Coffee machines ?
Discussion
uncinqsix said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
They will produce an entirely different drink. Whether it's better or not is a matter of personal taste. I like espresso, so a cafetiere is no good to me. 
uncinqsix said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
They will produce an entirely different drink. Whether it's better or not is a matter of personal taste. I like espresso, so a cafetiere is no good to me. 
t;)).Bill said:
But can a home machine make a proper espresso?
If its a half decent one, you have the right beans/grind and technique yeah, making all the coffee shop coffees needs a bit of technique, even a good shot of espresso (unless the machine is all automated...)I use a cafetiere too tho at times.
Bill said:
uncinqsix said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
They will produce an entirely different drink. Whether it's better or not is a matter of personal taste. I like espresso, so a cafetiere is no good to me. t;)).Nespresso?...like you I wouldn't!
I think theres something that some people are missing here regarding using a Cafetiere, or a stovetop.
Yes, you want somehting nicer than instant nescafe.
Yes, a £300 coffeee machine will(can?) make nicer coffee than instant.
But a lot of people are ignoring or unaware of the fact that a few quid spent on a big cafetiere or a Bialetti, and a grinder, makes far, far, far better coffee than instant.
In terms of value (ie the improvement in taste vs the price) its way, way more sensible than spunking hundreds of pounds on something to impress people with and take up half your worktop.
Yes, you want somehting nicer than instant nescafe.
Yes, a £300 coffeee machine will(can?) make nicer coffee than instant.
But a lot of people are ignoring or unaware of the fact that a few quid spent on a big cafetiere or a Bialetti, and a grinder, makes far, far, far better coffee than instant.
In terms of value (ie the improvement in taste vs the price) its way, way more sensible than spunking hundreds of pounds on something to impress people with and take up half your worktop.
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
Cafetiere (or French press) coffee is a totally different thing to espresso based drinks.Personally, I enjoy espresso based drinks (latte, macchiato, etc) when I’m out or at work and would recommend sticking with French press coffee at home.
That’s because I can’t afford the sort of kit I’d be happy with at home to make a decent espresso though. It’s an expensive business.
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
as stated, its a totally different drink and not comparableI like espresso and caps with a small amount of milk
cafetiere tastes revolting to me and is a totally different thing, in fact to me it's not coffee but something else
Bill said:
uncinqsix said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
They will produce an entirely different drink. Whether it's better or not is a matter of personal taste. I like espresso, so a cafetiere is no good to me. t;)).a decent grinder and then a decent HX machine (or care taklen with a single boiler) will produce coffee that is better than most cafes (easily beating the likes of starbucks, nero, costa etc..)
you need to spend a bit of money though and get freshly roasted beans
Edited by jackal on Friday 8th January 11:00
If money were no object, I’d have a proper espresso machine plumbed in at home. That’s bloody unlikely to ever happen though. I’m very, very lucky to have one at work (having a coffee roaster as a client for twelve years has had some perks).
At home, decent beans plus a small burr grinder and a nice french press would do me nicely. It won’t make any espresso based drinks, but it’d be a million miles ahead of instant.
As it stands, we have a stovetop moka pot at home and some pre-ground coffee that’s bog-average at best.
I know my stuff, but I’m too poor/lazy to practice what I preach.
At home, decent beans plus a small burr grinder and a nice french press would do me nicely. It won’t make any espresso based drinks, but it’d be a million miles ahead of instant.
As it stands, we have a stovetop moka pot at home and some pre-ground coffee that’s bog-average at best.
I know my stuff, but I’m too poor/lazy to practice what I preach.
Thanks for your comments - I use a cafetiere and a stove top expresso maker i've had for donkeys years. I prefer the taste of both over any of the coffee's I have ever tasted in a buckonerorepublic type of place - which for some reason all taste 'burned' to me. In fact I have stopped drinking coffee in these coffee shops as they all taste disappointing.
My seasrch for a decent outside cup of coffee continues ..
My seasrch for a decent outside cup of coffee continues ..
Another vote for Nespresso here, only downside is the slightly pretentious guff that comes with it, they are certainly trying to market it as a an upmarket experience.
Oh and you can only by the capsules from the website, Harrods or Selfridges!
As a comparison we had a Krups machine before and whilst it was OK it isn't nearly as nice as the Nespresso.
Oh and you can only by the capsules from the website, Harrods or Selfridges!
As a comparison we had a Krups machine before and whilst it was OK it isn't nearly as nice as the Nespresso.
raf_gti said:
Another vote for Nespresso here, only downside is the slightly pretentious guff that comes with it, they are certainly trying to market it as a an upmarket experience.
Oh and you can only by the capsules from the website, Harrods or Selfridges!
As a comparison we had a Krups machine before and whilst it was OK it isn't nearly as nice as the Nespresso.
Not for me thanks. I'll stick with freshly roasted beans from one of a dozen excellent local roasters Oh and you can only by the capsules from the website, Harrods or Selfridges!
As a comparison we had a Krups machine before and whilst it was OK it isn't nearly as nice as the Nespresso.
We've got a number of coffee solutions - my favourite being an old fashioned hard plastic filter, add paper filter, ground coffee and hot water and voila coffee - perfect for work as we only have really really nasty instant coffee and much less mess than a cafetiere.
I'm not a fan of cafetiere coffee, it always tastes a bit stewed to me and I hate cleaning the bloody things, I much prefer the taste of filter coffee.
The stove top percolator works well on a campsite or we use the plastic filter.
We also have a Gaggia classic at home and a Gaggia filter machine.
Horses for courses and different solutions for different problems.
I'm not a fan of cafetiere coffee, it always tastes a bit stewed to me and I hate cleaning the bloody things, I much prefer the taste of filter coffee.
The stove top percolator works well on a campsite or we use the plastic filter.
We also have a Gaggia classic at home and a Gaggia filter machine.
Horses for courses and different solutions for different problems.
drivin_me_nuts said:
In all seriousness are these machines actually any better than buying the beans you like and using a cafetiere?
Not necessarily 'better' - but certainly different.I have a beans to cup DeLonghi Automatica at home. Perfect espresso every time.
At work, I drink cafetierre coffee.
I enjoy both - but they are different beasts.
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