The Coffee Thread

[Mendip]

Just post up this 'coffee with clotted cream', if you really think this is the forum for such stuff.

I don't know, maybe I'm just out of touch?

[Reg Dingle]

Take no notice of the uncultured one above Troy, I'm getting there

[malmomike77]

You've been blowing through birdie with straw

[Reg Dingle]

^ Do you mean felching?

[Troy]

^ I can do you just a small tub/ sachet of mayo nowadays, Bogey

Back on topic , Troy.

That's a lot of wonga to splash on a coffee machine imho
I bought a refurbished delonghi ecam a few years ago now for just over 100 quid or so off ebay and it's still going strong.

I'm not really a cappucino kind of guy, more your double espresso but I've just ordered a few cappucino cups and stainless steel frottaging jug and am gonna try my arm at cappucino and latte art with my frothing wand for you.

The trick to a good cappucino appears to be in the milk frothing and getting it to a nice gloopy consistency

I got an €1800 tax rebate so not worried about splashing out a bit for a decent machine.

I was looking at the DeLonghi Specialista Arte, older model so on sale at €450, but they only had the shelf one left and I couldn't knock the price down any more.

The Barista Express has been the most popular machine over the years and the Impress is the simpler, newer version, which is going for €630. It takes a lot of the magic out of making a decent espresso, which is good for me at 4:30 in the morning. You still have to fiddle with the settings every time you change coffee beans but it tamps evenly and allows you to add a little more if you got the time wrong.

I'm not worried about the cleaning and maintenance, pretty simple so not sure what Cyrille is crying about. Here in Germany I've been using a Nespresso machine, which is okay but boring. In Thailand I use a Mokka pot, which is also okay, but not as good as espresso. I'll still use those machines because they are simple, make good coffee, and bring fond memories of working with my European colleagues.

The elders in the village love to come for coffee. Mokka pot with warmed milk in a jug frothed up with a stirrer. I can end up with three or four mokka pots on the go to keep up with demand, so would be happy to have a proper espresso machine with steamer for them to try. Will still be a lot of work but its worth it to keep the social network within the village.

BTW I don't listen to Vivaldi in the morning. It's always Chopin's first symphony esp. 3rd movement, which has some very happy associated memories. It is a must on the way to work.

[MarilynMonroe]

^Nice machine!

^^^Delicious coffee, Dill!


I'm also a big coffee and tea drinker. I have a station in my room above my bar fridge. I use a Keurig with K-cups. Lately though, I've been dying for an Expresso Machine and I have my eye on the De'Longhi Stilosa Manual Expresso machine, only $150.00 on Amazon. Will be bought within a month. Nothing like a shot two of expresso or a Latte with fresh frothed oat milk to start the day sans Vivaldi or Chopin.

Keurig & tea corner



Machine I will be buying.

[Mendip]

I have a fancy coffee machine I brought over from Australia, Italian I think, begins with B or T, something like that.

But, never used.

It was a 'B'.

I checked it this morning, it's a Breville that is currently used as a table for my laptop when I'm on the treadmill. It's just the right height.



This will be about 21 years old now. I bought it in Perth when I was kitting out the new apartment.

I think it was last used about 3 years ago and will doubtless need a good clean if ever I am to use it again. Looking at the photo I can already see a solitary wasp nest and what looks to be a gecko egg in the handle for the water tank.

Of course proper coffee is nicer than instant, but I'm the only coffee drinker in the household and don't want to spend 20 minutes fannying around every time I fancy a coffee.

[cyrille]

^^^Delicious coffee, Dill!

How tf do you know?

[Reg Dingle]

I have a fancy coffee machine I brought over from Australia, Italian I think

Beretta, Bugatti, be Longhi?

Oh....Breville, Australia

I thought they just made those molten toasted sandwich makers, although your machine would look quite similar to the Sage Barista range nowadays that Troy is interested in, that is if someone had cleaned it in the last 15 years instead of grinding his beans and frothing his man milk in front of the gardener.

[MarilynMonroe]

This will be about 21 years old now. I bought it in Perth when I was kitting out the new apartment.

That does look ancient.. lol, but Breville is a good name. I had a Breville juicer awhile ago that lasted forever.

^That one is about $200, but they also have an upgrade, the Breville ESXL Duo Temp at $995.. if Mendy wanted an upgrade.
Amazon.com

--
Anyone heard of the Nespresso. Was looking at buying this one, although they don't have the milk frother. The expresso pods are excellent, and you can buy a variety of pods (flavored coffee etc). A shot of expresso in the morning will get you going. We have one at work.

It is also made by Breville.

[Reg Dingle]

A seagull

[cyrille]

Add a touch of decadence and put some birdshit on.

[cyrille]

I had a Breville juicer awhile ago that lasted forever.

I fkin bet it did.

Like Reg's pull up bar.

[cyrille]

I'm not worried about the cleaning and maintenance, pretty simple so not sure what Cyrille is crying about.

So your entire local community in Nakhon Nobrot is gagging for your Gaggia.



Have you turned them on to Chopin yet?

[david44]

Nakhon Nobrot is gagging for your Gaggia.

Troy of the Rovers it's shrove Cheersday, you've been shriven

[Troy]

Well, I bought the Barista Impress this afternoon (It's marketed as Sage in Europe and Breville elsewhere). I have some reasonable coffee beans from Venice and had a quick try. The first thing is that the default fitted basket is for fresh coffee beans and you need to put in the double walled basket. I worked that out after the first shots were under extracted with low pressure. Same settings with different basket made a whole lot of difference. Still need to drop the grind size (already reduced from factory setting of 16 to 14). I'll try that tomorrow, but the last shot I pulled was pretty damn good as it was.

Only problem is, I am overdosed on espresso at 6:30 in the evening and there's no way I'm sleeping tonight without more red wine.

It's less work than the Mokka pot, takes less time, and makes a better coffee. Add the steamer for the milk and it's no contest...except of course the cost!

[Neverna]

If the coffee's good, it's worth the cost, I reckon.

[Joe 90]

am overdosed on espresso at 6:30 in the evening and there's no way I'm sleeping tonight without more red wine

That old chestnut.

I'm pretty pissed off about missing my McDonalds latte this morning with an extra shot of expresso.
Unfortunately they were cleaning the machine, in the morning FFS!!!
Anyhow, I took a pro plus caffeine pill instead.
Same, same but different.

[cyrille]

It's less work than the Mokka pot

What utter bollocks.

Turn the tap on to put water in, place coffee in, heat.

>Coffee.

There is literally no way to do it with 'less work' apart from instant.

Granted, your end product may taste better.



And your coffee beans aren't from Venice, ffs. Maybe that night out with Chitty halved your IQ.

[david44]

Why did percolators die out ?
They were common when I was young , was it too strong/bitter or too much work?
For those who have never seen here is one similar to my mum's Russel Hobs basically a kettle with a a raised basket for the grounds.
I use a stainless steel unbreakable version of the classic French press and will soon purchase an espresso machine an extravagance as I am the only coffee drinker in the house, but travelling a vietnamese "phin" filter is ok a method similar to teh sock or Melta paper filter pour from top types.
There is no doubt an Italian style machine males best espresso IMHO.

[Troy]

What utter bollocks.

Turn the tap on to put water in, place coffee in, heat.

>Coffee.

There is literally no way to do it with 'less work' apart from instant.

well, there is...

Two button presses and coffee made in less than two minutes from machine switch on. No way you can make a Mokka pot as easily or in that time.

Milk steamer also makes cappuccino much less work.

However, you end up craving for another...and another...

[Troy]

I use a stainless steel unbreakable version of the classic French press

I have a glass version that was a gift from a Chinese girlfriend many years ago. I use it only for tea, specifically Taiwan Ginseng Oolong tea, it used to be a ritual preparation on her birthday each year, but time heals all wounds eventually.

[BLD]

I like the little sort of percolator set ups they have in Vietnam when you go for a Vietnamese coffee, which is excellent regardless of if it's been shat out a civet cats ass or not btw. Or out of cybils miserable ass

[Joe 90]

Why did percolators die out ?

We had one in the 1980's , you could set the alarm on it to start making your coffee in the morning.

A fantastic way to awake to the smell of pervolating coffee and that unmistakable sound.