Coffee Appreciation

In terms of step up grinders, what about the Niche Zero?

Also, what budget scales should I get that fit on the drip tray of a Gaggia Classic?

I've got one and it's a total banger. Not cheap but amazing value.

I've always just used something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ascher-Portable-Digital-Back-lit-Weighing/dp/B01FQHE25U/ref=sr_1_8

Though this time around I went all out and went for this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Milligram-Portable-Calibration-Tweezers-Precision/dp/B07R1L2MFP/ref=pd_sbs_79_3/262-1990052-4723602

Personally never seen the value in expensive scales. All my watches have a stopwatch function so I have no use for timers on scales. Unless you're at the point where you're carefully monitoring flow rate throughout your espresso extraction any sort of smart scale is money that could be better used elsewhere.

I think if I went electric that would be the one, it's so small yet all reports point to it's dependability and repeatability, not to mention what it's name points to, it's lack of grounds retention.

I have this one - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3kg-0-1g-LCD-Digital-Electronic-Jewelry-Weighing-Home-Coffee-Timer-Scale/372918707150?var=641715258190&hash=item56d3afe3ce:g:vk0AAOSwgiVeIuMh

Not sure i paid more than a £10er for it, but seem to be £15 to £20 now on ebay.

Build quality is poor at best, but its been going for well for a couple of years and still seems fine.

I think having the timer built in is useful as you're only looking at one screen.

Exactly the one I'm thinking of buying. You wouldn't know if it fits on the drip tray of a Gaggia Classic by any chance?

Yep, thats where I use it. It hangs over the edge, but thats not an issue.

It is quite tall though, so depending on what cup you are using and portafilter, you may have issues.

When used with the standard double spout portafilter, there isn't much room underneath. My flat white cup and espresso cups of choice are fine, but taller ones aren't. It's one of the reasons I'm thinking of going bottomless (oooeeerr).

OK, thank you. I will weigh out and see how far off the 'standard' is. I'm still loving the grinder!

Nice one, thanks.

Can you remove the double spout off the standard portafilter to make it bottomless, or do you need to buy a whole new one?

I bought these from Yagua scales from Yellow Bourbon last year and they've been great, really compact, fit on my drip tray and just big enough for my V60 decanter. Steve doesn't seem to be selling anything other than beans at the minute but there's plenty of places that seem to be selling them. Only around 20 quid.

Need a new portafilter to go bottomless. Some people have hacksawed / dremeled the bottom off too - but that seems unnecessary when you can pick one up for ~£30.

You can remove the spout though, just never seen anyone using a standard portafilter with the spout removed. Doubt it would kill you though.

Just found these scales which look lovely. Worth £45 though? Hmmm.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000262212881.html

Oh and 20 - 40 days delivery from china!

If anyones putting scales on a drip tray, put a layer of cling film over the top, just in case.

A cheap mini scale from Amazong is perfectly good enough
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Digital-Back-lit-Display-Weighing/dp/B07V9B27DZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=500+gram+scales&qid=1587564628&s=kitchen&sr=1-2

Taking the spout off is not a problem but it doesn’t tell you much. You want to be able to see the spurty bits when the coffee starts channeling. You might also notice a texture difference with a nudy, I like them.

My thought was why pay £30 when I have a hole saw in the shed but YMMV as American forums say.

I tend to go for the smaller ones as I trust them to be a bit more accurate. I have trust issues with a cheap scale that measures up to 3kg but still has 0.1g precision!

You're probably right with having the info on one screen, I use a lever machine so generally just empty the piston during my shot and don't have to worry about how long to let the shot go on for. Though even when working in a coffee shop, unless there was a shot timer built into the machine, I'd always just use my watch. We had a load of those little crappy magnetic kitchen timers that were a pain in the arse to use.

I have a hole saw in the shed

Oh god, why did you have to go and say that...

It’s too small. Phew!

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I've also had good luck with a holesaw to make my portafilter bottomless... Just get a slightly bigger one.

800g of green just arrived and couldn't have come at a better time. Maybe caffeine withdrawal but I've been a grouchy fuck today and that's cheered me right up.

In other news, my BWT magnesium water filter just arrived. Managed to score a new one for £10 on ebay. I've likely been a fool using SW London tap water for years so expecting tomorrows brew to be the best ever....will report back.

All this filter talk also makes me want to get a filter, should I get a Peak?

James Gourmet

One of the best roasters around I'd say. A local cafe uses his stuff so I've been drinking it for years. I can currently recommend the Ethiopian Suke Quto if you like the fruitier end of the spectrum.

Nice worktop. Don’t slip with the saw.

Anyone want to buy a Peak Water filter jug? I ordered 2 through the Kickstarter (one for work, one for home) but since have an office move to open plan and Covid WFH so doubling up seems over the top. Would only want back what I'd paid (which I'd need to check, but I got in on it relatively early so will be less than retail).

Will sell the unused one obviously so fully boxed and not touched etc