[borism]

Great tips regarding coffee beans. I'll have to try them out.

I've been getting my beans from Paradise Coffee Roasters (paradiseroasters.com). Their Espresso Classico and Nuevo are great and they ship the beans immediately after roasting, so that they arrive within 2 to 3 days. Also, relatively inexpensive.

[DaveC113]

Around the Boulder area I like Ozo coffee: https://ozocoffee.com/

And Conscious Coffee: http://www.consciouscoffees.com/


Does anyone have any experience with the manual/lever type espresso machines? I'm drawn toward this kind of machine as I can vary pressure with the lever...

https://majestycoffee.com/products/elektra-micro-casa-model-copper-brass-espresso-machine-art-s1?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=28546246089

[roscoeiii]

Another fan here! I think these are the most user friendly beans I've ever used. I always can pull a great looking and tasting shot. I think they claim to be a northern Italian style roast which I think is a slightly darker roast compared to the trend of very lightly roasted beans on the west coast. I'm in SF and my goto is BlueBottle but when I travel or want something different, especially for the Aeropress, I love Linea beans. https://lineacaffe.com. The owner, Andrew Barnett is who stared Ritual coffee. A pioneer of the 3rd ave of coffee.

Blue Bottle is good too. As is Intelligentsia here in Chicago and in the LA area.

[Philistine]

Malabar Monsoon Gold, just roasted - Behmor 1600 home roaster:

[roscoe65]

Blue Bottle is good too. As is Intelligentsia here in Chicago and in the LA area.

I have a couple Blue Bottle shops close to me.  I also have a subscription:  three bags every two weeks.  It is a good price and great quality.

[borism]

Malabar Monsoon Gold, just roasted - Behmor 1600 home roaster:

Philistine, where are you located. We are coming over for a tasting!

[Philistine]

Philistine, where are you located. We are coming over for a tasting!

I used a FreshRoast air roaster for years but picked up a lightly used Behmor from Craigslist, which suits my roasting needs and coffee style better, it's great for medium roasts like the Malabar.  With the lower cost of green beans the payback, compared against buying ready roasted beans, would have been 40lbs (about a year for me) if I'd bought a new Behmor.   Cost savings wasn't the driver at the time: I had no local roasters in the area so had to resort to mail order, I couldn't drink fast enough to maintain the freshness - home roasting was the only way to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnWbcPUIqI

[S Clark]

I roasted with a Nesco hot air unit for several years, but moved to the Behmor 1600+ several years ago.  I roast just about every 10 days.  I've never tried the Monsooned coffees, but I drink a lot of it's cousin Indian Mysore.  Reading about the monsoon process, it should have a very different profile.  I'll have to order some.  Who is your supplier?  Burman?

[mick wolfe]

Around the Boulder area I like Ozo coffee: https://ozocoffee.com/

And Conscious Coffee: http://www.consciouscoffees.com/


Does anyone have any experience with the manual/lever type espresso machines? I'm drawn toward this kind of machine as I can vary pressure with the lever...

https://majestycoffee.com/products/elektra-micro-casa-model-copper-brass-espresso-machine-art-s1?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=28546246089

Dave....That manual looked wonderful until I realized its 19" height wouldn't  allow it to fit  on my counter top under my cabinets. ( 18" standard)  If you have more of an open concept counter top or an island, you'd be fine.

[DaveC113]

Dave....That manual looked wonderful until I realized its 19" height wouldn't  allow it to fit  on my counter top under my cabinets. ( 18" standard)  If you have more of an open concept counter top or an island, you'd be fine.

I'm kinda thinking La Pavoni now, as it's true manual instead of using the lever to cock a spring. The 8-cup model seems pretty small but I probably want to go with the larger 16 cup model. I'm still reading and learning, so this might change too... 

[randytsuch]

I've wanted a lever machine too, don't know if I'll ever get one though.
My HX machine does fine, I don't think I could live with a single boiler machine with a steamer switch, where you have to wait for the machine to get to steaming temp.
With a HX, you can pull the shot and steam at the same time, although you do need to flush an hx to get it to the right temp for pulling the shot.

If the starter is still looking at the Sylvia, a review here
http://www.home-barista.com/rancilio-silvia-review.html
Home barista is a good source of information, as is coffee geeks.

I got lazy, and don't roast anymore.  I buy a five pound bag from red bird, then vacuum pack and freeze in maybe 1/2 pound bags.

Randy

[mick wolfe]

Thx Randy.  I was a little deflated when the Silvia could only muster 3 of 5 stars.  Maybe I'll just start with an upscale grinder and my "unbreakable" Aeropress for now.

[Philistine]

Aeropress is great, but it's not going to give you espresso....

[Philistine]

I roasted with a Nesco hot air unit for several years, but moved to the Behmor 1600+ several years ago.  I roast just about every 10 days.  I've never tried the Monsooned coffees, but I drink a lot of it's cousin Indian Mysore.  Reading about the monsoon process, it should have a very different profile.  I'll have to order some.  Who is your supplier?  Burman?

http://coffeeproject.com/shop/magento/raw-coffee-beans/india/india-josuma-s-proprietary-espresso-blend-malabar-gold.html

[Philistine]

I'm kinda thinking La Pavoni now, as it's true manual instead of using the lever to cock a spring. The 8-cup model seems pretty small but I probably want to go with the larger 16 cup model. I'm still reading and learning, so this might change too... 

I looked at buying a La Pavoni, but the reviews on the customer support were appalling....

[mick wolfe]

Aeropress is great, but it's not going to give you espresso....

That's a given, but most of the time I'm just looking for a strong cup of coffee and the Aeropress does just fine.  Still gives me plenty of room to experiment with various coffee beans as well. When my Gaggia was alive and kick'in,  I probably used it for cappuccino's 90% of the time. So that's what's really missing from the menu at this point.

[Tyson]

I like the aeropress for a daily use solution for 2 reason - first, Mick is exactly right, it makes a very good, strong cup of coffee with no bitterness or ashiness.  Combined with a good burr grinder and you have a great daily experience.  Not "the best" experience, but a great experience. 

Here's the problem that I have - if I personally go for "the best" solution of top flight espresso every day for myself, it raises my standards too much and makes every other coffee experience a disappointment.  So I'd rather have a daily experience that is great, but that also leaves a little room at the top for me to be wowed by the guys down at Metropolis (best coffee shop in Denver, IMO). 

[Ponkbutler]

Around the Boulder area I like Ozo coffee: https://ozocoffee.com/

And Conscious Coffee: http://www.consciouscoffees.com/


Does anyone have any experience with the manual/lever type espresso machines? I'm drawn toward this kind of machine as I can vary pressure with the lever...

https://majestycoffee.com/products/elektra-micro-casa-model-copper-brass-espresso-machine-art-s1?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=28546246089

The Microcasa is an exceptional machine. The spring does not exert much pressure but is very finely judged - you get fabulously layered shots from complex single origins, like a Yirgacheffe, but not much shot volume, and not the creamiest of shots from beans like a natural process Brazilian, which like more pressure. The build quality and shot consistency are much superior to the La Pavoni.

Alternatives are the Olympia Cremina (entirely manual) and Londinium (which uses a fantastic big commercial group).

HTH

Mike

[DaveC113]

Thanks Philistine and Ponkbutler!

Olympia and Londinium looks amazing, but more than I want to spend. Hmmmm... 

[ctviggen]

I like the aeropress for a daily use solution for 2 reason - first, Mick is exactly right, it makes a very good, strong cup of coffee with no bitterness or ashiness.  Combined with a good burr grinder and you have a great daily experience.  Not "the best" experience, but a great experience. 

Here's the problem that I have - if I personally go for "the best" solution of top flight espresso every day for myself, it raises my standards too much and makes every other coffee experience a disappointment.  So I'd rather have a daily experience that is great, but that also leaves a little room at the top for me to be wowed by the guys down at Metropolis (best coffee shop in Denver, IMO).

I used to use an Aeropress all the time, but to make two cups of coffee, you have to go through the rigamarole of the aeropress twice.  For me, I ended up going to cold-brew coffee, which I think is almost as good but it's much easier to make two cups of coffee.  On the other hand, I like espresso and wouldn't mind an espresso machine.  But then I'd probably only use it once per week.  It seems like a lot of expense for not much return.