Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

been messing with the iPhone camera and my bottomless PF - not a great shot, grind was a little tight so not getting the throughput but not bad tasting...

 
OK I've not used my Gaggia Paros for over 3 years due to not having it in my geographical location.

Would you say I should get it serviced? Or should I just make a few dozen test cups to see if it's ok still? I don't wanna waste money if I don't need to :)
 
Journey said:
OK I've not used my Gaggia Paros for over 3 years due to not having it in my geographical location.

Would you say I should get it serviced? Or should I just make a few dozen test cups to see if it's ok still? I don't wanna waste money if I don't need to :)
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Been sitting around for 3 years - get it serviced.
Grouphead seal, shower screen, various other seals and o-rings, descale, full on clean routine as well.

If it was put away with water still in it - mould and other nasty stuff may have built up.
 
I've been laying off the coffee recently due to a few sleepless nights and some sort of anxiety-related weirdness. I don't miss the "kick" at all which is a surprise, but I do very much miss the taste.
 
Flibster said:
Been sitting around for 3 years - get it serviced.
Grouphead seal, shower screen, various other seals and o-rings, descale, full on clean routine as well.

If it was put away with water still in it - mould and other nasty stuff may have built up.
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Can you recommed a good service agent? Or where I can get the parts and do it myself? As for being put away with water afaik it was drained but will be able to tell when it get's here.

Oh and thanks.
 
I bought a 500ml Motta jug from Hasbean. Now I have it, it looks as though it may be a little small to use with the steaming beast that is the Andreja (Don't have the Andreja yet so I cant try it). Any thoughts guys? I am planning on steaming milk for just the one small cap 90% of the time.
 
So today the wife and I picked up a De Longhi Icona from Currys for the bargain price of £79.99. This is our first foray into a "proper" coffee maker, having over the years used percolators, caffetieres and more recently a Dolce Gusto.

The DG wae fine and made an acceptable coffee but neither the wife nor I could reconcile making coffee with the milk pods they used - I assume its condensed milk of some kind and it smells yuk when having hot water forced through it.

So now we have an espresso maker, tomorrow we're going to go to Starbucks and buy some beans from them and get them to grind them and perhaps in the January sales we'll pick up our own grinder and have very fresh coffee as and when we want it.

:)

Any one else got a De Longhi and any comments?
 
E61 Grouphead said:
I bought a 500ml Motta jug from Hasbean. Now I have it, it looks as though it may be a little small to use with the steaming beast that is the Andreja (Don't have the Andreja yet so I cant try it). Any thoughts guys? I am planning on steaming milk for just the one small cap 90% of the time.
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Don't open the steam valve all the way then. ;) I use a 200ml jug most of the while for me. Even then it normally only has around 100ml in it - steams in seconds. Have to be very careful.

Moley said:
So now we have an espresso maker, tomorrow we're going to go to Starbucks and buy some beans from them and get them to grind them and perhaps in the January sales we'll pick up our own grinder and have very fresh coffee as and when we want it.

:)

Any one else got a De Longhi and any comments?
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Grinder - Iberital MC2 for £105, Starbucks Barista burr grinder for £70ish or if you fancy some exercise, Hario Skerton hand grinder for £40ish

Beans - Avoid the starbucks beans if at all possible. Stale and usually over roasted - try our normal suppliers of www.hasbean.co.uk or www.squaremilecoffee.com. Square mile only do whole beans, Hasbean will grind them for you.

p4radox said:
Can you recommend anything?
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http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/Ethiopia-Sidamo-Decaffeinated-CO2.html
Steve doesn't have much in the way of decaf at the moment. I kind of like the Sidamo Decaf he has, but it's not as good as some of the others he's had. Square Mile doesn't do a decaf. Intelligencia does a very nice blend called the Decaf Librarians, bu that has to come from the states.
 
What would people say are the decent budget machines worth looking at? I'm thinking about treating myself to an early christmas present, i've got a grinder that I get along well with but i'd quite like to make the step up from using a drip filter or press.

I know a couple of years back the Gaggia Classic was fairly cheap and considered to be a good all round machine for the money, what is there in the way of equivalents today?

If it comes with a milk steamer/frother that'd be nice but obviously such things may be above my budget.

I'd prefer to spend £150 or so but I could probably push myself to £200 if there was something properly worth it for that money.
 
After suggestions for an espresso machine.
Got around £270 to spend on one.
Only real requirement is that I can get a bottomless portafilter for it.
So fire away folks.
 
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