Coffee Appreciation

@bproud
http://www.topmokaitalia.com/english/index.php?page=Induction-coffee-makers
I always recommend Top Moka over Bialetti; still made in Italy and better quality.

Thanks, that's useful, not heard of them but was aware that Bialetti are having some hard times currently. Sad but no surprise that the manufacturing moves elsewhere I guess.

I'm not sure what happened first, though I read that a lot of the change came about due to the rise of pod usage in Italy in particular. There's also the problem of durability; short of wanton destruction it's hard to kill one of those units.

I've got this Sage grinder going spare

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sage-BCG820BSSUK-Smart-Grinder-Coffee/dp/B00P81AQUU

£80 pick up in Camberwell.

how do you buy from them? can't work it out

Don't think they do online sales themselves but this shop does offer a couple of their induction models:

https://www.moka-pot.co.uk/top-moka-pot?page=2

cheers

Yep, one of those poorly chosen company names that is hard to google when you actually want to buy their products. Both ebay and amazon have them.

Anyone got any recommendations for a coffee machine? Have a grinder already so just looking for something I can put ground coffee in. Budgets around £2-300.

Cheers.

Just pour boiling water over the grounds in a nice mug, wait five minutes and then blow on the surface (as if you're whistling strongly without making a sound), the floating grounds will start to sink down.
Enjoy.

Any mug recommendations?

I've got a Gaggia selecta deluxe which was working well until about a month ago - it was showing signs of being blocked (hard water), but I tried flushing as I've done before, but this didn't work so I did a bit more of a tear down. It seems like it might be the solenoid valve from what I can see online, but not sure - when I took this apart and reassembled it went from working very poorly to not doing anything at all (I might have put a spring back incorrectly?). Any opinions on whether I should persevere with trying to sort it out (or anyone on here have a way with Gaggias?). On the other hand, maybe I should just cut my losses and get a better espresso machine (preferably that's easy to maintain?)

What's the verdict?

this is great. source?

Is there someone "on here" who can produce wooden handles for portafilter / machine knobs?

I am getting an ECM Syncronika from Doppio Coffee and would like some nice handles.

https://redtempleprayer.com/product-category/homeware/ceramics/

I know a dude. Drop me a pm.

Anyone have any suggestions for decaf coffee - both beans and instant? Not found any that taste great. Thanks

I really like the Yellow Bourbon decaf. We tried a few while the other half was pregnant and that was the best IMO.

Bought the decaf beans from Doppio once, they were ok, nothing special. More of a dark roast

https://perkyblenders.com/collections/frontpage/products/decaf-costa-rica-indonesian-longberry-blend?variant=7180863897659

That is also good, tried that a few times as sister in law lives next to the Leyton shop

Good! It's roasted by @DoktorPepe

Oh hi!
Roasted last batch of that on Thursday, new Ethiopan Limu Kossa Decaf from next week.