espresso machines
Posted by: cooper on 10 December 2007
Can anyone recommend a machine that actually makes good coffee and can steam milk?
Posted on: 16 December 2007 by Emil F
Mick gives excellent advices about good coffee.
Here is an 'audiophile' offer: La Pavoni Stradivari. It's an expensive machine but it makes fantastic coffee.
Here is an 'audiophile' offer: La Pavoni Stradivari. It's an expensive machine but it makes fantastic coffee.
Posted on: 16 December 2007 by Alexander
I might go for the Gaggia Classic + MDF grinder myself. Safe choice.
Posted on: 17 December 2007 by Rockingdoc
quote:Originally posted by hungryhalibut:
It's hard to beat one of those stovetop things for espresso. They're what Italians use. About twenty quid will get you a good one.
Nigel
But they can blow up and take your face off if a coffee ground gets stuck in the pressure release valve.
Posted on: 17 December 2007 by u5227470736789439
Surely it is hard to see how a coffee ground could ever get into the safety valve. I have been using a stove-top style of machine since about 1985, and never once has this happened. To blow up the boiler part, it would also repquire a complete blockage of the filters on the enclosure holding the ground coffee. This seems no more likely to me that a con-rod in a car being thrown through the bulk-head of a [transvers engine powered] car and cutting off your leg, even though it must be possible. Of course there is a tiny risk with any boiler mechanism, whether in a stove-top or espresso type machine, or indeed even a central heating boiler for a big example, but I would guess that the risk of crossing the road to the coffee shop to get you beans is statistcally far greater. I suspect there may be a great thesis in this for somone doing a degree on risk, or whatever ... !
I am sure that the EU would have banned the stove-top coffee pot if it were an even vaguely dangerous device!
From he who stripes his pot once a year whether it needs it or not, just to keep it in tip-top condition!
ATB from George
I am sure that the EU would have banned the stove-top coffee pot if it were an even vaguely dangerous device!
From he who stripes his pot once a year whether it needs it or not, just to keep it in tip-top condition!
ATB from George
Posted on: 19 December 2007 by Rockingdoc
quote:Originally posted by count.d:
I can, but it will cost approx £1,000. Hand drawn pressure - the only way to go for the ultimate coffee.
I quite fancy learning how to hand draw, but does the machine really have to cost a grand? I've seen them for less than half that.
Posted on: 19 December 2007 by Rockingdoc
quote:Originally posted by GFFJ:
Surely it is hard to see how a coffee ground could ever get into the safety valve. I have been using a stove-top style of machine since about 1985, and never once has this happened. To blow up the boiler part, it would also repquire a complete blockage of the filters on the enclosure holding the ground coffee. This seems no more likely to me that a con-rod in a car being thrown through the bulk-head of a [transvers engine powered] car and cutting off your leg, even though it must be possible. Of course there is a tiny risk with any boiler mechanism, whether in a stove-top or espresso type machine, or indeed even a central heating boiler for a big example, but I would guess that the risk of crossing the road to the coffee shop to get you beans is statistcally far greater. I suspect there may be a great thesis in this for somone doing a degree on risk, or whatever ... !
I am sure that the EU would have banned the stove-top coffee pot if it were an even vaguely dangerous device!
From he who stripes his pot once a year whether it needs it or not, just to keep it in tip-top condition!
ATB from George
I've seen the scars. I wouldn't have one in the house, threw it out actually. And, aren't they made of aluminium and therefore liable to cause dementia? Ah yes, that explains it.
Posted on: 19 December 2007 by Rockingdoc
quote:Originally posted by Mick Parry:
I drink expresso.
Regards
Mick
What's that then?
Posted on: 19 December 2007 by u5227470736789439
Dear Rockingdoc,
I do not doubt that you have seen the scars ...
I childhood friend od mine had a terrible scar on her forehead from a plain electic cooking plate that blew up in her face before she put a pan on it. It could have blinded her. I don't think it would be a reasonable response however, rather than an anetirely personal choice, which we are all free to make, to abandon using electric cookers.
There is pretty much a small degree risk in any activity in life.
You make an interesting point about alluminium. I remember that being in the news, and many people were wondering what to do about alluminium pans. The general response seems to have been that they carried on with the alluminium. Either it is so serious that we cannot examoine it, or not serious at all! I think it would have come back to the headlines if it were particualarly serious, but perhaps it yet will. Who knows?
My first stove-top pot was actually stainless steel, bought in about 1985, and I unfortunately left it on the plate at setting one about two years ago. I thought the plate was off, but after being out all evening the whole thing was ruined by the low heat. Then I got my current alluminium pot. This is better, because of the specific heat capacity and amount of alluminium in it, allowing for the coffee to be somewhat hotter when it gets to my cup!
WO Bentley explained this phenomenon in terms of heat conduction and specific heat capacity. He pioneered the use of Alluminium in internal combustion engines, refering to it in that application as a "coolant" [for the hot-spots] in just the same way as water!
The most horrible accident I ever came across in my life was a man killed by a baler [makes straw and hay bales], but I did not refuse to use a baler after this fatal accident. An awareness of small risk is the safest way to proceed, in minimising risk, and not simply doing nothing!
ATB from George
I do not doubt that you have seen the scars ...
I childhood friend od mine had a terrible scar on her forehead from a plain electic cooking plate that blew up in her face before she put a pan on it. It could have blinded her. I don't think it would be a reasonable response however, rather than an anetirely personal choice, which we are all free to make, to abandon using electric cookers.
There is pretty much a small degree risk in any activity in life.
You make an interesting point about alluminium. I remember that being in the news, and many people were wondering what to do about alluminium pans. The general response seems to have been that they carried on with the alluminium. Either it is so serious that we cannot examoine it, or not serious at all! I think it would have come back to the headlines if it were particualarly serious, but perhaps it yet will. Who knows?
My first stove-top pot was actually stainless steel, bought in about 1985, and I unfortunately left it on the plate at setting one about two years ago. I thought the plate was off, but after being out all evening the whole thing was ruined by the low heat. Then I got my current alluminium pot. This is better, because of the specific heat capacity and amount of alluminium in it, allowing for the coffee to be somewhat hotter when it gets to my cup!
WO Bentley explained this phenomenon in terms of heat conduction and specific heat capacity. He pioneered the use of Alluminium in internal combustion engines, refering to it in that application as a "coolant" [for the hot-spots] in just the same way as water!
The most horrible accident I ever came across in my life was a man killed by a baler [makes straw and hay bales], but I did not refuse to use a baler after this fatal accident. An awareness of small risk is the safest way to proceed, in minimising risk, and not simply doing nothing!
ATB from George