Coffee Appreciation

Flat cap coffee cart on Strutton Ground market normally stock Square Mile coffee beans. It's just off Victoria street, across the road from Scotland Yard. Don't think its too far from Whittards.

Ah, cool, I know the place you're talking about! Cheers!

Is this an actual market stand or a shop?

And I thought I had a cool place to work

http://www.hasblog.co.uk/the-roastery-tour-video

Still makes me think of 'Breaking Bad' every time I see it.

Is this an actual market stand or a shop?

I will reward your patience by now informing you that it is a stall

Whats the best way of using a stove top on an induction hob? the base of the stove top itself is too small, I think.

Just got some Monmouth Kenyan Kiandu. Amazing; it's fruity like the other Kenyans I've tried, but has an amazing essence of Blackcurrant like I've never experienced before. It's surprisingly pronounced and tastes great.

just had my first aeropress explosion, coffee EVERYWHERE
when using the inverted method, make sure that lid is done up real tight...:P

We have a constant hot water boiler at work which I've tried a few times with the aeropress but with no luck. Even the best beans come out tasting bland and dull. I've given up using it.

Agreed, everything I've made using one of those (the tap, not the aeropress) tastes disgusting. I'm annoyed that I wasted my good coffee and not used the crap in the cupboard at work.

It's something to do with having all the oxygen boiled out of the water apparently.

Whats the best way of using a stove top on an induction hob? the base of the stove top itself is too small, I think.

you need to move it to the edge of the ring or the plastic handle will melt

happened to me tru story

Coffee Hit, Brockley- nice chaps?

Yes, run by an aussie called paul who sounds like Jason Donovan. Great business.

Seem pretty efficient.

Diverged from my usual Monmouth to try some Bullet which I picked up from The Roastery on Wandsworth Rd. Very tasty. Like the free coffee of your choice when you buy some beans. Nicely made espresso even if the cup was a bit big. More piccolo size.

Gaggia Classic query - last week after 1st week use (perhaps 20 shots) flow dried up so I removed shower screen, & hex key cover thingy, cleaned & replaced = all going fine.

same happened today after no more than 15 shots thus week.... could it be needing descale so I should try this first, or are there simpler things I should look at first?

Have been backflushing using blank basket after each use.

Is it a second hand machine? If so, yes, descale it using tartaric acid or the Gaggia descaler sachets.

Try to always fill it with filtered water. A Brita jug will do fine.

second hand machine, water straight from tap. will give it a descale, cheers

You can get tartaric cheap on eBay. Otherwise Poundland does descaler which isn't quite as suitable (contains citric acid).

I only backflush maybe every twenty shots or so, or when the flushing the grouphead pours tainted water, or water with grinds/sediment in it.

I've got a pressure gauge you can borrow some time if you want to check that, or adjust it.

I find the back flushing really helps keep the flow clear. I got one of those rubber banking discs off eBay, its a strangely satisfying chore.

Just remember to take it back out before you make a coffe. The number of times:

That's exactly the reason I got the rubber disc instead of the hole-less basket, I would definitely forget to swap baskets. Although it still hasn't stopped me accidentally back flushing after warming the group

You can get tartaric cheap on eBay. Otherwise Poundland does descaler which isn't quite as suitable (contains citric acid).

I only backflush maybe every twenty shots or so, or when the flushing the grouphead pours tainted water, or water with grinds/sediment in it.

I've got a pressure gauge you can borrow some time if you want to check that, or adjust it.

Cheers for info, may need that pressure gauge at some point, so thanks for borrow offer.

I've always used citric acid (you can buy packets of it from Persian shops, they use it in cooking). This has worked well for me. Is there something bad about using citric acid? It's pretty much just like using lemon juice, isn't it?

Citric acid is the weapon of choice for descaling pretty much anything, but not for Gaggia users - they have aluminium boilers and citric is a bit harsh. The Gaggia descaler sachets contain tartaric acid which is available far more cheaply from home brew outlets. Mix it up to 10% concentration, fill your machine with it, pump a load through the group and steam wand, refill with solution and leave the machine ticking over for half a day. Rinse loads of clean water through the whole system, pull a couple of seasoning shots and you're good to go.

you need to move it to the edge of the ring or the plastic handle will melt

happened to me tru story

I make mine on an electric (coil) stovetop all the time, on medium heat, never had a problem with the handle. This is using the Bialetti Kona and Kaliffa.

My classic has finally arrived.
Tonight I shall fit the Rancillo steam wand which arrived with it.

Tomorrow I shall play.