Espresso Machines

First.Aspect

Independent coffee shops.

Mmm.

You lot need to watch the Harbucks episode of South Park.

If I'm going to shell out £5 on a coffee when I'm out, I'm no longer interested in playing a bitter/under roasted/over roasted/pjssy weak/overpowering stong lottery. Been there, done that.

briantrumpet

First.Aspect said:

briantrumpet said:

First.Aspect said:

Does no one use cafetieres any more?

Yes, I do. The smallest stainless ones that make one mug's worth, and plunge strainght away, which even gives a little bit of 'froth' on the top when poured. It'll do for my taste buds and caffeine needs.

I do also enjoy an allongé from a coffee shop if I'm out. The best ones are usually from machines that are on the go constantly, which is why I think it's hard to replicate at home.

Ah, you mean a small Americano.

Kind of. Either a bit of added hot water (in Italy an americano is an espresso with a little jug of hot water), or sometimes with more water put through the grounds.

I never have sugar or milk in my coffee (beurk !!), but do like to make it go a little further. It does amuse me when an "espresso with a bit of hot water, please" costs less than "an americano, please". And all too often they put so much water in an americano that it tastes like dishwater.

photonic69

I'm yet to find a decent, independent coffee bar here. We seem to have a surplus of Starfucks and Cashta. I dispair watching the so called 'barista's knock the old puck out of the filter, do two pulls on the grounds dispenser, give it a light tamping then clamp it in to the machine and press a button. I'd hardly call that professional or even skilled.

The best coffee I has was in Amsterdam in a coffee shop on the far outskirts of the city. We went in to find the owner serving a customer some freshly squeezed orange juice from a very impressive looking machine. He took about five minutes of the most fastidious cleaning of the thing before he even acknowledged we were there. It was only then that he proceeded to make the most wonderful espresso I have had. He took his time mind. It was not quick. He was very methodical and precise ( a bit like Coffee Kev). This is what I wan't to replicate at home, but maybe without the squidgy black this time.

rick_chasey

briantrumpet said:

. It does amuse me when an "espresso with a bit of hot water, please" costs less than "an americano, please". And all too often they put so much water in an americano that it tastes like dishwater.

You have to endure the eyeroll of whoever you're ordering from, so that's where the discount is; social awkwardness.

I meet people for coffee for a living (hence spending so much time here either traveling to or waiting for people to turn up) and people who go off menu, especially if they're not known to the staff, are not usually liked....

briantrumpet

rick_chasey said:

briantrumpet said:

. It does amuse me when an "espresso with a bit of hot water, please" costs less than "an americano, please". And all too often they put so much water in an americano that it tastes like dishwater.

You have to endure the eyeroll of whoever you're ordering from, so that's where the discount is; social awkwardness.

I meet people for coffee for a living (hence spending so much time here either traveling to or waiting for people to turn up) and people who go off menu, especially if they're not known to the staff, are not usually liked....

I also get amused when you ask for a little extra hot water and they give you a full teapot of the stuff.

I'm probably a heathen for not being *too* fussy about coffee, as long as it's OK, hot, and not too weak. The bakery in France where I get my regular allongés for 1.20€ churn thousands a day, and it's more than acceptable, and very consistent, whoever's working the machine. No-one spends ages drinking their coffee... you pop in, buy your bread, a pastry and a coffee, stop for a few minutes, and then ride off into the sunset with your does of caffeine in your veins.

Pross

Isn't the point of a coffee shop that you buy one drink for £3 and then get to use it as your office for the whole day while other people stand around juggling plates and cups waiting for somewhere to sit?

webboo

First.Aspect said:

Independent coffee shops.

Mmm.

You lot need to watch the Harbucks episode of South Park.

If I'm going to shell out £5 on a coffee when I'm out, I'm no longer interested in playing a bitter/under roasted/over roasted/pjssy weak/overpowering stong lottery. Been there, done that.

A fiver a cup that’s nearly 2 weeks worth of beans at home and it has the added advantage of I don’t have to talk anyone while I drink it.

pblakeney

Pross said:

I'm enjoying one from my machine now. I can honestly say it is as good as most independant coffee shops I go to and vastly better than I would get in the big chains. I've got a new cafe opening across the road from me soon though so I might go there occasionally for a change of scenery / break from my broom cupboard if they do a decent cup.

I think this is the crux. No home brew will ever match a good coffee out of an industrial machine, but it has to be within walking distance.
A good home brew will beat a bad coffee at a cafe, and I don't see the point in travelling purely to get a coffee. Mid ride cafe stop is the exception to prove the rule. 😉

rick_chasey

Yeah it's pretty mug behaviour going out to buy coffee on your own, triply so if it's to take it back home.

Coffee out is really about a social interaction. Really struggle with the idea of buying coffee out on your own being remotely worth it.

MidlandsGrimpeur2

I think independent coffee shops is probably a bit misleading. There will be plenty of independently owned coffee shops/cafes shops that don't really specialise in coffee and just make pretty standard coffee.

Places that are actually obsessed with coffee to the point of geekery (which I fully endorse) are probably few and far between. When you drink their stuff though, I personally think there is a massive step up in quality.

Places like Monmouth or Workshop in London, Faculty in Brum, Colonna & Small's in bath (many others to mention) are exceptionally good IMO

gethinceri

Interesting, I'm cycling to Monmouth tomorrow, are all the coffee shops good, or any particular standouts?

MidlandsGrimpeur2

Sorry @gethinceri I meant Monmouth Coffee Company in London. No connection to the town unfortunately!

Pross

gethinceri said:

Interesting, I'm cycling to Monmouth tomorrow, are all the coffee shops good, or any particular standouts?

Coffee #1 is always my go to in this area. My sister used to be manager of the one in Monmouth.

gethinceri

^^ I know mate, I was yanking your chain, smugly grinning to myself between sips of my deliciously home-crafted moccachoochoonanini.

Pross

rick_chasey said:

Yeah it's pretty mug behaviour going out to buy coffee on your own, triply so if it's to take it back home.

Coffee out is really about a social interaction. Really struggle with the idea of buying coffee out on your own being remotely worth it.

I used to enjoy going for a coffee and porridge on a Saturday morning whilst waiting for my daughter to finish her drama class. I'd do a Parkrun first, drop her off, go to the gym and then the coffee shop for a coffee and late breakfast. It's one of the things I stopped doing during lockdown that I actually miss. I also used to drop in after an early morning gym session before travelling to the office. I'm quite happy with my own company but did feel a bit pressured to finish and get out on a Saturday when it was busy and people were waiting for a table which I don't feel so acutely when with others.

veronese68

Coffee pricing is still protected by law in Italy, walk up to the bar and drink it there. As soon as you sit down they can charge what they like. Grabbing an espresso on your on as you are going about your business is not remotley unusual.

briantrumpet said:

Kind of. Either a bit of added hot water (in Italy an americano is an espresso with a little jug of hot water), or sometimes with more water put through the grounds.

The water should be added after making the espresso, putting more water through the grounds makes it more bitter.
Whilst i was repairing my coffee machine I've had to resort to using a Nespresso machine at work. Anything more than the shortest setting and it gets too watery for me. There's one guy uses a single pod and put a mugful of water through it. The water is running clear after 1/4 of the mug, yet he keeps it going. Utterly rank to me, but he says he likes it.
Probably doesn't eat horse either.

pblakeney

rick_chasey said:

Yeah it's pretty mug behaviour going out to buy coffee on your own, triply so if it's to take it back home.

Coffee out is really about a social interaction. Really struggle with the idea of buying coffee out on your own being remotely worth it.

What if the coffee you buy is much better than you can make at home?
Social interaction is irrelevant in a discussion on home brew, unless you are inviting them home.
Some people are happy going solo, and anything good is worth expense. Buyer's choice.

First.Aspect

rick_chasey said:

Yeah it's pretty mug behaviour going out to buy coffee on your own, triply so if it's to take it back home.

Coffee out is really about a social interaction. Really struggle with the idea of buying coffee out on your own being remotely worth it.

Won't be a surprise that I disagree completely.

There is a perfectly legitimate pass time of people watching or reading something over a coffee, on your own.

Preferable to the sociable version, for some of us.

rick_chasey

Home brew lol - making it at home.

I guess a discussion on what context you drink your coffee in has an impact on the importance you place on how you make your own coffee.

Money-no-object, and I'm plumbing it in, I'm buying this:


(mainly as I am not interested in any light-roasted coffee, if it's not at least medium or ideally darkly roasted, I don't wanna know)

but I don't really want to spend £4k on a coffee machine right now ;-)

briantrumpet

veronese68 said:

Coffee pricing is still protected by law in Italy, walk up to the bar and drink it there. As soon as you sit down they can charge what they like. Grabbing an espresso on your on as you are going about your business is not remotley unusual.

briantrumpet said:

Kind of. Either a bit of added hot water (in Italy an americano is an espresso with a little jug of hot water), or sometimes with more water put through the grounds.

The water should be added after making the espresso, putting more water through the grounds makes it more bitter.
Whilst i was repairing my coffee machine I've had to resort to using a Nespresso machine at work. Anything more than the shortest setting and it gets too watery for me. There's one guy uses a single pod and put a mugful of water through it. The water is running clear after 1/4 of the mug, yet he keeps it going. Utterly rank to me, but he says he likes it.
Probably doesn't eat horse either.

Yes, remember that in Rome... fantastic coffee, 1 euro. People came in, had their shot, went out about 5 minutes later. And yes, two different drinks depending on water added after or through the grounds. French allongés tend to be the latter, but they'll do.

pblakeney

Didn't you spend £XXX on a Sage? I therefore presume that you had a want to have decent (as good as you can within a budget) coffee at home?

rick_chasey

pblakeney said:

Didn't you spend £XXX on a Sage? I therefore presume that you had a want to have decent (as good as you can within a budget) coffee at home?

Sure, £400 in the middle of lockdown, but that's mainly because me and the missus drink a lot of coffee.

I drink a lot in general cos of the job so you develop a pretty strong idea of what you like and don't like.

In general, I loathe the modern way of light-roasted coffee. Does my head in.

First.Aspect

How can it possibly be £4k? Is it hand crafted from moon rock or something?

MidlandsGrimpeur2

That one flew over my head, must have been too busy savouring my cappa choo choo 😂

rick_chasey

First.Aspect said:

How can it possibly be £4k? Is it hand crafted from moon rock or something?

I had the same question when I saw the price of the latest madone

https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/road-bikes/performance-road-bikes/madone/madone-slr/madone-slr-9-axs-gen-7/p/37420/?colorCode=blue

rick_chasey

TBF, if it's going on a kitchen island, you'll want to splash out the extra £1.5k to get the Faema E61, but, y'know.

surrey_commuter

Pross said:

gethinceri said:

Interesting, I'm cycling to Monmouth tomorrow, are all the coffee shops good, or any particular standouts?

Coffee #1 is always my go to in this area. My sister used to be manager of the one in Monmouth.

Mother of God!!!! whilst I despair at coffee snobbery there must be something better than Nero’s

Pross

surrey_commuter said:

Pross said:

gethinceri said:

Interesting, I'm cycling to Monmouth tomorrow, are all the coffee shops good, or any particular standouts?

Coffee #1 is always my go to in this area. My sister used to be manager of the one in Monmouth.

Mother of God!!!! whilst I despair at coffee snobbery there must be something better than Nero’s

Forgot they’d been taken over to be honest. They started as a local independent chain then got bought by Brains before Nero took them over. Not sure I’ve been in once since. I was a regular before lockdown and their coffee was a different level to the big chains. That said, even Nero is a big improvement on Costa and Starbucks.

briantrumpet

Pross said:

surrey_commuter said:

Pross said:

gethinceri said:

Interesting, I'm cycling to Monmouth tomorrow, are all the coffee shops good, or any particular standouts?

Coffee #1 is always my go to in this area. My sister used to be manager of the one in Monmouth.

Mother of God!!!! whilst I despair at coffee snobbery there must be something better than Nero’s

Forgot they’d been taken over to be honest. They started as a local independent chain then got bought by Brains before Nero took them over. Not sure I’ve been in once since. I was a regular before lockdown and their coffee was a different level to the big chains. That said, even Nero is a big improvement on Costa and Starbucks.

Oh, hadn't realised they'd been taken over. That's a shame. But agree about Nero amongst the chains.

veronese68

My mother is very Italian about coffee, won't touch Costa or Starbucks, but will use Nero over an unknown.