Coffee machines - whaddaya know?

[jagracer]

CommanderJameson said:

Well, it's all coffee; but cafetiere coffee isn't espresso, which is what the stovetop pot makes.

Thanks, that's the bit I didn't know.

[hornetrider]

CommanderJameson said:

Yeah, pretty different.

Here's how it works. It comes apart in the middle. There's a funnel that sits in the bottom part. You put the ground coffee in that. You fill the bottom part with cold water, assemble it, and put it on the hob.

As the water in the bottom part boils, steam pressure forces the hot water up the funnel, through the coffee and into the top jug section.

And don't forget this:

[carreauchompeur]

Right, I want to get my mum a coffee machine for Christmas.

My budget won't stretch to a bean-cup machine and it's only going to be used probably at weekends so I am reticent about a "traditional" expresso machine, which leads me to pods...

Any suggestions? I saw the Tassimo T40 in Tesco last night for £70 which seems reasonable, and it produces "whole" drinks rather than shots which is good.

[Puggit]

Argos are currently selling the old Senseo machines for £39.99 http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/philips-senseo-hd7...

[carreauchompeur]

Thanks, looks like a good price but a bit concerned about how easy it is to get pods...

[hornetrider]

Senseo? Everywhere has them.

[carreauchompeur]

Interesting, they have it for the same price on Amazon too, might give it a go.

[sleep envy]

CommanderJameson said:

Well, it's all coffee; but cafetiere coffee isn't espresso, which is what the stovetop pot makes.

I ain't too sure about that, a moka machine will never get near the amount of pressure an espresso machine does to make an espresso with proper crema.

[Puggit]

If I fancy a longer coffee from my Senseo I just top it up with hot water

[vsonix]

I've been really impressed by these lately - the 'Presso'



Once you've dialled in the right grind for your beans they're almost as good as a 'proper' espresso machine.

Also if you're less fussed about a perfect espresso shot with crema but want something clean and convenient, the Aeropress by Aerobie is really good as well. About £25, looks kinda plastic but I've been using mine over a year, make at least three coffees a day with it, still going strong. I only ever use my french press for frothing milk now. Cafetiere/plunger is actually a pretty bad way to drink coffee, too much sludge and the last cup or two always tastes stale and stewed.

edit:fixed img code

Edited by vsonix on Thursday 13th December 16:48

[LordGrover]

[LordGrover]

vsonix said:

Cafetiere/plunger is actually a pretty bad way to drink coffee, too much sludge and the last cup or two always tastes stale and stewed.

I may use it if I'm out of filter papers but I like the simplicity of the filter cones.

[vsonix]

LordGrover said:

I may use it if I'm out of filter papers but I like the simplicity of the filter cones.

I'm sipping on some Yirgacheffe out of this bad boy right now...


I find it's not so good on darker roasts at all though, whereas the Aeropress is. Coffee out of a dripper is almost like a different drink though. Espresso + milk in the morning, filter in the afternoon, espresso no milk in the evening
Only been getting back into filter coffee recently; I'd been put off 'percolated' coffee by drinking too much stale Douwe Egberts that had been stewing all day in the jug in an office I used to work at.

[BliarOut]

Puggit said:

If I fancy a longer coffee from my Senseo I just top it up with hot water

I had a Senseo, lasted years before it finally started to leak. Bought a Tassimo to replace it and it knocks spots off it.

It's a bloody expensive habit to get mind, I'm thinking of taking up heroin instead to save a bit of money

The Latte and caramel macchiato are to die for

[carreauchompeur]

LordGrover said:

Linky? That looks epic.

[LordGrover]

I gotta do yer googling now? Linky.

[Oakey]

BliarOut said:

I had a Senseo, lasted years before it finally started to leak. Bought a Tassimo to replace it and it knocks spots off it.

It's a bloody expensive habit to get mind, I'm thinking of taking up heroin instead to save a bit of money

The Latte and caramel macchiato are to die for

What Tassimo machine did you buy?

[BliarOut]

I'm a bloke, I went for the top of the range with the illuminated coffee making stage of course

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/tassimo-tas6515gb-hot...

Buggers dropped another thirty quid since I bought it and they come with a voucher for twenty quid of free coffee if you spend over thirty five quid in the online shop.

Do not buy one under any circumstances, I now spend more on coffee than I do on fuel for the Griff.

I like the built in water filter, makes a real difference in a hard water area.

[carreauchompeur]

That looks great, might pop into Currys tomorrow.

[carreauchompeur]

Pushed the button on this in the end (Currys website wouldn't let me order for local collection and none in stock for delivery):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Tassimo-Coffee-Maker...

Thanks for the tips above, Amazon's pricing can sometimes boggle the mind because I found it also at £95 on the site.

£65 delivered, which is £5 cheaper than the T40 at Tesco. Bargain