Coffee Appreciation

Where is that Bullet coffee in central Hackney cafe?

No idea. It's been years since I knew of it

http://www.bullet-coffee.com/

Found this webiste with reasonable prices for brand new machines.

I don't know what the service is like though.

https://www.caterkwik.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_CK9730
https://www.caterkwik.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_ARIETE

My Gaggia Classic has been a workhorse for the last 8 years, but is looking a bit tired.

I'm in no rush, but starting to think about moving on. What would be a good next step in the £500-£750 price bracket?

This is for home use. Espresso every morning. Flat whites at the weekend.

Pretty happy with my rancillio but your upper budget might get you a double boiler. I'd like a double boiler sometimes.

On another note, really enjoying my bottomless porterfilter, it makes a lot nicer coffee, perhaps because I spend a bit more time ensuring good distribution and tamping.

Yeah, I've looked at the Silva before and it's a good machine. I might be wrong, but seems to be on a par with the classic though.

Have been drooling over the Rocket R58. Must resist.

I use an Expobar Office Pulser which is excellent and quite small:

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/expobar-office-pulser-coffee-machine.html

Nothing wrong with a workhorse.

MY understanding was that to get a better coffee than the rancillio can do, you'd need to go upto £1000ish. And or be wanting double boiler.

Nothing wrong with a workhorse.

Completely agree. Just curious what the next step would be. If it means going double boiler and well over a grand, the workhorse will keep on working.

Seems like a pretty good hand grinder if you haven't already got one:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crushgrind/the-columbia-coffee-grinder

That looks intriguing.

Can't find much written about the mechanism, has anyone tried the original Brazil grinder?

Interesting read:

http://www.jimseven.com/2017/02/09/turning-point-feared/

Backed. Thank you.

Is there a link to their original table top grinder? Thinking of replacing mine!

http://www.crushgrind.com/products/brazil-coffee-grinder

Thanks for that... but google-fu turned up these, which I like the look of more..
Anyone got one or used one?

https://kuissential.com/product/evengrind-coffee-grinder/

https://handground.com/handground-precision-coffee-grinder

Can't find much written about the mechanism

Not in a coffee grinder, but I've got T&G salt and pepper mills that have Crushgrind mechanisms. They're very good.

Would anyone be interested in a 10 cup Chemex?

It's great but I just don't really use it.

It's this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemex-10-Cup-Coffee-Maker-Handle/dp/B000NTMHRW?th=1&psc=1

Would happily swap for a bag of nice beans. Pick up in Camberwell.

PM if interested.

Only the handground available in the UK

https://www.coffeehit.co.uk/handground-coffee-grinder-black.html

The other one is direct shipped from the US. Spenny.

Us website didn't have any of the black or nickel ones.
Might grab one whilst I can..do like the look of them, and do need to replace the wooden one I've got..
Thanks

@mmccarthy has dibs on the Chemex so no more PMs please!

I shudder to think what mick will be like with 10 cups of coffee in him at once.

"his cadence, it's over 9000"

Laps of Forest Hill on the beach cruiser beckon.

New project, but I'm a little deflated as it seems to be working perfectly, has been beautifully looked after and needs nothing more than a thorough exterior clean. There's no scale on the probe, it doesn't look like the boiler has ever leaked and it seems to have been newly serviced as the handles lock in nicely at 7 o'clock and the taps don't drip. There was a fault code for the turbo steam (crappy auto-frother gadget) thermocouple so i snipped and twisted the wires to sort that, then got it into technician mode to bring the boiler temp down and it's all gravy.

I was going to lease a Marzocco for the shop - about £150 / month. They produce great results, but so does any machine with a skilled operator. Auto volume dosing was a must - all my projects in the shed are too archaic to leave in the hands of trainee staff, so this Cimbali does everything I need, and reduces overheads by loads. HX flushing is mandatory but that won't be difficult to train someone to do. The boiler temp is rock solid, no deadband like an oldskool pstat, and above all I've always weirdly liked Cimbalis; I started loving coffee when i was in the building trade and would grab a massive americano from tbe BP garage's big shiny Cimbali super auto. They're Italian like shiny puffa jackets and metallic-finish trainers in my mind's eye. Anyway, that was a good way to spend £200.

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rather you than me, I hate working on those older cimbalis