Coffee. Grinder and Cafetiere or Pods in a machine

[sean ie3]

It was ground, I didn't think about that, I guess the cafe's would be grinding their own. I remember that it was tough to find in Auchon and LeClerc, in fact I could not find it at all. Missing It now I'm thinking of it an nice intense espresso for €1, nearly 2 years now. Bloody Covid.

[RobbieTheTruth]

sean ie3 said:

It was ground, I didn't think about that, I guess the cafe's would be grinding their own. I remember that it was tough to find in Auchon and LeClerc, in fact I could not find it at all. Missing It now I'm thinking of it an nice intense espresso for €1, nearly 2 years now. Bloody Covid.

Yeah, so it will be very stale. In the cafe, it should be ground to order.

Also, it will be ground very coarsely to make it 'universal' (i.e. work in cheap coffee machines) so it won't take on nearly enough flavour.

[kingston12]

Has anyone used one of these machines:

https://machina-coffee.com/products/rocket-apparta...

I'm trying to decide between something fully manual like this and an automated Sage Oracle. If I go for fully manual I'll have to keep my Nespresso machine up and running for days when I haven't got time to make a 'proper' coffee.

Roughly how long would it take to make a coffee using a machine like the Rocket with an appropriate grinder?

[devnull]

kingston12 said:

Has anyone used one of these machines:

https://machina-coffee.com/products/rocket-apparta...

I'm trying to decide between something fully manual like this and an automated Sage Oracle. If I go for fully manual I'll have to keep my Nespresso machine up and running for days when I haven't got time to make a 'proper' coffee.

Roughly how long would it take to make a coffee using a machine like the Rocket with an appropriate grinder?

It is put through its paces along with the (non oracle) Sage on this vid https://youtu.be/e0kQ5WqjcU8

I have to say, maybe apart from the Sage, i thought they were all a bit of a let down, some truly ste design decisions for the money they command. And the noisy vibration pumps!

Save and buy a Linea mini. I might be biased.

[number2]

devnull said:

kingston12 said:

Has anyone used one of these machines:

https://machina-coffee.com/products/rocket-apparta...

I'm trying to decide between something fully manual like this and an automated Sage Oracle. If I go for fully manual I'll have to keep my Nespresso machine up and running for days when I haven't got time to make a 'proper' coffee.

Roughly how long would it take to make a coffee using a machine like the Rocket with an appropriate grinder?

It is put through its paces along with the (non oracle) Sage on this vid https://youtu.be/e0kQ5WqjcU8

I have to say, maybe apart from the Sage, i thought they were all a bit of a let down, some truly ste design decisions for the money they command. And the noisy vibration pumps!

Save and buy a Linea mini. I might be biased.

Love the Linea buy I'm a Bianca man - size decision predominantly although the Linea also costs more.

Dual boilers always seem to have an edge to me but clearly not a view shared by all. If you think this could be an interesting hobby, get a prosumer. Sage is great by all accounts but longevity/fixability may be an issue and it doesn't look as cool .

Making a coffee takes a few minutes and if I was in a hurry or couldn't be arsed I'd do something else.

Weigh beans, grind beans, level/tamp ground beans, insert portafilter and pull lever, remove empty and clean portafilter. A pleasure of course but not a totally brain out exercise like b2c or nespresso.

[number2]

number2 said:

I've ordered some small needles for a few quid, and a dosing funnel. I'll see how those work out for me.

Couple of good buys on Amazon and very pleased with them. Needles stuck in a cork and a cheap dosing collar!

Also picked up a set of Acaia scales - they were a gift for the man with everything .

In case anyone is interested, amazon links below.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07R8ZRTGS/ref=cm_sw_r...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071NG5TX6/ref=cm_sw_r...

[beambeam1]

RobbieTheTruth said:

beambeam1 said:

Came in to this thread looking to upgrade our faithful Nespresso pod machine. Tend to use two pods and add milk these days and it's grand for now but we have come to consider that we do like a decent coffee nowadays. With vouchers/cash gifted to us after we got married we have decided we will upgrade to a decent machine... I came in here thinking about a Sage Barista Express and have trawled a few pages looking for comments about it.

Honestly, there is an abundance of great comments and knowledge throughout but I caught a few mentions of "V60" and think I am better off experimenting more with this type of kit than forking out for a machine that isn't suitable or is potentially overkill. The budget I had in mind also falls short of common recommendations of other machines which reinforces the idea of refining my coffee habit before splashing out.

Additionally, the drip style of the V60 instantly reminded me of the coffee I had, and enjoyed, when I was in Japan a few years ago. I think I will experiment with fresh beans and a grinder and take it from there - there are recent comments about fresh beans and supermarket grinds that totally transformed my understanding re: oxidisation, weights/quantity ratios and such. Thanks all for the regular contributions, it has made for some quality reading. And wincing... significant wincing at the price of some items!

PT1984 said:

And I got the V60 free with a £12 Pact purchase!

I think even Hoffman says he doesn’t have an espresso machine at home.

Thanks for this! I'll experiment with the V60 at the very lowest price point first, use it to convince the wife we don't need a machine for now and get some matchy matchy items for the kitchen if we actually enjoy it.

EDIT: With the money saved I am now divebombing into the Ooni Pizza Oven thread instead!

Edited by beambeam1 on Sunday 13th June 02:52

V60 is great, and will make a delicious coffee - but it's such a different result from Espresso.

The Sage will give you a much better version of what you're currently making.

The V60 will make you a delicious alternative, which is much milder and cleaner tasting.

Both options require a good grinder.

Apologies in advance for excessive quotage:

RE: Grinder, would this be worth picking up? https://tinyurl.com/BodumGrinderDeal

As for the comments about V60/Espresso/Sage, quite happy to chase an alternative to an espresso, especially if it is as you describe! V60 and beans arrived so just need a grinder now!

[S6PNJ]

beambeam1 said:

Apologies in advance for excessive quotage:

RE: Grinder, would this be worth picking up? https://tinyurl.com/BodumGrinderDeal

I'm sure RTT will agree but I'd say not. Reading the blurb it has 12 (yes a mighty 12) grind settings. I change my grind profile between caf and decaf beans by at least 10 settings and I've not even got close the the max / min of my grinder (1ZPresso JX-Pro). You are probably unlikely to get consistent results with that grinder.

[beambeam1]

Thanks. Think I need to go and read a bit about grinding and it's effects before I go any further. I'd be happy with a manual grinder if there's a decent option to learn/develop the taste/coffee desired. I saw on the Pact website (where I bought beans/V60) that they had a Hario Skerton?

[S6PNJ]

Have a read around here: https://coffeeforums.co.uk/forum/65-grinders/ Search the forum for the grinder and see what other 'punters' have to say about it. Probably best to sort the search results by date order to get the newest comments first.

[RobbieTheTruth]

S6PNJ said:

beambeam1 said:

Apologies in advance for excessive quotage:

RE: Grinder, would this be worth picking up? https://tinyurl.com/BodumGrinderDeal

I'm sure RTT will agree but I'd say not. Reading the blurb it has 12 (yes a mighty 12) grind settings. I change my grind profile between caf and decaf beans by at least 10 settings and I've not even got close the the max / min of my grinder (1ZPresso JX-Pro). You are probably unlikely to get consistent results with that grinder.

Yeah, that would be an entry level grinder for coarse brewing but you won't get suitable Espresso grinds from it.

Grinders are expensive, but there has been some real disrupters to the market which means the circa £1300 end game grinders are available for £400-£500.

It seems a lot at first, but if you get one of these, you'll get something that should be great for life, and will shine nomatter how you brew coffee and how your preferences/methods/machines change over the years.

I'd get the Solo for about £400.

Single dosing, easy to use, great for any brewing method.

They are new to the market so longevity isn't known, but they appear to be great and can be rebuilt/fixed using easily sourced equipment. No digital displays/computer chips which will just malfunction over time.

Everyone's circumstances are different, but I'd advise spending £400 on something you'll love and should be your last ever grinder, than £100 on something poor.

Get the £100 one, and there is a good chance you'll soon want to upgrade to improve results.

Pay the £400 then in your own time, experiment with manual espresso, V60, Chemex, Aeropress etc. See what you like, safe in the knowledge your grinder is performing.

Get the cheap one, you might get average results with a V60, wonder if it's the grinder, debate upgrading and possibly revert back to pods.

Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Thursday 17th June 13:28

Edited by RobbieTheTruth on Thursday 17th June 13:31

[PT1984]

I would be pushing the budget a little to this

https://www.rountoncoffee.co.uk/shop-c1/brew-equip...

The Hoffman almighty seems to rate it.

[Sway]

I got the Hario MSS-1 for my v60 drinking.

Watching Hoffman's v60 vids, I'm seeing/getting the results he said I should be looking for, with a consistent grind size and adjusted to one click before the 'bitterness wall'.

[Baron Greenback]

PT1984 said:

I would be pushing the budget a little to this

https://www.rountoncoffee.co.uk/shop-c1/brew-equip...

The Hoffman almighty seems to rate it.

I went for this then I flair Neo lever manual espresso which is good enough but no grind small enough to upgrade for proper espresso basket. It is great for anything else. There are a lot for sale in local gumtree for £50. I missed out on a local Sage pro grinder for £100, worth a look for 2nd hand grinder.

[PT1984]

I have the Sage Smart Grinder Pro. I just grind for V60 and it’s perfect for that. I thought I wanted the adjustability to switch between v60, French press and Moka. But after the taste and mouth feel of the V60, you can forget the muddiness of the other two.

[Baron Greenback]

PT1984 said:

I have the Sage Smart Grinder Pro. I just grind for V60 and it’s perfect for that. I thought I wanted the adjustability to switch between v60, French press and Moka. But after the taste and mouth feel of the V60, you can forget the muddiness of the other two.

Mmm you have me doubting buying a Sage pro grinder, thought it can grind espresso to french press size or it is just to much of a hastle?

[jodypress]

Baron Greenback said:

PT1984 said:

I have the Sage Smart Grinder Pro. I just grind for V60 and it’s perfect for that. I thought I wanted the adjustability to switch between v60, French press and Moka. But after the taste and mouth feel of the V60, you can forget the muddiness of the other two.

Mmm you have me doubting buying a Sage pro grinder, thought it can grind espresso to french press size or it is just to much of a hastle?

I've got the Smart grinder Pro. Had it for a couple of years now. It's great. Very easy to adjust. Just turn the dial on the right. See pic.

[PT1984]

Baron Greenback said:

Mmm you have me doubting buying a Sage pro grinder, thought it can grind espresso to french press size or it is just to much of a hastle?

Iv never to grind for espresso in it. For me it’s perfect for v60. However if I had known I wouldn’t bother with changing the grind I’d probably have gone with a Eureka Mignon Crono which was cheaper at the time.
That is a proper grinder. The Sage does feel like an appliance.

[beambeam1]

Sway said:

I got the Hario MSS-1 for my v60 drinking.

Watching Hoffman's v60 vids, I'm seeing/getting the results he said I should be looking for, with a consistent grind size and adjusted to one click before the 'bitterness wall'.

Ended up going with this, the Hario MSS-1. First go this evening and perfectly happy with the result. Much more enjoyable than what I’ve been conjuring up with the Nespresso pods. Will go back and forth with it over the next while to experiment with beans/grind/volume and see how I get on.

Thanks all for the replies even if I blatantly ignored some and cherry picked some others to follow up on!

[paralla]

I’m 100% confident my grinder will outlast me, the only reason I can think of to make me want to change it is if I’m too old and infirm to operate it. I like that.