Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

For that kind of money, most people here goes the semi-automatic route.

Bean from a grinder, espresso shot from a machine, then froth the milk manually. £1400 for an all in 1 bean to cup, with bits inside that is very hard to replace/repair at home is not the way i'd go.
 
Raymond Lin said:
For that kind of money, most people here goes the semi-automatic route.

Bean from a grinder, espresso shot from a machine, then froth the milk manually. £1400 for an all in 1 bean to cup, with bits inside that is very hard to replace/repair at home is not the way i'd go.
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I didn't even bother looking at Miele machines..
 
01001101 said:
That's good to know..

I feel like I've gone down the coffee machine rabbit hole.

Has anyone here had any experience with Siemens coffee machines? The EQ900 or 700?
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Completely insane to spend that sort of money on an overpriced machine from a company that has no pedigree in it.

For that money you could get a Lelit MaraX, a good grinder like a Niche Zero or Eureka Mignon, and have change for a few months worth of quality beans.....and have vastly better coffee. Both of those machines will last a lifetime.

Honestly if your experience so far is Lidl beans and you aren't at all interested in learning how to make it properly, then just get a filter (Hario V60/Chemex) and a grinder.
 
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mid_gen said:
Completely insane to spend that sort of money on an overpriced machine from a company that has no pedigree in it.

For that money you could get a Lelit MaraX, a good grinder like a Niche Zero or Eureka Mignon, and have change for a few months worth of quality beans.....and have vastly better coffee. Both of those machines will last a lifetime.

Honestly if your experience so far is Lidl beans and you aren't at all interested in learning how to make it properly, then just get a filter (Hario V60/Chemex) and a grinder.
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I like the idea of home automation. The Siemens EQ range come with WiFi as standard. Then I could incorporate it into my day as and when. Super useful.
 
01001101 said:
I like the idea of home automation. The Siemens EQ range come with WiFi as standard. Then I could incorporate it into my day as and when. Super useful.
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Seems like you're more interested in a new gadget than getting decent coffee. Just get whatever tech gizmo takes your fancy and go for it, it'll be naff compared to a decent setup but if you're happy with Lidl beans then enjoy it be happy you haven't gone down the rabbit hole :)
 
mid_gen said:
Seems like you're more interested in a new gadget than getting decent coffee. Just get whatever tech gizmo takes your fancy and go for it, it'll be naff compared to a decent setup but if you're happy with Lidl beans then enjoy it be happy you haven't gone down the rabbit hole :)
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That's not entirely true bud.. I've learnt a few things about how different coffee machines are able to produce different coffees down to grind and how they pass water through the puck.

That's why I asked if anyone here has tried using a Siemens coffee machine.
 
01001101 said:
That's not entirely true bud.. I've learnt a few things about how different coffee machines are able to produce different coffees down to grind and how they pass water through the puck.

That's why I asked if anyone here has tried using a Siemens coffee machine.
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These commodity machines churned out by the likes of Siemens and co will be all of a muchness....nice big margins in it for them. Cheapest internals they can find, and largely non-repairable to boot so it won't last.

It will grind beans, and put some hot water through it, and you'll get a drink that tastes like coffee out at the end.

For the price tag they're charging, you could get a vastly superior setup that'll make genuinely excellent coffee. But it rather depends if you care about drinking excellent coffee. If all you want is a wifi appliance that'll spit out coffee flavoured water, get the Siemens. If you want good coffee, you'll be advised to look at more specialist brands.
 
01001101 said:
That's not entirely true bud.. I've learnt a few things about how different coffee machines are able to produce different coffees down to grind and how they pass water through the puck.
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You've learned about how the gadget does stuff, have you tasted any?

I'm not being mean, I think everyone on this forum will recognise the gadget lust, just that it really sounds like you haven't gone far down the coffee rabbit hole. And that might be a good thing if what you're looking for is a more convenient caffeinated beverage to suit your lifestyle :)
 
If you want good coffee with minimum effort maybe look at a Sage Oracle, it will grind, tamp and steam the milk for you all you have to do is dial it in and adjust slightly when using it, you can even set it to come on and be ready for when you wake up.

I agree with the comments about a £5 V60 and a good grinder is a fantastic start with a bit more effort.

I have an Oracle myself after downgrading my equipment and when upgrading again i picked up an oracle at a fantastic price and it makes very good coffee as long as you put good coffee in but i know its only a temporary place filler until I can get a good dual boiler manual machine.
 
mid_gen said:
These commodity machines churned out by the likes of Siemens and co will be all of a muchness....nice big margins in it for them. Cheapest internals they can find, and largely non-repairable to boot so it won't last.

It will grind beans, and put some hot water through it, and you'll get a drink that tastes like coffee out at the end.

For the price tag they're charging, you could get a vastly superior setup that'll make genuinely excellent coffee. But it rather depends if you care about drinking excellent coffee. If all you want is a wifi appliance that'll spit out coffee flavoured water, get the Siemens. If you want good coffee, you'll be advised to look at more specialist brands.
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Fair enough.. That's why I'm asking the question as I'm a dumb **** when it comes down to it.. :cry:

But I'm here to learn, and would like to merge the best of both worlds (technology and coffee) if possible, as I only found out that there are WiFi enabled machines when I was looking at the Jura range by accident. I wasn't overly pleased that Jura tend to charge for the WiFi dongle, unless it comes as standard. But looking more closely at the Jura range again it seems like they get you to buy into the brand by getting the water filters and so on to match and I figured it would cost a small fortune to upkeep the machine by the end of the year. So that's why I asked if they were any good.. but apparently they aren't very reliable someone was saying.

I love coffee, I drink so much of the stuff and it would be great to get full flavour from it. Don't get me wrong dude. That's why I've been thinking how I can upgrade my current coffee situation by looking at replacements for the 2011 DeLonghi Magnifica.
 
LuckyBenski said:
You've learned about how the gadget does stuff, have you tasted any?

I'm not being mean, I think everyone on this forum will recognise the gadget lust, just that it really sounds like you haven't gone far down the coffee rabbit hole. And that might be a good thing if what you're looking for is a more convenient caffeinated beverage to suit your lifestyle :)
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Yeah probably. It's an open forum.. people can say what they like. I'm here to learn.
 
01001101 said:
Yeah probably. It's an open forum.. people can say what they like. I'm here to learn.
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I can wholeheartedly say, if you get a cheap pour over kit and a hand grinder, AND a quality espresso machine and grinder (manual or otherwise), you would still get value/enjoyment out of the pour over kit. For some of us it's a stepping stone while we learn about good coffee, for many it's still enjoyable to do things "by hand" once in a while e.g. weekends you can take the time, machine can serve you during work days.
 
01001101 said:
Yeah probably. It's an open forum.. people can say what they like. I'm here to learn.
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Be warned, once you've got some good fresh light roast single origin beans, and pulled 10 shots with slightly different grinds and shot times.....you can't un-taste a really good espresso.

The Nicaraguan beans I have at the moment, when pulled right and with milk, genuinely tastes like a fruit drink. It's mad the flavours you can get out of coffee once you go down the rabbit hole.
 
LuckyBenski said:
You've learned about how the gadget does stuff, have you tasted any?
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one problem is you can't try out a variety of machines/grinders ... it's not like cars ... for both the super-automatics and discrete espresso machines you have to read reviews, and analyse the engineering (too few pictures which show what is under the hood, but that's like cars too) and come to an informed opinion.. and there is the attractive design angle too.
not sure what shops with a good machine selection exist around UK - there is a lot of commoditization even amongst prosumer espresso machines -e61 head / brass boiler , std pumps and pressure regulation.
 
Ayahuasca said:
Pretty wild differences in the caffeine content at the major chains!

www.bbc.co.uk

Costa cappuccino has five times more caffeine than Starbucks'

Which? measured the caffeine in drinks at five big coffee chains and found "huge differences".
www.bbc.co.uk
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I always suspected Costa! It used to upset my stomach at uni despite me being pretty hardened to caffeine at that point. Even gave me the shakes! Have avoided it since then.

Edit: bit more detail now I've read that fully - I also heard someone discussing it on the radio this morning. Interesting how different drinks vary quite a lot by brand e.g. Pret's filter coffee has highest caffeine, and I used to drink that a lot.
 
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yes interesting - filter coffee usually has more caffeine vs espresso due to extraction style,
for espresso's made in pret/star probably need particular beans for superautomatic machines, is nero best tasting espressos though with more skilled staff and manual machines, I don't visit any of them regularly.

e:
01001101 said:
That's why I've been thinking how I can upgrade my current coffee situation
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any decision, or analysis paralysis


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new ode grinder might be interesting
 
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Always thought starbucks was a bit rubbish and I certainly rate Costa and Pret higher. I like my caffeine, although the vast majority of what I drink is made at home. Only use the chains when out or travelling.
 
Starbucks famously burn their beans for easier "flavour"/ to hide the fact they're cheap beans.

Nero treated a friend like crap for years, offering her promotions and then hiring managers in who she would train, and then be paid half their pay, etc. So I won't go in there.

Costa upsets my stomach so really just leaves Pret, who I find great when I want a fast cheap acceptable filter coffee :)

Any other time I'll typically look for somewhere that actually knows what they're doing!
 
LuckyBenski said:
Starbucks famously burn their beans for easier "flavour"/ to hide the fact they're cheap beans.

Nero treated a friend like crap for years, offering her promotions and then hiring managers in who she would train, and then be paid half their pay, etc. So I won't go in there.

Costa upsets my stomach so really just leaves Pret, who I find great when I want a fast cheap acceptable filter coffee :)

Any other time I'll typically look for somewhere that actually knows what they're doing!
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I go to Starbucks, even though they taste burn, at least I know what to expect and it becomes more like McDonalds', even in far away strange country, for 15mins of familiarity.

Plus, I love their mugs, i go in sometimes just to get a limited edition mugs.
 
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