Coffee... What, and how?

[TheHeretic]

Chapppers said:

My parents like to use either cafetiere or a pot on the stove. Both make absolutely horrid coffee. I need to find out what they're doing wrong and correct their coffee based errors.

When I'm not drinking tea I either make a pretty mean cup of instant (cold milk first, stir a bit then boiling water then stir lots) or buy Costa at work.

Well, I am no coffee expert, but over here in BG, the coffee for the stovetops have specific-ish packets, or you use the multi-purpose coffee like the Douwe Egberts I use.

[voyds9]

king arthur said:

sjg said:

Nespresso, because I'm too lazy to grind beans and all that stuff.

About £150 for the machine (there's usually £60 credit against coffee with that) and between 28p and 32p a capsule after that.

The downside being you're limited to whatever they choose to put in the capsules. Plus, how hard is it to grind some beans?

But I can have a strong coffee and the wife a weak on straight after without having to clean the machine. Suites us wonderfully.

Now trying the limited coffee with either chocolate, vanilla or cherry.

[onesickpuppy]

I got a Magimix Pixie for Christmas which uses the Nespresso capsules. I've tried almost all of the varieties and settled on two or three favourites. The 'killer app' for me is the Aeroccino module which makes a pretty damned perfect frothed milk! I tend to drink either espresso or cappuccino at home so it is great.

Aeroccino:


See here for the full description.

At work, it's one of these:



I've always thought the bean - to - cup 'real' machines will be expensive and high maintenance etc?

[Ruttager]

I've got one of those brewers same as the the OP. It cost £6 the coffee tastes fantastic.

[TheHeretic]

Ruttager said:

I've got one of those brewers same as the the OP. It cost £6 the coffee tastes fantastic.

All hail cheap arse stove top pots! They do taste different to perc filter coffee, in my opinion. hard to describe how.

[vixen1700]

We have one of these Krups Nespresso machines and find it works very well with no mess and gives a very nice cup of strong coffee.

[Podie]

onesickpuppy said:

I got a Magimix Pixie for Christmas which uses the Nespresso capsules. I've tried almost all of the varieties and settled on two or three favourites. The 'killer app' for me is the Aeroccino module which makes a pretty damned perfect frothed milk! I tend to drink either espresso or cappuccino at home so it is great.

Aeroccino:


See here for the full description.

We've got one too. Useful little toy.

[tylerama]

We've got a Krups machine at home or a cafetiere. Both make great coffee. For day to day stuff I use tesco organic peruvian, or to spend more, Armadillo coffee company make some great stuff (http://www.cupoftea.uk.com/categories/136-armadillo-gourmet-coffees-by-victoria-bishop) V expensive, but my landlord gets some free samples every few months.

[Digger]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

judas said:

We have a machine: beans in hopper, water in reservoir, press button, instant freshly-ground coffee

Picked it up on holiday in Germany several years ago for about £200. Still haven't seen any other beans-to-cup machines over here for under £500.

Almost this ^^^^



But at £259


Great Coffee - everyday........

Bingo, although mine's a temperamental little bugger! Although not cheap one main advantage is the steam/hot water attachment, though whilst i go for a strong 4/5 blend i do like it slightly milky 'n frothy.

[LordGrover]

LordGrover said:

Weekends at home сafetière, weekdays and office cone filter. Can't be arsed with the faff and cleaning involved with the сafetière most of the time. I also have a moka pot for special occasions.
Taylors Hot Lava Java - harsh, but a bit of a zing about it.

Taken from here: click.

Changed to Taylors Espresso since then though - still a zing but not quite so harsh.
I don't do mellow.

[TheHeretic]

Awww... Why was it changed to Food and drink, (apart from the obvious). The idea was that normal people would answer, not gourmet types with peruvian weasel poo coffee types.

[offspring86]

TheHeretic said:

Awww... Why was it changed to Food and drink, (apart from the obvious). The idea was that normal people would answer, not gourmet types with peruvian weasel poo coffee types.

Well it's OK, some of us occasionally find our way over to this part of the forum.

My daily coffee ritual varies depending on how tired I am and which office I am working in. Usually it's 2 spoons of Nescafe or Kenco with a bit of milk and a small amount of sugar. If I have had to get up early and trek over to Thurrock it's usually 3 spoons, no milk, no sugar.

A previous work place (bespoke kitchens) had a Nespresso machine which was lovely and a Neff built in coffee maker which used to make the most amazing lattes.

[LordGrover]

This one: click?

[Digger]

LordGrover said:

This one: click?

Yep thats the temperamental bugger!

To be fair it has behaved the last 10 days, so maybe the training is paying off!

[LordGrover]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

LordGrover said:

This one: click?

I accept it is not the best but the ratio of spends on a coffee machine to needs says that was enough to fork out !

Digger said:

LordGrover said:

This one: click?

Yep thats the temperamental bugger!

To be fair it has behaved the last 10 days, so maybe the training is paying off!

The spiel sounds most impressive and most of the reviews are glowing.
If there's any money in the pot come Easter I may splash out.
I fear it may be relegated to the back of a cupboard inside two months though like most kitchen kit I buy.

[IanA2]

I'm with the OP on Moka stove top pots.

Here's the latest:

Bialetti Brikka Espresso


It works!!

[Digger]

LordGrover said:

The spiel sounds most impressive and most of the reviews are glowing.
If there's any money in the pot come Easter I may splash out.
I fear it may be relegated to the back of a cupboard inside two months though like most kitchen kit I buy.

No no dont be like that. I think my experience is unrepresentative of the majority of owners. If you like coffee (esecially first thing) you WILL be using it every day besides, not many people have cupboards big enough for it to fit!

[LordGrover]

I'm not an espresso person though; I like my coffee strong, black and long - an americano the shops call it.
I think with this device I'll be making a double espresso and boiling a kettle to top it up, or have I missed something?

[Digger]

The steam widget also acts as a hot water dispenser by default.

Scratch that. You can tell it how large or small a cup you want so you can make an Americano if you so wish, as well as a top up as above if needs be. My choice is to request a double cup espresso into a mug. Half filled, i top it off with frothy milk. A cappuccino or whatever its called!

Edited by Digger on Tuesday 10th January 16:08

[TheHeretic]

Well, whatever the Moka stovetop pot makes, I have a mug of that. It's not 'true' espresso, but it does me.