Coffee machines ?

Author
Discussion

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
quotequote all
uncinqsix said:
Colonial said:
Only way to go - I only drink espresso so it makes the best ones around. Better than any machine available. Low temperature makes it even smoother (but takes longer)
It makes short, strong coffee, but it doesn't make espresso.

(I wouldn't agree that it's better than any machine either, but that's down to personal taste - liking moka pot coffee better than espresso certainly would save you a lot of money on kit smile)
Well, if you want to be painfully pedantic about these matters then you are correct.

If you want to use language which is common to describe types of coffee then the phrase espresso, or short black as I would call them, gives a far better description of the type of coffee produced.

And no, it is probably not as good as a top of the range bit of equipment. But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans and tend to be bought by posers who simply want a coffee machine in their kitchen because isn't the smell of coffee just divine, darrrrrrrrrrrrling. Oh yes, this is a divine little smegma stainless steel 867 cup that is just amazing. Of course, it cost a lot and we don't use it, but as a status symbol it is just divine darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrling.

And UK coffee is crap anyway. So instant would actually be better than most coffee I had, with the exception of Flat White in London.

jackal

Original Poster:

11,248 posts

281 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
quotequote all
Colonial said:
But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans
This seems to be true.

Now the honeymoon is over i'm finding the gaggia classic to be very compromised and hit or miss.

Firstly i've learnt that the grinder is everything and you should put 70% of your budget here.

After that, really there is two low end machines, the Classic or the Rancillo silvia but both need nerdy mods, finicky temp surfing techniques etc.. to get half decent and consistent results. What you really need is a heat exchanger machine with PID or better still a dual boiler. Espresso machines in coffee shops are big and expensive for a reason and to be fair you can't just make a small budget one for home use and charge people 300 quid.


Edited by jackal on Saturday 2nd January 09:48

uncinqsix

3,239 posts

209 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
quotequote all
Colonial said:
uncinqsix said:
Colonial said:
Only way to go - I only drink espresso so it makes the best ones around. Better than any machine available. Low temperature makes it even smoother (but takes longer)
It makes short, strong coffee, but it doesn't make espresso.

(I wouldn't agree that it's better than any machine either, but that's down to personal taste - liking moka pot coffee better than espresso certainly would save you a lot of money on kit smile)
Well, if you want to be painfully pedantic about these matters then you are correct.

If you want to use language which is common to describe types of coffee then the phrase espresso, or short black as I would call them, gives a far better description of the type of coffee produced.

And no, it is probably not as good as a top of the range bit of equipment. But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans and tend to be bought by posers who simply want a coffee machine in their kitchen because isn't the smell of coffee just divine, darrrrrrrrrrrrling. Oh yes, this is a divine little smegma stainless steel 867 cup that is just amazing. Of course, it cost a lot and we don't use it, but as a status symbol it is just divine darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrling.

And UK coffee is crap anyway. So instant would actually be better than most coffee I had, with the exception of Flat White in London.
Hardly "painfully pedantic." Espresso and Moka pot coffee are two different drinks and do not taste the same.

I agree that a lot of home espresso machines do as you say - burn the beans etc and generally make a drink inferior to a well made moka. However, there are some decent ones (not "top end") that aren't bought by posers and (in the right hands) make very good espresso.

Also agree on the UK coffee. But I live in Wellington, NZ where it's actually harder to find a bad coffee than a good one.

escargot

17,110 posts

216 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
quotequote all
I received one of those moka pots for Christmas this year. Gave it a whirl today and it produced one of the richest, syrupy coffees I've ever had. It was delicious.

wobert

5,009 posts

221 months

Saturday 2nd January 2010
quotequote all
I had a Bialetti Moka Express for Christmas last year - used it for 3 weeks then it went in the cupboard.

This thread has brought it out of retirement.

I bought this coffee on offer when in Tesco just before Christmas this year, and I've got to say it makes a superb cup of coffee!

http://www.tesco.com/superstore/xpi/3/xpi64652403....

Colonial

13,553 posts

204 months

Sunday 3rd January 2010
quotequote all
uncinqsix said:
Colonial said:
uncinqsix said:
Colonial said:
Only way to go - I only drink espresso so it makes the best ones around. Better than any machine available. Low temperature makes it even smoother (but takes longer)
It makes short, strong coffee, but it doesn't make espresso.

(I wouldn't agree that it's better than any machine either, but that's down to personal taste - liking moka pot coffee better than espresso certainly would save you a lot of money on kit smile)
Well, if you want to be painfully pedantic about these matters then you are correct.

If you want to use language which is common to describe types of coffee then the phrase espresso, or short black as I would call them, gives a far better description of the type of coffee produced.

And no, it is probably not as good as a top of the range bit of equipment. But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans and tend to be bought by posers who simply want a coffee machine in their kitchen because isn't the smell of coffee just divine, darrrrrrrrrrrrling. Oh yes, this is a divine little smegma stainless steel 867 cup that is just amazing. Of course, it cost a lot and we don't use it, but as a status symbol it is just divine darrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrling.

And UK coffee is crap anyway. So instant would actually be better than most coffee I had, with the exception of Flat White in London.
Hardly "painfully pedantic." Espresso and Moka pot coffee are two different drinks and do not taste the same.

I agree that a lot of home espresso machines do as you say - burn the beans etc and generally make a drink inferior to a well made moka. However, there are some decent ones (not "top end") that aren't bought by posers and (in the right hands) make very good espresso.

Also agree on the UK coffee. But I live in Wellington, NZ where it's actually harder to find a bad coffee than a good one.
Sorry. I quit smoking and was feeling a bit annoyed. I agree with what you are saying smile

Rags

3,640 posts

235 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
Nespresso FTW

sleep envy

62,260 posts

248 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
jackal said:
Colonial said:
But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans
This seems to be true.

Now the honeymoon is over i'm finding the gaggia classic to be very compromised and hit or miss.

Firstly i've learnt that the grinder is everything and you should put 70% of your budget here.

After that, really there is two low end machines, the Classic or the Rancillo silvia but both need nerdy mods, finicky temp surfing techniques etc.. to get half decent and consistent results. What you really need is a heat exchanger machine with PID or better still a dual boiler. Espresso machines in coffee shops are big and expensive for a reason and to be fair you can't just make a small budget one for home use and charge people 300 quid.


Edited by jackal on Saturday 2nd January 09:48
sleep envy said:
coffee grinding is very much a black art
cough wink

my mum has mastered the art of coffee grinding but that's after owning a snack bar for over 45 years - I'm still very much a novice and that's after working in there on and off for the best part of 10 years

water temp is key plus the group handle must be boiling hot, it helps to run water through the empty group and then putting the coffee it

BliarOut

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
jackal said:
Colonial said:
But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans
This seems to be true.

Now the honeymoon is over i'm finding the gaggia classic to be very compromised and hit or miss.

Firstly i've learnt that the grinder is everything and you should put 70% of your budget here.

After that, really there is two low end machines, the Classic or the Rancillo silvia but both need nerdy mods, finicky temp surfing techniques etc.. to get half decent and consistent results. What you really need is a heat exchanger machine with PID or better still a dual boiler. Espresso machines in coffee shops are big and expensive for a reason and to be fair you can't just make a small budget one for home use and charge people 300 quid.


Edited by jackal on Saturday 2nd January 09:48
sleep envy said:
coffee grinding is very much a black art
cough wink

my mum has mastered the art of coffee grinding but that's after owning a snack bar for over 45 years - I'm still very much a novice and that's after working in there on and off for the best part of 10 years

water temp is key plus the group handle must be boiling hot, it helps to run water through the empty group and then putting the coffee it
I thought your new job was a trifle more prestigious than that...

sleep envy

62,260 posts

248 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
I don't like trifle, besides what's wrong with owning snack bars?

pret make a few quid every now and then

escargot

17,110 posts

216 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
Ignore Rob, he's just pissed off his favourite porn site is down for maintenance all day.

BliarOut

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
And how would you know that???

escargot

17,110 posts

216 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
You see that clock on your wall?


BliarOut

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 4th January 2010
quotequote all
This is a worrying development...

cramorra

1,664 posts

234 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
jackal said:
Colonial said:
But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans
This seems to be true.

Now the honeymoon is over i'm finding the gaggia classic to be very compromised and hit or miss.

Firstly i've learnt that the grinder is everything and you should put 70% of your budget here.

After that, really there is two low end machines, the Classic or the Rancillo silvia but both need nerdy mods, finicky temp surfing techniques etc.. to get half decent and consistent results. What you really need is a heat exchanger machine with PID or better still a dual boiler. Espresso machines in coffee shops are big and expensive for a reason and to be fair you can't just make a small budget one for home use and charge people 300 quid.


Edited by jackal on Saturday 2nd January 09:48
If you are looking into a different machine with a HX the from a value fot money point of view the LA Scala Butterfly (and to a lesser extent ISOMAC Tea and Rituale) represent the best value for money
with a bit of searching you should find them new fot around 800 quid and they are worth every penn - OK need maintenace but apart from that
i have my Butterfly for 5 years now and never looked back, in fact I stoopped pretty much drinking coffee when not at home or in Italy

Another good machine with HX is the Nouva Simonnely Oscar http://www.nuovasimonelli.co.uk/home.htm
which with a bit of luck you could get for around 600 pounds - slightly less attractive to look at but great quality...
Good Luck

TpdNotts

879 posts

202 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
For what it's worth, the Nespresso's have an offer whereby if you by one by the end of January you get £40 free coffee which you purchase through their coffee club. You have to send in a copy receipt and you order £40 worth in one order but it seems like a good deal, especially as at the minute John Lewis are doing a Siemens Nespresso for around £130.

jackal

Original Poster:

11,248 posts

281 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
cramorra said:
jackal said:
Colonial said:
But most home coffee machines are abysmal, burn the beans
This seems to be true.

Now the honeymoon is over i'm finding the gaggia classic to be very compromised and hit or miss.

Firstly i've learnt that the grinder is everything and you should put 70% of your budget here.

After that, really there is two low end machines, the Classic or the Rancillo silvia but both need nerdy mods, finicky temp surfing techniques etc.. to get half decent and consistent results. What you really need is a heat exchanger machine with PID or better still a dual boiler. Espresso machines in coffee shops are big and expensive for a reason and to be fair you can't just make a small budget one for home use and charge people 300 quid.


Edited by jackal on Saturday 2nd January 09:48
If you are looking into a different machine with a HX the from a value fot money point of view the LA Scala Butterfly (and to a lesser extent ISOMAC Tea and Rituale) represent the best value for money
with a bit of searching you should find them new fot around 800 quid and they are worth every penn - OK need maintenace but apart from that
i have my Butterfly for 5 years now and never looked back, in fact I stoopped pretty much drinking coffee when not at home or in Italy

Another good machine with HX is the Nouva Simonnely Oscar http://www.nuovasimonelli.co.uk/home.htm
which with a bit of luck you could get for around 600 pounds - slightly less attractive to look at but great quality...
Good Luck
thanks, yes they look good machines (although I gather the TEA has never been the most reliable performrer)

If i upgrade then i will do it once and once only and just go straight to twin boiler and miss out HX altogether. Nothing wrong with HX of course but if budget is unconstrained then the twins make sense. The rotary pumps are worth having as is the extra steam power and the idiotproof ease of use (no need for cooling flushes).

Vivaldi Mini , Alex Duetto or an Expobar leva will be the front runners.

Wheelrepairit

2,904 posts

203 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
Any of these machines do hot chocolate

Im allergic to coffee you see.

sherman

13,059 posts

214 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
Wheelrepairit said:
Any of these machines do hot chocolate

Im allergic to coffee you see.
If they can froth/ heat milk then that is all you need to make hot chocolate.

jackal

Original Poster:

11,248 posts

281 months

Tuesday 5th January 2010
quotequote all
Wheelrepairit said:
Any of these machines do hot chocolate

Im allergic to coffee you see.
yep.. another reason i got one

i have hot choc quite a bit and my daughter even more

you just froth up the milk and i add the chocolate powder into the jug so it dissolves real easy

the mouth feel of the stretched milk is fab and its a lot quicker and easier than 2 mins in the microwave