Coffee Appreciation

coffee fix in gatley (near stockport) is really great.

Excellent coffee and a regular haunt for cyclists (inc GB squad). I've been in a couple of times and the owner seems to be a very friendly, knowledgeable guy.

p.s. what grind would i require for aeropress? and where am i finding reusable filters for it?

i'm looking at replacing my very basic cubika as it just sits collecting dust.

coffee fix in gatley (near stockport) is really great.

Excellent coffee and a regular haunt for cyclists (inc GB squad). I've been in a couple of times and the owner seems to be a very friendly, knowledgeable guy.

Yeah, I might pop in there on my way back from Manchester, next time I go up.

Roasted a batch of Jabberwocky last night.
My popcorn roaster is now working perfectly with the aid of some ducting and a jam jar with the bottom cut off. The bowl of water catches all the chaff so I can roast indoors.

That looks great. What sort of roast times and batch sizes are you getting? Threading a thermoprobe into the bean pile would be a really useful addition.

Big thumbs up for Magnus Backstedt's Big Maggy's coffee from me!

I'm not a good enough a taster to describe the taste experience, but I'll say it pretty much does what it says on the tin (packet) and it does it well. Definitely worth a punt.

p.s. what grind would i require for aeropress? and where am i finding reusable filters for it?

i'm looking at replacing my very basic cubika as it just sits collecting dust.

hasbean for reusable filter u think. grind for filter/French press etc. or just play with it, so easy.

Gareth at coffeefix is a keen cyclist too.

Bought this for a mates birthday present - awesome little hand grinder

Ceramic burrs, on the finest grind setting it was like talc and deffo too fine for the Gaggia classic he had so we had to back the grind off a bit

£25 - noice!

That looks great. What sort of roast times and batch sizes are you getting? Threading a thermoprobe into the bean pile would be a really useful addition.

I bought a cheap digital thermometer off ebay, just got to get round to drilling it in.
If I give it a stir at the start I can roast about 170g green. 125g and no need to stir. Less tan 100 and it takes longer for the heat to build up. I haven't timed it yet as I keep forgetting. Done about ten roasts, each one very consistent.

I've got one of those Hario grinders to travel with my Handpresso. Works well

Right, now we're in business.
I roasted just less than 1/2 a 250g bag of Blake.
1st crack:4.14 - 405f lasted 1min
2nd " 9.37 ------ 436f
end 10.36 -------438f
Hopefully my scales will arrive soon.
The beans are darker than the photos show but I was hoping for a little more oil. Pimped my chimney with a tin can

Roast colour looks nice, you don't want to be going for oils it will taste all ashy and burned.

Times are a bit quick, around 14-16mins is good, you could load more beans in if there's space and you still get good agitation, but better would be a 13a dimmer wired into the mains cable, you'd be able to drop the heat at 1st crack then.

Went to St. Ali today – really impressed. Had a Rwandan V60 filter and a delicious, slightly curious espresso - my palette is not refined enough to use the right words to describe it but it was certainly one of the more unique tasting espressos I've had - all tipped off with some excellent service. Cool interiors too – massive roasting machine at the back next to a leafty vertical garden type thing. Highly recommended.

Making some coffee on a bog standard coffee maker and i just realized how much i miss them. Pretty far from gourmet, but so nice with just a simple cup of black coffee.

Next time Im back in London I will have to drop by St Ali, it would be interesting to compare the London branch to the Melbourne HQ

I finally bought a used Pavoni today off ebay.

Theres a 6 month old Elektra Micro on there at only 200 with an hour to go :0 !!!
The price had better go up or I may regret my earlier purchase....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220771062890&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Ended at 365 -phew

saw a gaggia classic go for 80 notes today, was seriously tempted

I bought one from here for my old man. £170 delivered by DHL to your doorstep. I know it's not £80 but it does have a 2 year factory guarantee with it.

photoben introduced me to a coffee shop on Leather Lane today, so now I finally have an Aeropress in the office and a nice ceramic hand grinder.

The coffee that the Aeropress makes is pretty incredible for what it is. It's pretty much a no-brainer, especially at £25.

^yup, I'm very pleased with mine. perfect as you say for the office.

just picked up me first batch of Square Mile spring espresso blend - quite a sweet, malty blend with some very subtle sharp fruit notes… nice…

photoben introduced me to a coffee shop on Leather Lane today, so now I finally have an Aeropress in the office and a nice ceramic hand grinder.

The coffee that the Aeropress makes is pretty incredible for what it is. It's pretty much a no-brainer, especially at £25.

Prufrock?

Prufrock?

That'll be the one.

I like the idea that downstairs they've got a training area where anyone can just come and have a go on their machines and talk about and try different coffee.

I also like that I work about 100 yards from it.

just picked up me first batch of Square Mile spring espresso blend - quite a sweet, malty blend with some very subtle sharp fruit notes… nice…

Sounds nice... Am really enjoying the Bolivian Juana Mamani Huanca from Monmouth through the Aeropress. Very bright top end and a rich fruity after-taste..

Rumour has it they are expecting a new batch of African beans very soon