Soldato
I would generally agree but if you need some in a hurry M&S beans are passable, clearly not as good as bespoke places but good enough.
Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread
- Thread starter Siliconslave
- Start date
I would generally agree but if you need some in a hurry M&S beans are passable, clearly not as good as bespoke places but good enough.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jun 2011
- Posts
- 2,741
So is that if the coffee is opened? What about if the coffee is unopened? Just trying to get my head around this...
Thanks
So is that if the coffee is opened? What about if the coffee is unopened? Just trying to get my head around this...
Thanks
the roasted coffee in a sealed packet has a longer shelf life.
First 24hrs to 3 days the beans are degassing - losing the co2 that was trapped inside them during roasting. Once this is done the beans are considered at peak.
One - four weeks sealed in an airtight package its considered in good condition.
Beyond this its beginning to go a little stale.
It'll vary depending on the beans, the roast and environment etc, but thats rough guide
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jun 2011
- Posts
- 2,741
the roasted coffee in a sealed packet has a longer shelf life.
First 24hrs to 3 days the beans are degassing - losing the co2 that was trapped inside them during roasting. Once this is done the beans are considered at peak.
One - four weeks sealed in an airtight package its considered in good condition.
Beyond this its beginning to go a little stale.
It'll vary depending on the beans, the roast and environment etc, but thats rough guide
Thanks!
So I could probably get away with buying 2 or 3 packets. Once opened is there a 'best' approach to storage?
For the Foundry Rocko brand and latest Silver Oak varieties I bought they say need 7-11 days post rost for espresso to be viable, coffee forums and my experience agrees with that, otherwise get unpredicatble shots and also need a very fine grind; for filter can use it sooner.
+1 siliconslaves comment about 4 weeks max keeping sealed
About grinders, I thought Barista Grinder is nonetheless £50 more than MC2, so maybe prettier, but at a cost, and MC2 being Italian made may have better reliability - how much do new burrs for Barista cost too ? (less than £20 for MC2/Rocky)
They were giving a Barista grinder, free with the dual boiler sage, so that gave some additional ebay supply and might expect some further bargains (monitor coffeeuk)
+1 siliconslaves comment about 4 weeks max keeping sealed
About grinders, I thought Barista Grinder is nonetheless £50 more than MC2, so maybe prettier, but at a cost, and MC2 being Italian made may have better reliability - how much do new burrs for Barista cost too ? (less than £20 for MC2/Rocky)
They were giving a Barista grinder, free with the dual boiler sage, so that gave some additional ebay supply and might expect some further bargains (monitor coffeeuk)
Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it - I miss my Gaggia Classic but not the MC2 grinder, so the Sage BE has been on my radar for some time now...
two options in my opinion are you either use the resealable bags the (majority) of roasteries supply, keep them in that in a cupboard - Not in the fridge or you get a vacuvin coffee saver which does most of the same thing, with a little more vacuum.
Man of Honour
One thing to keep in mind if you end up buying multiple varieties is that each of them will likely require a different grind setting to get optimum results. As I'm very lazy I prefer to use up all of a particular bag before moving on to my next one so I'm not constantly re-calibrating.
Let us know how it goes. Mine should be arriving today and I have no idea how to use it!
... so talk me out of getting an MC2, what had you disliked ?
(was still thinking of side-gradeing from a Rocky, for a stepless alternative)
... also waiting to see if Rave have a post-xmas deal for some Signature
Everything about it annoyed me. The way it looked, the way it sounded and most of all the stupidly finicky stepless adjustment which felt like I needed to have a background in safe-cracking in order to get to grips with it.
I'm sure that it is a wonderful machine given adequate time and more patience than I had to spare, but I hated it. So I replaced it with a Rocky and never really looked back.
Today, I'd go Sage Smart Grinder Pro. Or Barista Express, which seems to have one already built-in. Which is nice, should you want that sort of thing.
Anyone got a DeLonghi Nespresso Lattissima Touch?
Looking at buying a Nespresso machine for the first time.
Had a proper coffee machine for a while but eventually stopped using it as we became lazy and went back to instant but now with a baby we only have time to make a quick brew.
Anyone have one and can recommend?
Have seen it on sale for £190.
Looking at buying a Nespresso machine for the first time.
Had a proper coffee machine for a while but eventually stopped using it as we became lazy and went back to instant but now with a baby we only have time to make a quick brew.
Anyone have one and can recommend?
Have seen it on sale for £190.
Get the Latissima+ instead; cheaper (£140 with £75 Nespresso credit) and does everything the Touch will. I think the only differences between the two models are cosmetic
I know a few people who have the + and they swear by them. Decent enough coffee too, once you've found the pod that suits you.
I know a few people who have the + and they swear by them. Decent enough coffee too, once you've found the pod that suits you.
I've had a nespresso machine for quite a few years now and it's been great, very handy for a quick shot.
Once I found out you could get the 10 packs of pods from the supermarket I stopped buying the originals from nespresso, so I didn't have to buy 200 at a time.
I've probably not bought originals in a couple of years now.
I'm thinking I enjoyed the original Nespresso pods much more though. It's been so long since I tried them, perhaps I'm just imagining it?
What do others think? Do the 3rd party supermarket ones pale in comparison or are they just as good?
Once I found out you could get the 10 packs of pods from the supermarket I stopped buying the originals from nespresso, so I didn't have to buy 200 at a time.
I've probably not bought originals in a couple of years now.
I'm thinking I enjoyed the original Nespresso pods much more though. It's been so long since I tried them, perhaps I'm just imagining it?
What do others think? Do the 3rd party supermarket ones pale in comparison or are they just as good?
i cant find the Lattissima+ on sale, i think the touch has replaced it.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Jun 2011
- Posts
- 2,741
Right folks, thought I would provide an update on my purchase of the Barista Express...
Basically I changed my mind immediately and returned the machine (sorry to let you down). There are a few reasons for this but nothing to do with the capabilities of the machine. Instead I purchased a few things:
De'Longhi EC680 Dedica Coffee Machine with 15 Bar Espresso Pump
Melitta 1011-16 Look IV Therm Timer Coffee Filter Machine
Bodum Bistro Electric Coffee Grinder
Andrew James Milk Jug and Thermometer
Smart Weigh SWS100 100g Scales
Coffee Canisters by Coffee Gator x 2
Bodum Double Wall Glasses Set of 4
Now just need the new kitchen to fit everything.
Basically I changed my mind immediately and returned the machine (sorry to let you down). There are a few reasons for this but nothing to do with the capabilities of the machine. Instead I purchased a few things:
De'Longhi EC680 Dedica Coffee Machine with 15 Bar Espresso Pump
Melitta 1011-16 Look IV Therm Timer Coffee Filter Machine
Bodum Bistro Electric Coffee Grinder
Andrew James Milk Jug and Thermometer
Smart Weigh SWS100 100g Scales
Coffee Canisters by Coffee Gator x 2
Bodum Double Wall Glasses Set of 4
Now just need the new kitchen to fit everything.
Soldato
This question is aimed at the likes of Frenchtart/Siliconslave/Flibster or other coffee experts on here.
I want to know if installing a PID on something like a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia (currently in possession of both) would be worth my while in the long run? Thinking about buying one for the Silvia.
I want to know if installing a PID on something like a Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia (currently in possession of both) would be worth my while in the long run? Thinking about buying one for the Silvia.
kind of difficult to answer tbh, I put one on my gaggia a couple of years back (it's somewhere in the thread...) and it's been great, but was such a long time ago it's hard to know how much of a difference the PID bit really makes.
That being said the one I got has a temp readout, automatic pre-soak and timed shots which are definitely worth it. Having used a friends gaggia recently it's so much easier with these little luxuries:
Turn the machine on, wait for the readout to stabilize at 102 (to account for head loss on the way to the grouphead) and hit a button.
It totally stabilizes the time and temperature variables
The fully blow pid's become quite expensive though £150+, versus a machine upgrade,I considered the mecoffee pid for a while (inc pre-infusion & bluetooth app)
but decided product was a bit immature (s/w bugs! / reliability) and also not volumteric control,
if anything, a simpler pid, just controlling temperature (even a home brew version <£50, buy thermocouple, pid, genuine solid state relay) seemed sweet spot -
but a 2nd hand HX model came up and Silvia and I parted (Rocky misses her).
The HX also gives simultaneous/powerful steaming but have not fully exploited/learned it yet.
but decided product was a bit immature (s/w bugs! / reliability) and also not volumteric control,
if anything, a simpler pid, just controlling temperature (even a home brew version <£50, buy thermocouple, pid, genuine solid state relay) seemed sweet spot -
but a 2nd hand HX model came up and Silvia and I parted (Rocky misses her).
The HX also gives simultaneous/powerful steaming but have not fully exploited/learned it yet.