Coffee machines - whaddaya know?

[Blown2CV]

grinder is good, same as mine. strip it before you use it so you understand how it all fits together (not necessarily blindfolded... this is my weapon, i am nothing without it, it is nothing without me etc!), and how to adjust etc. Some people have discussed removing a plastic stop so you have full control over grind grade, but i haven't bothered. Lava Java is pretty full-on IMO tbh!

[giblet]

I have a porlex hand grinder so I'm familiar with the general set up. That lives at work with the aeropress though. This setup is likely to be for special occasions at home. Watched a few guides and it seems to be a longer but rewarding process. Tempted by the hario kettle and some scales but that might be overkill. Wish I knew who my santa was.

I'm a huge fan of Lava Java but you are right, it's pretty intense. Lazy Sundays might be better shout to try out for the chap above.

[All that jazz]

giblet said:

I have a porlex hand grinder so I'm familiar with the general set up. That lives at work with the aeropress though. This setup is likely to be for special occasions at home. Watched a few guides and it seems to be a longer but rewarding process. Tempted by the hario kettle and some scales but that might be overkill. Wish I knew who my santa was.

I'm a huge fan of Lava Java but you are right, it's pretty intense. Lazy Sundays might be better shout to try out for the chap above.

Thanks giblet. I've not actually got any coffee yet . Am currently stuck with a filter issue at the moment : apparently there is a size 2 filter and a size 4 filter for percolators and I don't know which one it takes until I can be arsed reading the instructions or digging out the box again.

[covmutley]

I got myself a bialetti hob top espresso maker and I am impressed. Also have a porlex hand grinder on the way and some beans from has bean waiting for it, but it's sailing the high seas at the moment.

[giblet]

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

[Blown2CV]

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

Bean to pot machines yes, but they're not espresso. Bean to cup you'd be lucky to even get a refurbed machine in that bracket unfort.

[IanA2]

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

If it's espresso you're after then the stove tops are good, particular the Bialetti Brikka.

[Bonefish Blues]

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

Yes, just I'd say - De Longhi and Philips Saeco both make decent machines at the cheaper end. Add a hundred and things get much easier, of course.

[smithmi81]

I would suggest a decent entry level espresso machine would be the Rancilio Silvia, although pricing is around £350. its got a commercial group head and can be easily modified to include a PID control.

[Bonefish Blues]

smithmi81 said:

I would suggest a decent entry level espresso machine would be the Rancilio Silvia, although pricing is around £350. its got a commercial group head and can be easily modified to include a PID control.

Good call if the poster was happy without B2C functionality.

[smithmi81]

Bonefish Blues said:

Good call if the poster was happy without B2C functionality.

I wouldn't even bother with a bean to cup at the price point suggested, If the budget is £200-£250 I would go nespeesso. That's coming from one of the biggest coffee snobs in the world!

For a decent home set-up to get in the cup taste you would have to spend ~£400 to match the nespresso. It also removes any human interface in making the coffee (often the biggest contribution to poor coffee)

[giblet]

Cheers folks. Wanting to buy a mate a coffee machine as a house warming gift and figured a hand grinder and an aeropress wouldn't quite cut it.

[Blown2CV]

giblet said:

Cheers folks. Wanting to buy a mate a coffee machine as a house warming gift and figured a hand grinder and an aeropress wouldn't quite cut it.

i was about to say aeropress until you said that! Changes the scope somewhat. As elegant a solution as it is, an aeropress would be a bit of a bobbins gift compared to a nicer object that also makes good coffee!

[catcha]

Just using a cafetiere, not taken the plunge to spend big money on a machine yet but get my coffee from here every month www.coffeebeanshop.co.uk pleasantly surprised how much better than shop bought stuff and worth a few extra ££

[giblet]

Blown2CV said:

i was about to say aeropress until you said that! Changes the scope somewhat. As elegant a solution as it is, an aeropress would be a bit of a bobbins gift compared to a nicer object that also makes good coffee!

I'm guessing none of the espresso machines in that price bracket are worth buying?

My choices seem to be a hand grinder and an aeropress or a Nespresso machine. Mate in question has been using supermarket ground coffee and a french press for years. Hmmm

[giblet]

Ended up buying him a hand grinder and an aeropress, just need to show him how to use it.

Walked past a branch of Whittard's that I didn't even know existed in Leeds yesterday. Ended up buying a bag of Nicaragua Hacienda Sajonia for my aforementioned mate and a little bit for myself too. Tried it this morning, cracking stuff!

[cornet]

Blown2CV said:

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

Bean to pot machines yes, but they're not espresso. Bean to cup you'd be lucky to even get a refurbed machine in that bracket unfort.

Gaggia Classic is currently £185.35 on Amazon. I doubt it'll be at that price for long.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-RI8161-Mach...

[giblet]

cornet said:

Gaggia Classic is currently £185.35 on Amazon. I doubt it'll be at that price for long.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-RI8161-Mach...

You were right, the price is £205 now

[Zod]

IanA2 said:

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

If it's espresso you're after then the stove tops are good, particular the Bialetti Brikka.

They burn the coffee.

[IanA2]

Zod said:

IanA2 said:

giblet said:

Are there any half decent machines in the £150-£250 range? I'm guessing the only bean to cup in that price bracket will be a second hand one.

If it's espresso you're after then the stove tops are good, particular the Bialetti Brikka.

They burn the coffee.

Moka pots used extensively in Italy, must be drinking burnt coffee. I have several different sized Moka pots, never noticed any burning.