Recommend me a coffee machine
- Thread starter dazzlaa
- Start date
Appreciate that, I think to start with I'll get a pack of pre-ground and then start to experiment further.
Legend, I'll get some for the first run, thanks!
You'll want to ask in Siliconslaves coffee thread
(https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/siliconslaves-how-to-make-espresso-thread.17887005/)I have two - a Tissimo pod thing. Coffee is.. well caffeinated and coffee coloured. It does for any adhoc coffee. I also have an Elektra Microcasa a Leva which is a spring loaded manual coffee machine that also steams so good the milk is like velvet. Only issue is it takes 15 minutes to heat up and has enough water for two cappuccinos (ie two shots + steam for two cups of milk). It's also a diva and you must have freshly roasted (<6days) and ground (<6mins) or the spring will simply push the water through the puck too fast. Also need a good grinder (I have a MCap 4 bag grinder). The espresso is something to die for.. and the milky drinks are just jaw dropping.
Last edited:
I will probably annoy you - the perfect coffee:
1. The beans.
2. The grind.
3. The machine.
Seriously - a good coffee is in that order. I would look at a better coffee grinder and beans with a Chemex or French press first (dial up the granularity). Then when you're ready go for the machine (and dial in the grind).
1. The beans.
2. The grind.
3. The machine.
Seriously - a good coffee is in that order. I would look at a better coffee grinder and beans with a Chemex or French press first (dial up the granularity). Then when you're ready go for the machine (and dial in the grind).
This is going to end up being as costly and addictive as PC upgrades isn't it haha...... *goes to investigate grinders*
Good places for coffee beans: St martins coffee or Clip son and sons
Associate
- Joined
- 20 Apr 2012
- Posts
- 174
- Location
- West Drayton-Heathrow
Cant be bothered with all the faffing any more (did for 20 years tho) Just like to press a button now days....Jura Xs9 and 'Grindhouse' for my beans.
must be an unusual machine - freshly roasted coffee is an anathema to most machines where wait nearly a week - pretty uncontrollable/erratic taste before that.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 34,564
- Location
- Warwickshire
I have a Sage Barista Express and have tried all kinds of different machines; my favourite coffee has come from a moka pot using pre-ground beans. I just love the intensity and body of the coffee it produces.
It's a fully manual spring loaded machine:
So you push down (that allows the water to come into the cylinder, then you simply let go of the lever. It's only the grind of the puck that then prevents the water being shot out of the bottom. So the tamp, the grind size and the freshness of the bends needs to be perfect to prevent a gush. I found that roasted the day before, arrived the next day (hasbean) then given a day or two for CO2 to escape and then it was perfect you have about 4 days of great coffee before the roasted beans started to dry a little (in the bags), after which the oils and moisture didn't prevent the water from moving through the puck in the same way. The result is by about day 6 or 8 the coffee when ground felt drier and the machine reacted differently.
This style of manual is very much a zen experience in preparation and ceremony to get the best out of it.
You'll want to ask in Siliconslaves coffee thread
I have two - a Tissimo pod thing. Coffee is.. well caffeinated and coffee coloured. It does for any adhoc coffee. I also have an Elektra Microcasa a Leva which is a spring loaded manual coffee machine that also steams so good the milk is like velvet. Only issue is it takes 15 minutes to heat up and has enough water for two cappuccinos (ie two shots + steam for two cups of milk). It's also a diva and you must have freshly roasted (<6days) and ground (<6mins) or the spring will simply push the water through the puck too fast. Also need a good grinder (I have a MCap 4 bag grinder). The espresso is something to die for.. and the milky drinks are just jaw dropping.
That machine does look classy. It would be enough just to have it sat on the side looking cool. I have spoken in the coffee thread now too, there real;ly is a thread for everything on OCUK
I have the Sage Barista Express. Great machine, does all I need and even the semi-automatic nature of it isn't a challenge. In fact it allows fine tuning when you are using different beans or even adjusting for aging beans. Requires a bit of maintenance but nothing too expensive or technical. It also looks great. If it broke I'd buy another tomorrow.
Soldato
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2007
- Posts
- 9,304
- Location
- extremes.spacious.indelible
Had multiple bean to cup machines before, but got a Nespresso Vertuo and it makes the nicest espresso i've had from my own machines.
Don't have the time or inclination to spend ages fine tuning a proper machine, and didn't want to spend silly amounts of something that gets used twice a week, so if you want a nice espresso with minimum fuss and almost zero cleaning, a Nespresso Vertua with Aerocinno (if you're a milk drinker) is hard to beat!
Don't have the time or inclination to spend ages fine tuning a proper machine, and didn't want to spend silly amounts of something that gets used twice a week, so if you want a nice espresso with minimum fuss and almost zero cleaning, a Nespresso Vertua with Aerocinno (if you're a milk drinker) is hard to beat!
The cheapest 'high end' grinder you can get is the Niche Zero. Upwards of that the larger flat burrs are used car money.
If you guys go down the bean to cup one button press route make sure you get a bean that's easy to extract. You'll want more developed roast profiles Medium Dark to Dark and tasting notes of Chocolate/Dark Chocolate/Nuts. They generally play well with milk and sugar. Lighter roasts and fruiter beans generally require more work and are harder to extract. Temperature accuracy and puck prep aren't bean to cups strengths so it makes sense to match it with a suitable easy extractor bean. If you get an end product youre happy with.... stick. Chasing better quickly becomes an expensive and at times frustrating hobby!