Coffee Appreciation

Bellman stovetop milk steamer was what @StevePeel recommended IIRC (at least that's what's in my saved searches). I was sorely tempted, but I decided £60-70 was a bit much for me to splash on a whim, especially as I don't drink that much coffee...

Soz, this was a reply to @bitterbuffalo not @Thrustvector.

No I don’t use an espresso machine at home. The Technivorm is a batch brewer so you get great consistency but you don’t get quite the clarity and definition of the v60. If you’re into the process as much as the result then stick with V60 but if you want great convenience then it’s the Technivorm.

We have mostly IKA RCT Basic models, which are on the cheap end for a decent lab heater-stirrer, but still talking £hundreds here - they're not terribly quick and I wouldn't call them impressively consistent either, even with a probe, they're quite slow to click on and off to maintain temperature, just like a domestic hob.

What you could do is get an induction hob and a stainless steel trivet to put on it to effectively act as a hotplate for non-induction cookware. And then at least you'd have a hob with a much broader range of uses, too.

That's the one! Thanks. Might pop a saved search on eBay and see how I get on.

I was really keen to get a Technivorm this year but it looks like council approved fire door, washing machine, and new hob/oven will have to take priority. Bye bye all my money ever.

I'm also in the market for something in this range or maybe slightly more.

I guess the question is: get a Rancilio Silvia for £440 odd, or go for something a bit more pricey.

This looks decent value:

https://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/rancilio-silvia-rancilio-rocky-doser-base.html

Sage Barista was fairly well thought of too I think. I'm happy with mine.

Ikea do cheap decent looking one

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/appliances/hobs/tillreda-portable-induction-hob-white-art-40331630/

Trying to keep it compact as well as a smaller power drain, so both the IKA and induction unit are out, unless there is a tiny one out there somewhere.
I can't imagine a solid alu top like this one would vary as much as our coil top currently does!

https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/HP2305BQ

Thanks for putting thought into this.

Inspired by @StevePeel and his timer switch on the Technivorm! Can't believe I hadn't thought of this before. Will be investing stat.

When I was in the market for a new filter machine a programmable timer was on my essential list
Ended up with a Melitta Look Thermal job.
Is pretty good, and the thermal carafe keeps the coffee warm for hours.

When I was shopping around for an espresso machine, the Silvia seemed like the best choice before you jump up to the £1000 range for a HX machine like the Rocket Appartamento.

Most machines between have extra things I didn't want like a built in grinder or extra electronic gimmicks. I like that the silvia has solid feeling switches rather than little clicky buttons like some others have. It feels like a workhorse: minimal things to break, easily servicable and makes a good coffee when you get used to temp surfing it. Likewise the rocky grinder is a tank, just a lump of metal with a 'give me coffee' button on it.

My friend bought an appartamento at the same time as I bought my Silvia and it's definitely a big step up but then it costs over twice as much.

My friend bought an appartamento

oooh.

Now I want one of those.

Yep same, it's my next upgrade coffee wise, that or the new Niche grinder.

Another question; some hot plate manufacturers say that only glass containers should be placed on their (aluminum) products for fear of damage or electrical shorts. Can you tell me more?

Sounds a bit odd to me, especially as you have to use an aluminium block to be able to heat round-bottomed glassware, but then a big consideration with anything we bought was always, is it going to be broken when the students inevitably drop/hit/spill dangerous chemicals on it, so I've not really encountered anything "delicate"

Cheers, just what I’m hoping to hear.

Anyone used or own an ECM?

I've now watched too many YouTubes of Americans opening up coffees machines...

This. Get a fortnightly collection. Or it can go in the garden.

Had a few cups of the Rwanda one now. Phenomenal coffee! I gave Ethiopia and Brazil to friends as birthday gift and they also love it.
Thanks for hooking me up! @StevePeel

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Ah nice one glad you’re enjoying it :)

I like ECM machines they feel really nice and solid. They’re the most well made of all the prosumer machines from having pre-delivery inspected them alongside Rockets, Quickmills et al at Bella Barista.

Thanks Steve; I'm rapidly upselling myself...

Btw, which coffee do you use for espresso in your shop?