Coffee machines - whaddaya know?
Discussion
Just bought a delonghi espresso machine and I'm very happy with it.
I only started drinking coffee late last year and I have tried plenty of instant brands. The problem is that when you have a real coffee on the high street it makes you realise just how big the difference is.
It isn't a bean to cup machine but it is very easy to use and makes a lovely black coffee. It was a bargain at £140
Got some coffee goodies over the new year. I already had a 6 cup bialetti, which I love. Then I was bought this burr grinder and some Bolivian beans from hasbean.
http://www.delonghi.com/en-GB/products/coffee/coff...
I've never liked black coffee, but this was so good that I could drink it black. It was almost chocolatey.
The grinder is great, but a bit overkill to grind the small amount I use. I gather grinding the whole bag and storing the ground beans would degrade the coffee.
I also got a milk throther for cappuccinos
http://www.delonghi.com/en-GB/products/coffee/coff...
I've never liked black coffee, but this was so good that I could drink it black. It was almost chocolatey.
The grinder is great, but a bit overkill to grind the small amount I use. I gather grinding the whole bag and storing the ground beans would degrade the coffee.
I also got a milk throther for cappuccinos
Edited by RenOHH on Saturday 1st February 11:20
Mr Pies said:
Have you got a link for the beans please?
These ones.http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/america-boliv...
Almost run out now, I need to buy more!
RenOHH said:
Mr Pies said:
Have you got a link for the beans please?
These ones.http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/america-boliv...
Almost run out now, I need to buy more!
Dr G said:
Cleaned mine a couple of days ago (well overdue) and generated some fairly vile looking coffee slime. Think I'll be switching to monthly rather than quarterly 
That's what puts me off espresso machines, it's like doing your own vehicle maintenance running one of those things. None of the good quality ones are built in such a way that makes it even slightly easy either. That said, I would never want a cartridge machine. Blown2CV said:
That's what puts me off espresso machines, it's like doing your own vehicle maintenance running one of those things. None of the good quality ones are built in such a way that makes it even slightly easy either. That said, I would never want a cartridge machine.
Do you mean the bean to cup machines?I recently bought an espresso machine that takes ground coffee and it has been very easy to clean.
It is only pressurised water up to the removable parts which take less than a minute to wash.
Area all bean grinders equal? I can't seem to make a consistently good cuppa with my very modest set up.
I've got one of these
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/appliances/11...
One of these
And a bag of these beans
I just can't seem to make a consistently good coffee - one time it'll be lovely, the next it's be watery or too bitter and I can't see that I'm doing anything differently. I tend to favour making lattes rather than just straight espresso.
Thinking I might try a bag of pre-ground coffee and see what that's like.
I've got one of these
http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/appliances/11...
One of these
And a bag of these beans
I just can't seem to make a consistently good coffee - one time it'll be lovely, the next it's be watery or too bitter and I can't see that I'm doing anything differently. I tend to favour making lattes rather than just straight espresso.
Thinking I might try a bag of pre-ground coffee and see what that's like.
That's a blade grinder - they're inherently not very good for espresso as you don't get a consistent grind from them. All it does it dump the beans onto the blade for a fixed time - you'll end up with some finely ground parts and some coarse. A proper burr grinder would give a much more consistent result.
Flibble said:
That's a blade grinder - they're inherently not very good for espresso as you don't get a consistent grind from them. All it does it dump the beans onto the blade for a fixed time - you'll end up with some finely ground parts and some coarse. A proper burr grinder would give a much more consistent result.
Just what I was going to say...I have one of these which is not too bad.
+1, you need a burr grinder. I have this one and the ground coffee is the same every time, and each brew out of my Bialetti tastes the same every time.
http://www.delonghi.com/en-GB/products/coffee/coff...
http://www.delonghi.com/en-GB/products/coffee/coff...
Dr G said:
The Rancilio Rocky is very good, easy to use and often pops up second hand on ebay.
Given the option always go doserless (the dosers are almost universally useless).
Finally - follow this, ignore the other posts. If you want espresso, you need to spend at least the same amount as the cost of the machine on the cost of the grinder. Also, Lavazza beans are stale - so don't expect a decent shot out of them.Given the option always go doserless (the dosers are almost universally useless).
Get yourself at least a Rocky (as above) - second hand is fine as the burrs are pretty strong, and get some fresh coffee - get more than you think as you will need to dial it in first.
Delonghi grinders are possibly fine for brewed or filter, but rubbish otherwise. Rocky is about the most basic grinder you can get to do espresso. Moka pot is tasty in its own right, but not espresso at all.
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