Coffee machine

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Wooaa give that man a....really good coffee?!??

 

Hmm, that looks like a real nifty machine Wayne. Did they have them at the Nespresso shop on display.? I think I am going there tomorrow for some pods so I may have a lookie see.

[Tumbleweed]

Just found this thread... I've been a technical judge in the national barista competition for the past four years, have a ridiculously expensive espresso machine and commercial grinder at home, have visited coffee estates and roasters around the world, yadda yadda. If I had to choose between coffee and cycling, well, TG I don't have to.

 

First thing to know is there's a fundamental difference between espresso-based drinks (cappuccino, americano etc) and other methods that expose the coffee to boiling water or steam (plunger pot, moka pot, drip filter, Greek/Turkish...). The whole point of espresso is that hot, but not boiling, water is forced through coffee grounds. This produces a measurably different flavour profile. Don't buy an espresso machine if you prefer the taste of the other methods.

 

Whatever method you use, the biggest influence on taste is the freshness and roast of the bean. When the bean was roasted is much more important than where it came from (Ethiopia, Guatemala, Illy, House of Coffees...). Also, the quality of your grinder is absolutely critical - my "pro-sumer" machine was a huge disappointment until I bought a commercial grinder, but since then it's been equal to the best coffee-shop espresso.

 

I know people who have, and love, super-automatic espresso machines (which is what the Juras, Saecos and Nespressos are) and that's cool. But if you're thinking of dropping your hard-earned cash on one, insist on a demo, taste the coffee/s, and then take yourself off to a good coffee shop (Woolies are a good reference point for reasons I'm happy to explain) and compare.

 

If you're not happy with the demo, you should experiment with the AeroPress - already mentioned on the first page of this thread - and pre-ground, but freshly roasted coffee (a local roaster is best, failing which Woolies coffee shops will grind you some). It'll only cost you R350-ish, and you won't regret buying one - even if you get an espresso machine later - because you can chuck it in your suitcase when you travel. Google "AeroPress" and go through a few pages - it's really a minor revolution. It's also the cheapest way to force sub-boiling water through coffee grounds.

 

The other thing you should do before you decide to sell a kidney to feed your espresso habit is buy a moka pot (e.g. Bialetti). Technically it isn't espresso, but who cares - it can taste great, if you get the grind right, always fill the basket (but don't tamp) and take it off the stove before it starts sputtering. This is how countless families in France and Italy get their morning and evening fix.

 

But if you REALLY need espresso in your life, brace yourself for some serious spending, training and a lot of cleaning up. Or keep going to your favourite coffee shop. If there was a better way, believe me, we'd all be doing it.

 

Great post! Look forward to more of your contributions on the subject.

 

Guys and gals, I'm moving this topic to the Nutrition section and stickying it.

[Wayne Potgieter]

 

 

Great post! Look forward to more of your contributions on the subject.

 

Guys and gals, I'm moving this topic to the Nutrition section and stickying it.

Plus one

 

And plus one again.

[SeaBee]

I was about to ask whether I'm the only "old-fashioned" one around... Seems we're in the minority, but there's others as well.

 

A friend recently introduced me to a Mocha pot, got myself a Bialetti and... man, that's just great! Add atmosphere to the whole process, not just a quick grab-a-coffee. And no, it is remarkably quick, it doesn't even take 5 min's to make the espresso. The process is just so much nicer.

 

That's just me, depositing 2c to the discussion.

[Tumbleweed]

This is the Bialetti I want…

 

[Snow]

Great post by GBguy!

I wasn't even looking for coffee-related input but you've got me hooked and I will shortly be ordering an aeropress.

[DirtyFrank]

We have had a Delonghi all in one machine for the last 5 years. We use the machine for home and small office and on average we make 3 to 8 cups a day. It has been one of the best investments ever and I would buy one again any day. A couple of comments on our experience.

1. The milk frother is a waste of time. It`s a pain to keep clean and i.m.o. none of the small machines can generate enough steam to froth the milk properly. You will stop using this function quickly due to the pain of having to clean up.If you can, get a simple stand alone milk frother that is easy to clean.
   
2. Its important to use filtered water to get the best out of your coffee flavour and to protect your machine against scale buildup etc.
   
3. As said before the quality of the grind is critical if you want to get a proper crema and unfortunately this is where some of the domestic machines fail.
   
4. Most importantly are the beans. There are some great local suppliers. `Bean there` is a good one.
   
5. Use only full cream milk for frothing, low fat doesn`t cut it.
   
6. The grinds make excellent compost.Try that with yours sissy nespresso machine pod
   
7. The sound of that machine firing up and then the grinding followed by steam pump and then the the aroma is damn fine. From bean to cup- lovely.
   
8. It looks great in the Kitchen. For once a truly useful gadget.
   

[Wayne Potgieter]

We have had a Delonghi all in one machine for the last 5 years. We use the machine for home and small office and on average we make 3 to 8 cups a day. It has been one of the best investments ever and I would buy one again any day. A couple of comments on our experience.

1. The milk frother is a waste of time. It`s a pain to keep clean and i.m.o. none of the small machines can generate enough steam to froth the milk properly. You will stop using this function quickly due to the pain of having to clean up.If you can, get a simple stand alone milk frother that is easy to clean.
   
2. Its important to use filtered water to get the best out of your coffee flavour and to protect your machine against scale buildup etc.
   
3. As said before the quality of the grind is critical if you want to get a proper crema and unfortunately this is where some of the domestic machines fail.
   
4. Most importantly are the beans. There are some great local suppliers. `Bean there` is a good one.
   
5. Use only full cream milk for frothing, low fat doesn`t cut it.
   
6. The grinds make excellent compost.Try that with yours sissy nespresso machine pod
   
7. The sound of that machine firing up and then the grinding followed by steam pump and then the the aroma is damn fine. From bean to cup- lovely.
   
8. It looks great in the Kitchen. For once a truly useful gadget.
   

 

Break the pod open, use the coffee for compost . Recycle the alu blik thing.

[CAAD4]

Wooaa give that man a....really good coffee?!??

 

Figured it would be difficult to meet his standard, hence the Bells....

[Grebel]

I just spent a fair amount of time reading up on the Aeropress and man does that sound like a piece of kit that I would want in my collection!! Not badly priced either at around R300. I reckon one of those, a descent grinder and a manual frother and you are good to go!

 

A complete coffee experience!

[Brian Fantana]

I just spent a fair amount of time reading up on the Aeropress and man does that sound like a piece of kit that I would want in my collection!! Not badly priced either at around R300. I reckon one of those, a descent grinder and a manual frother and you are good to go!

 

A complete coffee experience!

 

Mine will be delivered on Friday

[Grebel]

Mine will be delivered on Friday

 

Lucky bugger! Who did you get yours from, Coffee Equipment?

[CAAD4]

Mine will be delivered on Friday

 

From where? Please share...

[Brian Fantana]

From where? Please share...

 

http://www.quaffee.co.za/Pages/products/CoffeeEquipment.aspx

[Grebel]

From where? Please share...

 

While investigating, I found the Aeropress available online here Not sure what the postage costs though.

[walkerr]

I love my Bialetti as well... the original and still one of the easiest and best.

 

Nespresso makes a great cup of coffee, but steep if you often drink more than 5 cups a day...

 

Also look at http://www.yuppieche...spresso-Machine

 

 

 

I have this Saeco model - makes a very nice espresso and cappucino.

 

If I had the 10k for a machine, and it was more than just me in the house that drinks coffee, I would definitely have gone for a Jura as other guys have said. But for the price, this is an ok machine - it does drip a bit, but that's what the drip tray is for.

 

Also budget ~R450 for a proper burr grinder - I went with this one:

 

http://www.krups.com/NR/rdonlyres/25B32B40-79CE-41C7-9E3F-2D08FE95A409/0/gvx2_main.jpg

 

Again, it's an entry level/budget item but does the job much better than those k*k two blade "just break the beans don't grind them properly" ones you get at Game etc.

 

They sell both at our Dion.

 

I like Nespressoa lot - but sometimes I want to try different beans from a local specialist. Would hate to be stuck to the same blends all the time.

 

 

- Rob

Edited May 9, 2012 by walkerr