Coffee Appreciation

An Aeropress is superior to the cafetiere in my opinion since you can mimic the cafetiere grind/water volume/brew time, and do either styles of brew like faux espresso.

Some Zass grinders will grind to espresso fineness. Mine does.

Currently drinking the darker roasted version of Monmouth's Kenyan Kiandu. Smashing.

possible bargain:

http://coffeeforums.co.uk/showthread.php?5787-Gaggia-Classic-for-sale-Southampton

usual espresso grind, and triple basket do the job for me

Mine does this too.
I've given up, for now.

Using a baked portafilter doesn't require anything different to a regular one. What it does do is show you flaws in either your beans (too old, shit supermarket beans etc) or your technique.
If it's pissing out everywhere then I guess the grind is far too course or the beans are too old. Or the tamping technique is flawed etc etc etc

As Bombcup often says, home espresso is a pain in the arse

Fresh Monmouth beans, awesome tamper technique... I think a naked portafilter just needs more coffee to stop it spitting... I've upped to a 20g shot which has helped bigtime so now I'm experimenting with grind to get the right flow... Guessing it'll be 5 clicks just like I've been doing all along, a super fine grind isn't working at all...

I can only get supermarket beans.

With the naked portafilter, you need to distribute evenly to avoid spurting. Your tamp needs to be nice and level too.

Supermarket beans aren't great. The Costa tins of beans are drinkable. ~£4 for 250g.

My HasBean coffee deliveries continue to back-up. I was away last week again. I now have six sealed 250g bags sitting in my kitchen. Anyone want one?

hell yes!

You near Tooting ever? You can pop by Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday morning before I go to work.

My HasBean coffee deliveries continue to back-up. I was away last week again. I now have six sealed 250g bags sitting in my kitchen. Anyone want one?

Yes please!

Laner will pick it up for me ;-)

Cool. One each? I should be OK with the rest.

Hi, if you're having problems with stewy cafetiere brews with only short steep times it'll be down to the grind. Preground coffee from the supermarket is usually marked 'suitable for all brew methods' which it is not. It's usually a medium grind best suited to filter, and for cafetiere you need a very coarse grind with noticable chunks, lots of coffee (about 60g / litre) and a long steep (3.5 - 5 mins). Not many places sell coffee ground specifically for a brew method. Outside of the specialists I think Waitrose might be the best bet.

Naked PFs, as Bainbridge said, nothing new going on, it's just you can see it. Check your coffee for clumps, try smaller dose and finer grind, make sure basket is dry before dosing. Another problem is most domestic machines ship with crazy pump pressures. This is regulated by the over-pressure valve (OPV). Google 'adjust OPV gaggia'. Should help if you're minded to mess with your machine.

Cool. One each? I should be OK with the rest.

Too far for me to get to super early. Will leave the coffee to someone who lives closer, but thank you!

My HasBean coffee deliveries continue to back-up. I was away last week again. I now have six sealed 250g bags sitting in my kitchen. Anyone want one?

Sparky, if you have any the next time you come home I'll take one from you if that helps.

Not that impressed with the naked portafilter so far, the coffee doesn't taste as good as it does through the Gaggia crema dongle/whatsit... :$
I'm clearly doing something wrong...

How long is the pour / how much liquid volume (or weight if you have scales)?

TS - it took me some time to get to grips with my naked PF. Keep trying - it is magnificent when you get it right.

Sparky, if you have any the next time you come home I'll take one from you if that helps.

You in Norwich?

The most chemically complex beverage we consume...

Cool. One each? I should be OK with the rest.

Blimey. I didn't see the bit about Tooting and early morning. I think I'll have to be out, too (Laner and I live in the same flat and it's many many miles from your place).

I've given up, for now.

I'm clearly doing something wrong...

Try using WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique)

I've been using the Swissgold one cup permanent filter at work and home for a couple of years now with Monmouth ground coffee, is there anything I'm really missing out on in the convenience vs flavour continuum in filter/brew kit?

You in Norwich?

Yes, I work in the ad planning dept at Archant.

Black Genesis Day One rings any bells?

Hi, if you're having problems with stewy cafetiere brews with only short steep times it'll be down to the grind. Preground coffee from the supermarket is usually marked 'suitable for all brew methods' which it is not. It's usually a medium grind best suited to filter, and for cafetiere you need a very coarse grind with noticable chunks, lots of coffee (about 60g / litre) and a long steep (3.5 - 5 mins). Not many places sell coffee ground specifically for a brew method. Outside of the specialists I think Waitrose might be the best bet.

Naked PFs, as Bainbridge said, nothing new going on, it's just you can see it. Check your coffee for clumps, try smaller dose and finer grind, make sure basket is dry before dosing. Another problem is most domestic machines ship with crazy pump pressures. This is regulated by the over-pressure valve (OPV). Google 'adjust OPV gaggia'. Should help if you're minded to mess with your machine.

Try using WDT (Weiss Distribution Technique)

Thanks gents, I've had coffee spewing from the portafilter and brew head interface, it looks like the two don't fit aswell as the standard portafilter.
I predict a long weekend of tinkering, I'll start with the pressure.

Aeropress ordered. Taken over a year since having my first taste, but having another one and oh my its good!

Porlex mini + Monmouth espresso blend + stovetop + milk frothed in a pan with a whisk = a most pleasant morning cappucino approximation.
Think I need to dial the porlex down from 2 clicks to 3 though. The stovetop seemed to splutter a bit.