Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

[rG-tom]

Well I was all jealous until I read that it has an app. That's a shame One thing I really like about espresso machines is the manual engineering of it, and why I'll never touch anything like the Decent.

The app just allows you to change settings you'd otherwise probably leave entirely alone. Certainly not a requirement to use it!

Setting on/off schedules with it is excellent though.

 

[DarkShadow]

@rG-tom how are you getting on with the Atom?

I've just picked up an Olympus 75 and ECM M Rotary and I've been having far too much fun experimenting with lots of diff co-ferments. I've now also got the Profitec 600 and Oracle and should really think about moving a few of these on as they're dotted in various places around the house. Rotary machine are just a really refined experience.

The Eureka is just humongous

The Oddy Holy **** bean was actually phenomenal.

 

[rG-tom]

@rG-tom how are you getting on with the Atom?

I've just picked up an Olympus 75 Rotary machine are just a really refined experience.

The Eureka is just humongous

The atom is very good, still can't get over how quick it is, just over 3 seconds for 18g is insanely quick.

I considered the Olympus, but the atom has the same burrs, is plenty powerful and much more appropriate for a home set up with the height restriction I have. Especially next to the Micra it would look silly

Rotary pumps really are a nice experience aren't they!

 

[GTanny]

Anyone else get the decaf project for next week from Hoffman?

Ordered and sat next to my grinder ready for tomorrow, not sure if ill be joining live though as I'm currently on number 4 out of 5 night shifts.

planning to gradually move over to only decaf next year so will be interesting if there is much of a difference.

 

[Craterloads]

Weird question but is a manure like smell / taste a flavour profile of some beans?

Uganda Rwenzori Kisinga Natural Medium Roast - Fruity & Smooth | Redber Coffee

Discover Uganda Rwenzori Kisinga Natural Medium Roast coffee with bright notes of plum, peach, chocolate, and cherries. Enjoy its smooth, syrupy body and fragrant aroma. Perfect for pour-over, Chemex, and filter brews. Order now from Redber Coffee and get free shipping over £40 and 10% off your...

www.redber.co.uk

Started with their Christmas blend which was really good.

And now I’ve just started on this Ugandan bag i randomly ordered along with the Christmas blend, and it is quite gross.

Very perfumey and has like a manure like taste and smell. I can still taste it hours later with every burp And it isn’t pleasant. Had family over yesterday and made them all some too and nobody liked it.

I don’t think I screwed up anywhere shot was timed 2-1 and a nice crema, looked good.

Just wondering if that’s normal for lighter roasts from that part of the world. Mainly so can avoid that sort of profile in the future!

 

[Alex_L]

Weird question but is a manure like smell / taste a flavour profile of some beans?

Uganda Rwenzori Kisinga Natural Medium Roast - Fruity & Smooth | Redber Coffee

Discover Uganda Rwenzori Kisinga Natural Medium Roast coffee with bright notes of plum, peach, chocolate, and cherries. Enjoy its smooth, syrupy body and fragrant aroma. Perfect for pour-over, Chemex, and filter brews. Order now from Redber Coffee and get free shipping over £40 and 10% off your...

www.redber.co.uk

Started with their Christmas blend which was really good.

And now I’ve just started on this Ugandan bag i randomly ordered along with the Christmas blend, and it is quite gross.

Very perfumey and has like a manure like taste and smell. I can still taste it hours later with every burp And it isn’t pleasant. Had family over yesterday and made them all some too and nobody liked it.

I don’t think I screwed up anywhere shot was timed 2-1 and a nice crema, looked good.

Just wondering if that’s normal for lighter roasts from that part of the world. Mainly so can avoid that sort of profile in the future!

That’s a natural processed coffee so they tend to have quite distinct flavours and particularly fruity notes so probably watch out for natural processed coffees in future.

 

[DarkShadow]

The atom is very good, still can't get over how quick it is, just over 3 seconds for 18g is insanely quick.

I considered the Olympus, but the atom has the same burrs, is plenty powerful and much more appropriate for a home set up with the height restriction I have. Especially next to the Micra it would look silly

Rotary pumps really are a nice experience aren't they!

They are indeed! It's more the footprint I'd like to reduce but not quite at the price difference.

Yesterday we had 5 hour chill session trying some of the finest experimental funk from around the world. I did not think coffee could reach these heights in taste, what an experience! Although, I was the only one on espresso, filter game was pretty hard with the other 3.

The water experiments were pretty interesting with Apex.

 

[rG-tom]

They are indeed! It's more the footprint I'd like to reduce but not quite at the price difference.

Yesterday we had 5 hour chill session trying some of the finest experimental funk from around the world. I did not think coffee could reach these heights in taste, what an experience! Although, I was the only one on espresso, filter game was pretty hard with the other 3.

The water experiments were pretty interesting with Apex.

Wow, you're definitely more committed than me....

Love that the Sage knockbox is still on duty Sage is the gateway drug for most people it seems

 

[jpaul]

The water experiments were pretty interesting with Apex.

you have a separate ro filter with re-mineralisation hidden somewhere ..

had crossed my mind to ask what water the new parents of Marzcco micras were using

 

[f666]

Black cats jingle beans Christmas blend today. Boozy syrupy nice

 

[rG-tom]

you have a separate ro filter with re-mineralisation hidden somewhere ..

had crossed my mind to ask what water the new parents of Marzcco micras were using

Waitrose Lockhills of course

 

[Irish_Tom]

So, @Dave85, @GTanny, @NoNameNoNumber, how did you all get on with the Decaf Project?

I found it really interesting, I didn’t think there would be that much difference in flavour but it was really noticeable.

I found the CO2 was my least favourite - it had a woody/grassy taste with very little acidity.

The EA was nothing by acidity, almost more fruity than the caffeinated beans but without some of the other flavour elements.

The Swiss Water seemed to be the most balanced but it had lost a little something - it wasn’t quite as fruity as the caffeinated beans but wasn’t overly acidic like the EA. I guess you can’t expect to go through a process like decaffeination and not lose something, but SW seemed to be the closest to the caffeinated beans.

I only tried one roaster (Recent Beans in Wakefield) so it would be cool to try another roaster and see how that impacts the flavour.

I’d also like to try a different variety with the various processes - like, does CO2 make everything woody or was it particularly noticeable with a Colombian bean?

James said in the live stream that he always assumed EA decafs come out fruity, so maybe that’s not the process to go for with varieties that are particularly fruity to begin with.

I’m going see if I can find some more Swiss Water decafs as that seems to be my favourite from this test.

What was your experience?

 

[Craterloads]

Any recommendations for beans for milk based drinks? Usually like darker roasts / chocolatey flavour profiles but willing to experiment.

 

[Musty Pie]

Personally a fan of Raves signature blend for my milk drinks - which is most of them.

 

[Wavywavylonggrass]

Any recommendations for beans for milk based drinks? Usually like darker roasts / chocolatey flavour profiles but willing to experiment.

4 of my last 6 orders have been this one from my local roaster Casa Espresso in West Yorkshire:

Brazil Baixa Mogiana - Natural - Casa Espresso

Buy Brazil Pedra Branca coffee from Casa Espresso online. 250g or 1kg bags available. Free delivery over £30.

casaespresso.co.uk

Really nice in a cortado.

 

[GTanny]

So, @Dave85, @GTanny, @NoNameNoNumber, how did you all get on with the Decaf Project?

I found it really interesting, I didn’t think there would be that much difference in flavour but it was really noticeable.

I found the CO2 was my least favourite - it had a woody/grassy taste with very little acidity.

The EA was nothing by acidity, almost more fruity than the caffeinated beans but without some of the other flavour elements.

The Swiss Water seemed to be the most balanced but it had lost a little something - it wasn’t quite as fruity as the caffeinated beans but wasn’t overly acidic like the EA. I guess you can’t expect to go through a process like decaffeination and not lose something, but SW seemed to be the closest to the caffeinated beans.

I only tried one roaster (Recent Beans in Wakefield) so it would be cool to try another roaster and see how that impacts the flavour.

I’d also like to try a different variety with the various processes - like, does CO2 make everything woody or was it particularly noticeable with a Colombian bean?

James said in the live stream that he always assumed EA decafs come out fruity, so maybe that’s not the process to go for with varieties that are particularly fruity to begin with.

I’m going see if I can find some more Swiss Water decafs as that seems to be my favourite from this test.

What was your experience?

Sorry for the slow reply, not very active, nice to see some other feedback before James releases some.

I found the EA was my favourite with the CO2 close behind, the Swiss water was a clear loser for me, had a lot of body but a very muddy aftertaste to it, not unpleasant but I prefer fruity sweet notes.

I got my beans from Square Mile and after the stream I'm slightly disappointed I didn't get a set from another roaster too to compare the roasts.

The beans from Square Mile came with a Third wave water sachet so I added that to some distilled water so I would also be interested to try see what it would be vs normal filter water I use.

I'm planning to move over to decaf early in the new year once I've finished my current bag of beans and although there was a notable difference from the caffeinated beans I was surprised how good all of the decaf was.

I do have some left that I would like to try as an espresso but I don't think I would have enough of each bean to dial in correctly to make it a fair test.

 

[Stellios]

They are indeed! It's more the footprint I'd like to reduce but not quite at the price difference.

Yesterday we had 5 hour chill session trying some of the finest experimental funk from around the world. I did not think coffee could reach these heights in taste, what an experience! Although, I was the only one on espresso, filter game was pretty hard with the other 3.

The water experiments were pretty interesting with Apex.

How are you finding the xBloom? I like pourover coffees but can never be bothered with the process and always just end up using the aeropress for simplicity. I've watched quite a few videos on it but Lance H has bias as he helped develop it, Hoffman had mixed opinions and I don't trust DaddyGotCooffee or whatever he's called as he seems to like everything.

 

[DarkShadow]

How are you finding the xBloom? I like pourover coffees but can never be bothered with the process and always just end up using the aeropress for simplicity. I've watched quite a few videos on it but Lance H has bias as he helped develop it, Hoffman had mixed opinions and I don't trust DaddyGotCooffee or whatever he's called as he seems to like everything.

If you're mad about filter and enjoying playing with devices, it's a worthwhile addition but most likely you already have a kettle and grinder. Just grab Orea/Cafec and brew. I recommend grabbing a used Sage Precision brewer (can be had for £50-70) if you like making a decent quantity as the carafe keeps it warm for hours and that's super simple.

 

[Kainz]

Folks, got a question about beans. End of November I bought from Rave, 2x 250g Monsoon Malabar and 2x 250g Chatswood Blend as I had £15 off coupons.

I may have mentioned somewhere here that my first bag of Monsoon had anything but whole beans and a ton of 'nibblets' and chaff. Normally when I order whole beans I get just that. I opened my 2nd bag of Monsoon moments ago and decanted it to my airtight storage tin. I see roughly the same thing regarding the beans. My workflow is a mess because of these little bits during the measuring+grind stage and I am tempted to complain to Rave though I don't really use them anymore.

Are these pics worth whinging about?

New item by Darren R

photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Darren R

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Grimley]

You may have the last batch of one sack of green beans that they roasted or the last of a roast that they have done. If it was for filter I wouldn't bother, for espresso a different matter. It's worth an email complaining, you may get a freebie out of it.