OT - What coffee rig?!

LeDomestiqueTours

Building on the massive knowledge in the other coffee thread (and coming from a yorkshire tea background), we hoped we could pick the brains of the resident coffee experts on what coffee rig we should be looking to invest in for the next season.

We have previously used cafetieres around the breakfast table with various coffees sources in the UK, but a few people have expressed an interest in something a bit more specialised.

Our needs:

1. Portable - we use a couple of properties so we can't have a big plumbed in behemouth.

2. Nespresso style little pots v regular pouches of coffee from Monmouth and a normal machine. Do the Nespresso machines make a good brew? Do the costs of the little pots become OTT in comparison to pouches?

4. Reliable - if we have a breakdown we get one annoyed group of cyclists!

5. Budget - probably up to around £150 ish for the machine?

Any thoughts gratefully received!

Jay dubbleU

One of these - I've had mine for years and its travelled everywhere with me - cheap as chips - I think mine was about a tenner - you could afford the buy a dozen and completely reliable - makes excellent coffee too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moka2.jpg

rick_chasey

If you want portable, moka pot is the only option.

iclestu

got one of these in my study and love it:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=tassimo&oe=utf-8&gl=uk&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1156605807130620771&sa=X&ei=cCGcTsT7MIiGhQfpiOEn&ved=0CIUBEPMCMAc

The Kenco Colombian and Carte Noir Crema Intenso are my favourite discs for it

notsoblue

Jay dubbleU wrote:

One of these - I've had mine for years and its travelled everywhere with me - cheap as chips - I think mine was about a tenner - you could afford the buy a dozen and completely reliable - makes excellent coffee too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moka2.jpg

+1

Though I'd recommend getting a Stainless steel one if you can't be bothered to wash it by hand. Our cleaner put the previous one I had in the dishwasher and it took the protective layer off leaving the metal (presumably Zinc) to oxidise and tarnish. It was replaced with thismodel which is superb.

Not as convenient as Nespresso etc... but tbh I like the ritual of preparing coffee manually.

Agent57

I'm very happy with the coffee from my Aeropress.

iPete

Agent57 wrote:

I'm very happy with the coffee from my Aeropress.

All its missing is the Bunsen burner!

LeDomestiqueTours

notsoblue wrote:

Jay dubbleU wrote:

One of these - I've had mine for years and its travelled everywhere with me - cheap as chips - I think mine was about a tenner - you could afford the buy a dozen and completely reliable - makes excellent coffee too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moka2.jpg

+1

Though I'd recommend getting a Stainless steel one if you can't be bothered to wash it by hand. Our cleaner put the previous one I had in the dishwasher and it took the protective layer off leaving the metal (presumably Zinc) to oxidise and tarnish. It was replaced with thismodel which is superb.

Not as convenient as Nespresso etc... but tbh I like the ritual of preparing coffee manually.

We have considered one of these. They certainly meet the portability criteria but we aren't sure about the following:

Are they only good for small quantities/how long from start to finish does it take to make a brew with one? The biggest one i can find is 6 cups of espresso which if we have 10 people all wanting a cup of coffee isn't ideal...We could do with something that can knock out milky coffee's/large amounts as well - perhaps to work in unison with a moka pot?

rick_chasey

You want something portable but can also service 10 people at once?
........

LeDomestiqueTours

Agent57 wrote:

I'm very happy with the coffee from my Aeropress.

Haha that is fantastic - looks like a comedy syringe! Certainly would help to inject some caffeine :oops: !

LeDomestiqueTours

Rick Chasey wrote:

You want something portable but can also service 10 people at once?
........

Sorry if my first post was misleading. I'm not meaning portable in the "can it fit in my rucksack" style. I mean portable in the sense that it isn't plumbed in/weighs a tonne - like some of the ones you see in a restaurant. We have a van to move between properties so it would go in that! Ie we could manage something like a nespresso size machine.

meanredspider

I suggest with that volume (and that budget - which, TBH, isn't much for this sort of thing) that something like Nespresso is going to be your route. You can offer the riders their choice of pod. It isn't cheap but it's very convenient and needs absolutely no skill or experience.

As for milk, you might want to cheat a bit. Warm enough milk through in a pan or microwave, then have a separate coffee frother to finish it off (a thermometer is invaluable). I cheat like this with my morning latte - half-warm the milk in the microwave whilst the Gaggia is doing the espresso then froth.

You could go the Gaggia route and use the pods/"teabags" but it's not as convenient as the Nespresso sort of thing - though does have a slightly more authentic air to it.

UndercoverElephant

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

Are they only good for small quantities/how long from start to finish does it take to make a brew with one? The biggest one i can find is 6 cups of espresso which if we have 10 people all wanting a cup of coffee isn't ideal...We could do with something that can knock out milky coffee's/large amounts as well - perhaps to work in unison with a moka pot?

6-cup espresso = 2 mugs of decent coffee, IME. Takes a couple of minutes to brew. You'd probably need a few of them to keep 10 people happy, to be honest.

Mark Bom

Get a hand pulled La Pavoni....Proper class!!!

Agent57

iPete wrote:

Agent57 wrote:

I'm very happy with the coffee from my Aeropress.

All its missing is the Bunsen burner!

I don't think the opening post said anything about it being necessary to also heat the water itself. Just "coffee rig for next season" which is a bit vague to me, so I missed that aspect if it was implied. I didn't infer it, anyway,

Portable: check. Reliable. Check. Within budget: check. And he mentioned Nespresso machines; surely they need a power supply.

nicklouse

well. My Nesspresso travels a lot. Sweden Germany and the UK. the Coffee is good and stays fresh for a long time. (each capsule is sealed) you can also buy Coffee Ducks that allow you to use your own ground coffee.

Capsules at home and ducks at work. Sorted.

meanredspider

Cafetieres are the work of the devil and have no redeeming features

LeDomestiqueTours

meanredspider wrote:

I suggest with that volume (and that budget - which, TBH, isn't much for this sort of thing) that something like Nespresso is going to be your route. You can offer the riders their choice of pod. It isn't cheap but it's very convenient and needs absolutely no skill or experience.

As for milk, you might want to cheat a bit. Warm enough milk through in a pan or microwave, then have a separate coffee frother to finish it off (a thermometer is invaluable). I cheat like this with my morning latte - half-warm the milk in the microwave whilst the Gaggia is doing the espresso then froth.

You could go the Gaggia route and use the pods/"teabags" but it's not as convenient as the Nespresso sort of thing - though does have a slightly more authentic air to it.

Cheers thats great advice. What's the next price point above £150 for an appreciable gain in quality? Ie are we looking at an extra £50 for something much better or are you looking at several hundred quid for a noticeable difference?

In terms of the nespresso style machines, is there much difference between the various units or are they all practically the same?

meanredspider

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

Cheers thats great advice. What's the next price point above £150 for an appreciable gain in quality? Ie are we looking at an extra £50 for something much better or are you looking at several hundred quid for a noticeable difference?

I think you'd need to head up to around the £400-£500 mark for a bean-to-cup style machine which automates the process. It would still probably meet your "portability" requirements but I'm guessing it's overkill.

I think the Nespresso machines are much of a muchness. As I said, I'd just go for a coffee machine and maybe lay on hot and/or frothed milk for those that want it. We've just bought one between 6 of us at work which has a frother for somewhere around you budget - I'm just guessing the whole process maybe too slow to do coffee & milk for 10 guests - unless breakfast is a spread out affair.

notsoblue

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

Jay dubbleU wrote:

One of these - I've had mine for years and its travelled everywhere with me - cheap as chips - I think mine was about a tenner - you could afford the buy a dozen and completely reliable - makes excellent coffee too

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moka2.jpg

+1

Though I'd recommend getting a Stainless steel one if you can't be bothered to wash it by hand. Our cleaner put the previous one I had in the dishwasher and it took the protective layer off leaving the metal (presumably Zinc) to oxidise and tarnish. It was replaced with thismodel which is superb.

Not as convenient as Nespresso etc... but tbh I like the ritual of preparing coffee manually.

We have considered one of these. They certainly meet the portability criteria but we aren't sure about the following:

Are they only good for small quantities/how long from start to finish does it take to make a brew with one? The biggest one i can find is 6 cups of espresso which if we have 10 people all wanting a cup of coffee isn't ideal...We could do with something that can knock out milky coffee's/large amounts as well - perhaps to work in unison with a moka pot?

Well it depends on how people like their coffee. I have a 4 cup Bialetti and it makes enough for four nice average sized cups as advertised. I like my coffee pretty strong and in a large mug though. At the weekend it makes enough for two in large coffee mugs.

On my gas stove it takes about 5 mins to brew. A 6-cup may take longer. I think its worth it though. Tastes better than single use coffee cartridge brewers, and cafettieres.

So whats this '"What coffee machine?" Scandalous giveaway!' ? Have we all just been spammed?

iPete

Agent57 wrote:

iPete wrote:

Agent57 wrote:

I'm very happy with the coffee from my Aeropress.

All its missing is the Bunsen burner!

I don't think the opening post said anything about it being necessary to also heat the water itself. Just "coffee rig for next season" which is a bit vague to me, so I missed that aspect if it was implied. I didn't infer it, anyway,

Portable: check. Reliable. Check. Within budget: check. And he mentioned Nespresso machines; surely they need a power supply.

Sorry, I was referring to it looking like a year 9 science experiment!

LeDomestiqueTours

notsoblue wrote:

So whats this '"What coffee machine?" Scandalous giveaway!' ? Have we all just been spammed?

No certainly not. Im going to add a post to our blog which covers this!

LeDomestiqueTours

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-Machine-Professional-Stainless/dp/B0000C72XS/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_0

Based purely on looks - this has to be the winner!

nicklouse

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-Machine-Professional-Stainless/dp/B0000C72XS/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_0

Based purely on looks - this has to be the winner!

have one of those at the other place I work. a total pain in the butt. could not be bothered with it so drank Tea.

notsoblue

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

So whats this '"What coffee machine?" Scandalous giveaway!' ? Have we all just been spammed?

No certainly not. Im going to add a post to our blog which covers this!

Fair enough :P Nice site btw

meanredspider

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-Machine-Professional-Stainless/dp/B0000C72XS/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_0

Based purely on looks - this has to be the winner!

It's what I use at home. It's good but would to too slow (& messy if you didn't use the pods) for 10 guests. You effectively have to finish brewing the coffee before you can use it to froth the milk.

LeDomestiqueTours

meanredspider wrote:

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gaggia-Classic-Machine-Professional-Stainless/dp/B0000C72XS/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_0

Based purely on looks - this has to be the winner!

It's what I use at home. It's good but would to too slow (& messy if you didn't use the pods) for 10 guests. You effectively have to finish brewing the coffee before you can use it to froth the milk.

Ah ok - the old form over function thing....

Il get looking at potential pod based machines then. Not keen on the overly plasticky looking ones!

LeDomestiqueTours

notsoblue wrote:

LeDomestiqueTours wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

So whats this '"What coffee machine?" Scandalous giveaway!' ? Have we all just been spammed?

No certainly not. Im going to add a post to our blog which covers this!

Fair enough :P Nice site btw

Cheers - always happy to hear feedback like that!

joelsim

Something like this is much better IMO than the little stove-tops and cafetieres which i also own.

Very handy, very quick, very consistently good.

Pods are about 27-30p each.

http://www.nespresso.com/uk/en/product/ ... ver-chrome

You won't regret it - better than Starbucks.

oscarbudgie

for pure style nothing matches the Atomic

oscarbudgie

i also have a couple of these low tech beauties which work very well