Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Grimley · 13 May 2020 at 18:42

the-evaluator said:
Ah, I didn't realise they'd been taken over. I'm not a huge fan of the Department of Coffee & Social Affairs brand but I didn't notice any changes of note last time I was at TAP.

You can tell because they sell the same bags of coffee beans. I found that out during one of my London 'coffee shop' days out a while back.

Siliconslave · 14 May 2020 at 16:38

Grimley said:
You can tell because they sell the same bags of coffee beans. I found that out during one of my London 'coffee shop' days out a while back.

Man i miss London coffee shop days out interspersed with a 'meeting' or two so its expense-able

Grimley · 14 May 2020 at 16:54

/\/\/\ Agreed. Last one was January during Chinese new year, I would expect that to be my only London coffee shop 'day trip' this year sadly.

Raymond Lin · 14 May 2020 at 19:04

Siliconslave said:
Man i miss London coffee shop days out interspersed with a 'meeting' or two so its expense-able

There i was, always pick Starbucks as a meeting spot for client meets...

Flibster · 19 May 2020 at 01:33

Grimley said:
/\/\ TAP is now part of the Department of Coffee & Social Affairs 'mini chain' now. Got took over about a year-18 months ago. This particular 'mini chain' has expanded rather quietly in london over that space of time, I think it's mainly when a shop has cashflow or some other financial trouble, or the previous owners have had enough & want to sell up & that's where Dept. of coffee steps in. They have a few coffee shops trading under different names in Bristol as well. Trouble is, when that happens, the service & quality start to slide, I don't like that when it happens.

the-evaluator said:
Ah, I didn't realise they'd been taken over. I'm not a huge fan of the Department of Coffee & Social Affairs brand but I didn't notice any changes of note last time I was at TAP.

Prufrock is also at least part owned by Square Mile as well.

RobTi · 19 May 2020 at 13:53

Can I ask do we still use tampers as I see a lot of talk about levellers?
Thanks

GiraffePencils · 19 May 2020 at 13:57

I prefer a leveller, but i'm still a beginner and have both

Raymond Lin · 19 May 2020 at 14:07

RobTi said:
Can I ask do we still use tampers as I see a lot of talk about levellers?
Thanks

I have both, one to get it level then I tamp it.

RobTi · 19 May 2020 at 14:09

Raymond Lin said:
I have both, one to get it level then I tamp it.

I only use a tamper but looking at a lot of videos they appear to have dropped this and give it a light level instead, so just wondered if something had changed with technique

GiraffePencils · 19 May 2020 at 14:10

Raymond Lin said:
I have both, one to get it level then I tamp it.

I often find the tamp ruins the nice puck I leveled
but, very well could be my tamping

GiraffePencils · 19 May 2020 at 14:10

RobTi said:
I only use a tamper but looking at a lot of videos they appear to have dropped this and give it a light level instead, so just wondered if something had changed with technique

my leveller's got quite the weight behind it, so it compacts nicely

RobTi · 19 May 2020 at 14:12

GiraffePencils said:
my leveller's got quite the weight behind it, so it compacts nicely

So you dropped the tamper method

Raymond Lin · 19 May 2020 at 14:21

My leveller is heavy too but I don’t think it matters if you set it right and you level it so the rim catches the side. You are essentially tamping with the height set to the right depth.

Siliconslave · 19 May 2020 at 14:41

Until James Hoffman tells me otherwise i'm sticking with my tamper

I have however ordered a blind tumbler from china to give some WDT a go

RobTi · 19 May 2020 at 14:51

Thanks will keep on with the tamper till I can taste the difference somewhere

Grimley · 19 May 2020 at 15:11

Flibster said:
Prufrock is also at least part owned by Square Mile as well.

I knew that. One thing I'm not certain about is whether James Hoffman was around to help Gwilym Davies start up Prufrock all those years ago, as you well know they are both former WBC's. If he did, then Prufrock's reputation precedes itself! I paid my 1st visit back in July 2014, it still sets the standard in London as far as I'm concerned. My last visit was late November last year, there's some pretty stiff competition in Leather Lane now.

jpaul · 19 May 2020 at 15:35

dam someone elese already thought of it
but imagine the spectacle in your kitchen
VDT Vibration Distribution Tool

edit: and if you live south of the equator ?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsb1_PEO1DM

Raymond Lin · 19 May 2020 at 15:38

Ah great, more gadget to get

Belloni · 19 May 2020 at 22:09

Treated myself to the De'longhi Dedica bundle last weekend, now drinking too much coffee! Need to get better at my measurements of coffee as i'm not being very consistent each time. Do you all weigh it each time?

Raymond Lin · 19 May 2020 at 22:13

Belloni said:
Treated myself to the De'longhi Dedica bundle last weekend, now drinking too much coffee! Need to get better at my measurements of coffee as i'm not being very consistent each time. Do you all weigh it each time?

You should weight it each time, if you want consistency.

In theory, if you dial in the grind setting to get the desire weight, if you don't change your beans then you should get something very close to that dialed in weight for the duration of the beans left in the hopper. Give or take small minor differences from humidity changes.