Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

ramdrive · 7 Sep 2017 at 20:14

molinari said:
Are there any cheap cheap electric coffee grinders worth using over a Porlex hand grinder? Looking to get one for my desk at work for Aeropress and Clever Dripper. I don't expect it to match my Eureka Mignon but a cheap burr grinder would be handy.

Bodum Bistro Electric Coffee Grinder:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00525XKL4?aaxitk=lEKffpgLRA54n4bBycKoAQ

molinari · 8 Sep 2017 at 12:56

Thanks, I'll have a look at the Bodum and the Wilfa

.

FrenchTart · 8 Sep 2017 at 13:00

I ran out of decent coffee last week and had to buy some emergency Illy beans from my local Tesco (literally the only beans they stock). £6.50 for 250g of rank coffee. The only saving grace is that the metal tin they came in will be handy for storing random stuff in future.

nst68 · 8 Sep 2017 at 15:43

FrenchTart said:
I ran out of decent coffee last week and had to buy some emergency Illy beans from my local Tesco (literally the only beans they stock). £6.50 for 250g of rank coffee. The only saving grace is that the metal tin they came in will be handy for storing random stuff in future.

Sainburys stock Modern Standard beans, I get them if I run out before my next Pact delivery.

You have to have a rummage through the bags as you can find some that were roasted around a month ago, but then find others that were roasted over 6 months ago.

Dj_Jestar · 8 Sep 2017 at 21:06

I got back from being trapped in Butlin's for five days today. I took my aeropress so I had something nice for morning and evening, but my need for a decent espresso was curtailed until my return. Holy heaven in a (small) cup, batman.

There was, allegedly, a Costa Coffee (one of the few chains that I consider serviceable) in the resort but it wasn't. It just.. wasn't.

Raymond Lin · 8 Sep 2017 at 23:47

FrenchTart said:
I ran out of decent coffee last week and had to buy some emergency Illy beans from my local Tesco (literally the only beans they stock). £6.50 for 250g of rank coffee. The only saving grace is that the metal tin they came in will be handy for storing random stuff in future.

Waitrose has some half decent ones.

Raymond Lin · 8 Sep 2017 at 23:50

Is it me but single origin Coffee prices has gone up lately? It seems the cheapest bag of 250g is £6, with most average around £8 now. This is in Hasbean, Rave and Pact.

My last order, not long ago was in June and I had 3 bags at £5.50 each. It's gone up at least 10% in 3 months.

Dj_Jestar · 9 Sep 2017 at 01:51

Brexit, dude. The pound is nearly 20% cheaper than it was before. Given all coffee is imported, it's going to be hit.

jpaul · 9 Sep 2017 at 11:16

Probably need to look in the car park as HasBean, but I think they are taking a cut too

Central America: Coffee Export Prices Drop 33%
In the last five years, the average price of coffee exported by countries in the region fell by 33%, going from $226 to $151.
Friday, August 25, 2017

Yes - Illy make collectible cups - but not sure where you have to go to get their good coffee -
still think the packet/tinned beans, with a one year shelf life, are optimistic, maybe they don't degrade much though, from initial state.

sbi5ar · 16 Sep 2017 at 21:57

For anyone that is interested the Sage Oracle machine has a hefty £400 off it at the moment putting it at £1195 from John Lewis. I know this machine and Sage in general are marmite but ignoring what you think this is a hefty discount for those that are interested

(and yes I couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy it

)

Dj_Jestar · 16 Sep 2017 at 22:29

Oof. That's some discount. Reckon there is a new model imminent?

In other news, some sycophancy hasbean anecdote: Ordered at 12:23 (on Thurs) - at 13:00 order is "processed" and 13:30 "shipped." A shame I paid for sat del because DPD held it until today

Youstolemyname · 20 Sep 2017 at 21:47

So I'm finally fed up of my Iberital MC2 with its inconsistency and fiddly settings. Is the Baratza Encore a worthwhile replacement or is there another grinder I should be looking at in the sub £150 range?

Thanks for any advice!

ramdrive · 21 Sep 2017 at 17:47

Youstolemyname said:
So I'm finally fed up of my Iberital MC2 with its inconsistency and fiddly settings. Is the Baratza Encore a worthwhile replacement or is there another grinder I should be looking at in the sub £150 range?

Thanks for any advice!

Try and up your budget if you can:-

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/rancilio-rocky-doserless-grinder-sd.html

Better:-

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/eureka-mignon-instantaneo-grinder-auto-manual-matt-black.html

ramdrive · 21 Sep 2017 at 17:49

nst68 said:
Sainburys stock Modern Standard beans, I get them if I run out before my next Pact delivery.

You have to have a rummage through the bags as you can find some that were roasted around a month ago, but then find others that were roasted over 6 months ago.

Is pact any good? What have you tried?

Begbie · 21 Sep 2017 at 18:18

Anyone managed to find any good decafs?

I've tried RAVEs, and it's OK. Its perfectly drinkable, but just wondering if theres anything better?

Trying to sort some sleep issues out, so really need to knock coffee on the head

Youstolemyname · 21 Sep 2017 at 21:11

ramdrive said:
Try and up your budget if you can:-

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/rancilio-rocky-doserless-grinder-sd.html

Better:-

https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/eureka-mignon-instantaneo-grinder-auto-manual-matt-black.html

Cheers for that. May find the extra 75 quid and get the Rocky.

As an aside, for the same sort of budget, what espresso machine would folks recommend?

Dj_Jestar · 21 Sep 2017 at 21:58

Most would recommend finding another couple of hundred quid, or going second hand for a Silvia or Gaggia Classic.

nantucket66 · 21 Sep 2017 at 22:11

Question for the coffee experts, or some advice please?

I’ve got a eureka mignon and a sage duo temp pro. Really pleased with them both. Will upgrade machine in time but in no rush.

Found some espresso beans I love and got it right on the money. I bought a bag of something different (still espresso) as my supply of the one I love was going to run out before I could replenish.

The coffee puck is much drier than my normal beans, is that indicative of grinding too fine or tamping too hard? Or both? My normal beans end up with the puck being not dry but not really that wet. Coffee with this new bean is a bit wishy washy, almost sour in taste, modern standard momentum espresso btw.

I’ve left the grind setting on the eureka right where it was getting great results with the bean I like the best.

Thx

️

Dj_Jestar · 21 Sep 2017 at 22:24

yes, that's normal. Some beans are drier than others - either longer roasting, or longer since roasting. Small adjustments to the grind size is usually required when switching.

nantucket66 · 21 Sep 2017 at 22:31

Thx for that, am I right in thinking the drier puck needs to be a bit coarser?