Coffee Appreciation

uh, coffee thread.
being a barista, couldnt end up with a shitty domestic experience, right?

currently filled with a bespoke blend, of which I think 75% is arabica.. rest may be robusta, as it is a little bit bitterish, but again - it may be as well the light roasting.
has-bean.

I've had the cubika for a couple of years now. There is no pressurised basket like bombcup mentioned. I have had some half-decent results in the past when I spent time trying to dial everything in.

Essentially I just don't think the temperature regulation is anywhere near what it needs to be to get reliable results. I tend to stick with hand-grinder and cafetiere and occasionally use the cubika to steam milk (it's an expensive cup warmer really)

My next move will be decent electric grinder followed by aeropress followed (some time in the distant future) by a decent espresso machine.

go for the aeropress first, it's well worth the £20

Hadnt heard of an aeropress until I got started on this thread. Are they any better / comparable to, lets say a french press?

Fun to operate, produces really clean, bright coffee, much less muddy than the results I personally get in a french press.

Piece of cake to clean up OR:

Sorry for spoiling the tone of this thread, but:

Turns out, the little puck an aeropress produces once brewed looks quite like a brownie.

The one I made just now held it's shape very well. So I got a plate, picked up the puck, smeared it a couple of times on the plate and then left it on its own as though it was the last of a plate of hot brownies.

I set it on the table.

And I waited.

2 minutes later...

^ still lol

The disadvantage is that it's single serve, but you can make a french press style brew by grinding coarse and steeping long and because of the filter you get no sludge or suspended particles.

The versatility is the big plus point, you can make everything from moka-pot type brews through filter to french press with the one brewer.

Awesome stuff CYOA. :)

With the help of Scherrit and his impact driver I've pulled apart the S24...

The filter and lack of sludge makes the comparison between french press and Aeropress like night and day for me. It's a much cleaner cup you get from the aeropress and that's exactly what I was looking for. The combination of total immersion and filter also gets you a nice full body without the bitterness that you'd get if you used a french press.

A Porlex grinder is a definite recommendation to anyone who goes for an Aeropress though. It's only about £27.50 from creamsupplies and once you stop buying pre-ground you'll never go back. I think I've inspired 10 Aeropress/Porlex Mini purchases since I bought mine in July.

Without a doubt the best investment I've made in coffee. I paid 17 quid for my aero, 23 quid for my porlex (which fits inside the aeropress - perfect for travelling), 4 quid for a nice cup and saucer, and then I'll get a bag of beans when I need to, usually square mile at around 6-11 quid a pop depending how fruity I'm feeling.

Excellent, excellent coffee practically every time. The only times I balls up are on measurements if I'm not thinking correctly about the dose. And far better for my wallet than going out and spending 2.50 on a single cup at least once a day.

All that said, for the past week I haven't brought any of my travel kit into my new office and have been... enduring Cafe Nero. I honestly don't know why I bother. Everything they serve tastes of vinegar, the Putney wankers that come in asking for ludicrously named drinks must be out of their fucking skulls. I simply don't get why people in the area put up with it - would they drink better coffee if it was offered to them? I guess Grind does good business but this morning there was a queue out of the door at Nero. Needless to say I didn't make it any longer. Sadly Grind is kind of out of the way for my needs and I require something hot in the mornings to function and there isn't a kettle at this place.. :(

I miss Clerkenwell :(

i think a porlex is going on my christmas list. that and a kilner jar.

I didn't think I could get happier* when I got my early christmas present of a porlex. Then I realised it fit in the aeropress. This made me even happier - it's like a coffee transformer.

*in the world of coffee

I'm sold.
digs out wallet..

i have a feeling i already asked this downthread (and probably got the answer) -

i remember seeing reuseable filters for aeropress (rather than paper) - is this correct, any downsides? where do i buy?

hasbean.co.uk sell the metal microfilter.

thanks.. just had the porlex mini grinder, aeropress, filters in my online shopping basket ready to pull the trigger when the missus rang requesting around the exact same amount to pay a bill.

I'm buying CYOA's setup/asking for it for xmas. The metal filter can be re-used like, forever?

#shamelesscopycat

I have one, yeah it should last forever

I don't have one but I imagine it makes travelling with the aeropress less hassle as well as you don't need to carry spare filters and the metal one can be kept under the end cap so the coffee transformer is kept in one manageable package still.

http://www.creamsupplies.co.uk/aeropress-professional-kit/prod_1888.html

Seems like a good "all in" kit?

they were showing out of stock of aeropress (unless they keep stock back for the kits)

Speaking of the aeropress I gather from the hasbean brew guide 80degrees is a good temp for the water to be heated to when using one.

So would a kettle like this adjustable heat one help produce decent cups from it? (assuming one was in need of a new kettle anyways)

Philips HD4632/20 Eco Temperature Control Kettle, 3000 Watt, 1.6 Litre: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

Doesn't the water need to be boiled first before being cooled? Or am I being dim. Something to do with oxygen in the water?

no idea... this seemed easier than sitting with a thermometer waiting for the water to cool haha

/impatient

no idea if it will help you to make better coffee or not, but waiting for the small body of water that you'd need for the aeropress to cool from 100 to 80 would not take long at all.