Coffee Appreciation

I get virtually nothing but good cups from mine, though my technique and bean choice may make some people cringe.

• Cold tap water
  
• Italian-style over-roasted beans
  
• Grind setting 3 turns back from locked on Helor (regular burrs) grinder
  
• Takes 3-ish minutes to brew on Fancy Feast diy alcohol stove using Methyl Hydrate 99.9%
  
  

Should add that a good maker is critical, I'm very happy (and have given away all the Bialettis) with Top Moka.

What's a good subscription service these days? Finding myself running out lately and would like a weekly bag or two rather than going to the co-op round the corner.

I love yellow bourbon - exactly my taste, but not practical to have to open the door all the time for boxes. What's an envelope size delivery? Either a single roaster with decent bags (maybe small batch or pharmacie - as an ex-brightoner might be a nice thing to remind me of the place now I think of it) or failing a single spot is there a good service that does a wide variety of roasters to try?

https://mygodshot.com/product/yield-design-850ml-french-press-sand/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuP6lwOOp3QIVCpztCh2-JQ1gEAQYASABEgJ8uPD_BwE

I’d go for a really nice French press - this for example is the one I’ve got my eye on. But Tom Dixon does a nice one as do others

I am still yet to use a French press that I rate. Perhaps I have not spent enough on one.

I am using a moka pot a lot at the moment. It's just so fast and delicious. I got slightly bored of preparing a V60/Aeropress. I know they don't take long, but I can't do one in the space of 20 minutes from getting out of bed to leaving work. I can however, put the moka pot on, shower, get out and subsequently smash an espresso...

Yeah, I also do that wrapped in plastic wrap when I have some left

92 deg

https://www.92degreescoffee.com

Bold Street was shut down when I was last over there.

I saw a tweet with a plan to reopen but no news since. Glad they have a home meanwhile.

French press is great at the weekend though - especially if there’s a few of you for breakfast. I use the James Hoffmann tekkers and I like the results.

Hasbean's annual subscription is £250 for 52 weekly 250g bags of coffee (this price includes the delivery, so it works out pretty cheap). Every week is a different single-origin coffee. You do not have a choice about what you get, which might be a problem if you only like a very specific type of coffee.

Coffees are delivered in an envelope, and easily fit in my mailbox (the slot is 4cm high). Subscription coffees are roasted each Friday and usually arrive on the Saturday (Royal Mail 24 hour delivery).

(There are also some other subscription options.)

Gotcha.

Not sure what counts as minor fortune. One of these does perfect espresso:

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/brands/ecm-classika-ii-pid-espresso-machine.html

I do James Hoffman French press every morning, banger every time. Just a £15 Amazon French press, bit hit & miss if you use standard method but with the JH, no issues. Even in my mum's 15 year old Bodum, JH method made a really good coffee.

I linked to their current set up, I know it's not their own place but still their coffee and food!

Fair, just watched it. Sounds good, all makes sense. Will give it a go.

Understood, i'd have liked to visit them there but was pointed to 92 deg back then which was convenient & good.

:) I need to go back to Scouseland soon..

Interesting re manufacturers. Might give a top moka a shot (badum tish!)

I use a different method to wp for mocha pots. It's largely James Hoffman's way of doing it.

Use fresh espresso beans. Boil the kettle to about 90% and then turn off. Put the hot water in the pot and then the coffee. Put on the hob on a very low heat with the lid open. This make the extraction slow to avoid any bitterness. The crema should be dark brown when it bubbles through. As soon as it starts to get lighter then the extraction is getting too quick and you need to stop it. Take the pot off the hob and rinse the base with cold water and you're good to go!

Or just watch this

Ta @Cazakstan @rhb - will take a look.

Really like that... Would possibly prefer it with 3 digits in the price, but that does look nice

I wrote a little review here:

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/14388627/

It's superb at what it does; the PID makes espresso very simple.

Could be just what I'm after, thanks.

Seem to be having limescale build up issues in my Bonavita kettle despite always using filtered water. After descaling with Full Circle descaler it built up again after a week or two. It's a Brita filter but have been using cheaper non-Brita filters for a bit. Could it be the cheaper filters?

I've tried that in the past, but in the interest of science I will again - I may actually prefer a little bitterness in my cup:)
I'm curious about that taste; is it lighter and more fruity and do you use lighter roasts to make yours? This goes out to anyone who uses the hot water start method.