Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

jpaul · 22 May 2017 at 18:29

BE vs DTP a couple of differences suggested

One more thing about the BE it has a pressure gauge which is a pointer if your tamping and grinding going in the right direction. Some say it's not important but seeing Rocket and other Top Espresso machine makers have it on their machines it's there as a another aid to help you get the most out of your shot pulling technique.
..
Sounds like you have a plan lol. The only feature on the BE that you cannot do on the DTP is the temperature increase or decrease on the PID. It may not be a big deal if you know you'll be sticking to a preferred bean, but may prove more useful if you are going to experiment with different roast types etc. Something I have to give serious thought to as I'am still new to all this myself and keen to try quite a wide range of beans and roast types. That's the only short coming of the DTP.

but you do not get temp control or pressure on a Silvia either ...
I have never seen a tear-down - volunteers ?

fez · 23 May 2017 at 10:56

jpaul said:
but you do not get temp control or pressure on a Silvia either ...
I have never seen a tear-down - volunteers ?

I think perhaps you do in so far as you can temp surf to move the brewing temp up or down (especially with a PID kit). Some people with the DTP seem to use the steam want to bring the temp a little higher and then pull their shot straight after so the temperature of the thermacoil is theoretically a little higher than it would normally be.

Dj_Jestar · 23 May 2017 at 13:03

You seriously need to stop worrying about tamping. I don't know how many times that study needs posting for you to get it - as long as you tamp firmly, and flatly, that's enough. You categorically will not get any difference by tamping with different pressures. The only variables you need to concern yourself with are, in order of precedence:

Quality of bean
Consistency of grind
Size of grind
Amount of grind
Duration of shot pull
Temperature of water.

Raymond Lin · 23 May 2017 at 18:13

I used to think about ramping pressure, now I just put it on, and kinda just tap it once so it's "compact" then if I need to, adjust grind size as opposed to how hard I press down. It's much easier to adjust the grind size as if something visual on the grinder as opposed to how hard I and tamping.

jpaul · 23 May 2017 at 19:56

Dj_Jestar said:
You seriously need to stop worrying about tamping ...

was this a soliloquy ? :confused:

Dj_Jestar · 23 May 2017 at 21:43

Looks like it. I think I must have imagined a post about tamping existed :/

jpaul · 24 May 2017 at 22:18

If you want to appreciate the Sage/Brevil Thermacoil design see Gail
What is a Thermoblock?

it is a nice piece of engineering - how do they protect the element in there, while pouring molten alu
(..and when will OC fix formatting bugs - lol)

jpaul · 31 May 2017 at 08:01

If you are into Rave single origin

TO REDEEM YOUR 15% OFF SINGLE ORIGINS
USE CODE: LOVEYOURSO at the checkout
Offer runs from midnight tuesday 30th until midnight wednesday the 31st

personally only ever get their blends, I want predictability, not 250g of coffee that is difficult to dial in and taste not so great after all, not adventurous enough ?
but try and convert me if you have a recommendation
[I want a heavy duty darker roast exclusively for pure espresso]

Scam · 1 Jun 2017 at 14:01

I'd saved that email to remind me to buy some coffee today. Didn't realise it ran out yesterday

Any other offers kicking around? I need to place an order.

Egon · 1 Jun 2017 at 15:31

Received my first pack from Squaremile today. Have to say 10/10 for packaging and delivery!

Ordered the Red Brick as I've hard a lot of good things about it. Price wise not much different to Rave as their prices include postage.

gEd · 1 Jun 2017 at 23:22

jpaul said:
[I want a heavy duty darker roast exclusively for pure espresso]

Consider Spiller & Tait Signature Blend. It's roasted a little darker than most espresso beans I have had. Has a smokey tang to it.

Raymond Lin · 1 Jun 2017 at 23:34

I got in my hands a few bags of IKEA espresso beans, £2.50 each and it was buy one get one free.

I have never seen coffee beans so cheap....it might taste crap but I'll just sugar it up.

gEd · 1 Jun 2017 at 23:36

Raymond Lin said:
I got in my hands a few bags of IKEA espresso beans, £2.50 each and it was buy one get one free.

I have never seen coffee beans so cheap....it might taste crap but I'll just sugar it up.

So that's £2.50 for a 250g bag, i.e. £10 a kilo?

Raymond Lin · 1 Jun 2017 at 23:43

gEd said:
So that's £2.50 for a 250g bag, i.e. £10 a kilo?

Well, £2.50 and b1g1f so £1.25 a bag. £5 a kilo.

gEd · 1 Jun 2017 at 23:56

(Sorry I missed the b1g1f) ok, that's cheap.....!

Egon · 2 Jun 2017 at 00:19

You tried it yet?

Raymond Lin · 2 Jun 2017 at 00:24

Egon said:
You tried it yet?

I've had it before, it's fine. It isn't fruity or have much character. It's your average chocolate type, dark kind of coffee. It's actually not that bad, even if I were buying £4 for it.

It's boring in terms of flavour but because I change and chop every bag, I don't mind it, as I will use something else in between each bag.

I also have these coming from Rave.

1x Costa Rica Finca Don Beto - 350g / Whole Bean

1x Mocha Java Blend - 250g / Whole Bean

1x Kenya Thiriku AA *Updated Roast* - 350g / Whole Bean

2x Colombian Suarez - 250g / Whole Bean

2x Brazil Sitio Tres Marias - 250g / Whole Bean

jpaul · 2 Jun 2017 at 08:42

gEd said:
Consider Spiller & Tait Signature Blend. It's roasted a little darker than most espresso beans I have had. Has a smokey tang to it.

Thanks - never heard of them before - must be the add block software working, need a coffee exclusion.
or a dedicated coffee roaster review site - like vivino, or other wine sites.

after looking at coffeforums comments was heading in the direction of coffeecompass 3*500g taster pack
with Brighton Lanes/Hill&Valley/Mahogany Roast Jampit Hit combo
.... but I am weak to introductory offers like Spill&Tait offer.

In the interim had even bought some ModernStandard Momentum espresso beans, also sold in JS. but (as they concurred by email)
they do not really do dark roasts - also annoys me as they do not put roast date on packages just BB 03/05/18 lol - maybe they were roasted 03/05/17

EDIT went for
Coffee Compass Espresso Selection
Please Select.....
Brighton Lanes, Hill & Valley, Mahogany Roast Jampit Hit
Please Select.....
Whole Bean (Un-Ground)
ESPSELECT 1 £ 23.00

TBH when I looked at S&T web-site thought they were a bit reclusive about saying where they were or whether a shop was attached
Spiller & Tait is the trading name for S&T Wholesale Limited, Units 1&2, South Farm Court, South Farm Road, Budleigh Salterton, Devon, EX9 7AY, UK

Egon · 2 Jun 2017 at 09:49

Raymond Lin said:
I've had it before, it's fine. It isn't fruity or have much character. It's your average chocolate type, dark kind of coffee. It's actually not that bad, even if I were buying £4 for it.

It's boring in terms of flavour but because I change and chop every bag, I don't mind it, as I will use something else in between each bag.

I also have these coming from Rave.

1x Costa Rica Finca Don Beto - 350g / Whole Bean

1x Mocha Java Blend - 250g / Whole Bean

1x Kenya Thiriku AA *Updated Roast* - 350g / Whole Bean

2x Colombian Suarez - 250g / Whole Bean

2x Brazil Sitio Tres Marias - 250g / Whole Bean

Had the Colombian Suarez last time from them, I thought it was really good. The Mocha Java wasn't for me though. Not tried the rest... That's a fair few bags, how long will that take you to get through?

Raymond Lin · 2 Jun 2017 at 12:41

Egon said:
Had the Colombian Suarez last time from them, I thought it was really good. The Mocha Java wasn't for me though. Not tried the rest... That's a fair few bags, how long will that take you to get through?

A couple of those are for a friend. I normally go through 250g a week. So it'll last be a couple of months tops.