Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

manveruppd said:
Good to see more people buying stove-tops! Mine's given me loyal service for 8 years, and I still break it out every now and then even though I mostly use the Aeropress these days. :)
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You prefer the Aeropress to the Mocka pot? I'm tempted to give one a try, but I already have 3 or 4 perfectly good methods of brewing coffee...:p
 
The Aeropress makes stronger coffee I've found. Near-espresso strength. But, for some reason (maybe I'm still not using the Aeropress well enough), the stove-top makes better-smelling coffee! I've tested with the same beans on both, and the stove-top brings out the aroma more.
I use the Aeropress more just because it's so much faster and convenient.
 
Does anyone know if its possible to create frothy milk to make a cappuccino along with the coffee from a moka pot without using steam? I've tried looking online but everything I seem to find talks about using the steam wand from an expensive coffee maker. If its not possible to make a drinkable cappuccino that way, anyone have any other serving suggestions using a moka pot?
 
You need the high pressure jets of steam for creating the foam. You can get frothing attachments that blow bubbles but that's not the same.
 
Steaming isn't just adding bubbles. It's also stretching the milk and heating it so that chemical changes make the milk naturally sweeter without adding sugar.
 
I've finally started to yield to the temptation of 'proper' coffee, getting to that time in life when you start paying extra for the finer things in life, and since I've been royally screwed for working over Christmas I think a nice reward is in order.

I'll be popping by Cheshire Oaks today before buying anything off the internet on the off chance of their being a bargain of any kind.

I'm half tempted to throw caution to the wind and go straight for a Gaggia Classis or Baby, but since I pretty much life on station or one of three locations ( home/girlfriends/Manchester when working ) I'm being pushed towards buying a Aeropress that I can use in station and home/Manchester and then a Stove Top for girlfriend.

First on the list if I don't find a stocked one anywhere will be a Iberital MC2 :D
 
Dist said:
Has anyone tried using an aerolatte to create frothed milk? Looking at a couple youtube videos it looks like it actully works and frothes the milk without steam.
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As others said, there's no real substitute for steam, but I've tried using little hand blenders like the one you linked to and got nice enough froth. The best way is to put the milk in a deep, narrow container so that the milk covers the blender head by a few fingers' width (something like an ibrik - a milk pan is too wide and the froth won't rise properly) and heat it gently over the hob while blending. Make sure the blender head is completely submerged in the milk, and if it has variable speed settings use the lower one. Slowly and gently move the blender about while it's running so the milk gets frothed uniformly. At first you'll think there's no effect but as the milk warms it'll start to rise. You'll know when to stop as froth has much less resistance than milk so your aerolatte will start making a higher-pitched noise. Switch it off immediately or all the froth will collapse and you'll undo all your work :) Then use a little spoon or something to help ladle it on top of your espresso.

Don't be tempted to be lazy and heat it in the microwave and blend it right in the mug the coffee's going into. It'll be nowhere near as good because you get much better froth if heat is being applied while air is being stirred into the coffee. It's the only way to approximate the effect of steam. And, anyway, if you froth it in the mug the froth will just collapse as the espresso is poured over it and you'll just get milk.

You'll never get proper, firm, sweet microfoam with my method, but with a bit of practice you'll still get better froth with an Aerolatte than most of the badly-trained, bored part-time baristas in high-street coffee chains get using their expensive equipment! :p
 
I've decided as an early xmas pressie to myself to buy a Rancilio Silvia, Rocky grinder and the draw thing they both sit on

i.e.



I'm selling my Gaggia Classic and MC2 grinder plus a few other things to convince myself it's not costing me anything. :D

Does anyone know of a good place to purchase from, there seem to be a lot of places with less than polished websites that I've no idea if they're reputable.

TIA
 
Mint_Sauce said:
Rancilio Silvia, Rocky grinder
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Oohherrr missus :D

I would have suggested Belle Barista but those two are about the only things they don't stock :( (they do commercial and domestic machines and grinders). My MACAP M4 arrived the next day from them!

I ordered my MCAL through CoffeeItalia.co.uk and they're a little slow (probably because my MCAL was built to order - 6 weeks!). If you're worrying about money - they're trustable (MCAL is currently listed at £720!). I would use their insurance because these things are breakable, so if the things is dented in transit you're covered too.
 
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Dr_Funkee said:
Great thread guys, such that I have registered to add a post....


DrF
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The above post is making me want a grinder after doing a little reading mainly in this thread the Iberital MC2 looks like a good option. Can anyone advise weather i should be going for the manual or the automatic & where to get one from?
 
Amps said:
The above post is making me want a grinder after doing a little reading mainly in this thread the Iberital MC2 looks like a good option. Can anyone advise weather i should be going for the manual or the automatic & where to get one from?
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I bought mine from Happy Donkey (http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/iberital-mc2-grinders.html) and it's best to go for the auto as with the manual, the grinds just sit in the doser going stale.
 
NickK said:
Oohherrr missus :D

I would have suggested Belle Barista but those two are about the only things they don't stock :( (they do commercial and domestic machines and grinders). My MACAP M4 arrived the next day from them!

I ordered my MCAL through CoffeeItalia.co.uk and they're a little slow (probably because my MCAL was built to order - 6 weeks!). If you're worrying about money - they're trustable (MCAL is currently listed at £720!). I would use their insurance because these things are breakable, so if the things is dented in transit you're covered too.
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What's an MCAL?? I hope it's not going to make me feel inadequate with my Rancilio before I've even got it :p
 
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