advice on coffee makers

duff138 · « **Reply #140 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 02:14 pm »

Quote from: Ronm1 on 15 Sep 2010, 05:53 am

I agree completely, which is why overroasting is such a crime, IMHO. That is why I'll add http://www.kingdavidcoffee.com/

King David is real good. Drank it for years, he's right down the street from me. I've switch lately to A&E Roastery. The Mexican roast is amazing!

http://www.aeroastery.com/

Ronm1 · « **Reply #141 on:** 16 Sep 2010, 06:37 pm »

Quote from: duff138 on 16 Sep 2010, 02:14 pm

King David is real good. Drank it for years, he's right down the street from me. I've switch lately to A&E Roastery. The Mexican roast is amazing!

http://www.aeroastery.com/

When a roaster gets a particular varietal right, its java heaven!!

jsaliga · « **Reply #142 on:** 17 Sep 2010, 02:49 pm »

My Cuisinart SS-700 Keurig cup coffeemaker was delivered yesterday, a day eariler than I expected. So far I really like it. It came with a sampler of 12 different coffees and teas, and includes a My K Cup so can I use my own coffee. I was already familiar with the Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve so I ordered two boxes of 24 K Cups to go with the machine. I think the Cuisinart SS-700 makes a fine cup of coffee.

I have also been thinking about an espresso machine for the last month or so...but I really don't want the hassle, mess, and expense of a higher end solution. I don't drink a lot of espresso, but that's mainly because there aren't a lot of coffee shops in my neck of the woods that serve it. I enjoy it, however, when it is available. So today I decided to order a Nespresso Essenza bundle and a selection of coffee to go with it. I'm sure that wouldn't suit the hardcore espresso drinker who must have a perfect shot...but for someone such as myself it seems like a good system and the selection of coffees is compelling. I can't wait to try it!

--Jerome

duff138 · « **Reply #143 on:** 23 Sep 2010, 03:01 pm »

The Adagio Teas 3 UtiliTEA Variable-Temperature 30-Ounce Electric Kettle is a great way to heat up your water too. I use it at home and work for making tea. Just got my aeropress and plan to use the UtiliTEA with it as well.

baldrick · « **Reply #144 on:** 23 Sep 2010, 04:05 pm »

Well since one of the original criteria for suggestions was no electricity, here's my pick for the best coffee maker out there:
http://presso.com/
What you get it a fantastic hand espresso maker that can generate 12 bar of pressure - almost on par with commercial machines, and you can control the temperature since you boil the water yourself. Café quality espresso for $150 that makes that brown crap Starbucks tries to pass off as coffee taste like Folgers.
There you go - no electricity and it makes a killer americano.
I take mine everywhere I go - on vacation, camping, business trips, etc. I take my hand-crank conical burr grinder, too. Both are indispensable.

davidrs · « **Reply #145 on:** 24 Sep 2010, 01:23 am »

La Colombe Torrefaction

If you are up to trying something special. I came across this cafe in Tribeca (NYC) a couple of years ago. The espresso blend was amazing, to my taste buds, and I stop in whenever I make it to Manhattan.

You can order their beans online. Pricey, but unique and worth trying out if you are open to experimenting and possibly finding a new favorite....

http://www.lacolombe.com/coffees

Great to see so many folks adding the AeroPress to their coffee making rituals.

Best,

David.

Tyson · « **Reply #146 on:** 24 Sep 2010, 03:36 am »

I made some excellent coffee with my aeropress this morning!

jsaliga · « **Reply #147 on:** 25 Sep 2010, 02:07 pm »

I have been enjoying Nespresso for about a week now. The coffee is excellent and the system couldn't be easier to use. The Aeroccino milk frother does a good job, so if you want a cappuccino or latte it's pretty easy to make. The Nespresso Essenza C101 only has a 30 oz water reservior. Not really a problem for the occasional espresso drinker, but if you run a cleaning cycle after every shot then it might seem a bit small. Another nit pick is the Aeroccino doesn't get the milk anywhere near hot enough. But as I said, the coffees are outstanding if you mostly make espressos or lungos you will likely be happy with the system.

--Jerome

ctviggen · « **Reply #148 on:** 25 Sep 2010, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: Tyson on 24 Sep 2010, 03:36 am

I made some excellent coffee with my aeropress this morning!

I like the Aeropress so much that I've relegated my drip coffee maker to the basement. I do note that getting the water to the right temperature can be problematic. I have to use an instant read thermometer to get consistent results.

Mag · « **Reply #149 on:** 15 Oct 2010, 11:56 pm »

I purchased a Keurig elite, two weeks ago, to replace my 12 cup drip which quit working and I only had it for 3 or 4 months.

My friend has a Keurig, where I learned how it worked. I was impressed with the ease of use and how quickly it made a cup of coffee and it tasted to my liking with ordinary can coffee blend.

I find the Keurig suits my bachelor lifestyle. I can make a quick cup of coffee in the short time I leave myself getting ready for work. The coffee I've been using, Arabica fine medium roast, taste better than Tim Horton's IMO. However I'll be switching to grinding my own Columbian beans. I find the re-usable filter more time consuming to clean than I anticipated. So I'm hoping a coarser grind will be quicker to clean and taste even better.

I'm concerned though I may be experiencing side effects of too much caffeine. I'm not ready to quit drinking coffee, especially after $150 for the machine. But I'll try to limit myself to no more than four 7oz. cups a day.

Marbles · « **Reply #150 on:** 22 Mar 2021, 07:33 pm »

Found an open box but new Technivorm 741 for $200 at William-Sonoma in Asheville last week, couldn't pass it up.
Also have a 14 cup Cuisinart, Mellitta pour overs, a Nespresso machine and a Keurig.

I mostly drink Dunken Donuts coffee.
Pour over is kind of a PITA, the 741 makes hot, hot coffee. I have to add cream or let it sit a minute before I can drink it. I also have to add more coffee to get the flavor I want.
For what it's worth, Technivorm recommends white paper filters.
Thanks to all who recommended the Mocchamaster.

One question, I have a Krupps blade grinder, how much better will a burr grinder be?

DaveC113 · « **Reply #151 on:** 22 Mar 2021, 07:48 pm »

Quote from: Marbles on 22 Mar 2021, 07:33 pm

One question, I have a Krupps blade grinder, how much better will a burr grinder be?

Some would say grinders are more important than brewing method. IMO, this is true when going from a blade to a burr grinder but once you've spend a $500+ on a grinder it's not necessarily true.

For an entry level grinder I'd consider a Capresso Infinity.

https://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-01-Infinity-Conical-Grinder/dp/B0000AR7SY

Tyson · « **Reply #152 on:** 22 Mar 2021, 08:00 pm »

Quote from: Marbles on 22 Mar 2021, 07:33 pm

Found an open box but new Technivorm 741 for $200 at William-Sonoma in Asheville last week, couldn't pass it up.
Also have a 14 cup Cuisinart, Mellitta pour overs, a Nespresso machine and a Keurig.

I mostly drink Dunken Donuts coffee.
Pour over is kind of a PITA, the 741 makes hot, hot coffee. I have to add cream or let it sit a minute before I can drink it. I also have to add more coffee to get the flavor I want.
For what it's worth, Technivorm recommends white paper filters.
Thanks to all who recommended the Mocchamaster.

One question, I have a Krupps blade grinder, how much better will a burr grinder be?

Burr grinders are MUCH better than blade grinders. I was surprised how much bitterness and ashiness was removed when I went from a blade to a burr grinder.

glynnw · « **Reply #153 on:** 22 Mar 2021, 08:12 pm »

I have used a Capresso similar to the one referred to above for over 10 years with no issue. However, mine will not do a really fine grind.

Nsm1979 · « **Reply #154 on:** 22 Mar 2021, 11:32 pm »

All coffee machines we have had over the years have provided convenience. None have provided anywhere near the quality of the coffee we have experienced from a coffee siphon. Not as convenient, but for those who are looking for that ultimate cup, this is it. The process is backed by the science of perfect brew temperature and steep time. Bonus is it won’t break the bank either.

Google: Coffee Siphon.

mresseguie · « **Reply #155 on:** 23 Mar 2021, 12:40 am »

Quote from: Nsm1979 on 22 Mar 2021, 11:32 pm

All coffee machines we have had over the years have provided convenience. None have provided anywhere near the quality of the coffee we have experienced from a coffee siphon. Not as convenient, but for those who are looking for that ultimate cup, this is it. The process is backed by the science of perfect brew temperature and steep time. Bonus is it won’t break the bank either.

Google: Coffee Siphon.

Well, I'll be damned. When I landed in Taiwan to study Mandarin Chinese back in 1987, there were just three ways to drink coffee - instant (cheap and available everywhere), in a can (Mr. Brown, etc.), and coffee siphon coffee. [Edit: Western style restaurants and 5-star hotels had American style drip coffee, but poor international students could seldom afford such a luxury.] Because instant and canned coffee was so cheap, I normally settled for it to get my caffeine fix. Occasionally, I'd visit the food court coffee kiosk below a department store to enjoy a cup of Mandheling coffee made with a coffee siphon. It was fun to watch the brew process, and the resulting coffee was both tasty and satisfying. It was called "Japanese method". It wasn't until I read your post, Nsm1979, and Googled the term that I recognized what you were talking about.

Fast forward to 2021 and the coffee siphon process is a 'cute' boutique method of brewing coffee. Most coffee drinkers either drink espresso drinks (Americano, latte, cappuccino, etc.) or pour over coffee. The pour over crowd can get very over-the-top elitist in their passion for pour over's better taste. They're more willing to spend big bucks ($50/lb, $100/lb, and even more!) on a pound of the purest coffee beans. They prefer hand grinders. I am mostly unable to appreciate the finer qualities of pour over - especially when a single cup could cost $30!

Nsm, I'm not suggesting you're elitist. I'm talking about coffee folks I know in Taiwan. For whatever reason, I greatly prefer to drink my coffee <no matter how brewed> with milk or cream, and I really enjoy an espresso with a little half and half.

richidoo · « **Reply #156 on:** 23 Mar 2021, 12:51 am »

coffee siphon

I bet my Bulletproof blend would taste good in that.

Nsm1979 · « **Reply #157 on:** 23 Mar 2021, 01:03 am »

Nope, not an elitist. I drink one cup a day each morning from a drip coffee machine...conveniently set to a timer so it’s ready when I get up. I don’t use a special blend or grind. I do store my grounds in a vacuum canister.

Just injected my 2 cents to introduce an awesome way to enjoy a cup of coffee. Friends who I have treated with a brew from the siphon have thanked me time and again. Hopefully someone will read this, give it a try, and be treated to a spectacular cup of joe. Enjoy!

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #158 on:** 23 Mar 2021, 01:12 am »

Seems the siphon will offer results similar to the Italian coffee pot which I have two stored by lack of use, now Iam using Jovs manual grinder to just in time grind what allow me put hot milk instead water what are much better.

goskers · « **Reply #159 on:** 23 Mar 2021, 02:08 am »

I owned and experimented with most drip and pour over methods. I finally broke down and purchased a Technivorm. I wish I would have done this much sooner as it would have saved me a lot. This with my Baratza Encore has been a formidable pair.

If your goal is good and repeatable without a good bit of babysitting then I would highly recommend.