Coffee Appreciation

Ah nice one, glad you’re enjoying it :)

Not been on the thread for awhile, however just picked myself up a Gaggia Classic and currently modding it out fully with PID, OPV change etc. Can report back on difference in performance and taste if anyone is interested!

I’ll be pestering Sanremo UK about these once they’ve launched at a Dubai trade show next week. Been hoping to get a decent home machine to sell that those lot down the road don’t have.

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Fun, looks like a rectilinear Smeg.

'The Pink Stuff' is really good for these sorts of things too. I've used bar keepers friend in the past but I think this is better.

Can anyone recommend a reliably quality Aeropress technique/recipe? I mainly use a V60 but like the simplicity of the Aeropress - I just struggle to get consistent results.

I just made one using the World Champs recipe from 2019 but it seems like an incredibly inefficient way to make a very small, albeit nice, coffee. (30g in for a ~180ml cup)

My go-to was always, inverted, coffee in, twice the amount of water in for a 30 second bloom. Top up and pop lid on. Flip onto cup at 1 min, start pressing at 2 min, should be finished by 2:30.

Also, did lol at the massive WAC RECIPES on that page you linked.

Thank you. What grind are you using? Have been people recommend everything from bordering on espresso to "very coarse" per that link.

Can't quite remember to be honest, fairly sure it was 7 clicks on my Porlex which this chart has as 'medium' https://honestcoffeeguide.com/guides/coffee-grind-size-chart/

Recently got myself a Classic but bough one already fitted with a PID and OPV set at 9 etc, so not sure about difference, so will be interesting to hear. One thing that gets mentioned a lot is that the PID helps a lot with the steaming, making it much better than stock. I mostly drink cappuccinos so that was always going to be important.

Quickly realised how much I need a good grinder though, so looking at that at the moment. Brewing routine is two doubles a day (three max), and looking to go manual both for space and bang for the buck factor. Will probably pull the trigger on either a 1zpresso or a MBK Feld 47. Which leads me to the question...

Anyone with good recommendations for a good espresso hand grinder?

Funnily enough I have the feld 47! Would recommend it massively. Customer service isn't great and having to work out getting settings myself but the quality of the grinder is fantastic. I'd you get one and need grinder setting chat let me know.

The classic I have already has the rancilio wand which improves things but I'm looking forward to better stream through the PID.

previous to this I had the ROK espresso and using hand ground coffee with that made the biggest difference, it is an old cliche but the grinder really does make the most difference.

Thanks for the feedback and settings chat offer, much appreciated!

Yeah that seems the universal consensus on MBK - great products, non existent customer service. They do sell the relevant spares etc, so you'd hope you shouldn't need to contact them 🤞 I know someone who might be selling their MBK Hausgrind (an older model) but I'm a bit worried as on their website under the FAQ about spares they say "If you have an older model Feldgrind, Feldwood, or the original Hausgrind please get in contact and we will help as best we can." - doesn't bode well since they seemingly are an uncontactable company and the O rings do eventually appear to need replacing to avoid setting slippage and I'd be using it twice a day... The Feld is currently out of stock, so leaning towards the 1Zpresso JX Pro... 🤔

As you say, the old adage of the grinder being possible the most important part of the equation dawned on me really quickly coming from a smaller machine which relied on pressurised baskets.

Did you go for the Mr Shades PID?

I'm selling a Feldgrind 2 at the moment......

Can anyone recommend a reliably quality Aeropress technique/recipe? I mainly use a V60 but like the simplicity of the Aeropress - I just struggle to get consistent results.

I’ve had better results from my Aeropress with a longer steep time.

Do an inverted brew with the plunger pulled out as far as you dare. Pre-heat. 5 teaspoons of coffee adjusted up or down depending how strong you want it. Re-boil the water and fill almost to the top. Give it a good stir and top up the water right to the top. Start the timer for 5 minutes and put the cap on. Then press it out for 30 seconds (which is about how long it takes if the grind is right anyway).

Doesn’t seem to make any difference if you leave it inverted or tip it up the right way to steep, or if you press the air out. Just make sure the cap is good and tight.

Grind, I find the best is somewhere between espresso and V60. Logic tries to tell you that a coarse grind will be best, but it results in a weak, empty cup with no texture.

Key thing is to not expect it to be like V60. Aeropress has less texture and is never as strong as a V60 brew using the same amount of coffee - at least not in my experience anyway.

Because long steep times mean a longer wait for coffee, I just grind finer and brew for less time.

I'm generally not too far from espresso. Perhaps half way between espresso and v60. Inverted. 14g in, 250g of water, pour in one go. Stir three times. Brew for two minutes, stir. Filter and cap on, turn up right and press for 20 seconds.

Much prefer aeropress coffee to v60, but the v60 often wins due to brew quantity.

16 grams medium fine grind
230 grams water @93°C
Two filters (will get you closer to a v60 style cup)

Invert. Pour all the water in (no need to bloom if inverted). Stir. Put lid on with 2 well rinsed filters. Wait 1 min 15 secs. Flip. Really slow plunge, around 45 secs to 1 min. The slow plunge really makes a difference.

You should get all the flavour you'd get with a V60 from that recipe but with more body.

Lungo-Americano-cappuccino frankencoffee in a big mug this morning.

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Can anyone convince me NOT to pull the trigger on a Moccamaster? Use case for our house - 2 adults, 2 young children. Both (adults) appreciate good coffee, but no interest in getting into the home espresso game. Want something simple and easy to maintain, which produces good results.

Any reason why we shouldn't go Technivorm? Other alternatives out there?

Sage do one I think.

Hoffman reviewed it obvs

Other alternatives out there?

If you like filter coffee and want something simple and easy I'd try a Hario V60.

Yeah, the Precision? Saw the review - looked good, but I think I prefer the styling of the Moccamaster. I think...

Also a good option! Think I prefer the ease of making a pot in the morning and not having the (admittedly) small faff of the v60 (or similar).

Just get the mocca master if you like the idea of it. They're good.

The fact they are repairable is the main reason we are considering a moccamaster over the Sage.