Jump to content

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 7.4k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted

Can citric acid be used in any machine? I have a a saeco bean to cup machine, I also have about 50kg of citric acid at any given time...

 

I never knew it was possible to descale with citric acid! It makes life a lot easier if I can use it in my machine.

I have a Delonghi, and have been using citric acid from day 1 descale day 1. If Ferrero (the Italian Confectionery company) can use it in their machines (big machines that make those little mints called Tic-Tac), then I'm sure it's good enough for most machine - that's where I learnt about citric acid. That said, they used hydrogen peroxide in their Gaggia coffee machine, as it was under a service agreement with the supplier.

 

1 tbsp of citric acid per 1 litre of water should work fine.

Posted

I have a Delonghi, and have been using citric acid from day 1 descale day 1. If Ferrero (the Italian Confectionery company) can use it in their machines (big machines that make those little mints called Tic-Tac), then I'm sure it's good enough for most machine - that's where I learnt about citric acid. That said, they used hydrogen peroxide in their Gaggia coffee machine, as it was under a service agreement with the supplier.

 

1 tbsp of citric acid per 1 litre of water should work fine.

Great, thanks for confirming that. Gonna use it from now on.

Posted (edited)

My Nespresso machine no longer gives me the thrills it used to, and I am loving by Bialetti again. But working from home, I want to walk into the kitchen, push a button, get coffee and be done. So am torn between the convenience of the one and the quality of the other.

 

I have been window shopping for a bean to cup machine for a while now. It would just be an espresso machine as I didn't want the machine to do frothy milk (it doesn't seem to achieve the right micro bubble texture in my limited experience).

 

I can't afford a machine right now, but when I can, I wanted to be in a position to pounce with a budget under R10k, I narrowed it down to one or two machines.

 

Then I got caught up on this thread and various other articles and blogs etc and came to understand the importance of a good grinder. And I wondered how many integrated machines have a burr grinder that's 'good enough' for proper espresso?

I use '  ' because opinions vary on grinders - R1800 is 'OK' to nothing less than R5k for an espresso machine.

 

Would I be better off with stand alone grinder and a separate espresso machine? And then if I really wanted milk, I learn to use the steam wand (or heaven forbid, just use the Nespresso frother). But then I realised that I am back to labour intensive coffee again (albeit of good quality).

 

So, my dilemma is a bit fictitious for me at the moment, but my question still stands: Which machine has a 'good enough' burr grinder ?

 

Edit: This may have been discussed over the previous 350 pages, so I apologise for the question if it's a repeat.

Edited by splat
Posted

My Nespresso machine no longer gives me the thrills it used to, and I am loving by Bialetti again. But working from home, I want to walk into the kitchen, push a button, get coffee and be done. So am torn between the convenience of the one and the quality of the other.

 

I have been window shopping for a bean to cup machine for a while now. It would just be an espresso machine as I didn't want the machine to do frothy milk (it doesn't seem to achieve the right micro bubble texture in my limited experience).

 

I can't afford a machine right now, but when I can, I wanted to be in a position to pounce with a budget under R10k, I narrowed it down to one or two machines.

 

Then I got caught up on this thread and various other articles and blogs etc and came to understand the importance of a good grinder. And I wondered how many integrated machines have a burr grinder that's 'good enough' for proper espresso?

I use '  ' because opinions vary on grinders - R1800 is 'OK' to nothing less than R5k for an espresso machine.

 

Would I be better off with stand alone grinder and a separate espresso machine? And then if I really wanted milk, I learn to use the steam wand (or heaven forbid, just use the Nespresso frother). But then I realised that I am back to labour intensive coffee again (albeit of good quality).

 

So, my dilemma is a bit fictitious for me at the moment, but my question still stands: Which machine has a 'good enough' burr grinder ?

 

Edit: This may have been discussed over the previous 350 pages, so I apologise for the question if it's a repeat.

I am no where near an expert but my new(to me at least. it's 2nd hand) Jura XF50 is serving me well. From what I have been told and read, the grinder is not bad for an "all in one" option. I can set my grind but I don't know enough about what a different grind does so have left it in the middle. One day I will play with the grind and see what it does. I paid R5750 for it.

Posted

Aeropress and a good hand grinder.... won't do the capp but does an espresso analog very well.

 

What's an "esspresso analogue" and how do you do it with an Aeropress? I use mine alot with my porlex grinder, but can't say I've ever gotten anything near an espresso. Great Americano/long black, but never close to espresso.

Posted

What's an "esspresso analogue" and how do you do it with an Aeropress? I use mine alot with my porlex grinder, but can't say I've ever gotten anything near an espresso. Great Americano/long black, but never close to espresso.

 

 

Aeropress and a good hand grinder.... won't do the capp but does an espresso analog very well.

 

I would also like to know.  You don't get crema and the cascading effect from the aeropress as far as I know?

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Settings My Forum Content My Followed Content Forum Settings Ad Messages My Ads My Favourites My Saved Alerts My Pay Deals Help Logout