Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

Flibster said:
I know it well. It's a bit of a marmite coffee - certainly interesting. Wouldn't be my choice for day to day drinking though.
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I don't think I will drink it to often. I like it after a meal. I had been asking about an Arabic style coffee and Steve recomended this one. It was exactly what I had in mind.

I like coffees that are a bit different so if anyone has any that are of a distinct nature please let me know

Anyone thinking about using them all I can say is. he knows how to give customer satisfaction.
 
Monsoon Malabar is definitely different :D
Australian Skyberry is also a bit of a different bean. Another Marmite one.

It's worth trying the same bean processed in different ways. A while ago Steve did a Sumatra Lingtong Wahana that was supplied in 3 packs, washed, pulped natural and natural. The difference was astonishing. He's only got the Washed and pulped natural left now iirc. Still a remarkable difference in them.

Steve is an absolutely great bloke too.
 
To all the Espresso machine (especially the Gaggia Calssic) owners out there, can you make the espresso then immediately start frothing the milk? Or is there a delay while the machine prepares the steam?

Is the reverse true as well? i.e If you prepare the milk first can you then immediately do the coffee?

If your machine can do this could you please list the make and model?

I have a Cuisinart EM200U and it doesn't do the above. After doing either operation it has to prepare for the next and the delay is about 40-60 seconds and its quite annoying now.
 
I have the Gaggia classic, and yes, i can make it immediately after. Well, not directly immediately. I would flip the steam switch off, and then turn on the pump without the basket in and let out the remaining steam, then put the basket in and then pull.

I don't wait, but i did let out the pressure built up in the steam first.
 
Just been getting through some Fazenda Santa Helena from Monmouth, bit pricier than normal at 32 quid a kilo roasted, but so smooth, definitely worth it :-)
 
Just thought I'd add that I went on the Basic Barista course at the London School of Coffee last week. It was very good and well worth going on. I learnt quite a lot about coffee, the perfect espresso and making perfect milk. Now I just need a new steam wand for my Gaggia so it froths a bit better (and some practice :)).
 
Got my coffee sorted for holiday, Old Brown Java, Double Roast Costa Rican and Indian Sethuraman. Can have a nice coffee from the сafetière in the mornings.
 
Siliconslave said:
yes :( I've still not managed to get there, going to be lucky to do so before next week - I'll have to arrange a 'meeting' in town.
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I've arranged a couple of things in London next week and will be spending most of my time in coffee shops - mainly Penny University. ;)

nin9abadga said:
not seen that coffee site before (hasbean) - looks awesome, that where you guys get all your beans from?
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We all seem to be Steve's bitches. :D

I buy most of my coffee from him, but I have bought Square Mile, Monmouth, Intelligentsia, Union Coffee and Origin Coffee from time to time.
 
Flibster said:
I've arranged a couple of things in London next week and will be spending most of my time in coffee shops - mainly Penny University. ;)



We all seem to be Steve's bitches. :D

I buy most of my coffee from him, but I have bought Square Mile, Monmouth, Intelligentsia, Union Coffee and Origin Coffee from time to time.
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Square Mile and Monmouth are both most excellent altho quite different. If I had to chose I think I'd go with the Square Mile.
 
DoubleCheese said:
Any views on the Dualit Esspressivo 79002? Its loads cheaper than the Gaggia,so very tempting.
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I have one - it has come quirks that you would need to be aware of.

1. It has a rather odd coffee filet trays/cups that have a sealed 'level' in it that brings the multiple holes in the bottom to one. The main problem with this is that it can clog with coffee grounds and stop working. I've read that it's there to produce a fake crema but I'm not sure how that is supposed to work.

2. You are advised to use filter paper in the coffee cup to prevent the above issue - it comes with about 50 of them but I ended up buying percolator filters and cutting my own. Works pretty well.

3. The steam wand is a single hole that I have yet to create a decent micro foam with. The wand is a tad short for making enough milk for one coffee without tipping the jug a bit.

4. Much like other coffee machines you will have to learn how fine to grind your beans (I typically get them to do it at around 3.5) and then how hard to tamp.

Overall tho I would recommend it - it makes brilliant coffee and the learning curve isn't too steep. It's a great looking machine too.
 
Wandering around high street stores I've noticed that a very retro type of coffeemaker is making a minor comeback: the vacuum pot! You could always get one from specialist coffee websites, but I've started seeing them in pretty run-of-the-mill household goods stores like Clas Ohlson, which is very surprising! I'm hugely tempted to get one, but my kitchen hob is electric which probably means I'd also need to buy a portable gas light or something so I could use it. Has anyone ever had coffee brewed in one of these pots?

EDIT: Went back into the store and read the instructions on the side of the box, and it seems the pot is fine on an electric stove, I was wrong! Now I really am curious to try it...


On another note, I'm on the lookout for a new grinder. Can anyone recommend an electric grinder to be used mostly for espresso (but also occasionally for French press) between £50-100?
 
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Vacpots are coming back again which is nice. They kind of went to the specialist area for a while. A lot of the one's I've seen recently have included a little paraffin burner with it so no need for it to be on a hob.

I really like vacpots. It's a different method of brewing altogether and is actually quite difficult to get right. I watched the World vacpot champion at the WBC for about 20 minutes absolutely staggered by how quick and smooth he was at it with 3 on the go at once.

Grinder - the Starbucks Barista burr grinder will do espresso, it's not great at it though - Ideally needs opening up and a slight mod done to it to make it better at it. For £105 you can get the Iberital MC2 auto form Happydonkey *unless you are making a lot of espresso - don't get the doser version - bugger to clean and coffee will go stale quickly*
 
Can anyone suggest a coffee grinder that will do Turkish coffee. I'm lead to believe that Turkish is one of the finest coffees you can get.

I can find one source on the net but there in the USA and would prefer something from this country.

Even if there's a recommendation and a mod.

Oh and isn't silly money LOL
 
Remember reading somewhere a few years ago that the Starbucks grinder is just a rebadged Dualit grinder sold for £20 more.
That Iberital looks rather like a beast, I think it'll be way too much for my requirements, but it does look sturdy so I'll read up on it :) Seems it's a blade grinder, last I read about the subject, it was burr grinders were the proverbial canine's genitals, and I was being advised to steer clear of blades. Has this changed, or is the Iberital the exception that proves the rule?
 
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