Get me started in REAL coffee!!!111one

Bes

Bes

Bes

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Melbourne
So, hopefully the GF and I are getting our own pad next month.

Being individuals who appreciate our coffee, I am looking to buy a decent, yet inexpensive machine... A gaggia possibly? Any reccommendations? Is ebay worth checking out?

I also have the advantage that my GF is Brazilian, so should be able to bring over some quality local beans if anyone can offer any advice/ suggestions on what to look for.

Thanks!
 
Good sites with active forums:
www.home-barista.com
www.coffeegeek.com

What form of coffee would be starting point - espresso? Latte? Filter?
Next how many coffees do you want todo at one time?

If it's espresso or any form that use it, then it's all about the (a) the grind and then (b) extracting the coffee from it.
If you're looking at 1-3 coffees a pop then you could look at manual lever machines but there's plenty of semi/full automatic machines that will give a good cup.

There are quite a few people here that have Gaggia Classics etc.

Like you I'm just moving house, but my first purchase will be:
a) Ascaso iMini grinder
b) Pavoni Europiccalo (manual lever)
c) naked basket
d) proper espresso/latte cups
e) proper tamper

Also I'll be looking at beans from:
www.hasbean.co.uk
And as they posted in silicon slave's thread: http://londiniumespresso.com/

Just steer clear of whittards - from experience.

A couple of threads too..
Silicon Slave's very good guide to making coffee:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17887005
 
NickK said:
Good sites with active forums:
www.home-barista.com
www.coffeegeek.com

What form of coffee would be starting point - espresso? Latte? Filter?
Next how many coffees do you want todo at one time?

If it's espresso or any form that use it, then it's all about the (a) the grind and then (b) extracting the coffee from it.
If you're looking at 1-3 coffees a pop then you could look at manual lever machines but there's plenty of semi/full automatic machines that will give a good cup.

There are quite a few people here that have Gaggia Classics etc.

Like you I'm just moving house, but my first purchase will be:
a) Ascaso iMini grinder
b) Pavoni Europiccalo (manual lever)
c) naked basket
d) proper espresso/latte cups
e) proper tamper

Also I'll be looking at beans from:
www.hasbean.co.uk
And as they posted in silicon slave's thread: http://londiniumespresso.com/

Just steer clear of whittards - from experience.

A couple of threads too..
Silicon Slave's very good guide to making coffee:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17887005
Click to expand...

This man speakth the sense.

This gent says avoid Whittards, while I don't totally agree with that (used to work there) I would suggest the best way to get the freshest beans is to just ask what is new in the caddies - I am sure that if the salesperson was a nice guy (I used to do this for customers) they would get the big valve bags out the back and top up the caddy, purposely to give them the freshest beans.

Rich
 
Well the GF is a big fan of Cafè Cortado (Basically a Spanish term for a Caffè macchiato), I'm rather partial to these too.

I would only be doing them for me/ her and a couple of friends most of the time... I'm not too sure what that involves in terms of machinery though?

Thanks
 
Bes said:
Well the GF is a big fan of Cafè Cortado (Basically a Spanish term for a Caffè macchiato), I'm rather partial to these too.

I would only be doing them for me/ her and a couple of friends most of the time... I'm not too sure what that involves in terms of machinery though?

Thanks
Click to expand...

You need a espresso machine with a frother, what make the difference in a latte, americano, cappuccino are the difference in foam, milk, water and espressos mainly
 
So should I be looking on ebay for a gaggia classic, or am I better buying new? what other makes of machine should I consider?

Thanks
 
What timing.. I've just ordered some kit.. rather than the pavoni/Ascaso...

Elektra Microcasa a leva
Macap MC4 stepless
Reg Barber 49mm stainless steel/walnut tamper

Also ordered some beans:
Australian skyberry
Brazilian Camocim Organic Ipar 59

Should have this lot in about a week.
 
Bes said:
So should I be looking on ebay for a gaggia classic, or am I better buying new? what other makes of machine should I consider?

Thanks
Click to expand...

you can buy re conditioned machines with a full 12 month warranty form Gaggia themselves, the classic is £199 including a pack of coffee capsules
Whittards also have the machines for the same price (it's just their coffee beans which are a little stale), they also have a Burr grinder for £48 which is cheaper than the Internet price of £59 delivered
 
Machines are not needed.

A good cafetiere is all you need. Costco sell a brand of beans called San Francisco Bay and it is a fiver for a kilo bag and it is as good as any coffee I have had.
 
I have a Gaggia classic I bought off eBay for £50 with a blade grinder (I know, needs to be replaced with a proper grinding one). It does a very good cup of coffee too, I would recommend it.
 
Chances are you will buy a machine but after time the novelty will wear off, you will get fed up with cleaning it andend up just taking space in your cupboard. Nescafe gold blend :D
 
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