Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

jpaul · 26 Mar 2020 at 20:57

So in these troubled times ... first world problem, ensuring coffee supply for home office, you can't stockpile
I'm probably going to have to gamble on something from JS, Waitrose, or Aldi ?

gaskets - confirmed what i suspected - cant find an exact silicon size need I need

8mm x 71mm O/D x 56mm I/D (FITS BEZZERA ELLISSE, EBBIS, BZ07, BZ40, B4000, ALSO FITS B2000, B3000 NEW STYLE SERIES 2 ONLY
BEZZERA PN: 7493008)

but, cafelat don't have it http://www.cafelat.com/silicone-group-gaskets.html closest

Muska · 26 Mar 2020 at 21:34

Waitrose sell Union beans that have a roasted date on them. I would see what they have over the others

LuckyBenski · 26 Mar 2020 at 22:29

Muska said:
Waitrose sell Union beans that have a roasted date on them. I would see what they have over the others

Waitrose also have a Swiss water decaf bean, if that's something that interests you. Found them a little darkly roasted some batches but bean is better than ground. This was mostly 2016-17 when there were fewer specialists though

Grimley · 27 Mar 2020 at 15:58

jpaul said:
So in these troubled times ... first world problem, ensuring coffee supply for home office, you can't stockpile
I'm probably going to have to gamble on something from JS, Waitrose, or Aldi ?

Buy these;

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/modern-standard-momentum-blend-whole-coffee-beans-227g

I've been doing a 'supermarket taste test' on my twitter feed & these are the best of the bunch.
Theres a roast date on the bag too, only these guys & Union do that for the supermarkets.

the-evaluator · 27 Mar 2020 at 16:02

I have an In My Mug subscription from the good folks at HasBean so I get a bag of coffee through the letterbox every Saturday. So far the current situation hasn't impacted that.

jpaul · 27 Mar 2020 at 17:45

Grimley said:
Buy these;

I'd actually had an email exchange with their marketting, the beans were disappointingly medium, and their packaging non descriptive
they refunded the Modern Standard Guatemala Coffee Beans I tried

Hi Paul
We roast our coffees on the light - medium side, which might not be to your taste.
Our Momentum Espresso might be worth a try, this is roasted darker. If it's too light for you, I'll be happy to refund.
Thanks for the email
Lynsey
On Thu, 1 Jun 2017

you web site does not appear to give details of roast level on the coffee beans
I wanted to ensure I purchased a darker roasted bean which I prefer for a pure espresso coffee, but as I say, I could not find the information.
some bean varieties, you sell shows a picture of a cafetiere on the packet, so you could infer they are best for that purpose and the others for espresso.?
Also, you web site did not seem to give details of Modern Standard Guatemala Coffee Beans which is retailed by JS Sainsbury

Ater reading some threads will probably look out for Aldi peruvian or columbian
Aldi Special - Page 2 - Beans - Coffee Forums UK

Marks and Spencer Italian, and Asda Columbian have previously been good - not sure that is a critical 20 mile journey though.

Begbie · 27 Mar 2020 at 17:51

the-evaluator said:
I have an In My Mug subscription from the good folks at HasBean so I get a bag of coffee through the letterbox every Saturday. So far the current situation hasn't impacted that.

Did you get the costa rica fincah the other week?

Hands down the best coffee I've ever had. Shame it's £20 odd, or I'd be cancelling and ordering bucket loads of the stuff.

Dj_Jestar · 27 Mar 2020 at 19:56

@jpaul what dimensions do you need? If amazon doesn't have it I'd be very surprised.

jpaul · 27 Mar 2020 at 20:32

jpaul said:
8mm x 71mm O/D x 56mm I/D (FITS BEZZERA ELLISSE, EBBIS, BZ07, BZ40, B4000, ALSO FITS B2000, B3000 NEW STYLE SERIES 2 ONLY
BEZZERA PN: 7493008)

this ... but the cafelat folks who make the only regarded silicon's don't have a fit ...I've emailed them earlier today to double check.
less credible alternative https://www.bluestarcoffee.eu/bezzera-conical-silicon-group-gasket-blue-9495-p.asp some Irsh company

Grimley · 27 Mar 2020 at 20:32

jpaul said:
I'd actually had an email exchange with their marketting, the beans were disappointingly medium, and their packaging non descriptive
they refunded the Modern Standard Guatemala Coffee Beans I tried

I didn't know that. I'm not one for darker roasts.

Dj_Jestar · 28 Mar 2020 at 00:19

Bezzera's have E61 group head (or at least the same dims), right? If so then this will work fine (it's what I'm using with my actual E61): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cafelat-CECOMINOD013419-Silicone-Group-Gasket/dp/B00OX59S5Q

When I orderd I was worried with it being silicone it would have so flex to it, so I also have the 8.5mm but that was (just) too thick.

the-evaluator · 29 Mar 2020 at 10:19

Begbie said:
Did you get the costa rica fincah the other week?

Hands down the best coffee I've ever had. Shame it's £20 odd, or I'd be cancelling and ordering bucket loads of the stuff.

I did. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious but it's not the best coffee I've had. That honour goes to Bolivia Machacamarca which is sadly unlikely to be seen again. It was perfection in a cup.

jpaul · 29 Mar 2020 at 12:00

emergency bean choice was ..., lots remained on their shelves, versus others & asda - 2 bags ~12days supply
still respectable, had discussed, way back here, Ray commented too, I think.
bags off-gassing which I usually take as a good sign.

Dj_Jestar said:
Bezzera's have E61 group head (or at least the same dims), right?

close , but no cigar !
e61 - cafelats
73mm x 57mm x 8mm (Red) 73mm x 57mm x 8.5mm (Blue)
I need 71x56

Raymond Lin · 29 Mar 2020 at 19:52

jpaul said:
emergency bean choice was ..., lots remained on their shelves, versus others & asda - 2 bags ~12days supply
still respectable, had discussed, way back here, Ray commented too, I think.
bags off-gassing which I usually take as a good sign.

close , but no cigar !
e61 - cafelats
73mm x 57mm x 8mm (Red) 73mm x 57mm x 8.5mm (Blue)
I need 71x56

Ha, yes, my go to high street bean. It's perfectly fine.

mid_gen · 30 Mar 2020 at 16:34

Ordered some coffee from coffee direct this week to make lockdown a bit more tolerable, but accidentally ordered one bag beans, and I don't have a grinder. Well, I have a 'grinder' attachment for the Magimix which smashed it up into an uneven mix of chunks and fine powder

Any tips for an good value burr grinder?

Dj_Jestar · 30 Mar 2020 at 19:52

For Espresso machine or something else?

mid_gen · 31 Mar 2020 at 08:15

Dj_Jestar said:
For Espresso machine or something else?

At the moment, filter and Moka, but I do plan on splurging on a decent espresso setup soon since it doesn't look like my house purchase is going to happen anytime soon.

Is the Baratza Encore @£129 a good option?

Begbie · 31 Mar 2020 at 08:37

mid_gen said:
At the moment, filter and Moka, but I do plan on splurging on a decent espresso setup soon since it doesn't look like my house purchase is going to happen anytime soon.

Is the Baratza Encore @£129 a good option?

It's cheap that!

mid_gen · 31 Mar 2020 at 09:18

Begbie said:
It's cheap that!

Now I'm looking at Gaggia Classics and justifying this as the only thing I'll be able to enjoy for the next six months

Dj_Jestar · 31 Mar 2020 at 09:44

Baratza Encore is a good grinder, yes, and at that price a bargain - 2nd hand? Full working condition?

As you are not doing espresso (yet) I was going to recommend a hand grinder to save yourself a bob, but that's such a bargain it'd be mad not to take it.