Recommend me a coffee maker

Roland

Looking for a "beans to espresso" machine.  I drink it black, so don't need milk steamers and gadgets.  Who uses one, and what can you recommend?

Ianpdq

One of these with a grinder http://www.bialetti.it/uk/catalogue/prodotti.asp?id_cat=4

NervousJohn

If you can bear having a separate grinder, a Gaggia Classic can make really good coffee once you get the hang of them.

FX_Munkee

I've got one of the Delonghi ones, this one but in black (more metal, natch).
Though it might be a bit cheap and nasty but it's actually really well thought out and I'm an ex-design engineer so I'm usually the first to point out where they've cut corners.
We use expensive ones at work (Gaggia etc.) and TBH they're not as well made or designed.
Admittedly the Delonghi doesn't have all the bells and whistles (ie no scrolling LED display etc.) but it makes espresso like a good un There's not a lot to play with in terms of making different brews, just the controls to set your prefered strength and volume (and grind size which is set once).
I clean it about once every 2 months, which is no great chore as it's just so well designed inside (did I mention that?), you just unclip the main "block" which does all the work and give it a soak/rinse.
Editted to add: Do it! It's one of the best things I ever bought for the house and gets a lot of use. Be warned though, you'll never go back to "lesser" home coffee

chrisj1602

I have a Gaggia Baby and like it, but it's got things you don't need.

frankus

Salma Hayek makes the best coffee ever.

Roland

Ianpdq said:

One of these with a grinder http://www.bialetti.it/uk/catalogue/prodotti.asp?id_cat=4

Yes, got one of them, but it's not giving the taste I'm searching for

thermionic

She will be mine... Oh yes, she will be mine:

imalone

Roland said:

Ianpdq said:

One of these with a grinder http://www.bialetti.it/uk/catalogue/prodotti.asp?id_cat=4

Yes, got one of them, but it's not giving the taste I'm searching for

Have you tried tea?

Jez6345789

Having worked in the fledging pre Starbucks London coffee business. Frankly to anyone who loves coffee. Bean to cup was and is a low grade solution designed to de skill the world of coffee so big restaurant trade could offer the increasingly popular choice of espresso latte etc. With total portion and cost control and no more skill than a student pushing a button. Yes everyone likes a gadget but frankly bean to cup makes an inferior product. Get a nice grinder a decent classic machine with a decent psi and you will love every cup. With bean to cup you will be fine whilst the novelty lasts. 6 months in you will wonder why the coffee does not taste so good then you will do the endless different bean brands and finally reach the conclusion. I would use a French press every time as it makes good coffee rather than drink from a bean to cup. Sorry rant mode over Must be the caffeine

Roland

imalone said

Have you tried tea?

I drink more tea than coffee

Roland

Jez6345789 said:

Get a nice grinder a decent classic machine with a decent psi and you will love every cup.... I would use a French press every time as it makes good coffee rather than drink from a bean to cup. Sorry rant mode over Must be the caffeine

This type of information is gold dust. The grinder I understand. What's a French press?

holnrew

Roland;203485" said:

Jez6345789 said:

Get a nice grinder a decent classic machine with a decent psi and you will love every cup.... I would use a French press every time as it makes good coffee rather than drink from a bean to cup.



Sorry rant mode over



Must be the caffeine





This type of information is gold dust. The grinder I understand. What's a French press?

It's like a normal press, but with tongues.

Clarky

I recommend one of the cute girlies in Picnic Cafe, Reading

EricTheWeary

Roland;203485" said:

Jez6345789 said:

Get a nice grinder a decent classic machine with a decent psi and you will love every cup.... I would use a French press every time as it makes good coffee rather than drink from a bean to cup.



Sorry rant mode over



Must be the caffeine





This type of information is gold dust. The grinder I understand. What's a French press?

American for cafetiere.

chillidoggy

Ianpdq said:

One of these with a grinder http://www.bialetti.it/uk/catalogue/prodotti.asp?id_cat=4

One of these /\ plus Carte Noir ground coffee (which you keep in the fridge), and it's job done.

Jez6345789

A French Press is one of those classic bistro things, with fresh ground beans makes good coffee to the exact strength you fancy. Its big advantage for me is it allows me to pick different blends as per my moods. No it does not make true espresso but you can easily make a small double strength brew pressed quickly and you can get a good base for Cappuccino etc. 

The other thing why I like just a good old fashioned espresso machine is cleanliness. One of the key things to good espresso based coffee is hygiene. Coffee has a lot of oil content that quickly goes builds up on parts, it quickly oxidises and leaves sour flavours and finally off flavours if not cleaned down. Commercially you flush through every couple of hours and clean all parts twice a day if you are doing it properly sometimes more if you are pushing a lot of beverages through. 

So a good home espresso machine should be easily to clean properly at the end of the day. Bean to cup design can get build up.

I understand peoples love of push buttton but for me a solid espresso and seperate grinder is the way to go. 

roundthebend

I'd like to know how I can stretch milk for my cappucino without a coffee machine. I watched an awesome tutorial recently where the Barista said you had to get the texture into the milk while it was cool, then let it heat up to around 70 degress which he did simply by holding the jug and using his senses.
I use a Moka pot, or French press/cafetiere so no steam wand available.

EricTheWeary

I still might get an Aeropress for work as there is hot water available but no stove top or even much of a space to plug something in and I have either instant or have to spend a fortune at Costa. I have a grinder and a bialetti at home but really that's just a sunday morning type thing TBH ( so that by the time the kids get up I'm as high as a kite). 

NervousJohn

roundthebend;203640" said:

I'd like to know how I can stretch milk for my cappucino without a coffee machine. I watched an awesome tutorial recently where the Barista said you had to get the texture into the milk while it was cool, then let it heat up to around 70 degress which he did simply by holding the jug and using his senses.

I use a Moka pot, or French press/cafetiere so no steam wand available.

Get a clean empty 1 pint plastic milk bottle. Microwave up 100ml of milk per cup, so that it's hot but not boiling and pour into the milk bottle and replace the cap firmly. Then furiously shake the milk bottle shouting "froth! Damn you!" . After 30s or so you'll have froth to make a passable cappuccino. The texture will be better with a steam wand though.

roundthebend

I currently use a small coiled whisk. I did have a battery powered one but it got dunked in water :x
I'll try your technique, it sounds easier.