Silly Commuter Coffee

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  • tilt
    tilt Posts: 214
    iPete wrote:
    Good enough for aeropress then?

    It's just a bit frustrating, Monmouth (to my surprise, they are a bit good aren't they?) made me several free espresso to taste! but I can't get all the flavour out at home (and my arms get bored of doing 3-4 cups!). Perhaps it is also because I'm using an Aeropress?

    The Sage from Heston look good, hopefully more than a celebrity chef branding and has 25 grind sizes. On the flip side I can probably get the Bodum at a great price. Need to get my google on..

    http://www.johnlewis.com/sage-by-heston ... er/p797304

    Aeropress won't make as good a brew as a monmouth made espresso, that will be the difference.

    For the aeropress you don't need a proper espresso grind I don't think, but if you want a decent grinder in that budget I'd definitely agree with the Ibertial MC2 (I don't think it looks that bad either).
  • twist83
    twist83 Posts: 761
    What Monmouth served is from an Espresso Machine forced through at 9 bar. Aeropress does not actually make espresso. The name can be a little misleading... More a filter based system.

    Another vote for the Ibertal as well for entry level. You 100% don't want a grind as fine as you would to use in an espresso machine. Would highly reccomend a Grinder pete for sure.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    edited December 2013
    Not expecting Aeropress to compete but want to get as close as possible. I'm thoroughly enjoying what I get from it and a grinder would make life much easier.

    In terms of competing, what kind of money are we looking at to get the full Monmouth in my kitchen espresso experience? (I could Google but interested in hearing what people here have achieved and with what).

    Then I can weigh up what grinder to get, based on the possibility of owning a nice machine. If its out of reach the Bodum will do me well.
  • mudcow007
    mudcow007 Posts: 3,861
    just bought some of this

    havent tried it yet, but it smells nice (smell it all over the house)

    will keep you posted
    Keeping it classy since '83
  • tilt
    tilt Posts: 214
    iPete wrote:
    Not expecting Aeropress to compete but want to get as close as possible. I'm thoroughly enjoying what I get from it and a grinder would make life much easier.

    In terms of competing, what kind of money are we looking at to get the full Monmouth in my kitchen espresso experience? (I could Google but interested in hearing what people here have achieved and with what).

    Then I can weigh up what grinder to get, based on the possibility of owning a nice machine. If its out of reach the Bodum will do me well.

    I have a Gaggia Classic with Iberital MC2 grinder. RRP for both would be about £360 but you can often get good deals on the Classic.
  • notsoblue
    notsoblue Posts: 5,756
    iPete wrote:
    Good enough for aeropress then?
    Yeah, I think so. It has metal burrs, but tbh I don't think that makes a huge amount of difference if you're only grinding 1-2 times a day, and you're not going for ultra fine.
    iPete wrote:
    It's just a bit frustrating, Monmouth (to my surprise, they are a bit good aren't they?) made me several free espresso to taste! but I can't get all the flavour out at home (and my arms get bored of doing 3-4 cups!). Perhaps it is also because I'm using an Aeropress?

    You should get yourself a Bialetti stovetop to tide you over until you get a proper espresso machine. Its not quite espresso but its very close.
    FCN 4 PX SL Pro SRAM Red
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  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    Lucky enough to get a broken Innovo Dream (now Ascaso Dream) from Freecycle. Cost me around 40 quid for replacement parts, once I found where to get them from in Spain, and a couple of nights work. The machine retails at 550 and knocks out fantastic espressi 8)

    Baratza Virtuosa grinder 200

    Milk jug, tamper, knock-box probably around 80.

    Some snazzy espresso and cappuccino cups, gift.

    Don't get me started on the pour-over kit, Hario V2, Hario kettle and Hario Skelton grinder which were Christmas presents last year.

    Crack would be a cheaper addiction.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    notsoblue wrote:

    You should get yourself a Bialetti stovetop to tide you over until you get a proper espresso machine. Its not quite espresso but its very close.

    I'll dust it off and learn how to use it properly this time :oops:

    Just the Aeropress is so damn easy and consistent..
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    You should get yourself a Bialetti stovetop to tide you over until you get a proper espresso machine. Its not quite espresso but its very close.

    Are these any good?

    How easy are they to use? and are they worth the hassle?

    Space in my flat is of a premium and the place that i had earmarked for an espresso maker will now be taken by a steriliser....

    should i get one?
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • tilt
    tilt Posts: 214
    They are OK - and how most Italians prepare coffee at home. Obv they won't make espresso as the pressure isn't high enough, but with the right grind they do a decent cup.

    I sometimes use one when we have people round for dinner as it's quite a nice way of making/serving coffee.
  • godders1
    godders1 Posts: 750
    There's no minimum amount of pressure required before you can call it espresso so you could arguably call mocha pot coffee espresso (just as the Aerobie folks argue that Aeropress makes espresso) but yeah certainly not the same as a proper machine (and not "close" for me but these things are subjective).

    I have a Bialetti which I use occasionally when I fancy something a bit different but I wouldn't want it as my only coffee maker. In your position I'd go with aeropress.
  • bigmonka
    bigmonka Posts: 361
    I like using my mocha pot on top of the wood burner as a fun way of making it. I don't find a mocha pot particularly useful on an electric hob, but is better if you have gas.

    It leads on to the question of how do you make good coffee for more than one person without making each one individually.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    You can turnaround coffee quickly with the Aeropress. Its the hand grinding that takes the most time.
  • godders1
    godders1 Posts: 750
    Drip brewing is probably best for large numbers of people (Chemex do a 10 cup version of their drip brewer/caraffe thing). Unless you've got money to burn and can stretch to something like this: :lol:

    http://www.1st-line.com/store/pc/Faema- ... -p3420.htm
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I've a bean-to-cup machine - it knocks out coffee pretty quickly. In fact, making coffee in single cups is pretty wasteful as it rinses through on start up and shutdown.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • davis
    davis Posts: 2,506
    Godders1 wrote:
    Drip brewing is probably best for large numbers of people (Chemex do a 10 cup version of their drip brewer/caraffe thing).

    That's what we have at work. It just about does for 5 people. It's nice coffee (actually I think it's bloody lovely), but it's not espresso strength.
    Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.
  • tilt
    tilt Posts: 214
    Godders1 wrote:
    There's no minimum amount of pressure required before you can call it espresso so you could arguably call mocha pot coffee espresso (just as the Aerobie folks argue that Aeropress makes espresso)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moka_pot
    However, the maximum pressure for coffee extraction that can be achieved with a Moka pot is 1.5 bar[citation needed]. According to the Italian Espresso National Institute and the Specialty Coffee Association of America, an espresso must be made using a precise extraction pressure of 9 bar

    http://www.espressoitaliano.org/files/F ... _hq_en.pdf
  • godders1
    godders1 Posts: 750
    Interesting but neither organisation are arbiters (hence aerobie being able to claim that the aeropress produces "espresso" and lots of moka pots being sold as stove top espresso pots etc).
  • YIMan
    YIMan Posts: 576
    meanredspider wrote:
    I've a bean-to-cup machine - it knocks out coffee pretty quickly. In fact, making coffee in single cups is pretty wasteful as it rinses through on start up and shutdown.

    Out of interest do you run a "cleaning shot" through yours? Mine (Gaggia Digital) has a little compartment at the exit of the grinder that holds old grinds - so if you don't run a "cleaning shot" through, the first shot you get is made from coffee that was ground the last time you used the machine - whether that was 4 hours, 4 days or 4 weeks ago.
  • Koncordski
    Koncordski Posts: 1,009
    I've been using this for the last week: http://www.johnlewis.com/bialetti-venus-induction-stove-top-coffee-maker/p382728?kpid=231808862&s_kenid=1976b815-45d0-2f88-d204-00007aa6ecb5&s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73

    Wanted another stovetop and this works on induction. Great little coffee maker with fresh ground beans, i use it to make espresso, obv don't get a decent crema as there's low pressure but the flavour is consistent. Grind the beans straight before using.
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  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    Santa bought me an aeropress, any tips?
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Give the hasbean reverse method a try.. Then experiment with how much water you add, if americano, and try different grinds sizes.
    http://www.hasbean.co.uk/blogs/brew-gui ... brew-guide
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    http://images.hasbean.co.uk/img/BrewGuide-Aeropress.pdf

    Holey Moley - that process makes using my Gaggia Classic look like a time-saving method :shock:
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • johngti
    johngti Posts: 2,508
    rubertoe wrote:
    Santa bought me an aeropress, any tips?

    Me too - much nicer coffee than the French press. I've tried following their instructions and the inverted method (admittedly with pre-ground coffee) and they're pretty similar. One scoop of coffee seems plenty, though. I think mine will be going to work with me, beats instant coffee any day!
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    Where can I get some decent beans?

    What about a grinder?
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Spent the best part of yesterday reading about grinders, OMG hang me now :lol:

    rubertoe I get my beans from http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ , my fav in the aeropres so far is the El Savador Finca & have more on order to confirm this. (http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/el-sa ... -red-pacas)

    If you are on a budget and like to make one coffee consider a porlex hand grinder, purchased one for the other half for Xmas (http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/grinders) but havn't tried it yet. I picked up a Hario Slim from LMNH.

    Now proper ginders, I'm looking for a machine that works in steps (to do espresso, french & Aeropress), is smaller than a commercial unit & 'future proof' for any future espresso machines.

    Change my mind every 5 mintues but like the look of the Baratza Preciso, £300 :shock:
    http://www.hasbean.co.uk/collections/gr ... za-preciso

    But I've just found a Rocky Rancilio for £220 on a website I've never used before that reviews better.
    http://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/proddetai ... -doserless

    The ladies at Seattle Coffee Gear are worth a watch. Rocky Vs Baratza Preciso:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKy52G-4Iqk

    If you want non-stepped and just doing one coffee grind the MC2 is worth a look.
    http://www.happydonkey.co.uk/hd0867-mc2 ... ition.html

    This video made me realise that the 'cheaper' ones aren't up to the job. (7 minutes+)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxirprm65nc&

    ..and breathe...
  • twist83
    twist83 Posts: 761
    If you can fit it in a used Super Jolly or Mazzer Mini is in budget for £200-220. Stepless as well and an immense grinder. You dont need the Hopper on either, just need to make sure you can fit it in with the height of the Grinder itself.

    Tanks as well and will be worth what you paid for it all day long.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    twist83 wrote:
    If you can fit it in a used Super Jolly or Mazzer Mini is in budget for £200-220. Stepless as well and an immense grinder. You dont need the Hopper on either, just need to make sure you can fit it in with the height of the Grinder itself.

    Tanks as well and will be worth what you paid for it all day long.

    Cheers, will add to the eBay favorite searches! Think I'll buy the Rocky soon and hold out for a second hand Gaggia Classic. Hand grinding so much coffee, getting boring now!

    iPete wrote:
    rubertoe I get my beans from http://www.hasbean.co.uk/ , my fav in the aeropres so far is the El Savador Finca & have more on order to confirm this. (http://www.hasbean.co.uk/products/el-sa ... -red-pacas)

    ...second batch arrived today, have so far made 2 really bad Aeropress brews, this coffee lark is frustrating :roll:
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    OK what beans are people using for Aeropress? I'm perplexed as to why I'm making such horrific coffee with a blend that got amazing results a few months ago :evil:
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    I think I am grinding to fine for my Aero.

    What grind shall I be buying?
    I do have a cheap grinder but I will never be able to get any grinding consistancy.
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills

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