Coffee

[b3h]

Reading the above makes me very happy I’m a tea drinker!

I went from never having a cup of coffee to faffing around with scales and a grinder in a few months. I think the rabbit hole can be endless if you let it

I ended up with a simple pod machine but am dipping my toes in again

 

[PuntsWolf]

I was imagining just putting beans in and pressing a few buttons

I think I am looking at the inbetween ones right now (with the espresso arm thing, excuse my coffee words). Are they meant to bridge the gap between straight bean to cup and an actual proper espresso machine that you'd do yourself?

Yeah they let the machine do some of the science but your still making espresso.

Coffee kev on YouTube is good and he will run through different machines pros cons etc. or his website coffee blog). Think @Kenny has a ninja luxe and loves it. Probably a good choice for you if you want to spend £500, pretty sure it has auto frother as well.

I have a sage bambino plus and separate coffee grinder but I enjoy the process and science of making espresso, so that’s not for you unless you want to get into home barista (it’s fun I promise). My parents have a sage barista express, but that isn’t good for them because they don’t want to be baristas. They’d have been better off with the ninja luxe/sage barista express impress etc.

Long story short, I think something like the ninja luxe will be good for you.

 

[b3h]

Yeah they let the machine do some of the science but your still making espresso.

Coffee kev on YouTube is good and he will run through different machines pros cons etc. or his website coffee blog). Think @Kenny has a ninja luxe and loves it. Probably a good choice for you if you want to spend £500, pretty sure it has auto frother as well.

I have a sage bambino plus and separate coffee grinder but I enjoy the process and science of making espresso, so that’s not for you unless you want to get into home barista (it’s fun I promise). My parents have a sage barista express, but that isn’t good for them because they don’t want to be baristas. They’d have been better off with the ninja luxe/sage barista express impress etc.

Long story short, I think something like the ninja luxe will be good for you.

Thanks for the info mate. I wasn't aware of the inbetween type machines before so it's something to look at

I enjoy making nice milk drinks/mochas for guests but that's just using espresso pods and a milk frother (and a hotel chocolat velvitiser). Thinking having a bit of control over what comes out might be a good thing for me instead of just a button press. Will look into it (for days on end, inevitably )

 

[Stan Hullis]

I have the sage barista express, has been good for me although I’ve recently learned to use soft water as my previously filter water had clogged it up with limescale and I’ve had it serviced. 5 years old now and it’s like new again after a £150 service.

 

[Tredman]

I had a delonghi for years, did really well but the hard water got it in the end. Got a Phillips to replace it as they have integrated filters, it's nothing special but then all I want is a decent espresso or Dutch style long coffee.

 

[Stan Hullis]

The coffee machine repair bloke recommended the Tesco Ashbeck water as it is very soft and will mean that descaling can be done less often.

My tap water was double “filtered” but still clogged up the machine.

 

[Tredman]

I can't be buying bottled water, I'd never be able to show my face at work again.

 

[prawnking]

De'Longhi

https://amzn.eu/d/gHF1S49

I'm hardly a connoisseur but got this a couple of months ago, pretty affordable, no fuss and makes a good cup depending on what ground coffee you're using

 

[Mel Evo]

Had a delonghi since 2010, used a few times a day and still going strong. Can’t believe it really. My water couldn’t be harder either - it’s comes out of a limestone spring! One of the best bits of kit I’ve ever bought.

 

[machin05]

I had a delonghi for years, did really well but the hard water got it in the end. Got a Phillips to replace it as they have integrated filters, it's nothing special but then all I want is a decent espresso or Dutch style long coffee.

What's Dutch style?

 

[Tredman]

What's Dutch style?

Like an extra long lungo I guess, but still pretty strong.

Traditional method here https://kitchensurfers.com/what-is-a-dutch-coffee/ but all the machines over there are basically just doing the normal bean to cup thing but with extra volume.

 

[Alan]

Like an extra long lungo I guess, but still pretty strong.

Traditional method here https://kitchensurfers.com/what-is-a-dutch-coffee/ but all the machines over there are basically just doing the normal bean to cup thing but with extra volume.

Ooooo man a double lungo pull? That’ll put some fuckin’ hair on your chest.

Although tbf I’ve never had a lungo with beans that weren’t dark as shit. Bitter little bastards.

 

[Alan]

@b3h

If you want proper espresso, first spec to check is how many bars of pressure the machine can generate. Technically you have to hit 9 bars before it’s considered “real” espresso. More importantly, that’ll make the extraction sooooooo much cleaner and more balanced (acidity vs bitterness).

As others have alluded to, though, if you start paying attention to things like bars of pressure, you’re really opening yourself up to a very deep, very expensive rabbit hole.

 

[b3h]

@b3h

If you want proper espresso, first spec to check is how many bars of pressure the machine can generate. Technically you have to hit 9 bars before it’s considered “real” espresso. More importantly, that’ll make the extraction sooooooo much cleaner and more balanced (acidity vs bitterness).

As others have alluded to, though, if you start paying attention to things like bars of pressure, you’re really opening yourself up to a very deep, very expensive rabbit hole.

The rabbit hole has been reopened

I'm a little confused as to whether there's much difference between a super automatic and a semi automatic that includes a grinder (and some even a lever to tamp). I presume super autos replicate the tamp inside the machine, so is it really much difference to tamping yourself?

I get that going more manual you can begin the learning curve and grind, tamp and then dial in all yourself. But don't really get why these semi autos exist*. Seems like all you do is tamp it down, machine still does the rest

*From what I gather they can be more reliable over time as less parts and cleaning

Hopefully whatever I get will be a nicer cup than Nespresso any way. A lot of money to spend for me so I'm trying to decide what route to go

 

[Alan]

The benefit with a semi-auto is that the grinder can be configured specifically around the needs of espresso, rather than needing to account for a range of microns from espresso up to French press.

That means that the burrs will likely be flat, which usually results in a more consistent grind, and that’s imperative at such high pressures to avoid channeling. The water will always choose the path of least resistance, so if the grind isn’t even you’ll end up with some areas being way over-extracted and others being nearly untouched. That will make the espresso taste like the most trash instant coffee ever. That’s not to say you can’t get an even grind out of conical burrs, but in the grand scheme, flats will typically be better in that way.

I love having a standalone portafilter (the bit the puck of coffee goes in) and the feeling of tamping the puck myself, but YMMV. My opinion is that the extra cost of a super-auto isn’t really worth it in comparison.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I read this and love tea bags all the more. Coffee sounds part science and part sorcery.

 

[sycophantia]

I read this and love tea bags all the more. Coffee sounds part science and part sorcery.

It's not really, buy the coffee you like, make it the way you like it, drink it. Some people like to over complicate simple things, their perogative of course but it doesn't need to be that way.

 

[The Bear]

Coffee is similar to wine. Plenty of people get very pretentious about it (some do with tea tbf).

I agree with sycophantia above. The way you like it is the best way. I like good old British breakfast tea. Typhoo, PG Tips, Yorkshire, etc. Not Twinings though, that's a bit weak. Earl Grey is the worst, tastes like washing up liquid.

I'm also not a fan of the herbal teas, green tea, white tea, or any of the poncier fruit stuff. Though I do admit to occasionally liking a cup of chamomile with some honey in.

 

[Alan]

The way you like it is the best way goes without saying I’d think. Doesn’t mean there aren’t variables that can be controlled and made repeatable.

It’s not for everybody but my coffee had never been as good as it’s been since I paid real attention to grind, temperature, bloom, etc etc. If I’m making a coffee, I want the best version of what those beans can be.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Don’t think coffee is any different to anything else. You have the pretentious and then you have the people mocking the pretentious.

Some people like a Wetherspoons breakfast and mock people paying 4x the price for the “same thing”. Others mock people for eating Wetherspoons breakfasts.

I personally think Costa tastes like shit, and I can make a far superior drink at home for less money and enjoy doing it. But enough of the country like Costa because they make an absolute killing. That’s up to them.

But you could give me the cheapest and most expensive bottles of champagne and I wouldn’t be a fan of either. But that doesn’t make the person who enjoys the posh one an idiot and “pretentious”. Just respect everyone’s opinions and how they like to spend their free time and money.