of kitchen-space/layout than anything else -- but I'd still go for a GS3 given an unlimited budget.
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Coffee is a popular forum theme:
I think that's true pretty much anywhere that people of a vaguely-technical bent congregate.
If you want to re-balance the force, you could always find a coffee forum (plenty to choose from) and start a "how do I get a decent shot on an Audax" thread :demon:
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Another good place to get really freshly-roasted beans:
http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ (http://www.hasbean.co.uk/)
I'm currently liking their Blake espresso blend. Also a great range of unblended coffees.
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
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Have you considered the Balkan/Greek/Bosnian/Turkish/Camp Cowboy method?
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Best coffee I ever had: hand roasted and hand ground over a bar-b-que by an Ethiopian woman of my acquaintance. It was nuclear.
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
*pricks up ears*
An espresso machine...?
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Now you only need to find a source of fresh roasted coffee. I'm really lucky. A local delicatessen roasts once a week, and has a really good range.
Its an obsession I tell you.
UNION HAND-ROASTED | Business (http://www.unionroasted.com)
They roast the beans when you order them. You'll not get them fresher than that without roasting them yourself. Can't fault the quality or the variety of coffees either.
I've pretty much settled on Union Revelation as my go-to espresso blend.
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
*pricks up ears*
An espresso machine...?
They are good. Take a while to get up to pressure and loose pressure after a couple of cups but hey how many do you want instantly you aren't running a cafe. Not tamping too tight seems to be the secret with these. Well it is with mine. Firm but dont ram it down.
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
*pricks up ears*
An espresso machine...?
Yep. I'll dig it out and let you know the model. As you asked first, if you want it, it's yours.
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Coffee is a popular forum theme:
I think that's true pretty much anywhere that people of a vaguely-technical bent congregate.
If you want to re-balance the force, you could always find a coffee forum (plenty to choose from) and start a "how do I get a decent shot on an Audax" thread :demon:
I asked it here because I know I will get a whole range of answers for a whole range of budgets, and I will end up being educated on what I should one day aspire to own! I wanted to avoid inadvertently buying a 'BSO' of the coffee world ;D
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I asked it here because I know I will get a whole range of answers for a whole range of budgets, and I will end up being educated on what I should one day aspire to own! I wanted to avoid inadvertently buying a 'BSO' of the coffee world ;D
Hmm, can I claim "EMSO" as acronym-of-the-day?
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
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Anyone got a spare coffee machine with integral GPS mouldering in the attic?
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(http://www.iainclaridge.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/0111/giotto2.jpg)
She will be mine... Oh yes, she will be mine.
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Rhys W's true identity:
(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kvlu5vVlMx1qauqdqo1_500.jpg)
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This is all madness. People get obsessed by coffee and end up spending a fortune and worrying about everything.
Get a Delonghi BAR14 for £60 and stick Illy or Lavassa pre ground espresso in it and it will make decent coffee. it even has a frother on the side to froth your milk for capachino (which is espresso + frothy milk). Once of these will blow the spots of chain coffee shop coffee. Alternatively get one of those little stove top single cup makers they work well as well and cost <£20.
Talk to people about coffee and its like talking on here about bikes people will tell you that you cant get away with anything less than a titanium frame and utegra when what most people really need is a decent quality bike rather than the BSO that supermarkets sell.
If you get the coffee bug then splash out on a burr grinder and an expensive machine but really you don't have to unless you are trying to replicate that perfect shot you once had in that extra special cafe in that little town near Florence.
I'll reiterate what has been said before. If you want decent espresso you'll have to invest over £500, but more importantly a load of time and effort to learn how to make it.
If you dont really know what good espresso is and you dont mind a cup of piss, follow pcolbecks advice ;)
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
Why do you want a Dualit and what are you trying to achieve?
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
*pricks up ears*
An espresso machine...?
Yep. I'll dig it out and let you know the model. As you asked first, if you want it, it's yours.
Awesome :)
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Is there any way round having to grind your own beans? I'm guessing not or you wouldn't all be doing it :D
Yes - but not for purists ;) Get ground beans from your fave coffee roasting/grinding emporium in smallish quantities, then freeze.
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
I payed just over £100 for an Iberital MC1 on Ebay, generally regarded as the cheapest grinder that's up to the job of proper espresso. It might be worth looking around.
I was very much like Pcolbeck in my outlook until I scored a Rancilio Silvia on the 'bay. Once I'd got a decent grinder, some good beans and had wasted hours and hours reading up on how to combine grind, dose and brew time I started making some good shots and realised what all the fuss is about.
If you want hassle-free, go with Nespresso. It's good enough for Heston Blumenthal's restaurant. Just don't make the mistake of thinking it's espresso. ;D
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If you want hassle-free, go with Nespresso. It's good enough for Heston Blumenthal's restaurant.
I'm staggered. Nespresso is nice, but I'm fast realising that there's no way it compares to fresh-ground coffee. Even what I make in my Aeropress is better, because I'm using better ingredients.
Heston must have been paid a shitload to endorse it.
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I have a delonghi machine in the loft. Free to a good home.
*pricks up ears*
An espresso machine...?
They are good. Take a while to get up to pressure and loose pressure after a couple of cups but hey how many do you want instantly you aren't running a cafe. Not tamping too tight seems to be the secret with these. Well it is with mine. Firm but dont ram it down.
I have one of these. It's a bit noisy and I sometimes have to hold the cups to keep them from vibrating off the tray, but it makes perfectly fine espresso.
I agree, the tamping down is the secret... Not grinding too fine also helps.
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
You can get a decent burr grinder like the Krups GVX2 (http://bit.ly/dEPW3q) for around £35.
A burr grinder grinds the beans instead of chopping them and, IMHO, produces a better ground with less heat.
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I really just want to make nice coffee, latte or the stuff with cream floating on top. I don't think I even like expresso, I tried to drink some in France once many years ago and had to spit it out! It tasted thick and gloopy and bitter. I like my coffee to be not too strong and smooth and mellow tasting really. For that reason I am not really looking for a machine that specialises in expresso.
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
Why do you want a Dualit and what are you trying to achieve?
Ural has recommended the Dualit, and the consensus seems to be that grinding your own beans is the way to go for nice coffee.
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Get yourself a Bodum milk frothing jug. Great for lattes and the like. That combined with an aeropress will serve your needs. The milk will mask a lot of the bitterness of a bad coffee, so you don't need to get anything flash.
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I really just want to make nice coffee, latte or the stuff with cream floating on top. I don't think I even like expresso, I tried to drink some in France once many years ago and had to spit it out! It tasted thick and gloopy and bitter. I like my coffee to be not too strong and smooth and mellow tasting really. For that reason I am not really looking for a machine that specialises in expresso.
:facepalm:
Just buy a Nespresso.
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Nespresso could be an overkill, as that's more about espresso. The Dulce Gusto is the version for the milky coffees.
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Senseo for the win...... ;)
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How many different answers can we get on one topic? :)
My vote: NESCAFÉ Cappuccino (http://www.nescafe.co.uk/CoffeeCupboard/cafe-menu/nescaf-cappuccino)
IGMC.
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Damnit I am having trouble finding the Dualit grinder for less than £79 anywhere!
Why do you want a Dualit and what are you trying to achieve?
Ural has recommended the Dualit, and the consensus seems to be that grinding your own beans is the way to go for nice coffee.
For me it couldn't grind fine enough so I got a Kitchen Aid. The Gaggia grinder seems quite good. However, I will warn you that all this is a faff royale. I've got beans,grinder,machine,cafetiere,stovetop pots and the machine is great but you will faff about trying to get the right grind for what you want then the right tamp and the right volume. My recommendations on this if you just want a cup of coffee? Use a stovetop moka pot and a decent coffee from the supermarket (espresso blend) or get a Nespresso machine esp. if the family want to mess about. You'll notice that this coffee/grinder thing is the area that blokes get into because they have nothing else to do. The Nespresso will get you a decent coffee every time. Remember that you will prob. be the one emptying the cartons.
The espresso is the basis for all the coffees. You want a latte or a capuccino and you'd prob.like flat white. You can read about all this online but on reading your OP I'd really advise going for Nespresso.
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You'll notice that this coffee/grinder thing is the area that blokes get into because they have nothing else to do.
Nonsense. I spend quite a bit of time fixing bikes too! ;D
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You'll notice that this coffee/grinder thing is the area that blokes get into because they have nothing else to do.
Nonsense. I spend quite a bit of time fixing bikes too! ;D
Apologies I should have said or for between bike fettlings
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Instant coffee (whatever the brand) = carling black label
Nespresso = Stella
Pre-ground coffee made with a decent coffee machine = marstons pedigree cask conditioned
Own-ground, freshly roasted beans made with a Gaggia = Mordens Newcastle Coffee Porter (or substitute any very, very good real ale)
The latter is hard to get hold of and a lot of effort, but worth it IF you have the time & inclination. Number 3 will give very palatable results that will taste infinitely better than number 1 and much better than number 2. You'll get a shot of caffeine with any of the above, but a darn sight more pleasure out of 3 and 4.
Over-simplified? Maybe, but it gives an idea of the gaps in quality between some of the choices you have.
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That Nespresso machine seems to think 40ml is a large cup of coffee :o
I think my smallest mug is about 200ml.
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The rest is milk.
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How many different answers can we get on one topic? :)
My vote: NESCAFÉ Cappuccino (http://www.nescafe.co.uk/CoffeeCupboard/cafe-menu/nescaf-cappuccino)
IGMC.
LOL! Someone once made me one of those at work and it was a bit :sick:
I am looking to improve on the coffee my Cafetiere used to make rather than go for the true BSO of coffee ;D
As you have all probably noticed I really know SFA about coffee at the moment.
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I really just want to make nice coffee, latte or the stuff with cream floating on top.
This is what I have for making coffee at work:
Swissgold KF300 Permanent Coffee Filter - One Cup
(http://www.anothercoffee.co.uk/products/item110310.aspx)
I love it. Simple but effective. Highly recommended. (Unlike paper, gold filters don't affect the flavour.)
For me, the quality of the beans is more important than spending a fortune on machinery - especially if you're not a fan of espresso. I've had some phenomenally good coffee out of my filter recently, simply by virtue of spending a bit more on top quality beans. I buy it in small batches, ground to order, from Monmouth, which is on my way to work - a 250g bag lasts about a week for me, so it's still reasonably fresh by the time I get to the bottom of the bag. And even if I spend £13 on a 250g bag, as I did recently*, it's still cheaper than those ridiculous pod coffees (which aren't really any better than instant IME), or buying by the cup from St*rb*cks.
d.
*It was very good, though by far the best coffee I've had lately only cost £8 for a 250g bag.
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Good call there altho'never used one myself. I was going to suggest that site. To OP. I'd suggest that if you want to stick to your cafetiere but improve the taste you need to go to a quality single-estate bean that is coarsely ground and don't use boiling water. You are actually infusing using a cafetiere whereas espresso uses pressure to get the water thro'the coffee.
I use Roberts and Co in Lancs for my single estate and they are v.good at advising on the different ones they have in but any good coffee vendor should be able to advise you. Espresso is actually a blend of beans which the seller hopes will make a good tasting coffee after roasting.
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Yeah, I am considering spending on good beans and a good grinder and using a cheap filter cup thing on top of a mug for now and then see how I get on with it. I don't want another cafetiere because of the messy clean up issues. I can always microwave milk to get it to go frothy to add to my coffee. If I find I get 'into' the whole proper coffee making lark I can then look at the spendier machines. I might even have to try drinking expresso again, my taste buds might have changed in the past 20 years since I last tried one.
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If you think a cafetiere is messy wait until you get a machine. You have the residue from the grinder that will be on the kitchen unit and eventually you will need to brush the grinder out. You have the machine itself which you will need to backflush (special bits/powder needed), the drips from the portafilter into the tray and the pucks of ground coffee into your knock-box (ooh-er). You have getting the coffee into the portafilter and tamping and any other family members who try this will leave a mess. Occasionally, you will have to remove the group-head and showerplate (bits the hot water comes thro) and clean and/or replace. The showerplate gums up quite quickly. Gaggia portafilter handles break after a while with the heat/cooling/attaching. Better you know this stuff now than spending money and having a cupboard full of stuff 18 mnths from now.
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I might even have to try drinking expresso again, my taste buds might have changed in the past 20 years since I last tried one.
It's also possible that what you had before just wasn't very good espresso. Probably not in the same league as the lovingly hand-crafted artisanal espresso made by Messrs Tewdric or Kunst, anyway.
Or it could just be that you don't like the French roast. One of the things you'll quickly realise when you start delving into the world of fine coffee is the wide range of subtle differences between different beans and different roasts. It's like wine in that respect. I'm no connoisseur but I know that I like a bright, zesty, citrussy coffee. The stuff I tried last week was more smoky and sweet - still very good coffee but not really to my taste and I won't be buying it again.
d.
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I might even have to try drinking expresso again, my taste buds might have changed in the past 20 years since I last tried one.
It's also possible that what you had before just wasn't very good espresso. Probably not in the same league as the lovingly hand-crafted artisanal espresso made by Messrs Tewdric or Kunst, anyway.
Or it could just be that you don't like the French roast. One of the things you'll quickly realise when you start delving into the world of fine coffee is the wide range of subtle differences between different beans and different roasts. It's like wine in that respect. I'm no connoisseur but I know that I like a bright, zesty, citrussy coffee. The stuff I tried last week was more smoky and sweet - still very good coffee but not really to my taste and I won't be buying it again.
d.
Yeah you could be right there, it was one of those occasions where I just asked for a 'coffee' and they brought out a tiny tiny cup with what appeared to be a noxious substance in it. I asked where the milk was and they ran off to fetch some but there was no room in the tiny cup to get much in. It was truly :sick: I stuck to tea after that!
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If you just want to make simple, non-espresso coffee - I really enjoyed this article:
CoffeeGeek - How to Use a Pour Over Brewer (http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtouseapourover)
Also, this:
My quest for the ultimate travel coffee setup - Boing Boing (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/09/30/perfecting-my-travel.html)
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If you just want to make simple, non-espresso coffee - I really enjoyed this article:
CoffeeGeek - How to Use a Pour Over Brewer (http://coffeegeek.com/guides/howtouseapourover)
Also, this:
My quest for the ultimate travel coffee setup - Boing Boing (http://www.boingboing.net/2010/09/30/perfecting-my-travel.html)
Thanks Charlotte, those are very interesting reading :thumbsup:
It seems the gold filters offer an advantage over the paper ones. I was shocked to read I shouldn't even start grinding the coffee until the kettle is nearly boiled :o
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I was shocked to read I shouldn't even start grinding the coffee until the kettle is nearly boiled :o
Yeah, well you're supposed to let red wine breathe as well I'm told. Most of us aren't that fussy :)
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It seems the gold filters offer an advantage over the paper ones.
Yep, the difference is noticeable.
I was shocked to read I shouldn't even start grinding the coffee until the kettle is nearly boiled :o
That's silly. There's lots of mythology about keeping coffee fresh - some say keep it in the freezer, some say don't keep it in the freezer... Sure, it deteriorates quickly, but you've got to be realistic. I just buy it in small quantities and use it up quickly.
d.
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I was shocked to read I shouldn't even start grinding the coffee until the kettle is nearly boiled :o
That's silly. There's lots of mythology about keeping coffee fresh - some say keep it in the freezer, some say don't keep it in the freezer... Sure, it deteriorates quickly, but you've got to be realistic. I just buy it in small quantities and use it up quickly.
d.
The guy in that report suggested that the coffee is deteriorating within a minute of being grinded! That does sound a bit of an over-reaction to me too!
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Feline - stop saying "expresso"!
The other thing about these capsule things, most people buy them for milk-based drinks rather than the coffee. Surely they can't be very palatable if they're made with dried, powdered milk and all sorts of chemical preservatives?
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Well, I have ordered a Swissgold one cup permanent filter set, a scoop and some coffee beans in a nice stainless steel container.
Now all I need to order is the grinder. I do have a packet of unused cafetiere type fairtrade coffee I could and probably should drink up first though. Having read the reviews of all the burr type grinders the Dualit does seem to rate very favourably for the price range, so I think I will get that also. Later in the year I may well invest in a Gaggia or similar, but might be better to wait until after PBP since my plan includes giving up coffee altogether for 3-4 weeks before it.
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Charlotte - the old machine I have is a delonghi ec710. I don't rate it as highly as the gaggia but it is free unlike my gaggia which I'm not planning to give away.
If you want it, pm me address details. I have found the baskets. It takes pods as well as ground. Will have a look for the manual tomorrow.
In other news, I have an old DVD player, cd player, amp (may need some fixing) going also.
Edit: manual located.
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Well, I have ordered a Swissgold one cup permanent filter set, a scoop and some coffee beans in a nice stainless steel container.
Now all I need to order is the grinder. I do have a packet of unused cafetiere type fairtrade coffee I could and probably should drink up first though. Having read the reviews of all the burr type grinders the Dualit does seem to rate very favourably for the price range, so I think I will get that also. Later in the year I may well invest in a Gaggia or similar, but might be better to wait until after PBP since my plan includes giving up coffee altogether for 3-4 weeks before it.
If you aren't grinding particularly fine for a pressure machine the Dualit will be fine altho' a good kitchen supply shop should be able to show you a couple of models. You should be looking for your ground coffee to be consistent in size of grains even on a coarser grind. Some more expensive grinders allow you to set a grind then fine tune within that grind but this feature adds ££. My grinder has something like 15 steps but I only use 2 as I use the same coffees - so cafetiere is done on a coarse grind #2 and machine espresso is on #7
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I don’t do the pretentious coffee with valves and steam, and having to put up with something the size of a locomotive belching steam in the middle of my kitchen. Please don’t rate my crema, it sounds like some form of obscure Italian porn.
I have a Cusinart thing (http://www.cuisinart.co.uk/products-detail.php?ProductID=14&ProductCategoryID=0&ProductGroupID=5&DiscontinuedOnly=N), known affectionately as the CoffeeBot. It lives in the kitchen and is quite magical. It has a built-in grinder, so you feed it beans and water, tell it when you want it to wake up, and there’s a nice hot pot of fresh coffee waiting for you in the morning. No complaints with the coffee which always tastes good. It has an effective thermos jug so avoids the nasty burny taste of coffee left sitting on a hotplate, and it keeps it warm for several hours. Cleaning is simple, empty grounds into compost bin, throw the rest in the dishwasher (it claims you shouldn’t, but I’ve been doing this for several years and nothing has fallen to bits yet).
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I don’t do the pretentious coffee with valves and steam, and having to put up with something the size of a locomotive belching steam in the middle of my kitchen.
Aww, but that's half the fun!
Obligatory: http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070618 (http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20070618).
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Charlotte - the old machine I have is a delonghi ec710. I don't rate it as highly as the gaggia but it is free unlike my gaggia which I'm not planning to give away.
YHPM :D
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Just seen on Twitter - thought it was apposite:
@thebikeshow Jack Thurston
Any recommendations for a good home burr coffee grinder? Coffee is for my La Pavoni Europiccola espresso machine.
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Just seen on Twitter - thought it was apposite:
@thebikeshow Jack Thurston
Any recommendations for a good home burr coffee grinder? Coffee is for my La Pavoni Europiccola espresso machine.
I use an Iberital MC2 to grind for my Pavoni, I should really spend more time practicing to get better shots from it.
Latte art if that's your thing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDK1XEF1iyE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDK1XEF1iyE)
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Wow, I just got in from a nice ride and my Swissgold cup thingy has arrived, with the coffee and 2 beautiful stainless steel scoops. I also got a new Aerolatte whisk thing since the last one packed in, with a stainless steel stand for it
Well my grinder has only just been ordered so can't try the new beans yet, but I have some fairtrade supermarket ground coffee left in my cupboard so used some of this to try it out. Microwaved and frothed up the milk and sprinkled chocolate power on top so it was a proper cappuccino.
OMG it was so lovely! Probably nicer than the nicest cappuccino I have bought when out and about. Even better there were no gritty bits in the bottom of the cup so I could drink all of it. This Swissgold thing seems to be excellent. If I can improve on this when I am grinding my own beans then I will be very very happy :thumbsup:
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And now you have met the real problem :P
Your coffee tastes better that the stuff you can buy at the Shopping Centre.
I know one place that makes a nice cappuccino and lots more that don't ???
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Many cafes just don't try. I notice Costa use pods now. At the gym (Costa franchise) they take the pods and burst them and tip the grounds into a normal espresso basket.
Some of the best coffee I've had in Cambridge was a mobile coffee van that pitches up in the Market Square. Cheaper and better than the chains. There was a Polish cafe on King Street that did very good coffee. They sold the beans ("house blend") if you asked. For a while they switched to something else and it didn't go down well at all, and they switched back to the original blend within a few weeks. Unfortunately the place changed management, the original Polish owner moving on and it turned into a bar and went from being packed to empty. Ruined the place. After a while they went back to being a cafe but it remains quiet and I think they lost the formula that worked, and lost the regular customer base.
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Its not that they don't try, it's that they don't know.
What these chains are peddling isn't italian, but American bullshit. Their customers don't want Italian quality, they want anodyne corporate bollocks. I've no issue with that, it's up to them. If you don't, you've either got to be fortunate enough to have a local place that knows what they're doing, or you've got to make it yourself, which is a tremendous faff, but worth it for process and product....if you like the stuff in the first place, which many don't.
Round here, there are two Italian places, one of which is run by an Italian and his coffee is not good, but that is down to using low quality beans with too much robusta ( yes, I can tell). The other is run by Albanians pretending to be Italian, and their coffee is excellent.
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You mean you've not tried the 'Brokeback Mountain' blend. It's the alternative to Jamaican Blue Mountain. Or I suppose there could be a Borat single-estate
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Have you considered the Balkan/Greek/Bosnian/Turkish/Camp Cowboy method?
This thread is about coffee.... not bumming ::-)
Endon ghosts past the defensive midfielder, skins the left back for pace, sends in an inch perfect cross that Kunst scrappily scuffs across the line.
Goal!!
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I've replaced my fancy pants internet connected coffee machine for a Moka pot.