Coffee (Need an aeropress upgrade)!

Sinny

Sinny

Sinny

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Just looking for fellow coffee addicts and just after a bit of advice for upgrading my kit!

Currently use an Aeropress but want to have a try at entering the espresso world, or even if it's worth it!

Currently looking to spend under £100, but if I can't get a decent machine for that then I will just save up for a better one!

Any advice appreciated! Cheers
 
Assuming you arent one of the 311k.....

Towards the bottom of the page there is a MASSIVE thread with advice, options, reviews etc.
 
There is indeed a big thread but just to throw in some advice... :p

Do you have a good quality burr grinder? If not, I'd recommend spending that much or a little more on one. Freshly ground coffee is ridiculously nicer than stuff made from days-old grinds.
 
FrenchTart said:
There is indeed a big thread but just to throw in some advice... :p

Do you have a good quality burr grinder? If not, I'd recommend spending that much or a little more on one. Freshly ground coffee is ridiculously nicer than stuff made from days-old grinds.
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This.. and if you don't have a decent grinder, you're gonna need a lot more than £100 if you want good espresso!

I wouldn't consider moving away from an aeropress an upgrade though - although I guess it depends on your coffee preference. Aeropress and other filter methods are very much their own thing
 
Agreed.

I actually am not a fan of many filter methods of coffee but aeropress can yield some amazing results. If I didn't already have an espresso machine I'd definitely be using an aeropress several times a day.
 
oli collett said:
This.. and if you don't have a decent grinder, you're gonna need a lot more than £100 if you want good espresso!

I wouldn't consider moving away from an aeropress an upgrade though - although I guess it depends on your coffee preference. Aeropress and other filter methods are very much their own thing
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I have a hand grinder, it does the correct consistency for brewing with my aeropress and can grind better for espresso blends as far as I'm aware!

and it is a burr grinder (It's the Hario hand burr grinder)

FrenchTart said:
Agreed.

I actually am not a fan of many filter methods of coffee but aeropress can yield some amazing results. If I didn't already have an espresso machine I'd definitely be using an aeropress several times a day.
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I love it, but my dad steals it and claimed it for himself so I want to get an espresso machine for my digs for when I work away, he's not having that!
 
Your hario grinder won't grind fine enough for espresso. And £100 wont be enough (imo) to get started.

I'd try a few different brew methods - pour over, clever coffee dripper, sowden, french press, moka pot, syphon... All will give different results and easily under £100.

Alternatively spend the money on a Lido 2 or 3 and you'll not need to buy another grinder.... Ever.
 
A very basic set up (classic and iberital mc2 or similar) would probably set you back around £200-250 second hand. If you want to go down the espresso route.
 
Ducky89 said:
A very basic set up (classic and iberital mc2 or similar) would probably set you back around £200-250 second hand. If you want to go down the espresso route.
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I've been looking Gaggia classics on ebay and they seem to be between the £100-£150 mark, would that be a better route to go down? I'd have to save a bit more for a decent espresso grinder then?
 
Gaggia Classic and Iberital is essentially the minimum level you want to go, yes. A hand grinder will do in a pinch too, assuming that it's able to go fine enough. It'll just be a pain to grind.

Many of us on here have been running a Gaggia Classic for several years and they're solid machines. With only minimal modifications (OPV mod and a non-pressurised basket) you can produce excellent espresso. They aren't so great at steaming milk but with another mod (Rancilio wand) and some patience you can again achieve good results.
 
Going to go slightly against the grain here, and say £100 is fine as long as you're prepared to spend more along the way. If you look around enough, you should be able to get a Gaggia Classic for £100 or thereabouts. The hand grinder you have, even if it's not 'good enough' for espresso will still work - and when you want to spend more on a grinder you can and you'll at least be able to see the difference then.

I guess it comes down to this; if you want to spend money once and get it right - then £100 isn't enough. If you're happy to spend more along the way, either adding or upgrading equipment - then £100 is fine as long as you understand in 1,2 or 6 months time you may then want to spend £300 on a grinder :D
 
Scottland said:
Going to go slightly against the grain here, and say £100 is fine as long as you're prepared to spend more along the way. If you look around enough, you should be able to get a Gaggia Classic for £100 or thereabouts. The hand grinder you have, even if it's not 'good enough' for espresso will still work - and when you want to spend more on a grinder you can and you'll at least be able to see the difference then.

I guess it comes down to this; if you want to spend money once and get it right - then £100 isn't enough. If you're happy to spend more along the way, either adding or upgrading equipment - then £100 is fine as long as you understand in 1,2 or 6 months time you may then want to spend £300 on a grinder :D
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Pretty much how I see the situation, I'll just keep on looking for a decent price on a Gaggia and then get a grinder that will suffice further down the line.

Cheers! :D
 
There's one for sale on CFUK at the moment, I'd definitely recommend signing up on there and keeping an eye out. One of the members (gaggiamanualservice, I think) often refurbs them and puts them on.
 
If I may jump in on this thread to ask a related question... sorry OP!

I am curious about the aeropress and would like to venture into the world of coffee that isn't the instant and filter crap they supply at work. At £28 the aeropress seems to offer fantastic value for money for dipping ones toes!

However I don't have a grinder, so as a starting point, what pre-ground coffee would people recommend? If not a specific, then a good online store to to do some browsing?
 
There are plenty of good online stores. I personally use HasBean extensively but I'm sure other people will chime in with equally good alternatives.
 
Check the coffee thread.

But hasbean and Rave are good starting points. Both of their blends are good too.

I normally prefer single orgion stuff though.
 
Aeropress should be less than £28. Amazon had it for less than that with all the accessories last time I looked.

Buy preground from a roaster if needed. Both hasbean and rave offer filter packs, these are my go to starter recommendations.

Open each bag at the same time (they'll already be going stale after theyre ground, dont worry about them going more 'off'). Give each one a sniff, chuck a tablespoon of each in a small cup or bowl and dump hot water on. Leave 4 mins, break the crust and try some of each.

Sounds like a lot of fuss but your preference using that method will be easier to tailor your choice going forwards. And you'll try each one as fresh as possible

HTH.

EDIT: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerobie-Ae...UTF8&qid=1462394132&sr=1-2&keywords=aeropress

Get the hario hand grinder from amazon too if you can stretch. Pairs pretty well with the aeropress and whole beans will keep fresh for longer.
 
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I started off with a hand grinder and AP. Got to the same stage as you where I 'almost' convinced myself I had to upgrade to a Gaggia etc.

Then I realised I live in London and unless I win the lottery will never have a big enough kitchen for an espresso machine :p Instead I opted to make my life easier with the AP and upgraded my grinder to a Baratza Encore. I think it's £100-odd. It's probably not quite good enough for an espresso machine but it's perfect for an AP. I'm happy with that and it's very much stopped me feeling the need to get an espresso machine. Just my 2p. :)
 
Egon said:
If I may jump in on this thread to ask a related question... sorry OP!

I am curious about the aeropress and would like to venture into the world of coffee that isn't the instant and filter crap they supply at work. At £28 the aeropress seems to offer fantastic value for money for dipping ones toes!

However I don't have a grinder, so as a starting point, what pre-ground coffee would people recommend? If not a specific, then a good online store to to do some browsing?
Click to expand...

Aeropress on amazon and a Hario burr grinder is what I use, though atly I just buy my whole beans from Sainsburys as thry have quite a large selecyion! Though now and again I treat myself on Hasbean.

You should get a deal including 2 packs of paper filters which will last you a very long time also!
 
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