Coffee Appreciation

Aeropress paper filters are fully compostable. I find that metal filters definitely made my coffee taste metallic when I've used them on the odd occasion. Also, as they're so fine, you have to press really hard and it makes it really quite unpleasant to actually make a coffee. YMMV...

I haven't really used the rhino grinder much. Think I have one at home, I'll see if I can dig it out you're welcome to try it.

You deserve something better.
I really like my Helor 101 (conventional burrs).

Thanks for the input all on metal filters. Reckon for a couple of quid they're worth a try at least!

I rock a metal filter for home and travelling -
More because it’s easier. Can’t say I’ve noticed a fruity flavour but @NurseHolliday always had a more refined palate than me 😝

LOL. Metal filter definitely makes life easier. I think there's been at least 10 times I've taken my Aeropress away with me and forgotten the paper filters. Ruined my holiday.

I'm getting married in a couple of weeks and we've decided to have coffee after the meal. It will have to be made in this:

What type of coffee should I get, and what do I need to know?

You're right, I do.

I've noticed the crema and that it seems a bit more oily but to be honest I'm not refined enough to tell the difference.

It's definitely easier to plunge than paper filters though, so less messy, which is good.

I've often actually enjoyed coffee made in those kind of things, I call it church basement coffee for obvious reasons. No idea what kind of coffee is used though I imagine something that big that sits for any length of time would tend to smooth out any flavour individuality :)

Congratulations!

Thanks!

How do you even go about making coffee in one of those things?

Would it have to be instant, or would you just make up dozens of cafetieres or hundreds of Aeropress coffees?

They're basically percolators, aren't they? At least the ones I've used have a metal basket at top for the grounds, and water & heating element in the bottom; the water boils and is forced up a pipe onto the grounds, and percolates down into the main chamber where it's kept warm until it's served. Usually takes 20 minutes to make an urn IIRC.

Just had my first glass of cold brewed coffee. Really nice actually!

Great, thanks for that. Hopefully that's what this one is too.

What kind of grind would I need for it?

Are you doing it yourself? Find out the model but from the picture it's the one we use on film sets and they brew it themselves. I've never been astonished by the coffee but for a single machine that makes a fuck load of it, it's pretty drinkable. I guess I've used the same grind as I do for my technivorm, maybe a bit coarser but steve peel or someone with actual knowledge will be your best bet.

I'll probably get the beans and do the grind but hopefully I'm not going to be in charge of making the coffee on my wedding day!

Cheers for your input.

@StevePeel any advice from the experts?

What kind of grind would I need for it?

Think filter coffee, maybe a tad on the coarse side.
In my experience there's no need to spend a fortune on beans when using these machines.
They make a proper ok coffee and that's about it.
The coffee will likely sit there an hour or two, being kept warm and it also takes the machine a good while to brew (at least our model), so subtle nuances will indeed be "smoothed out".

Filter grind should do you; given the nature of the machine I'd have thought it would be worth using decent but not posh coffee IYSWIM. I'd guess most of these machines see supermarket gold blend at best (I'm a vicar's kid, and have made a lot of church hall coffee in my time...)

I like the Union Bright Note coffee from Waitrose etc so I might get a couple of bags of that.

Especially if it's going to get very hot and stay hot, it might be nice to have a lighter roast.

Thanks all for the advice. Finally, any suggestions for how much I'll actually need?

Big fan of cold brew, almost impossible to make a bad batch!

Finally got my mitts on one of those nice Hario brewers after a few years of using old milk/juice containers then filtering through a v60. Much easier!

How big are the machines? The ones I've used took a 500g bag for about 50-60 cups of coffee IIRC.

if it's going to get very hot and stay hot

..since the topic came up on this thread recently as well - consider making (or: have someone make) a batch of cold brew the evening before!

Especially if it's going to get very hot and stay hot, it might be nice to have a lighter roast

I'm biased, but I'll bet a lighter roast would not age well in a machine like that. You want something that can take cream and sugar and not curdle in your mouth

I'm loving cold brew too. Even the cheapest pre-ground supermarket coffee tastes great, sweet, no bitterness :) I make it overnight and pop it in the microwave in the morning, saves me about 30s off my morning routine...

I'd second @withered_preacher on the slightly darker roast, especially at a wedding (the majority of people are gonna want milk/cream/sugar regardless.) I often make Red Brick as a filter if it's for my family as I know it's still going to be a million times tastier than what they're usually drinking.

Amounts wise, if you can find out how many litres that thing holds, it'll give you an idea of coffee. Usually between 60-70g per litre.