Coffee

[plw]

I've been using a Gaggia Syncrony Digital "Bean to cup" machine for around 9 years now - a great machine.

For beans - I tend to use large packs of beans from Costco (kirkland, Starbucks brand), and keep the bags in the fridge.

But - Starbucks beans available from their own outlets are definately better.

Treat yourself - get a propper bean-cup machine.......... sure, a bit of a capital investment (mine was £500) - but over the years, it is a cheap expense, and whenever you do finally succumb to the delights........................


You will ask yourself why you waited all that time!

Al

Another thumbs up for this one. Also made under other brand names, but ditto have been using them at work and home for many years. We buy industrial quantities of Columbian beans from Nairobi which are also good value.

[triumph coupe]

My kitchen

Is it only me who had a WTF moment when seeing this photo? Nobody seemed to even acknowledge it - maybe it looks like a normal kitchen to everyone else...

Anyway... I'm looking to buy a Mazzer Mini Burr grinder. Missed out on one on eBay a few days ago which was a bugger. Not bothered if I buy new or good condition second hand as by all accounts they seem to go on forever.

Anyone have any recommendations of best places to buy one? (or anyone got one sitting redundant in a house they'd like to exchange for hard earned folding?

[Franco]

For the last 10 years I have used an Alessi 9090 (simple Moka machine in image below), and a 50/50 mic of "Illy espresso" and "Kimbo miscela". Both high in arabica content, but Kimbo gives the round taste, Illy is sharper.

[verv]

Gaggia cubica and either lavazza red, illys or Taylor's coffee.

If I'm being lazy then I switch the gaggia for a press.

Never instant though. Can't stand it.

[ScottA]

Regular Hasbean delivery as well as some from a local roaster, Mr Eion, ground on demand.
Use a Rancilio espresso machine, Chemex and aeropress ...... Starting to think I may have a coffee problem.

[Martin123]

Waitrose Columbian or Continental coffee beans using a Delonghi machine. Like trying other beans but these are probably consistently my favourites.

[ralphy]

Nespresso for us.

Got quite a selection of their range and I like the convenience of pods.

R

[Josh B]

Is it only me who had a WTF moment when seeing this photo? Nobody seemed to even acknowledge it - maybe it looks like a normal kitchen to everyone else...

Anyway... I'm looking to buy a Mazzer Mini Burr grinder. Missed out on one on eBay a few days ago which was a bugger. Not bothered if I buy new or good condition second hand as by all accounts they seem to go on forever.

Anyone have any recommendations of best places to buy one? (or anyone got one sitting redundant in a house they'd like to exchange for hard earned folding?

Apparently everyone keeps a civet in their kitchen too. Kopi Luwak on demand (almost).

[Tinker]

Have a Gaggia Classic in the kitchen, but forget to buy bottled water for it - the tap water in Leicester is liquid limescale - so use a Bodum cafetiere ...



... plus whatever ground coffee I fancy in the supermarket. I find that changing coffee keeps my taste buds working.

Drink coffee (and tea) black without sugar. Never instant.

[Middo]

Nespresso for me in the mornings, quick and easy. Not tried the other brand pods yet though, cart noir seem to be on offer a lot in the supermarket.

I can reccomend colonna and smalls in bath for coffee, also need to give repak espresso a try on the outskirts.

As for buying beans, yank friend introduced me to caribou coffee, worth a hunt if you can get it.


Going back to that cat in the pic, I'm in Ubud at the mo and need to try some kopi luwak. Any one tried it?

This is an interesting read, regarding kopi. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2013/sep/13/civet-coffee-cut-the-crap

[solwisesteve]

It used to to me, now I cannot drink instant, I find it disgusting unless there is a lot of cream with it

I'm with you.... I can't drink anything now except a decent espresso. If we go out to relations/friends/whatever I end up with hot chocolate or water. I just can't stand instant now. Even what passes for espresso at your average cafe has me grimacing.

Hmmm that reminds me I haven't had my morning double shot yet...

I'm on Nicaraguan from Hasbean at the moment.

[vertex]

For me it's.....

Machinery...
Rocket Giotto Evoluzione V2. Eureka Zenith 65E. Smart Tamp. Espro Toroid 2. TempTag.

Coffee...
http://www.thecoffeehopper.com/product/307/guatemalan-finca-la-concepcion-pixcaya.htm#.VAVzFhbF8YU

[bowie]

Tassimo for me just so easy, and Aldi Columbian ground

[Vampire]

I've got 3 Aeropress's at home and my 2 offices, I've used these for years (along with grinders, freshly roasted beans etc.) but have started drinking Espresso more often these days, no matter how good, an Aeropress won't make a proper Espresso. We have a Tassimo machine in the office but even though work buys cartridges for us, it doesn't taste great and it rarely gets used.

The guys in the lab next to my office chipped in and bought a Nespresso machine a while back, I've recently become a convert as it's a quick and very convenient way of getting an Espresso. Less than 30p a shot and ready in seconds, OK it's not as good as espresso from a proper machine but it isn't far off. IMO it's fine for work, and I recently bought one for home as well. Great for when you want to be up and out first thing in the morning.

[bondguru]

My morning routine depends on how much our little one woke us up in the night. If it was a good night then Nespresso is my go to. If it was bad then its Lavazza Red made in a Bodum - 3 heaping scoops for 1 cup of rocket fuel!

WRT instant, I don't mind it every now and then as long as it's made with hot milk. It's what I drank in uni so there's a strong nostalgia factor for me.

[Thom4711]

Tassimo is good coffee, not too expensive and really quick. I also buy the Twinings tea pods so I get a decent brew as well :)

[gunner]

Beans: Pop up cafe in Deal
Machine: Cuisinart bean to cup filter
Served: Black, of course...

I am tempted by a capsule machine for a quick hit though.

[NJHawkins]

Used to be Nespresso until I discovered good filter coffee. Now it's a Baratza Virtuoso and Aeropress, Chemex or Kalita wave. Current favourite beans are either Has Bean or James's Gourmet Coffee.

I used to drink 'reasonable' cafetiere/filter coffee but not very often and it does not take long for an opened pack of coffee to lose it's edge.

I now subsist on 'instant' for when I just want a big mug of coffee-like drink and Nespresso for when I want a 'coffee'. I never get a great coffee but conversely it's never awful - a convenient and consistent solution.

[Rod]

Aldi Colombian... great coffee @£1.99.. much better than even more expensive coffees'



Crikey repeating myself on this thread... it's an old'n.

[martynw]

I've tried loads of coffee machines over the years - Rancilio, La Pavoni, Nespresso, Bialettis etc. with various grinders.

All of them were (variably) capable of making good-tasting coffee, but in my hands things were just a bit too variable and inconsistent, which I guess makes me a failed barista!

I also made a terrible mess all over the kitchen worktop and so spent quite a bit of time clearing up every time I made a coffee. Obviously the nespresso didn't have this problem, but then I found it the least good option taste wise.

I bought an aeropress a few months ago and couldn't be happier. Using Lavazza the coffee tastes consistently nice, the mess is minimal and my wife is happy to use it too which is a bonus. If I'm making coffee for more than a couple of people I just use a french press.

I've also gained a few brownie points by selling the grinder and espresso machines and gaining acres of worktop space!

Best wishes,
Martyn.

[hako]

Green beans. Roast on wood stove in a homemade roaster. Grind with a Husqvarna. Use a mess tin (German / Nordic) on open fire to make. Heaven. I learned this from my paternal grandfather. He was considered to be the best coffee guy in his company in WW2.

[Glamdring]

I used to drink 'reasonable' cafetiere/filter coffee but not very often and it does not take long for an opened pack of coffee to lose it's edge.

I now subsist on 'instant' for when I just want a big mug of coffee-like drink and Nespresso for when I want a 'coffee'. I never get a great coffee but conversely it's never awful - a convenient and consistent solution.

I suppose I'm the same these days though I don't find a pod coffee any slower than instant, just more expensive.

[tehwolf]

If I plan ahead then I buy my coffee from either pact coffee or volcano coffee works.. both very good, but both mail order so need to leave a couple of days for delivery. If I get caught short then I find illy single bean Arabica hits the spot and is available at my local supermarket. I use a bean to cup delonghi machine.. best birthday present I've ever had tbh. Gets used most days and produces a decent brew.

I spend a lot less in coffee when I'm out now.. actually tend to drink tea if we stop at a "coffee" shop... Either cos I've had a massive dose of caffeine already or cos I know that I can get a nicer cup when I get home :)

[series5]

If I plan ahead then I buy my coffee from either pact coffee or volcano coffee works.. both very good, but both mail order so need to leave a couple of days for delivery. If I get caught short then I find illy single bean Arabica hits the spot and is available at my local supermarket. I use a bean to cup delonghi machine.. best birthday present I've ever had tbh. Gets used most days and produces a decent brew.

I spend a lot less in coffee when I'm out now.. actually tend to drink tea if we stop at a "coffee" shop... Either cos I've had a massive dose of caffeine already or cos I know that I can get a nicer cup when I get home :)

I used to enjoy Illy until we bought the coffee machine and, having had the tuition on using it, Illy feels very below par now. I also find that coffee in the large chains on the high street is consistent but dull and in specialist coffee shops pretty variable.

It takes a lot of care to prepare a decent coffee by hand and many of the ones that I prepare are pretty average. Now and again I seem to hit it just right (the "God shot") and its wonderful. At all other times its very passable but doesn't hit that spot.

My parents have the Nespresso system and it gives decent enough coffee. It's nothing outstanding but it does, at least, give consistent results and is very easy to use.

[Auto]

If your thinking of making coffee manually (espresso based) then you must have a grinder that can produce grinds fine enough.
Most home grinders aren't capable of this.

IMHO supermarket coffee beans and ground coffee is muck and out of date probably before it even sets foot on the shelves.

Freshley roasted coffee, good grinder and some practice is whats needed.

[solwisesteve]

+1

Ground coffee (or even beans) on the supermarket shelf will typically be months (maybe a year+?) old. Ditto with the pod coffee products. If you want to do coffee properly you need to ensure you get up to the minute roasted beans and grind at the time of making the coffee. If you want to go really OTT then get green beans and home roast. I tried that for a year but it was just too much hassle. Getting a weekly delivery from Hasbean is just as good. :-)

[series5]

+1

Ground coffee (or even beans) on the supermarket shelf will typically be months (maybe a year+?) old. Ditto with the pod coffee products. If you want to do coffee properly you need to ensure you get up to the minute roasted beans and grind at the time of making the coffee. If you want to go really OTT then get green beans and home roast. I tried that for a year but it was just too much hassle. Getting a weekly delivery from Hasbean is just as good. :-)

Agreed - I keep the coffee frozen until needed and a small amount of beans in an air tight sealed container. I grind what I need and immediately extract.

Supermarket stuff, even from the micro brands has been created ages ago and is not as good as fresh ground. Grind fresh all the way even though it is more work!

[tehwolf]

Like everything there is a convenience trade off. I can't be bothered roasting my own beans. Tbh I probably wouldn't be bothered to keep it in the freezer and get "just enough" out to make a brew when I wanted one. I like a good coffee but "good enough" works for me for the most part. And illy fits that bill for me if I've run out of a more recently roasted mail order variety :)

[steviefleming]

Like everything there is a convenience trade off. I can't be bothered roasting my own beans. Tbh I probably wouldn't be bothered to keep it in the freezer and get "just enough" out to make a brew when I wanted one. I like a good coffee but "good enough" works for me for the most part. And illy fits that bill for me if I've run out of a more recently roasted mail order variety :)

+1 for me ...........

We have a local roaster in Perth .........well a few , but one which specifically does beans :-)

The shop and the beans are great , but a 250g bag is expensive.

I drink loads when at home so i buy bulk , ordering Lavazza 6KG deals on the web , or the huge 5KG costa bags on ebay ( obviously fell off the back of a lorry )

[sweets]

My Brother in law roasts and blends coffee, lots of it. (Here is their site, if you are interested)
It's all I ever use (of course).
They just got 2 Taste of the West awards for them too, for the only 2 coffees they entered.
I've roasted with him a few times. He uses trad-style heavy cast iron roasters that take about 40 minutes to get hot enough. He roasts about 60 kilos a time on the larger one (and it is only him, no-one else roasts).
Each roast is timed to the second, with visual checks via the sampler every 2 seconds for the last 30 or so, to allow for the variation due to ambient weather, temperature and humidity.
Once the roaster is hot, he roasts the whole day, usually about 10 hours straight. This happens about once every 6 days at the moment, so all stock is pretty fresh.
To re-create this precision of method for home roasting would be impossible to do without a significant investment, as coffee roasting is a semi-pyrolytic process beyond the capability of a domestic oven. Especially as the beans need to be stirred over the hot surfaces all the time.
Martin even tried re-creating his roasts using the highest tech modern computer-controlled roaster, but he thought the roaster was light, and therefore (like a steak hitting a thin pan) there was too much temeprature dip when the beans went in. The brews were different.

So I would always leave it to someone else whose coffee you like.
Their advice is also relevant here, that coffee should not be stored in a fridge once opened.

Dave

[Manchester]

Wow, some great suggestions in here.

Always fancied buying a Bialetti Moka Express Espresso Maker, and make my own Espresso's. They're cheap enough, so gonna go for it, and then try out some of these :)

[hako]

The traditional roasters used in an opening of a wood stove are thick based / walled for uniformity. They work great.

[sean]

I've used a Chemex for the last couple of months.



Easy, quick and makes a great, fresh tasting cup of coffee. Beans: Starbucks Pike Place.

[usedtobelurch]

+1 for Kimbo coffee
Grumpy Mule offer a good selection too.
Machine? Whatever takes my fancy.

[diranija]

I'm another who uses a Rancilio machine and like Pellini No.82 beans when I can get hold of them.

I've also had a go at cold brewing using espresso beans recently and have to say that it does deliver a smoother, less bitter cup of coffee. An interesting alternative to traditional filter coffee.

[langtoft lad]

Life's too short + too many variables (beans/roast/grinder/machine/water) = nesspresso for speed, convenience & quality.

[Strnglwhank]

I have a delonghi bean to cup machine. Only use Monmouth coffee co. beans. A decent middle-ground option to good tasting coffee.

+1 for Monmouth Coffee

[catch21]

Illy espresso ground, with an aeropress, inverted. No milk, no sugar, taken up to about 3/4s a standard cup with water just off the boil. Lovely! Hard to go back to instant after that experience.

Cafetiere, too messy, moka pot - great coffee but far more hassle and a lot longer to prepare than using an aeropress.

[swisstony]

Nespresso here - though i've started choosing the coffee based on the colour of the capsules rather than what is in them :-)

The factory gets bigger each time i drive by it.... and i think each capsule is checked by hand:

http://www.nestle-nespresso.com/asse...%20300x180.jpg

[series5]

Nespresso here - though i've started choosing the coffee based on the colour of the capsules rather than what is in them :-)

The factory gets bigger each time i drive by it.... and i think each capsule is checked by hand:

Quote the man in the picture : "I'll get a double top on this throw"

[Tomw2000]

Gaggia classic and currently Algerian coffee co formula Rossa. Though my fave to date is square mile coffee - red brick. Have my own grinder.

It's a bit of a faff though. I have a large bialetti too which is less hassle and better for making for more people.

Current work place has nespresso and it's fine and I'd be half tempted...

[solwisesteve]

Life's too short + too many variables (beans/roast/grinder/machine/water) = nesspresso for speed, convenience & quality.

I'm with Steve from Hasbean... Life's too short for rubbish coffee! ;-)

[Toodlepip]

Several months of testing and now we use Illy beans, Hario hand grinder and the Gaggia Classic. When the Gaggia went in for a new pump, we used a Bialetti mocha - used less coffee and the flavor was excellent, if a little different but not quite the same crema.

When we first bought the Gaggia we experimented with all the locally available ground coffees and selected Illy. After that we moved to Illy beans with a basic grinder, then a Krupp burr grinder, now the Hario hand grinder. Each time the coffee has got better, and I would not have believed the difference between the Krupp electric burr grinder and the Hario hand model. Highly recommended!

Moving down the technology scale has worked for us - not quite sure what comes next!

[burnside]

Can anyone recommend me a coffee bean grinder please?

I like strong black coffee. The stronger the better. I have a Morphy Richards Coffee maker which does the job at the moment.

Regards

Ben

[seikopath]

Can anyone recommend me a coffee bean grinder please?

I like strong black coffee. The stronger the better. I have a Morphy Richards Coffee maker which does the job at the moment.

Regards

Ben

I've got a bodum bistro hopper fed burr grinder . happy with that, you can get them for about 75 quid i think. make sure you get a burr grinder. the delonghi is meant to be ok if you don't want to spend megabucks.

[nickspitfire]

the equipment I use is the Bialetti 1 cup stove top espresso maker in aluminium. the steam is driven through the coffee grounds and I have to say the flavour is very nice. Once I used it I just couldn't go back to a cafetiere as it tasted too watery. I bought 2 new second hand ones off ebay for £5. My favourite coffee is Monsoon Malabar, (from Booths) which is strong and rich, velvety and has a chocolate finish without the usual acidity you find in coffee. I also use brown sugar, either the crystals or the raw lumps.

[Kingstepper]

the equipment I use is the Bialetti 1 cup stove top espresso maker in aluminium. the steam is driven through the coffee grounds and I have to say the flavour is very nice. Once I used it I just couldn't go back to a cafetiere as it tasted too watery. I bought 2 new second hand ones off ebay for £5. My favourite coffee is Monsoon Malabar, (from Booths) which is strong and rich, velvety and has a chocolate finish without the usual acidity you find in coffee. I also use brown sugar, either the crystals or the raw lumps.

It's a good system but I'd get a stainless one if I was you.

Depends on water hardness but aluminium can end up being corroded and isn't good for health.

[burnside]

Thanks for the suggestion we'll have a look.

Regards

Ben

[occamsrazor]

I've got a bodum bistro hopper fed burr grinder . happy with that, you can get them for about 75 quid i think. make sure you get a burr grinder. the delonghi is meant to be ok if you don't want to spend megabucks.

Do you mean this one?

http://www.bodum.com/gb/en-us/shop/detail/10903-294UK/

I use one of the cheaper NON-burr mills with blades, like this one...

http://www.krups.co.uk/coffee-mill-f20342

I've read the theory as to why burr mills are better (grind uniformity, less friction heat produced). Just wondering if the difference is actually significant and if anyone has compared side-by-side?

[rasputin]

Kopi Luwak coffee is supposed to be quite the experience. The beans are excreted out of a small Indonesian mammels arse. The digestive process apparently gives it a unique flavour.

Expensive at around £90 per 16oz, mind.