Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

[mid_gen]

Thinking about moving from our Sage Barista Express to a better machine with a standalone grinder.

What would the experts in this thread recommend as a reasonable upgrade? Something around the £1-1.5k mark

Lelit Mara X and a Eureka Mignon of some variety would be my choice.

I have the non-X Mara and a pair of Mignon grinders. Can't fault any of it.

The pics on this thread are reminding me I need to get a descale done.....I have the descaler, just need to source some rubber tubing.

 

[Siliconslave]

For around that mark, ish:

Grinder around £400 - the mignon Specialita is a decent espresso grinder (there are other options in the range to increase or decrease the price), you can go up-to the niche (£500) or sideways to the DF64 depending on your preference.
Espresso machine around £1200 - the ECM Classika (single boiler - a friends just got one and seems very capable but not sure about steaming), MaraX ('intelligent heat exchanger' - very happy with it personally and option of adding flow control relatively cheaply), or Profitec Pro 400 (don't know much about this, but well respected brand) - the Lelit Elizabeth is also worth a look for £1150 if you want a dual boiler (better for temp stability and steam, but bulky)

 

[Cadder]

Thanks for the suggestions!

How does the Sage Smart Grinder Pro compare to the Mignon? I'm struggling to get my Barista Express grinder to grind fine enough for a decent shot (only on some beans). I have seen the Sage grinder on sale. If it is any good it might be a short term option while I look at upgrading the whole coffee station.

 

[GTanny]

Thanks for the suggestions!

How does the Sage Smart Grinder Pro compare to the Mignon? I'm struggling to get my Barista Express grinder to grind fine enough for a decent shot (only on some beans). I have seen the Sage grinder on sale. If it is any good it might be a short term option while I look at upgrading the whole coffee station.

I have both and the Mignon is a significantly better grinder, I have a specialista but from what i gather they are very similar.

The sage can make good espresso but the Mignon blows it out the water, I use the sage for pour over and it is very good for that, although I haven't tried adjusting the mignon so see if there is much difference at a larger grind.

 

[Siliconslave]

the Sage is well designed, but defiantly built to be disposable and on a budget where as the mignons feel like you could throw it off a large building and it'd just dent the pavement. The burrs and burr carrier on the mignon are very solid and with a few bits of foil you can easily align them (if its even needed) - link. The Sage uses plastic burr carriers which are harder to adjust and keep in alignment generally.

 

[jpaul]

Doesn't seem that dualit continued reselling mignion specialista - that was a good deal.

never done the burr parallel alignment test on rancilio audrey - always had very slight play as top level burr carrier screws in, and had added ptfe tape to remove that, but adjustmednt is stiffer.

 

[robj20]

I'm seriously thinking of going back to a Nespresso machine from my been to cup.

Mainly because I just don't drink as much anymore and the wife almost none.
I might have 2 or 3 a week now at most.

Unless there is some great way of keeping beans fresh. For what could be months.

I could also buy in 250g bags one at a time but then it's probably as cheap to have pod machine.

 

[LuckyBenski]

I'm seriously thinking of going back to a Nespresso machine from my been to cup.

Mainly because I just don't drink as much anymore and the wife almost none.
I might have 2 or 3 a week now at most.

Unless there is some great way of keeping beans fresh. For what could be months.

I could also buy in 250g bags one at a time but then it's probably as cheap to have pod machine.

You can freeze beans once, it's just not good to keep opening and closing the container as moisture gets in. So freeze them in portioned containers and take one out per week/fortnight?

 

[Buckster]

Just picked up a Sage Duo Pro and Sage Grinder Pro for a very low price and just arrived today

Extra bonus is that the Duo Pro seems to have been updated as the box says extraction at 9 bar so maybe they have adjusted the pressure down like they did with some of their other models like the Barista Express

 

[Dave85]

Hi,

Due to health issue I need to cut back on Caffeine but still want to enjoy making my espresso does anyone have any recommended beans to buy online that are decaff or low along the lines of flavour profile of beans from Cuba / Blue mountain that are my usual. Medium roast with significant chocolate notes less fruit.

 

[Cadder]

Hi,

Due to health issue I need to cut back on Caffeine but still want to enjoy making my espresso does anyone have any recommended beans to buy online that are decaff or low along the lines of flavour profile of beans from Cuba / Blue mountain that are my usual. Medium roast with significant chocolate notes less fruit.

Our decaf of choice is this one - https://ravecoffee.co.uk/products/swiss-water-decaf-no-11

I'm about to buy a bag of the above along with a bag of these - https://ravecoffee.co.uk/products/colombia-el-carmen-sugarcane-decaf-no-77

I can't compare them to the beans you have tried but I have found the SWD to be well-balanced and chocolatey. We've had decaf-hater guests that were hugely impressed by it too, after the usual protests and "it's not real coffee" comments . I found the Swiss Water process really interesting too.

 

[Dave85]

Excellent will take a look at that thanks

 

[JustBen]

Hey guys, I currently have a sage baminbo (with auto frother) and the sage grinder Pro. I use it but the Mrs won't and neither will the family as they won't mess with the prep side of it, albeit there isn't much.
I was thinking of chucking the machine and grinder on ebay and getting somerhing usable by all.
I don't think I want a fully auto press the button and give me a drink as I suspect even when you get over the 1k mark they're mostly poor quality. Looking at what's out there the only thing that looks to meet the need is the sage oracle, either normal or touch but for that I'd have to go used. The sage impress looks good just lacks the auto milk which is odd considering who it's marketed at.
Is there anything else I should consider? So to clarify - needs auto milk frofing, needs auto tamp (no wdt tool or manual pressing required) and make a decent cup.
Supoose it needs an integrated grinder unless you can get a grinder a way of knowing how much pressure you're putting into tamp and no wdt needed.

My sgp doesn't do a great job as you it can come out a bit clumpy

Finally I accept I'm expecting greatness without the effort haha

 

[Dave85]

I'm pretty sure you just described the EXACT people the Oraclle touch is for. It's a fantastic machine for this exact purpose just pull out the portafilter already tamped and boom decent espresso along with the auto frother for milk its perfect. The other option is a used barista touch (i have one of these) can be had for around 400 to 500 and then get a spring loaded tamp. A little bit more work but even a total novice could do it.

 

[JustBen]

I'm pretty sure you just described the EXACT people the Oraclle touch is for. It's a fantastic machine for this exact purpose just pull out the portafilter already tamped and boom decent espresso along with the auto frother for milk its perfect. The other option is a used barista touch (i have one of these) can be had for around 400 to 500 and then get a spring loaded tamp. A little bit more work but even a total novice could do it.

I was looking at the barista touch as it was a fair bit cheaper, i've not really looked into spring loaded tamps. would you still need to bother messing with the wdt tools? Dual boiler would be nice for making multiple drinks at once. Do you happen to know if the issue with scaling is the same for the oracle and the barista?

 

[Dave85]

I have never bothered with a WDT tool as don't get much clumping from the built in grinder as I user a funnel so the portafilter sits further down so makes it even less fuss to use and less mess. Spring loaded tamps are decent the one I use is called the NORMCORE / SPRING LOADED TAMPER (UPGRADED) V4 53.3mm. I have had no scaling issues and mine has done over 2500 shots. I use filtered water along with a filter in the water tank you buy from Sage / 3rd party. I find the best workflow for the touch and other non dual boiler machines for multiple drinks is do your milk first then shots I use a 640ml pitcher.

 

[nantucket66]

I've got a Sage Dual Boiler and a Eureka Mignon. I've had the DB for 2 years and I got the Mignon in 2017 when I got my first Sage (Duo Pro).

I fancy upgrading the grinder, is the Eureka Atom 75 overkill for a dual boiler - this will likely get upgraded at some point but not yet, but I'd prefer to do the grinder first as it's older and a bit tired.

2 double espresso and 2 flat whites per day typically, I single dose.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

[Cadder]

I was kindly gifted a box containing 4 small bags of different beans from a roaster somewhere down south. They were - seasonal blend, Indonesia, Peru and a Columbian decaf. Roast date 28/03.

All four beans, despite being ground to the finest possible setting on my Sage BE, extract similar to supermarket beans or some I've had in the cupboard for a long time. It's splashy, low pressure and there is little to no crema.

I never have that problem with my fresh Rave beans and I have ordered a variety of their offerings. The only time a Rave bean has extracted like this was some very old decaf beans (I bought a kilo but didn't get through it very fast).

Of course I understand the BE grinder isn't the best, however if I am getting results from Rave beans and not the 4 from the other roaster, there must be something up with the beans rather than my setup.

Curious to know what others would conclude about a bean if it extracts fast, messy, low pressure and barely any crema. Almost like flat cola is being pushed through.

 

[haaammit]

I find the older the bean the worse and faster the extraction. I guess as the oils and moisture evaporates, they grinds become drier so easier to pass the water through.

 

[Cadder]

That's what I'm thinking. If the roast date is only a few weeks ago though, then either it's the wrong date or something is up with the 4 different beans.