Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Siliconslave said:
in terms of getting a perfectly timed pour you'll be limited by the grinder (in standard form) and the beans. Fresh (good) beans won't need quite as fine a grind but ultimately you'll be luck to get a perfect pour without hacking the grinder I'm afraid.
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Will try out the beans I got from Hasbean and compare, they were roasted on the 10th Jan.

I definitely need a proper tamper, the RB tampers look a bit pricey so I thought I'd grab this one if it comes back in stock soon.

Siliconslave said:
If you want Trust me your address and I'll post over some zip-locked espresso grinds that 'should' give you around a 25second pour
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Sent, thanks a lot for that - much appreciated. I'll compare and then hack the grinder if necessary.
 
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Just brewed up quite an odd coffee in my aeropress. It was really tasty, but very clear. I used an aeropress spoon full of coffee. I can only assume that the grind wasn't fine enough.

Not much too it, but tasty and interesting to see what happens when you alter the grind.

Just made another one with the grind as fine as my grinder will go. Mmm, not that impressed. Need to find a in between grind.
 
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Ahleckz said:
Just brewed up quite an odd coffee in my aeropress. It was really tasty, but very clear. I used an aeropress spoon full of coffee. I can only assume that the grind wasn't fine enough.

Not much too it, but tasty and interesting to see what happens when you alter the grind.
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Do you have a thermometer and scales so that you can control the other variables?
 
Hamster said:
Do you have a thermometer and scales so that you can control the other variables?
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Don't have accurate enough scales, though keep meaning to buy some. I have a thermometer, but not sure if it'll work. It's a metal one for meat. I'll have a few plays over the coming days.
 
Ahleckz said:
Don't have accurate enough scales, though keep meaning to buy some. I have a thermometer, but not sure if it'll work. It's a metal one for meat. I'll have a few plays over the coming days.
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OK. I'll link you to the scales and thermometer that I bought from ebay. The scales are accurate to 0.1g and the thermometer hasn't let me down yet! Scales are £5.39 delivered and the thermometer was £3.49 delivered:

Scales:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1000g-x-0...pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item27c2348bc0

Thermometer:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Digital-P...pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item3f0e471666

I do want to invest in a better proble or thermocouple thermometer soon though but the one I linked to does work well.
 
Great to see that this thread is still going strong.
It was due to this thread that I got my Silva a couple of years ago. I am still delighted with it.

I have been using a Dualit grinder (Starbucks Barista) for a few years. I overclocked it a notch to give me a slightly finer grind. It works just fine for the Hasbean beans but it struggles to grind darker roasts from elsewhere fine enough. Might get a rocky at some point, it's just the ££..

Wife bought me 3 bags of coffee from hasbean for christmas (their xmas espresso blend was wonderful), a thick rubber mat which is great AND.....a years subscription to Hasbean so I get a different coffee every month. The perfect present.
 
Well, a little bit of trading today with Dale @ Hasbean has landed me with some coffee - he's called me on my new year resolution to try to find a natural that I like. It's going to be a long shot...

Got one great coffee, and a natural coffee. ;)

El Salvador La Illusion 2011-2012 and El Salvador La Illusion Natural 2011-2012.
I suppose if anyone is going to make a natural that I like, it'll be the La Illusions chaps. The only problem is, if I do like it, they only have a single bag of it as it's all he produces.
 
Ahleckz said:
Just brewed up quite an odd coffee in my aeropress. It was really tasty, but very clear. I used an aeropress spoon full of coffee. I can only assume that the grind wasn't fine enough.

Not much too it, but tasty and interesting to see what happens when you alter the grind.

Just made another one with the grind as fine as my grinder will go. Mmm, not that impressed. Need to find a in between grind.
Click to expand...

By clear do you mean no crema? I don't think you get crema with an Aeropress, the pressure isn't high enough, I've never got any anyway! I've run out of Hasbean stuff so bought some Tesco finest java beans... Well they're better than nothing I suppose! Really need to get some more stuff ordered!
 
Hi Siliconslave
you have the same setup as myself, recieved the MC2 this week amd set it up exactly as you said, do'nt it take ages to wind in the grind knob (thought about attaching a drill to it at one point)

noted the sound of the grinder slowing down and wound back, the grind was too fine at first and was building up in the top of the grinder shute and not flowing out, wound back the grind till there was a better flo, with a MC2 now is the time to set up the timer

just interested tho, where did you get your shot glasses from, the ones that i have are slightly taller than the bottom of the PF so have to tilt the glasses to one side to take them out.
 
well spent a brilliant day over at 6/8 kafe in Birmingham. Craig and the team were great and made me and my friends feel really welcome.

As much as I want to enjoy a straight espresso I just can't. The flavours and tastes are just too intense. Any advice on this or is it case of just trying to learn to love it.

I enjoy the espresso based drinks much more but am so used to the chemex that I think this is probably the perfect brewing method for me.

So if you are in Birmingham then give them a try.
 
I think I know the answer to this but could anyone please confirm that the basket in this pic is indeed a pressurised one:

basket.JPG


Only one hole on the bottom!

A proper non pressurised basket should look like the one on the right in the picture in this thread from what I gather.

Thanks!
 
uchuff said:
I think I know the answer to this but could anyone please confirm that the basket in this pic is indeed a pressurised one:

Only one hole on the bottom!

A proper non pressurised basket should look like the one on the right in the picture in this thread from what I gather.

Thanks!
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looks like it - a normal basket will have a whole array of holes right across the base :)
 
Completely forgot to post about this. *D'oh!*

Today was the first day of the first heat of the 2012 UKBC.

http://scaeuk.com/uk-barista-championship.php

It continues tomorrow. More info here

Some very cool guys *and some lovely ladies too* will be there. It's usually pretty interesting and there's some cool stuff there. There's an espresso machine which has the competitors working on it after they've competed and also a brew bar being operated by Union Roasters.

Can follow whats going on through twitter using #ukbc and #ukbcht1 for the 1st heat. Yes, I'm tweeting a bit too as well as helping out. *free t-shirt and as much coffee as I can drink? I'll do it!*

Feel free to come along if you can, or go to one of the other heats and show your support. I'm doing both days of the South East heat, but also the Midlands heat *in Norwich.... Errr, Midlands?* and the London Semi's and Finals. May do a couple of the other heats if I can.
 
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Great stuff, I didn't realise it was on already. You must know Vic then, the friendly Aussie chap with the curly tache. He taught me the way of the syphon last year!

Enjoy the event! :)
 
OK, so I only have an Aeropress and a porlex grinder. Nothing fancy but its certainly taken my coffee drinking in a new direction! I've always liked strong black coffee (don't get the cow juice thing, unless you're a Doris ;) ), so I've struggled a little bit with the lack of bitterness you get from the Aeropress, it's almost like a different drink! OK you can use hotter water and let it steep longer to get some bitterness but it just seems wrong :D It's great fun messing with the grind, I've even got the shop bought java tasting quite good by using a finer grind than the previous Hasbean stock I had. All good fun this and has brought a whole new appreciation of the amazing coffee bean :)
 
Aeropress is an excellent brew method. But, errr... It shouldn't be bitter. Bitter is bad.

Hotter water *over 95°C* burns the coffee
Longer brewtime can lead to over extraction
 
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