Coffee Appreciation

The portafilter from my Gaggia Classic broke so I have ordered your a naked bottomless one.

Quite interested to see the difference when it arrives.

Big fan of bottomless portafilters, mainly for ease of cleaning and how damn nice the coffee looks when coming out of it. Also pretty handy for diagnosing issues with tamping. Probably won't lead to a discernable difference in taste, unless the spouts on your old portafilter were pretty disgusting.

I've had a week (on hols) to mess about with new coffee gear so here are some thoughts:

Bought from Bella Barista -great service, very quick turnaround, big thumbs up.

Eureka Mignon Specialita grinder - compact size, quiet in operation, can't fault the grind consistency. Build quality of the main unit appears good but the sundry bits slightly less so. All perfectly functional although the porta filter holder is somewhat rudimentary. Knocks out a double espresso dose in 10s.

ECM Classika II PID - build quality is really excellent. Making espresso is simple with this machine. You set the temp you want and the machine does the rest. After adjusting grind and vol a tad, now getting excellent espresso at around 27 to 30s.

Steaming milk is the slight drawback to this machine. Whilst it's possible to get good results, it takes a while. After making coffee, you need to flick the switch for steam mode, then spend some time drawing hot water out of the boiler to prevent this ending up in the milk, and wait for the boiler to get to about 127 degrees.

It's a compromise, but one which works well for me. An HX machine has different compromises, and an ECM double boiler machine is double the price.

In summary; great coffee, very happy.

great coffee, very happy.

Ace.

Lower tech... I had use of a Hario Skerton last week, and now been gifted it. Ace bit of kit. Will use as home grinder for filter, but keep Porlex mini & Rhinoware for out n about.

Anyone used the stainless steel filters for aeropress? Read a few things saying some dont fit well etc. I dont really want to buy more paper filters...

Yeah, I tried and it didn't fit mine. Coffee pissed out everywhere.
I still have it if you want to try it? I can pop it in the post if you send me your details.

Also, I have a aerolatte stand that I found in the back of my cupboard if anyone wants it? I don't use it so it will going in the bin if not. It looks like this*:

*Actual aerolatte thing not included!

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14327110/

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14327111/

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14327334/

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14330064/

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14331081/

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14332649/

steel metal aeropress filter reusable recyclable alloy
(tags for future searches for the same thing)

Thanks for the feedback @NurseHolliday

Think I will give them a go. If its harder to press, surely just make the grind coarser?

If I were considering taking a step up from my gaggia classic is the silvia a big enough jump for the £450 outlay or is it too marginal a gain and I should be aiming higher up the scale for something truly more impressive?

most typical usage for me is knocking up 2 milky coffees in quick succession for me and the gf and the gaggia is taking me forever as it can't steam enough milk in one go adequately and cycling the machine between shots and steam fucks with the output massively and I have to wait 2-3 minutes between each step for it to settle/heat up again.

Probably won't be enough of an upgrade to justify the cost. The silvia can only really steam enough milk for one drink so you'd still be cycling it like you are with the classic. I quite often make 2 drinks back to back on mine and it doesn't take too long to cool it down by drawing fresh water in then letting it heat up again, little bit of a faff though.

Might be worth it if you can score a good condition used machine and then sell your classic, they are good machines.

Your usage is same as here only I don't have milky based brew just espresso or short black so it's easy to make my partners milky brew then my shot in quick succession . If either your gf or yourself can quit having milk the classic will excel! /csb

Don't think so, a step up would be a dual boiler machine to allow you to pull shots and steam milk efficiently. You'll have the same problems with the Silvia as you do with the Gaggia.

Get a separate milk steamer thing?

https://brewtool.co.uk/products/bellman-stovetop-steamer

How come my cold brew tastes far more bitter than last time I did it?
I put 7x12g scoops in 1l and let it soak for around 22-24h in the fridge both times. It's the same beans, ground the same, same water and same fridge (although my flatmate stored some raw onions in it this time).

Onions in the fridge?

Will be in Liverpool next weekend for the day while my OH has something near Albert Docks. Is there anywhere recommended nearby?

This is a daft question.

I enjoy coffee, I drink almost exclusively aeropress coffee. I live in a house where I am the only coffee drinker. I live in the middle of Amsterdam and have a tiny kitchen. It is nearly my fiftieth birthday. If you were me, and you fancied an indulgent coffee machine, what would you get?

With a tiny kitchen how would your housemates feel about your indulgence?
I'd get a good moka pot and spend the saved cash on coffees at recommended cafes.

A v60 to change things up. Espresso at home seems to cost a minor fortune before you even get something decent. Fair enough if you’re in the sticks, but if you’re in Amsterdam just get a good takeaway

This Hario siphon brewer definitely satisfies the 'indulgent' bit, but not sure if you could be bothered with it on a regular basis:

This Chemex is maybe a better bet:

Though if we're talking tiny, I've always had a soft spot for these:

Those moka pots though, can they make good coffee? I had one years ago but can’t remember a single great coffee from it. With my v60 4 days out of 5 is above good and about once a week the stars align and I get a great cup.

Bold Street Coffee every time: https://www.santamaluco.com/bold-street-coffee/

Hmmm, thank you. When you say a minor fortune for espresso at home, how minor? I like the syphon, for the theatre particularly. I may have overstressed the tiny kitchen... Share the kitchen with the family, I'll be fine ... And thank you all for your help

Theatre? Espresso? Can mean only one thing:

Not at all biased as I have one...

(Can get them new for less than £400)