Coffee Appreciation

no milk! wank

no milk! wank

is that a suggestion?

is that a suggestion?

ew.

no milk! wank

in

if it is a suggestion that is..

Right, I'm moving in a few weeks to somewhere with an actual kitchen sized kitchen. I am hesitating between 2 options, and was hoping the gurus on here could dish out pointers. Currently using bought ground coffee in a stove top.

1. Grinder and espresso machine.
   
2. Bean to cup all in one type machine.
   
   

Will 2. Actually be any good? The convenience aspect is a big draw, as is the non-capsule thing. If I need to forget it and get two machines, I'll go back to the beginning of the thread and trawl through it for advice.

Cheers!

what's the fun with an all in one machine?

I love my hand grinder, and my stovetop. sure it takes a few minutess to make a cup but it's a great few minutes

I like the process of making the coffee.. it's a nice little thing to try and get better at doing and for that reason I won't use an automatic machine. Grinder + espresso machine ftw

I like the process of making the coffee.. it's a nice little thing to try and get better at doing and for that reason I won't use an automatic machine. Grinder + espresso machine ftw

Yep, master it the manual way, much better for your understanding, and better coffee too

Unanimous. I'll trawl the thread for grinder related advice, then. Does it make any difference that it'll rarely be more than one cup at a time? Warm up times etc. ?

Nah, warm up time is no biggie with domestic machines and you'll rarely make just one coffee when you become obsessed with perfecting this damn coffee thing.

To make the trawling easier, Rancilio Silvia and good grinder (Iberital MC2, Rancilio Rocky if buying new, full-bore commercial grinder if buying used) is the best start up combo by far.

The grinder doesn't need to warm up the espresso machine does. Gaggia takes <10min but my Bezzera takes longer so I have it on a timer.

hippy - any idea if the ranchilio steam wand will work on the Gaggia baby class as well?

Google + question => your blog and that's about it.

Drop some science, yo.

I only swapped out the Gaggia Classic steam wand. I'd need to look at the Baby Class mount to be able to tell. I'll have a look around the interwebz..

Gaggia Baby D has been done..
http://coffeegeek.com/forums/worldregional/uk/118601?Page=2

Ah, but the poster says the Baby Class is very different to the Baby D

"Edit: according to http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1126833848/100#113, it sadly looks to be impossible to use the Silvia mod on the new Babys."

"Will the Silvia wand fit a Gaggia Baby? Renzo from Di Bartoli suggested as the Gaggia Baby wand has a swivel joint (rather than just a rotating one), a Silvia wand mightn't fit but I saw another site that suggests the mod can be done

http://www.espressotec.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=641"

Wanna big up the coffe being sold at LCB skateboard store (top of Brick LAne) good service and down to earth people working in there.

Chris if you want you're more than welcome to borrow my Rancilio wand to try it.

Chris if you want you're more than welcome to borrow my Rancilio wand to try it.

Euphemism Detector at 89%
Euphemism Detector at 89%
Euphemism Detector at 89%
Euphemism Detector at 89%

Hah, I knew someone would have something to say about that =P

Dirty bastard...

Where there's a wand there's a way..

Bugger. Thanks hippy.

All of a sudden I'm getting amazing shots from my gaggia classic.

No idea how... I bought a tin of illy (which has previously been too coarse) and did the usual dose & tamp and hey presto, beautiful 30-ish second extractions with amazing crema and tiger-striping.

According to the tin, its identical to the last one so maybe I just got a particularly good grind.

I recommend the Baratza Maestro Grinder - it retails at 99.99 GBP - I bought it at Has Bean.... which stock numerous grinding options.

They only stock the Maestro Plus now slightly better features - massive plus points - 40 different grind settings - 1- 16 for fine espresso grinds - then 16-32 for filter slightly more coarse grinds.

I like it because it allows you to experiment and find out the exact grind which suits your particular coffee prep style. once you find the right grind you are all set for great coffee.

http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/Baratza-Maestro-Plus-Coffee-Grinder.html

The grinder doesn't need to warm up the espresso machine does. Gaggia takes <10min but my Bezzera takes longer so I have it on a timer.
cheers, I'm not quite so retarded that I thought the grinder needed to warm up. In fact, intensive reading of coffee geek has alerted me to the dangers of heat build up in grinders... some people really are keen on coffee.

Think it's going to be a silvia and a rocky grinder...for now. That's looking like about 770€ delivered, with a tamper, bottomless pf etc chucked in.

I love the look of those old chrome and brass lever press efforts.

the whole super accurate add on digital temperature control thing for the silvia -- necessary, or not? Is the coffee going to taste like shit until I get one, or do I just need to trial and error my way to a good routine?