Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

[Koalaboy]

Well, my Clever Coffee Dripper arrived this morning from CoffeeHit, and an Aeropress is on the way from Hasbean (along with a few packs of coffee) so the adventure is beginning in earnest.

Unfortunately, this evening is one of the busiest this week so I'm not sure if I'll get a chance to try anything out. Typical

 

[davetherave2]

Well my Chemex arrived today and for a first attempt I don't think it was too bad all things considered.

I found that the tastes came out so well on the malawi viper ghesia and the fruity undertones and creamy texture just came out in spades.

Again I had this black and the clean taste was streets ahead of the french press.

I think my grind was a little too big so will reduce that down a little as I felt the fruity flavours didn't quite make it all the way through but as I said for a first effort I am really pleased with myself.

I have another pack of the Ethiopian Ogawa so I am hoping the blueburry flavours will sing through this brew method as it was flavour I really enjoyed through the french press.

After sending a note to hasbean I decided to stick with paper filters partly down to cost, as well as Steve(or who ever responds to their notes system) saying it was better overall compared to the metal filter due to some of the particals escaping and falling into the brew another bonus it means less cleaning up after a cup of coffee as well.

Koalaboy - You will have to let me know how you get on with the aeropress as it's a method I was interested in and may try at some point in the future.

 

[Koalaboy]

Koalaboy - You will have to let me know how you get on with the aeropress as it's a method I was interested in and may try at some point in the future.

Will do - I'm hoping it should be fairly foolproof considering how well thought of it is just about everywhere, but I'll be doing my best to document how I get on with each of the methods compared to what I've tried before.

It's interesting to read your thoughts on the Chemex as well, as that's one I was considering before going for the Clever Coffee Dripper and may well invest in, in the future.

 

[Flibster]

Big coffee week for many then.

 

[Hamster]

The fabric filter is preferred by many people. I'm not one of them. For home use, the fabric is fine as you're not going to have to make many siphons rapidly after each other as you would in a retail environment, but I can just do without the hassle.

Must be kept wet, even when not in use *my fabric filters are stored in a ziploc bag, in filtered water, in the fridge*, the requirement to clean them after use, to thoroughly clean them you use oxyclean and boiling water - it's purely the fuss they need to work effectively.

The paper filters and adaptor cost £8-10 depending on where you get it from - the Hario one is the one I use. It comes with 50 paper filters so it's pretty reasonable. I picked mine up in London one day when I was doing a coffee day.

I pre-warm the lower bowl anyway just by running the hot tap into it a couple of times *it's a good habit to have no matter what the brew method* I then put in a little water from the kettle to rinse it out as hot tap water is not good. Need to ensure that it's dry on the outside before adding the flame onto it otherwise it can crack.

I also run a good litre of filtered water through the top section after putting the filter assembly in, just to get rid of the paper taste. This bit will be warmed when it's on the bottom bit so no need to warm it before hand.

Great stuff. I'll try the reusable filter first as I'm not going to be making one after another; not yet anyway!!

Thanks for the tips on the paper rinsing and preparing the syphon. I'll probably have more of an idea of what you mean once it arrives and I take it for a test run. Prepare yourself for more questions!!!

Big coffee week for many then.

Definitely!! And it's all your fault

I was going to buy the Chemex too this week but the good news is that hasbean is out of stock of the 3-6 wood/leather for 6 weeks so it will give me the chance to play with the syphon properly.

 

[davetherave2]

Big coffee week for many then.

Yes it has been and a happy week so far it has been too.

 

[Flibster]

Definitely!! And it's all your fault

Me?

 

[davetherave2]

Quick question.

I am loving the chemex and have been following the various brew guides from Has Beans and some others from brewmethods but they all seem to work on the premise that you are only using 500ml of water. Now for this they are advising 2.5 - 3 minutes for brew time but if I scale this up to 1 litre should I still be looking at 2.5-3 minutes brew time or should this also be doubled up to 5 - 6 minutes.

I understand that I will be using more beans approx 60g rather than the 30g I currently use.

 

[Koalaboy]

I would have thought that so long as the water/coffee ratio stays the same, the brew time should generally stay the same, with perhaps slight alteration due to the quantity of water affecting heat loss ?

The best answer, of course, is try all ideas and see which you prefer

 

[Flibster]

It'll remain the same. As long as the water:coffee ratio in the top of the chemex remains the same the water flow through the grounds will be the same.

 

[Flibster]

Please update us on how this works out At £20 delivered I'd probably give them both a punt (the burner and syphon). I'll hold out on the syphon til hear back (if it is even suitable for starters)... I know I could use the meths for a while but it'd be such a shame to dirty the syphon when shortly after I'd potentially be using the butane burner anyway!

Found the same burner from somewhere else for substantially less. So I've ordered one of the butane burners now. Talked to someone and it appears to be the same as some that people are using with syphons.

Came to under £17 delivered which is, if it works, a damn bargain! Should be here early next week, all I need to do is get another butane refill as mine is empty *as I found out trying to use my syphon this morning *

 

[Hamster]

Found the same burner from somewhere else for substantially less. So I've ordered one of the butane burners now. Talked to someone and it appears to be the same as some that people are using with syphons.

Came to under £17 delivered which is, if it works, a damn bargain! Should be here early next week, all I need to do is get another butane refill as mine is empty *as I found out trying to use my syphon this morning *

May i ask where?

 

[Flibster]

May i ask where?

Once I've ensured that it works well with the syphon, I'll pimp them. Until then, it's still an unknown.

But I do have more butane now.

 

[Hamster]

Once I've ensured that it works well with the syphon, I'll pimp them. Until then, it's still an unknown.

But I do have more butane now.

Thanks If you manage to get it and have tested it by Tuesday afternoon, if you can please let us know what it's like otherwise I'll probably pick one up from London. If you dont have the time, don't worry

I made my first two brews with the syphon today and they were a bit of a disaster. I didn't manage to break anything though my heart was in my mouth when I first introduced the meths flame! The coffee had that burnt peanut taste which was quite unpleasant. I imagine it's down to a few factors, possibly the grind was too fine and also not being able to tone down the heat later in the brew. I was experimenting with cheap Nero coffee but I know it's not supposed to taste that bad!

Picked up some Finca Los Manantiales from the Monmouths in the Borough yesterday but I think I'll be using the V60 with that at this stage!!

 

[Flibster]

Well, they've sent it already! In theory should be here on Monday.

 

[manveruppd]

Good to hear you're all having fun with your vac pots - I've wanted one for years but it looks much too intimidating, like some bizarre piece of chemistry apparatus that belongs in a mad scientist's lab rather than a kitchen! (though thinking of it in that way makes me want it even more - should I be worried?)

Incidentally though, I was reading the side of the box on one in a shop once and it claimed that you can use it on any normal kitchen stove, that there's no need for a flame burner! Has anyone ever tried it? (If you haven't, I don't encourage you to do so, as that box also said the syphon would work on an induction hob which was quite eyebrow-raising, as I had no idea glass was magnetic!)

 

[cymatty]

Back on the hot lava Java but still slightly disappointed with its lack of kick, a large americano from costa with an extra shot seems more potent.

Maybe I need to add more coffee, although I thought 3 heaped tablespoons to make 2 and a bit cups was plenty.

 

[Flibster]

Good to hear you're all having fun with your vac pots - I've wanted one for years but it looks much too intimidating, like some bizarre piece of chemistry apparatus that belongs in a mad scientist's lab rather than a kitchen! (though thinking of it in that way makes me want it even more - should I be worried?)

I described it to a friend and his first response was, "you put water in the bottom, witchcraft happens and it ends up in the top bowl? The person who created that should be burnt at the stake!"

It's a wonderfully geeky way of making coffee. I love it.

Incidentally though, I was reading the side of the box on one in a shop once and it claimed that you can use it on any normal kitchen stove, that there's no need for a flame burner! Has anyone ever tried it? (If you haven't, I don't encourage you to do so, as that box also said the syphon would work on an induction hob which was quite eyebrow-raising, as I had no idea glass was magnetic!)

Hmmm, wouldn't want to use on on a stove top. Use a proper stove top instead. I suppose that it's possible though, but not easy as the stand that holds the lower bowl may well get in the way - and that's connected to the handle. Ouch.

Back on the hot lava Java but still slightly disappointed with its lack of kick, a large americano from costa with an extra shot seems more potent.

Maybe I need to add more coffee, although I thought 3 heaped tablespoons to make 2 and a bit cups was plenty.

1) What are you making it in?
2) What size are the cups?
3) How much water are you adding?
3) What grind is being used?

It sounds like there's either a too high water:coffee ratio or brewing time is too short.

I'm also assuming that it's the ground coffee not the instant that you're using.

 

[cymatty]

1) What are you making it in?
2) What size are the cups?
3) How much water are you adding?
3) What grind is being used?

It sounds like there's either a too high water:coffee ratio or brewing time is too short.

I'm also assuming that it's the ground coffee not the instant that you're using.

1) Making it in a cafetiere
2) 300ml ish
3) 800ml for 3 heaped spoons
4) Pre ground http://www.taylorscoffee.co.uk/products/lifestyle-coffee/hot-lava-java.asp

Leaving it to brew for around 5 minutes before pushing the plunger down, not using boiling water as I heard this burns the beans? It is strong just not as strong as expected.

 

[manveruppd]

Hmmm, wouldn't want to use on on a stove top. Use a proper stove top instead. I suppose that it's possible though, but not easy as the stand that holds the lower bowl may well get in the way - and that's connected to the handle. Ouch.

No I wouldn't try it either, if nothing else a conduction hob might shatter the glass, and if not then definitely leave it blackened underneath! And an induction hob just wouldn't DO anything! I think the one in that shop had a flattened bottom for the lower container though, so I suppose you could use it without its stand.