Coffee Appreciation

Non electric goosenecks, talk to me.

I have this one and I think it's very good for the low price: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gooseneck-Kettle-Precision-Flow-Thermometer-Barista-Standard/dp/B01KOOOKUM/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3RTPTHFOIUWZD&keywords=coffee%2Bgator%2Bkettle&qid=1701186014&sprefix=coffe%2Bgator%2Bkettle%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Similarly to you, I had concerns about making sure it could do gas and induction because we currently rent. I didn't want to shell out big bucks for an electric one with great reviews. Honestly, I'd struggle to think of an area where it could perform better.

I have the Hario Air Kettle and I like it a lot. Seems like it might be a good fit for this application. Bonus fact: it's Hoffmann approved.

Can't seem to find it in France amazon, just the more fancy one they do.

Too small, I only do v60s when I'm making more than 500ml.

interested in this potentially 👀

Can anyone recommend a subscription service for decent espresso which isn't Square Mile?

They changed the recipe for Red Brick a while back and since then I've found it impossible to get a decent shot. Just can't get any crema and it ruins my flat white every morning. Plus the ordering/skipping system is incredibly frustrating, this is the feedback I just gave them when they asked why I cancelled:

I've found the subscription option quite frustrating to be frank. Payment is taken way in advance of the coffee actually being sent out as subscription coffee is only posted on Wednesdays, and I regularly find myself being billed for the next pack before the previous one I've paid for has even arrived. This makes it very difficult to keep track of what's going on, and it doesn't help that skipping orders can be tricky (I literally tried just now, the button repeatedly didn't work, so I'm cancelling instead). The coffee doesn't arrive that quickly either. We live about a mile away from your Walthamstow roasting base, but the coffee is sent on a slow Royal Mail service which goes out to Romford then back again - it's frustrating if you've run out and want coffee quickly. I order decaf from one of your competitors in Northampton and it is sent by Royal Mail first class and normally arrives next day without fail. Overall the subscription option is just too cumbersome, slow and confusing, so I've given up.

It's not my setup because I'm making banging decaf flat whites with Yellow Bourbon (my preferred decaf - their espresso isn't an option unfortunately as my significant other doesn't like it).

I really like Pharmacie's The Cure espresso blend. Obviously YMMV but they're good folks and efficient with deliveries etc. Never done a subscription and haven't had enough red brick to compare the two.

Or if local is of value, mont58 in Cartford deliver by cycle I think?

I order a kg bag of decaff from Hermozi via eBay once a month. It’s great coffee.

This is well worth reading if you're thinking about setting up a coffee business.

https://shop.3fe.com/product/wikarcs

Origin
Roundhill Roastery
Workshop
Dark Arts Coffee

All the above I have found to be very good

Progress!

The plumb in kit arrived from Malaysia:

The water feed pipe fits through the existing hole, which is a huge relief:

Now I just need to get it through the side of this cupboard on the left, possibly by widening the existing hole out to 22ish mm, or putting a fresh 15mm hole below the existing one.

I'm sure you could get a similar amount of knowledge from YouTube these days.

The more I use youtube to learn about dialling in espresso the more confused I get.

The only video that I find clear is the Barista Hustle series from 8 years ago.

Hard Lines and Dark Arts would be my suggestions - have also found both customer service to be great.

I ordered an Alessi coffee brewer bc I like the aesthetic, small footprint and it was 40% off in BF. Sorry coffee gods if I have angered you!

Thanks all, I've had plenty of Dark Arts in the past and I've tried Workshop a while back although can't remember anything about it now. I'll work through those and also going to try Hasbean because I had a mind blowingly good decaf from them at the weekend at the Baltic Bakehouse in Liverpool.

I just popped to Dark Arts for our next bag and interestingly the nice lady I spoke to said she thinks Square Mile have gone downhill and it's not just me. Perhaps all that YouTube money* means the Hoff has taken his eye off the ball?!

*According to Wikipedia he was making £16k a month from it and that was in 2021!

Do you know the name of this Hasbean decaf, was it just their regular one or something special? I remember trying a Hasbean coffee at a cupping years ago that tasted of strawberry juice, it was very unique. Can't remember the details of it anymore, sadly.

Just their regular one I believe:
https://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/decaf

Although it's decaffeinated at source, which is special actually.

The Bakehouse made it in a French press, so I'm wondering if I just really like cafetiere coffee and didn't know it. It'll be interesting if I can make it as good.

Perky Blenders is up your neck of the woods (I think). They are very good, but their espresso blend is quite similar to Yellow Bourbon, so that may rule them out for you. But could be worth a try.

Might be interested in that Stagg if Gewurtz doesn't take it.

Perky blenders also do free local royal mail delivery to e17 (which sounds like it might be relevent)

His Patreon alone nets $20,390 per month. And I appreciate creators leaving this public. By and large he has very little to do with day to day ops of Square Mile though according to himself on the Diary of a CEO podcast he appeared on last week.

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That's nuts! Fair play to him, feels like a lot of work goes into it

Also I imagine a fair whack of that goes on the (occasionally stupidly expensive) equipment he buys and gives away to his supporters.

Plus his videos have pretty high production values. I'm guessing there are a few people getting work out of them.

Ordered, thank you!