Coffee machine

[HappyMartin]

Can I bring you a standalone frother? Give it a try, it takes 2:10 from start to finish.

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It takes 2 min and 10 seconds to froth milk?

[barrykm]

Wait until you get on to some proper fresh roasted beans!

 

Sure, I also buy from Bean There and Urban Grind which I presume are fresher than chain store retail.

[V12man]

Saw this on our local interwebs. Anyone know anything about these?

 

https://www.trademe.co.nz/home-living/food-beverage/coffee/auction-1408322668.htm

It's a La Pavoni lever machine - not sure exactly which model from the photos but they are cool toys - relatively tricky to use - especially for steaming milk but once mastered can deliver a very good cup - the nice thing about these is they have a very quick start-up - downside is its easy singe your fingers and incorrectly used they can spray coffee grounds a considerable distance.

 

As with all machines a decent grinder is required.

 

I am lookingfor another one for a friend of mine so if anyone sees one for sale please drop me a note.

[Jurgens Smit]

Hey guys,

 

I'm moving into my own place end of the month. Have a budget of 5k for a coffee machine.

 

I was looking at the Smeg esspresso machine:

http://www.smeg.co.za/espresso-coffee-machine/

 

I already have a capsule machine, but my parents bought a Jura machine for their wedding anniversary and fresh coffee tastes way better than the capsules.

 

Is there anything else to look at?

[Frosty]

It takes 2 min and 10 seconds to froth milk?

Yes, to froth the milk.

 

 

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[Grease_Monkey]

Hey guys,

 

I'm moving into my own place end of the month. Have a budget of 5k for a coffee machine.

 

I was looking at the Smeg esspresso machine:

http://www.smeg.co.za/espresso-coffee-machine/

 

I already have a capsule machine, but my parents bought a Jura machine for their wedding anniversary and fresh coffee tastes way better than the capsules.

 

Is there anything else to look at?

I had the Smeg and returned it very quickly. It's okay - for what it is. Extremely plasticy and has a cheap feel to it. It has a strange size portafilter - 50mm, which comes with pressurized baskets (read up on pressurized vs non pressurized portafilter baskets), and you cannot get non pressurized baskets for it. So you will get an okay cuppa from it - but you can get machines with the same specs for R2500 (Delonghi).

 

Rather go for a slightly cheaper machine and use the rest of the money and buy a propper grinder. Nothing against Smeg (actually love their atuff which is why I bought one of these machines originally), I just feel that they are giving you a machine that is the same as other 2-3k machines for double the price. And not much of an upgrade from Nespresso IMO.

 

If you can up your budget look at the Rancilio Silvia (10k, no grinder) - my current machine, Gaccia Classic (8k, no grinder), or Breville Barista Express (integrated grinder). Gaccia and Rancilio are both very industrially built with standard 58mm portafilters for which you can have pressurized or non pressurized baskets. Breville is great value for money and a bit more automated in it's functions - also has both basket included and has an integrated grinder (not bean to cup though) - so that saves some moola.

Edited September 3, 2017 by Grease_Monkey

[AlanD]

Recently been interested in a coffee machine as the wife likes her coffee and i enjoy a morning coffee and expresso or two.

 

We have been going back and forth on whether to get a manual machine (where you grind the coffee or just get already ground coffee and put it in that little handle thingy and where you get the milk frother thing) or a Nespresso with the attached milk compartment.

 

With the manual one its a bit more work and a few more things to clean and just concerned we wont use it as much as a result.

 

The Nespresso is easy as you just pop in a capsule and press a button on which coffee you want and bam, there it is. This comes with a more hefty price tag though.

 

Just don't know which is best. What say thee coffee gurus?

 

(Forgive for not going through almost 300 pages)

Edited September 3, 2017 by AlanD

[HappyMartin]

Recently been interested in a coffee machine as the wife likes her coffee and i enjoy a morning coffee and expresso or two.

We have been going back and forth on whether to get a manual machine (where you grind the coffee or just get already ground coffee and put it in that little handle thingy and where you get the milk frother thing) or a Nespresso with the attached milk compartment.

With the manual one its a bit more work and a few more things to clean and just concerned we wont use it as much as a result.

The Nespresso is easy as you just pop in a capsule and press a button on which coffee you want and bam, there it is. This comes with a more hefty price tag though.

Just don't know which is best. What say thee coffee gurus?

(Forgive for not going through almost 300 pages)

I'm no guru but this is the Internet so I'll fake it..

 

I don't like nespresso coffee and it is expensive per cup. A further downside is you learn nothing using a nespresso. The upside to nespresso is it's better than ricoffee, marginally, and the machine is cheap to buy and it's convenient.

 

If you want to get into coffee and go on a bit of a journey try starting with a plunger and a grinder. Or a aeropress and a grinder. Or a smart dropper and a grinder. Basically buy a grinder. The best you can afford. But anything in an emergency. A hand grinder if you have the patience.

Edited September 3, 2017 by HappyMartin

[AlanD]

I'm no guru but this is the Internet so I'll fake it..

 

I don't like nespresso coffee and it is expensive per cup. A further downside is you learn nothing using a nespresso. The upside to nespresso is it's better than ricoffee, marginally, and the machine is cheap to buy and it's convenient.

 

If you want to get into coffee and go on a bit of a journey try starting with a plunger and a grinder. Or a aeropress and a grinder. Or a smart dropper and a grinder. Basically buy a grinder. The best you can afford. But anything in an emergency. A hand grinder if you have the patience.

We got a filter coffee machine and separate grinder as a wedding gift but didn't really like the filtered coffee too much but was cool grinding up the beans.

 

Tasted a few nespresso coffees today at one of their stores and cant help but taste like its not that great coffee. Almost like a packet curry mix rather than making it from Scratch...hahaha. The pods are also expensive. I really like the convenience of it and the not much cleaning at all aspect.

 

The manual one appeals to me as you get involved a bit more and tastes more authentic but its a little more work and a bit more cleaning.

[HappyMartin]

Manual is much better. I am no fan of filter machines. In your position I would buy either an aeropress or a plunger. Follow a proper consistent method with either. Grind the beans just before use. Big thing is get fresh roasted beans. Like really fresh. Roasted within the last week. Keep things consistent. Weigh the beans to get the same dose every time. Time the brew. Ensure out the same amount of water every time. You can get great coffee with a plunger.

 

I have no experience with smart drippers or mocha pots so don't mention them. I'm sure someone with experience will be able to help.

[Jurgens Smit]

I had the Smeg and returned it very quickly. It's okay - for what it is. Extremely plasticy and has a cheap feel to it. It has a strange size portafilter - 50mm, which comes with pressurized baskets (read up on pressurized vs non pressurized portafilter baskets), and you cannot get non pressurized baskets for it. So you will get an okay cuppa from it - but you can get machines with the same specs for R2500 (Delonghi).

 

Rather go for a slightly cheaper machine and use the rest of the money and buy a propper grinder. Nothing against Smeg (actually love their atuff which is why I bought one of these machines originally), I just feel that they are giving you a machine that is the same as other 2-3k machines for double the price. And not much of an upgrade from Nespresso IMO.

 

If you can up your budget look at the Rancilio Silvia (10k, no grinder) - my current machine, Gaccia Classic (8k, no grinder), or Breville Barista Express (integrated grinder). Gaccia and Rancilio are both very industrially built with standard 58mm portafilters for which you can have pressurized or non pressurized baskets. Breville is great value for money and a bit more automated in it's functions - also has both basket included and has an integrated grinder (not bean to cup though) - so that saves some moola.

 

I already have a great grinder. And a aeropress. So I think I'll save up a bit and use what I have for a while, then look at one of the higher end machines.

 

The aeropress is just a hassle when I have friends over, where our Jura   does 2 cups at a time and you just press a button. I love this machine

[AlanD]

Manual is much better. I am no fan of filter machines. In your position I would buy either an aeropress or a plunger. Follow a proper consistent method with either. Grind the beans just before use. Big thing is get fresh roasted beans. Like really fresh. Roasted within the last week. Keep things consistent. Weigh the beans to get the same dose every time. Time the brew. Ensure out the same amount of water every time. You can get great coffee with a plunger.

 

I have no experience with smart drippers or mocha pots so don't mention them. I'm sure someone with experience will be able to help.

Havent heard of this aeropress so googled it. Seems pretty simple and easy to use. Could be a good choice to see if the manual method of an expensive machine is viable. How do you ensure you get fresh roasted beans? Specialist coffee shops?

[Long Wheel Base]

Can I bring you a standalone frother? Give it a try, it takes 2:10 from start to finish.

 

 

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Yeah of course. Will send you a message now.

[HappyMartin]

Havent heard of this aeropress so googled it. Seems pretty simple and easy to use. Could be a good choice to see if the manual method of an expensive machine is viable. How do you ensure you get fresh roasted beans? Specialist coffee shops?

Various sources. Perhaps other can chip in here. Stay away from Woolies, never tried checkers, be surprised if its fresh. I order from Green Bean Roastery and they courier to me. African single origin is sort of my thing and it's what they do.

[Letum911]

@AlanD, by no means is the Nespresso a great cup of coffee, however it beats instant coffee by miles IMO. I own a Nespresso machine, and probably have one every other day. I mix it up with the use of a french press. Taste and consistency the French takes the cake every time!! However convenience wise the Nespresso takes the prize everytime!! So for me it depends on my schedule which one I'll have.

 

 

Havent heard of this aeropress so googled it. Seems pretty simple and easy to use. Could be a good choice to see if the manual method of an expensive machine is viable. How do you ensure you get fresh roasted beans? Specialist coffee shops?

 

Are you still located in the UK or back in SA?

UK, have a look at this post: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/britains-30-best-coffee-shops/

 

SA: Loads of suppliers here so we'll need a bit more info regarding where in SA.

[Rocket-Boy]

Sooooo, its not Friday yet but what the take on this?

https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/267490-true-start-performance-coffee/