Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

BWT filter here. Have had my eye on a RO system for a while but can never quite bring myself to actually buy it, one can be had for £300ish.
 
I am lucky that the tap water in my house is really soft, I have never ever descaled my kettle, the are hardly any trace of build-up of calcium.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
That is lucky. I have to chip away the stalactites everytime I use my tap just so I can get the water out.
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I remember taking my Anova Sous Vide to my sister at Bournemouth, after 1 use it was covered in white powder...it was such a pain to descale that.

I use it at home and it has been shiny for a couple of years of use.
 
Just having a poke around used Gaggia Classics... Is 2015 the year to aim before? Or is there value in going older? I've seen some people suggesting mid-2000s is ideal.

Raymond Lin said:
I remember taking my Anova Sous Vide to my sister at Bournemouth, after 1 use it was covered in white powder...it was such a pain to descale that.

I use it at home and it has been shiny for a couple of years of use.
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Our water is like that too. White mist over the entire sink area after 2 days, shower is just a mess after 1 year of installation. I'm convinced it's even worse than our neighbours - I've always lived in South London and never had limescale this bad!
 
UnLuckyBenski said:
Just having a poke around used Gaggia Classics... Is 2015 the year to aim before? Or is there value in going older? I've seen some people suggesting mid-2000s is ideal.


Our water is like that too. White mist over the entire sink area after 2 days, shower is just a mess after 1 year of installation. I'm convinced it's even worse than our neighbours - I've always lived in South London and never had limescale this bad!
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Tbh, the only I would avoid is the one with the soft switches, the latest one looks good, it's as close as the pre 2010 one as you can get.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
BWT filter here. Have had my eye on a RO system for a while but can never quite bring myself to actually buy it, one can be had for £300ish.
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There is a filter housing on the water tap in the house I'm renting atm, but I haven't been able to figure out what make it is (there's no cartridge installed). I'll take a pic later and try to find out
 
Another part of the water filter debate is whether softer water improves coffee taste significantly ?
I use a britta for making tea, to avoid scum, which I never see from my espresso machine (maybe its all precipitated in the machine)
using a water filter you could be removing some of the tasty minerals extolled in recommended bottle waters, so, are cafes, really just using softeners to protect the machines ... my 4 monthly descaling is not so onerous.

best gaggia bible I'm aware of
jpaul said:
(good romanian site on gaggia versions which confirmed older one you got better https://www.espressoman.ro/espressor-gaggia-classic-2015-review/
- always good to see the engineering )
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I'm using a Calris Ultra filter on my plumbed machine. I tested the water before and after and it makes a massive difference, I didn't want to risk my machine failing. I'm not sure it it effects taste though, never tried it without the filter, my water is relatively hard.
 
My coffee always tastes the best right after descaling so I can only assume hard water is a detriment. I wouldn't be surprised at all to learn that amazing water would produce better coffee unfiltered though.

But regarding coffee shops and filters, I don't think they get a choice. The lease on those machines that can cost tens of thousands will have stipulations about filters and maintenance.
 
I'm using Ashbeck from Tesco as it's apparently the best in terms of softness and mineral content, and I don't want to scale up my machine.

The water is hard, but not ridiculously here, so this Brita tap filter should be fine.
 
mid_gen said:
I'm using Ashbeck from Tesco
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yes I need to get some , it would give a high water mark.
scanning a couple of threads I hadn't realised my Britta may not filter sufficiently, at 330mg/L, it may just deliver 180,
also an RO may make it below the 40-70 target, so you have to mix it ... now wondering how much the bars really monitor theirs. @mattyg ? - hopefully reopen soon.

https://coffeeforums.co.uk/topic/21229-coffee-machine-friendly-water/page/3/#comments
https://www.home-barista.com/water/scae-water-chart-is-available-online-t42359.html
https://b2b.coffeedesk.pl/blog/en/2019/12/23/water-the-main-ingredient-of-coffee-part-1/
 
jpaul said:
yes I need to get some , it would give a high water mark.
scanning a couple of threads I hadn't realised my Britta may not filter sufficiently, at 330mg/L, it may just deliver 180,
also an RO may make it below the 40-70 target, so you have to mix it ... now wondering how much the bars really monitor theirs. @mattyg ? - hopefully reopen soon.

https://coffeeforums.co.uk/topic/21229-coffee-machine-friendly-water/page/3/#comments
https://www.home-barista.com/water/scae-water-chart-is-available-online-t42359.html
https://b2b.coffeedesk.pl/blog/en/2019/12/23/water-the-main-ingredient-of-coffee-part-1/
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Would be nice to get back open soon.. But i think its too early yet..But hats another thread entirely

After spending the best part of £10k we defo have a filter. A pretty big one.. Although off hand I can't remember the code. Think it costs £100 + 'ish to swap out every 12 months or so. But if its going to extend the life of the machine its worth every penny
They come out every year to swap and service. And we do a proper clean of the machine every night. Which some sites don't
 
bible ? https://lamarzoccousa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Water-Specifications.pdf

49865454843_cf66001325_w_d.jpg
 
Nice :)

Just put an order in with Outpost Coffee in Nottingham, quite pricey but I really want to find a good decaf, and they are one of the few people doing a decaf espresso blend. Trying to get ahead of my consumption too so I can let it offgas properly.

Really enjoying the Stronghold blend from Origin at the moment, makes a lovely fragrant cappuccino. Top of my list for now for a bulk buy in future once I've tried a few more roasters.
 
I tried the MC2 at the coarse settings yesterday, as coarse as it goes for V60, it's not cutting it. Still too fine I think. Plus it takes an age to twist it from one end to the other.

p.s. I do need some new beans, still trying to bring myself to spend £10.50 on 350g from Square Mile...which is absurd, if i can spend £500 no a grinder but I have a problem spending £10 on a bag of coffee!
 
Raymond Lin said:
I tried the MC2 at the coarse settings yesterday, as coarse as it goes for V60, it's not cutting it. Still too fine I think. Plus it takes an age to twist it from one end to the other.

p.s. I do need some new beans, still trying to bring myself to spend £10.50 on 350g from Square Mile...which is absurd, if i can spend £500 no a grinder but I have a problem spending £10 on a bag of coffee!
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My local coffee shop who sell Square Mile at £11/350g aren't answering their messages.

I bought some decaf beans via a local cafe as they're doing deliveries... £9 for 225g. Wish I'd gone down to see if there was any Square Mile first, worse value and worse beans from this new place :(

Get the Square Mile, well worth it. Also stop feeding your grinder those cheap beans :P
 
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