Coffee Appreciation

Bought some kochere from monmouth this morning, it's very nice indeed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/may/09/how-to-make-the-perfect-espresso

Quite an interesting read, albeit a bit useless if you don't have a machine. Would have been nice to get some more on how to do espresso with a Moka, which I still struggle with.

The amount of variables they talk about goes a long way to explaining why coffee from some shitkicker chain coffee shop or grubby caff can taste so revolting at times I guess (plus the use of rubbish beans etc obviously)

Been using an Aeropress for a couple of days and honestly, my Moka pot can go eff itself in the A, I doubt I'll use it again. The aeropress just makes reliably smooth tasty coffee. Totally converted

What size grind, Brew time, Grams, Inverted method or normal are you using?

Just got one of these as well

http://brewmethods.com/

4 clicks in a Porlex grinder (probably fine-ish grind) - two scoops (supplied scoop) nearly to brim, water up to level 2 (stir and then top up) - let sit for twice as long (think manual says 10 secs) - normal method

Luvverly

Do you remember a while back I tried to grow some coffee from beans I bought online, and it didn't work? Then a friendly forumenger got me some green beans and I tried again? Well, those didn't work either. I still really want a coffee plant at home. Has anyone perchance got a plant that I could take a couple of cuttings from?

PM Dammit

^^ Sorry to hear it didn't work, Matt.

^^ Sorry to hear it didn't work, Matt.

No, thanks for the beans! I'm sure I did something wrong. But I'd read it was tricky to get them to germinate.

^ I've tried growing from beans. Of the three I tried, two didn't come though and the one that did took about 3 weeks to germinate.

I didn't even have that much luck.

Took the classic apart this afternoon and cleared a block in the Solenoid, it's now like a different machine - not sure how I've had shots from it on previous flow rate before it stopped completely.

What was "normal" grind & tamp now results in 3 second shots, been playing since and best I've got to is 3 seconds before pour, but then slowing down to a dribble so not getting full shot inside the magic 30s.

Am guessing grind too fine* & tamp too light but can anyone who knows their stuff advise? More playing tomorrow, lots of sink shots at the mo or else me and gf would be proper wired.

• Using a hasbean blend (North Tea Power house blend), roasted 4th May, 18g, 4 clicks on Porlex Mini.
  

So what's going on? You've got 3 seconds from hitting the brew switch to getting a pour, which is ok to start with but then slows right down?

Sounds right what you say, but I'd expect a longer pause before the pour emerges if the grind's too fine. If you don't solve it with more playing then have the OPV apart and check there's no muck in there, sounds like it could be bleeding the pressure off.

^ pour exactly that as you describe.

Ta for the info.

edit: Google is v.useful for me to answer my own numpty questions: http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?3859-Adjusting-the-OPV-(over-Pressure-Valve)-Gaggia-Classic

I didn't even have that much luck.

My three plants. The smallest one in the middle is the one I grew from seed.
The other were seedlings when I got them.

1 Attachment

My three plants. The smallest one in the middle is the one I grew from seed.
The other were seedlings when I got them.

Show off...

;)

Fancy donating a cutting?

^^ very cool. I'll need to look into this.

So what's going on? You've got 3 seconds from hitting the brew switch to getting a pour, which is ok to start with but then slows right down?

Sounds right what you say, but I'd expect a longer pause before the pour emerges if the grind's too fine. If you don't solve it with more playing then have the OPV apart and check there's no muck in there, sounds like it could be bleeding the pressure off.

Can put it down to grind, distribution, levelling & tamp. 1 click back + a bit of concentration on technique today and results improved, 18g giving 2oz in 27s. The only concern being pour starts fairly quickly, 5s in.

For those with a porlex mini (and maybe the others), when (if?) you clean it, be sure to pop the plastic bit out of the burr.

It was full of coffee chunks when I opened mine up.

Show off...

;)

cough Who me....

Fancy donating a cutting?

Sure, remind me and I'll try and do one for you in time for the Norwich 100.

cough Who me....

Sure, remind me and I'll try and do one for you in time for the Norwich 100.

Cheers chap! That'd be great. Still want to get a training ride in?

The best coffee i had so far was in Coffee Plant , on Portobello Road (in front of Electric cinema)
They do a decent coffee,and sell beans too.

If you want a decent chocolaty/mild-strong roast go for Nicaraguan.
And if you like the bitter taste and stronger coffee I'd suggest Monsooned Malabar.

Would you sell me your beans?

Anyone been here?

http://www.venetias.co.uk/

I don't normally head east from my house - in fact I had no idea that Chatsworth Road existed, nor that there was a market there. But I went for a run in the opposite direction on Sunday and stumbled across it. It looked nice, but it was only 8am so it was shut. Thoughts?

Iberital MC2, doser or doserless, or is my money better spent elsewhere?
http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/iberital-mc2-grinders.html

I went for doserless with my Rocky. I'm not making lots of shots at a time, don't like the idea of constant stale stuff sitting in doser crevices, less to break, neater, if I needed a large quantity in one go, I could just grind out a batch into any suitable container and then scoop into the portafilter as necessary, more control over dose (if wanting to avoid wastage), etc. Don't regret the decision.