Coffee Appreciation

Socks, had you tried a water filter previously?

No, we don't have one. I think that would be just as good, but for the amount of coffee I drink at home it's actually cheaper for me to just buy a bottle every now and again.

Fair enough.

If you want expresso, why not just get a mocha pot

I make (and enjoy) coffee at home with a moka pot for 10+ years now.

Yes, it's good.
Fresh beans and grinder really improve things, as is pre-boiling the water.
Steel ones are (taste) better (imho) than the aluminum ones.
Most important: If you hear it spitting you've burned your coffee.

So my point is it makes a really nice 'cup of strong coffee', if you know how,
but it is a completely different thing from espresso, please realise that.

Fair enough.

Do you use a filter currently? Your machine will love you for it! Heh.

I could never get it RIGHT with a stove top.

So now using V60. Great results.

Do you use a filter currently? Your machine will love you for it! Heh.

Of course I do.
I was just curious if you were comparing bottled vs filtered or bottled vs tap.

If I were to go back to strovetop - I would PulyCaff the FUCK out of mine. I never knew how to clean stuff properly until I got an espresso machine.

+1 for using bottled water. I use Britta filtered at work for the aeropress but at home we just bulk buy those massive bottles when we do a Sainsbury's delivery. Makes a huge difference and also stops your machine from death by scaling (obviously still do a regular descale though).

I could do but as dan said about the viscosity, I'd rather prefer aeropress to start off things.

I think Dan was saying you get something more akin to espresso from a mocha pot than an aeropress, which I though you said was what you were looking for?

Obviously it depends, I go for a fine blend of dark beans and I stop the pot as soon as the first bubble spits out, which basically gives you something pretty close to espresso. Thick, with crema, bitter.

I could leave it on for longer and get about twice as much coffee before it burns (and sometimes I do), but it makes it more watery than I normally feel like.

The French press is pretty much just for guests, particularly my mum who likes her coffee watery and bland.

I've only had a couple of coffees from aeropresses, but personally I prefer the mocha pot.

I bought decaf today, does this mean I'm near death?

I have used bottled water.

But find myself feeling pretty shitty for it - so I got a filter. Don't feel bad about that.

^^ I confess thread >>>>>>>>>

So I've just used an areopress for the first time puts espresso maker away.

^^ tea thread >>>>>>>>>

fixed

So I've just used an areopress for the first time puts espresso maker away.

From both what I've read on here and my own experience, the former is not a replacement for the latter.
Had my Aeropress a good while now and I still use my Moka pot more often than the Aeropress when making espresso-type drinks.
After watching that guide video on the previous page, I've realised Aeropress is more suited to making a longer drink. Trying to produce strong little shots from an Aeropress has proved futile for me, so far.
I expect I've still got a lot to learn though.

You could make very similar drinks with Aeropress and Moka pot, both long and short.
Don't limit your self to one grind only, both have few/many variations.

^ in other words, freestyle it!

The quality of my espressos are always so variable. I also like to add the same amount of water again to them so the areopress seems like a good option

The quality of my espressos are always so variable. I also like to add the same amount of water again to them so the areopress seems like a good option

Again, another reason why I use a Moka pot. I find it much easier to measure cold water than bubbling hot water that's already seeping through coffee grounds.

scales

...Thermometer and spreadsheet

Those three things have really improved my brewing method with an aeropress.
It's kind of nerdy keeping a spreadsheet but I think it's worthwhile and I know others who have done the same

This is quite a good article about growing coffee: http://www.kupajoe.com/espressocafe/plants.htm

The aeropress is pretty good for making a home latte - 2/3 cup of hot milk (use one of those mini whisk to froth the top, then drop in 1/3 cup aeropress (strong), and stir.

scales

One scoop of beans with the scoop that comes with the aeropress is pretty much right - verified by a friend who has scales - life is to short to be dicking around with scales IMHO.

Lies