Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Mint_Sauce said:
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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The MCAL is the machine I've had for a year. It's a manual lever espresso machine, photo earlier in the thread as not to break the thread's building expectation for your photos :D
 
Randell Floyd said:
Well I purchased a Gaggia Classic and a MC2 grinder today......thanks Mint_Sauce :p
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:cool:

If you've not had an espresso machine before it may take a little getting used to. Sort of learning to ride a bike..

Just get some tinned beans to start with and go from there as you'll probably find you'll go through them whilst practicing. The get some proper beans to perfect it :D
 
NickK said:
The MCAL is the machine I've had for a year. It's a manual lever espresso machine, photo earlier in the thread as not to break the thread's building expectation for your photos :D
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Ah yes, I do know what the MCAL is, the high end manual coffee machine with the wings on top. No courier email today, probably won't see it until next week. :(
 
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Guys,

I tried making a mocha today but I'm struggling to get the chocolate part correct. Could anyone write up how they make the chocolate part?

I've heard that steaming chocolate milk works? I tried chocolate sauce but you can barely taste the chocolate in it

sid
 
I'm assuming it's milk with grated 70% dark chocolate in it but I've heard about the chocolate milk before too. Will add 70% choc to the shopping list..

I've never tried Mocha.
 
Yeah, I've never gotten it right either, and have also tried various methods. The chocolate tends to congeal and give the drink an awful texture. Don't like the ones I drink in coffee bars either. If anyone has any tips, please share!
 
My bad boy arrived this afternoon, not pulled a shot with it yet though.

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I'll get it properly set up and pull a shot then return with my findings.
 
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NickK said:
Hehe - steaming powah! :D :cool: *sits hitting F5 for the piccies* (you realise this is only putting more pressure on Siliconslave ;))
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Here's a half decent shot, beans are fresh and still dialing in the grind.

rancilio7.jpg


So far I've got the Rocky at grind setting 1! At 0 I can hear the grinders touching but any higher than 1 and even with hard tamping over 30lbs I get a shot far too quickly (sub 15 seconds).

Not sure what's up but at setting 1 on the grinder with hard tamping I can just about get a 20 second shot. I probably just need to keep playing around with it.

Also I had a minor disaster when I was pulling off the protective tape layer from the metal; I slipped and cut my finger really deep on the knuckle, ouuuuchaaaahhhh, I don't recommend that at all, it feels like stinging nettles now. :(
 
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Hmm is it a stepped grinder? ie does it lock at 0,1,2,... rather than being able to be locked between the settings?

Home-Barista forums may provide some ideas on adjusting the range.
 
Yeah, it is stepping unlike the Iberital. I've heard stepping isn't ideal but you would have thought they would make sure the settings were fine enough. It's more likely my technique and not being familiar with the machine. Ah well, just have to drink more coffee until it's sorted. :D
 
manveruppd said:
Yeah, I've never gotten it right either, and have also tried various methods. The chocolate tends to congeal and give the drink an awful texture. Don't like the ones I drink in coffee bars either. If anyone has any tips, please share!
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I think they just put couple of teaspoons of chocolate into the normal latte and cover it with cream don't they?
 
Sorry, don't mean to take over this thread but thought there's enough coffee geeks in here that no one would probably mind. :D

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rancilio9.jpg


Getting better shots now, not perfect and still haven't got the knack. Probably going to take me a few more bags before I start nailing it and every time.
 
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Mint_Sauce said:
Sorry, don't mean to take over this thread but thought there's enough coffee geeks in here that no one would probably mind. :D
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No problem with lovely lovely coffee pictures in the thread, now if you'd posted pics of your starbucks takeout... ;) :p

looks a great setup there, its a little worrying the Rocky's stepping is so large, i would have thought it would have enough adjustment at that price!

Overall how much of a benefit are you seeing from the upgrade?
 
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