Coffee Makers
Posted by: Mick P on 08 December 2002
Chaps
Our ten year old coffee maker (drip filter type) has just conked out.
I drink tea but Mrs Mick can sink enough coffee for England. She has therefore asked (that mean told) me to buy a "decent" coffee maker. She wants normal coffee, expresso and Capuchino.
Any idea of the best makes, I notice that Dualite are now flogging them.
If you have any advice on what to go for and what to avoid, I would be most grateful. Are you better off buying separate machines or one of the all in type.
Many thanks
Mick
Our ten year old coffee maker (drip filter type) has just conked out.
I drink tea but Mrs Mick can sink enough coffee for England. She has therefore asked (that mean told) me to buy a "decent" coffee maker. She wants normal coffee, expresso and Capuchino.
Any idea of the best makes, I notice that Dualite are now flogging them.
If you have any advice on what to go for and what to avoid, I would be most grateful. Are you better off buying separate machines or one of the all in type.
Many thanks
Mick
Max,
I have no idea what you're talking about, but I applaud your enthusiasm.
Do you use those beans eaten by that Malaysian monkey-rat-hedgehog thing that poops them out whole and nicely marinated?
I have no idea what you're talking about, but I applaud your enthusiasm.
Do you use those beans eaten by that Malaysian monkey-rat-hedgehog thing that poops them out whole and nicely marinated?
quote:
Originally posted by maxwellspeed:
One must not rule out the importance of a good grinder AND using freshly, meaning within 10 minutes, ground beans. http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/detailed/mazzermini is the one I use and it is fantastic. It allows for a very precise grind.
I'm newly into this coffee thing, so I'm using an antique mill that I purchased a couple of years ago. It looks like this, except more of a dark copper color:
Its finest grind isn't quite fine enough for espresso, but it's all I have for the moment. If I stay with the hobby long enough, I'll be getting something better. The Mazzer Mini is definitely one of the contenders, although it's a bit tall to fit where I want it to go. Therefore, I'm also considering the purportedly superior, slightly more expensive Cimbali Junior, which will do a better job of fitting under my cabinets.
quote:
Flat tampers are a must for even water distribution imho.
I was surprised at how little curve there is in the Reg Barber curved tamper. When you consider how hard it is to apply consistent pressure from one shot to the next, I doubt that there's much difference between flat and curved. There are also those who suggest that curved tampers are good for curved baskets (which applies to my Gaggia).
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Mr. Fritz said,
A bit of science and a bit of art neither of which I am very proficient.
Ludwig,
Those beans are way too much $$$ for my tastes. Speaking of taste, I would be curious to try a cup, just on someone else's dime. I actually get my beans at Vivace where they are never over 2 days out of the roaster. Fresh indeed.
Mike,
That is a very cool grinder. The idea behind a flat tamper is that the water disperser in the group head of a machine is flat. You want the top of the grind in the basket to also be flat so that the water hits it evenly across the top. And, you want the grinds within the tamper, which I will now call a puck, to be evenly tamped pressure wise throughout, so the water penetrates the puck evenly. Or something like that...
Honestly, I only have 1 2oz. ristretto in the morning and that is it. It is what drags me out of bed.
quote:
with machinery like that coffee is almost a science my old chum
A bit of science and a bit of art neither of which I am very proficient.
Ludwig,
Those beans are way too much $$$ for my tastes. Speaking of taste, I would be curious to try a cup, just on someone else's dime. I actually get my beans at Vivace where they are never over 2 days out of the roaster. Fresh indeed.
Mike,
That is a very cool grinder. The idea behind a flat tamper is that the water disperser in the group head of a machine is flat. You want the top of the grind in the basket to also be flat so that the water hits it evenly across the top. And, you want the grinds within the tamper, which I will now call a puck, to be evenly tamped pressure wise throughout, so the water penetrates the puck evenly. Or something like that...
Honestly, I only have 1 2oz. ristretto in the morning and that is it. It is what drags me out of bed.