Coffee Appreciation

Nespresso style pods? I'm interested in whether this works as I have a 5l keg I'm going to convert to nitro to do these from my beer taps.

I got a free bag of beans from Noni's Coffee with my recent Dark Arts order and it's delicious!

This is what I got: https://www.noniscoffeeroasters.com/collections/all/products/tide

They're a roaster based in Stroud, I would order from them for sure.

If this is an old chat then sorry, I have not UTFS..

I tried to get that but forgot to add it to the cart...

Got the opportunity to buy a Gaggia Classic and a Nuova Simonelli MDX grinder cheap. Currently using a La Pavoni (well, Gaggia Factory) and Kinu hand grinder. Worth trying the Classic or will it be a poor imitation of what I’ve got now?

Not 100% sure on the differences between the Gaggia Factory & LaPavoni Europiccola, but I definitely wouldn't be moving from the Europiccola to a Classic.

SOLD

Personally I’d definitely want an electric grinder for daily use. And that grinder looks pretty pro, although I’m not actually familiar with them. That being said, the kinu is far beyond any hand grinder I’ve ever used.

The lever machine vs the classic is a bit like comparing a really nice old steel bike with an average aluminium one. I’d say the factory is a beautiful thing, capable of making really good coffee but potentially a bit of a faff, while the classic is a bit more modern, capable of making good coffee too and just more convenient.

Depends how you make your coffee. If you’re like me, and it’s about having a rapid hit of nice coffee that is quick to make and drink before you’re out the door, maybe the classic will suit you better. But if your espresso drinking and making is about the enjoyment of the entire experience, the classic might feel a bit dull by comparison. The two options - kinu and factory vs classic and MDX - seem like quite natural pairs. Neither is necessarily better, but each will suit the needs of the certain individuals better.

The yellow bourbon Colombia Cafe Granja La Esperanza Bourbon is a real standout. One of the nicest coffees I’ve had in ages.

I’d say the factory is a beautiful thing, capable of making really good coffee but potentially a bit of a faff, while the classic is a bit more modern, capable of making good coffee too and just more convenient.

There's definitely some additional faff in terms of dialling in grind, with the additional variable of pressure. But I'd also argue that they're much more resilient and straightforward to maintain than a modern pump-driven machine.

Granted, this is all based on my experience with the Europiccola and Classic. I'm assuming those pros carry over to the Gaggia Factory

Oh for sure, by faff I just mean physically pulling the shot, and maybe having to pay a bit more attention compared to just switching on, and banging a shot out at the press of a button (a difference that counts when you’re trying to time trial your morning routine like I do).

As I say, you’ll get great shots out of both, it’s more a case of which method you’re likely to prefer. I’d love the factory and kinu for a Sunday morning espresso, I’d probably get a bit impatient with it Monday to Friday while I try and dash out the door at 530am.

Currently I've been using a Smart Grinder Pro, as not quite had the budget to upgrade to a single dosing.

I've tried a 3d printed single dose kit from Thingverse, it's got an almost bellows design.

Seems to be very good, circa .1g retention in an 18g dose. Well worth the £1 or so of filament.

Need to do it again in black, so if anyone wants a green one I'll happily ship on.

I've just opened a very tasty Colombian from Ancoats but will hit this up next to compare & contrast.

Great to hear, had already ordered a bag this morning before you posted!

Is there an auto filter brewer smaller than 1L, anywhere between 250ml-750ml? Am I better off just bothering to use my aeropress?

If an aeropress is too much faff, how about a CleverDripper? Hard to get much easier to use than that, and happily brews up to ~500ml...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpOdennxP24

+1 for the Clever!

I’m having a nightmare with De Longhi.

The grinder on my machine won’t go back together. I’ve watched every video and tried everything. They have finally accepted it’s not user error and agreed to look at it but can’t give me any indication how long it will take and won’t give me a loaner in the meantime.

Even though it’s still in warranty, I’m tempted to get it fixed myself.

I’m not after advice. Just venting.

It’s still

Got a clever sitting in the cupboard if anyone wants for cheaps.

I've now got the Melitta epour auto filter for work, handles down to 250 fine.

I’ve been keen to try one if you wouldn’t mind posting.

Second dibs on the thing recommended to me.

How’s the Melitta compared to the Clever?

Much easier to use, but like 10 times the price.

Ha yeah just looked it up. Pretty fancy

I recently switched from aeropress to clever dripper and I prefer the taste of it, i like the larger brew amount too

I tried the trick of putting a piece of filter paper at the bottom of the basket for an espresso this morning (inspired by the video below). Definitely produced a very tasty, clear shot, but contrary to what's said here it took ages to pull. That makes sense to me as I can't see how it would reduce back pressure. I'm going to experiment a bit more with it and see if I can dose less or grind a bit coarser but still benefit from the improved clarity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb3IxAr4RCo

My 60 year old Europiccola is boringly reliable and consistent. It’s quick too, aside from the heat up. Not sure I could be bothered with a manual grinder every morning.