novocaine
Established Member
well Davey, you might not be a coffee snob, but you have a similar mentality to a number on here and I'm in complete agreement with you. 
Coffee beans recommendation?
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Davey44
Established Member
Good to know I'm not alone.
I guess I feel the same too, about the snob value of buying top of the so called range of tools, machines and equipment.
If item a). at 49.99 from a certain (mainly) food store, is able to produce broadly similar results as the same (or very similar) Chinese clone from store b). a certain overpriced major national toolstore, it's name starting with an 'A' and ending with an 'R', having 9 letters overall, which costs half as much again, why would I waste that amount of money? I could buy 28 bags of Espresso Beans from ... yes, well, you get my line of thinking?
I guess I feel the same too, about the snob value of buying top of the so called range of tools, machines and equipment.
If item a). at 49.99 from a certain (mainly) food store, is able to produce broadly similar results as the same (or very similar) Chinese clone from store b). a certain overpriced major national toolstore, it's name starting with an 'A' and ending with an 'R', having 9 letters overall, which costs half as much again, why would I waste that amount of money? I could buy 28 bags of Espresso Beans from ... yes, well, you get my line of thinking?
novocaine
Established Member
I get you Davey.
thread drift time.
I picked up one of these for cheap few months ago
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L5S4...olid=3NHD5YE91ZXUS&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I wouldn't put it in the "best espresso maker ever" category (I wouldn't put it in the espresso bracket at all) but with a bit of a learning curve and a willing to try, it now makes an acceptable coffee for me with only the required of boiling water from somewhere else.
much like AJB above, until this year I travelled a lot for work, previously I'd carry the aeropress but this is easier to carry (even if it is a touch bigger overall it doesn't have the big lip like the aeropress. It has become my go to at home when I don't have the espresso machine from the office here.
If you do go down this slippy slope, it needs a fine grind, finer than my machine grinder can achieve (for now, modification time) so I use my hand grinder for it.
iIdid get bought a fake nanopresso, i still have the scars to prove it, please, if you do buy a hand espresso machine, buy something that your hand doesn't wrap around (although a friend has a real nanopresso and it feels far more robust).
part of my kitchen looks like I'm an addict, grinders, machines, presses, it's a disgrace.
thread drift time.
I picked up one of these for cheap few months ago
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L5S4...olid=3NHD5YE91ZXUS&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I wouldn't put it in the "best espresso maker ever" category (I wouldn't put it in the espresso bracket at all) but with a bit of a learning curve and a willing to try, it now makes an acceptable coffee for me with only the required of boiling water from somewhere else.
much like AJB above, until this year I travelled a lot for work, previously I'd carry the aeropress but this is easier to carry (even if it is a touch bigger overall it doesn't have the big lip like the aeropress. It has become my go to at home when I don't have the espresso machine from the office here.
If you do go down this slippy slope, it needs a fine grind, finer than my machine grinder can achieve (for now, modification time) so I use my hand grinder for it.
iIdid get bought a fake nanopresso, i still have the scars to prove it, please, if you do buy a hand espresso machine, buy something that your hand doesn't wrap around (although a friend has a real nanopresso and it feels far more robust).
part of my kitchen looks like I'm an addict, grinders, machines, presses, it's a disgrace.
Davey44
Established Member
I get you Davey.
thread drift time.
I picked up one of these for cheap few months ago
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07L5S4...olid=3NHD5YE91ZXUS&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I wouldn't put it in the "best espresso maker ever" category (I wouldn't put it in the espresso bracket at all) but with a bit of a learning curve and a willing to try, it now makes an acceptable coffee for me with only the required of boiling water from somewhere else.
much like AJB above, until this year I travelled a lot for work, previously I'd carry the aeropress but this is easier to carry (even if it is a touch bigger overall it doesn't have the big lip like the aeropress. It has become my go to at home when I don't have the espresso machine from the office here.
If you do go down this slippy slope, it needs a fine grind, finer than my machine grinder can achieve (for now, modification time) so I use my hand grinder for it.
iIdid get bought a fake nanopresso, i still have the scars to prove it, please, if you do buy a hand espresso machine, buy something that your hand doesn't wrap around (although a friend has a real nanopresso and it feels far more robust).
part of my kitchen looks like I'm an addict, grinders, machines, presses, it's a disgrace.
Thanks for the advice. My cousin in Canada showed me an aero-press which she and her husband used when they traveled. It looked good and did produce a half decent cup of caffeine. Our major traveling days are probably close to their end, though I did promise US a return visit to Italy - Venice among other stops, where the natives really DO know how to make superb coffee. If I were loaded I'd live in Italy and drink myself into oblivion with espresso and a shot of Grappa.
I guess we have drifted off topic a bit, but it's good to know there are some people whose heads are screwed on properly ... in that they are coffee fans. You can never trust an anti-coffee person!
eezageeza
Established Member
For a sensibly priced, but still tasty espresso / latte, try Barista blend from Spiller and Tait, less than £20 a kg delivered (whole beans) and always roasted in the last month.
EddyCurrent
Established Member
The best one I've used is called "Monsoon Malabar" and is available from a number of outlets, an internet search will find them.
The one I use all the time is this, Kirkland Signature 100% Colombian Ground Filter Coffee, 1.362kg | Costco UK
great taste, great price.
The one I use all the time is this, Kirkland Signature 100% Colombian Ground Filter Coffee, 1.362kg | Costco UK
great taste, great price.
samhay
Established Member
I've drunk a lot of monsoon Malabar from Mancoco, a Manchester outfit. Good crema.
I'm quite picky with my beans and am mostly currently using Forge roasters (Sheffield) beans as I can get them locally and they're pretty decent. Monmouth are pretty good too, so if I had to buy online, they'd get some custom.
However, of the coffee machine, grinder, bean mix I think the grinder is easily the most important ingredient. As long as the beans are not too burnt, you can get an ok brew if you can grind them about right. I don't get on with capsule coffee - not strong enough, but get that it's fairly inoffensive. I like the ritual of making a proper espresso, so the faff, which only take 5 min, is part of the joy.
I'm quite picky with my beans and am mostly currently using Forge roasters (Sheffield) beans as I can get them locally and they're pretty decent. Monmouth are pretty good too, so if I had to buy online, they'd get some custom.
However, of the coffee machine, grinder, bean mix I think the grinder is easily the most important ingredient. As long as the beans are not too burnt, you can get an ok brew if you can grind them about right. I don't get on with capsule coffee - not strong enough, but get that it's fairly inoffensive. I like the ritual of making a proper espresso, so the faff, which only take 5 min, is part of the joy.
Aeropress isn't espresso, it's just a compact filter coffee thing, which can deal with the finer grind and quicker extraction of an espresso fine grind, and all the better for it. Filter coffee (inc aeropress) is to my taste by far the best.
I can deal with espresso if I need a shot, but it is way short of the taste I like, because it's just too brutal a method. That doesn't matter so much with the trad dark espresso one note bitter roast, designed for mixing with sugar, milk, and worse.
I can deal with espresso if I need a shot, but it is way short of the taste I like, because it's just too brutal a method. That doesn't matter so much with the trad dark espresso one note bitter roast, designed for mixing with sugar, milk, and worse.
novocaine
Established Member
Aeropress isn't quite a filter coffee maker either. It does generate some pressure (agree not enough for espresso) which changes to character of the coffee.
I dont mind espresso, short, but for day to day I'll use it as a base for longer drinks , typically black Americano (who are we kidding its just watered down black coffee stop with the silly names)
I dont mind espresso, short, but for day to day I'll use it as a base for longer drinks , typically black Americano (who are we kidding its just watered down black coffee stop with the silly names)
As a daily driver: Costco San Francisco Bay Organic Rainforest Blend Whole Bean Coffee, 908g
£9.49 online £7.59 in store (if you have membership)
https://www.costco.co.uk/Grocery-Ho...nforest-Blend-Whole-Bean-Coffee-908g/p/193998Use it with a Sage smart grinder pro
https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/coffee-grinders/bcg820.htmland a Sage Duo Temp Pro
https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/espresso/bes810.html
I paid £124 for the grinder and £166 machine in the black Friday sales last year
£9.49 online £7.59 in store (if you have membership)
https://www.costco.co.uk/Grocery-Ho...nforest-Blend-Whole-Bean-Coffee-908g/p/193998Use it with a Sage smart grinder pro
https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/coffee-grinders/bcg820.htmland a Sage Duo Temp Pro
https://www.sageappliances.com/uk/en/products/espresso/bes810.html
I paid £124 for the grinder and £166 machine in the black Friday sales last year
Last edited:
Dee J
Established Member
My favourite is Exe coffee roasters neighbourhood blend made in a stove-top Bialetti moka pot. Just as it comes from the pot in a small cup, no milk, no sugar and definitely no added water.
We like our coffee but no experts by any means, some years ago we discovered Nespresso and that was great lovely fresh coffee but then I discovered the Gaggia Classic after a recommendation from a friend, we got a refurbished machine and that changed everything, a beautiful cup of coffee, then we got the Sage grinder and started getting beans from Rave Coffee a small online roaster, their signature blend is fantastic, the prices have shot up over the years and we have tried others but still go back, currently we get 1kg bags of “Italian Job” a Dark chocolatey tasting brew perfect for espresso or latte. It sounds fancy but isn’t, the Gaggia is really old and takes some looking after but we could never go back, it’s a perfect treat during the day.
I’ll have to try some of the recommendations here, especially the Lidl beans!
I’ll have to try some of the recommendations here, especially the Lidl beans!
Atkinsons in Lancaster.
Brilliant shop if you can get there. Smell before you buy!
Brilliant shop if you can get there. Smell before you buy!
Gary_S
Established Member
Lavazza are the best tase / value for money. We have our own machine for espresso and flat whites etc and have tried expensive ones and unbranded ones from specialist suppliers but always end up on Amazon and buying Lavazza.
Grow coffee bean- dry and roast. Shouldnt be any more simple than that.
Unless its boutique, so you can as said above add an extra 20-50 quid a 1/4 LB bag.
Give me Tassimo any day. Tastes the same to me as my stovetop pot.
Unless its boutique, so you can as said above add an extra 20-50 quid a 1/4 LB bag.
Give me Tassimo any day. Tastes the same to me as my stovetop pot.
Monsoon Malabar is probably my favourite bean. However, like my wife’s perfume, I don’t notice it if its there all the time. So I purposely rotate beans, and switch production methods between cafetière and filter.
I bought one of those Italian chrome coffee machines about twelve years ago. It's all pressure dials and hissing steam and I love it.
Due to the fact that I live in an area with very hard water, I started buying bottles of distilled water which I use exclusively with the machine. This is for two reasons: no deposit can build up within the workings of the machine thus prolonging service intervals and making cleaning easier and secondly, you get all the taste of the coffee plus, I assume, maximum extraction from the grounds.
You may wish to try it to see if you get more out of your coffee.
Due to the fact that I live in an area with very hard water, I started buying bottles of distilled water which I use exclusively with the machine. This is for two reasons: no deposit can build up within the workings of the machine thus prolonging service intervals and making cleaning easier and secondly, you get all the taste of the coffee plus, I assume, maximum extraction from the grounds.
You may wish to try it to see if you get more out of your coffee.
Davey44
Established Member
Hi Roland. You jogged my memory today. MONSOON MALABAR, yes I agree. I used to be able to buy it from a coffee shop chain - can't immediately recall the name - but they went out of business. It produced a wonderfully rich cup.
EddyCurrent
Established Member
I used to get it from Whittard, they still have it on the website
Davey44
Established Member
Ha, that was the name!
We always bought a range of beans from them locally (Birmingham) to suit those of us who drink the stuff until they stopped trading.
Great pity!
Since then, as I had said before, I found that the Lidl BIG bags of Espresso beans which come around 3 or 4 times a year are satisfactory, provided I do test grinds to get the appropriate level of fine-ness. Oh yes, we also bought our first Gaggia Espresso machine from them too when it was on offer, way back in the early 80s.
Keep drinking the black stuff mate!
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