RE: Coffee Connoisseurs

Love me coffee, particularly espresso. Found the best way was to grind the beans and use a decent stovetop coffee maker, best ever, cost twenty or thirty quid. Downside, probably makes too much in one batch. Upside, you can try a variety of coffees.

However I’ve reverted to a machine that uses the Dolche Gusto pods - the espresso is decent enough, but you can get a ‘cup thingy’ that you can put your own grinds in to make your own.
 
Depends what you want, but if you drink foamed milk drinks then you need a machine with a decent steam wand included and learn to steam the milk yourself - it's pretty easy with a little bit of practice.

There's loads of reviews on YouTube, but I went for a Sage machine, they seem to have a good balance between value and usability.

Oh, and never buy supermarket beans, always get freshly roasted, otherwise you'll end up with cold horrible bog water!
 
Jonny Ingbar said:
Depends what you want, but if you drink foamed milk drinks then you need a machine with a decent steam wand included and learn to steam the milk yourself - it's pretty easy with a little bit of practice.

There's loads of reviews on YouTube, but I went for a Sage machine, they seem to have a good balance between value and usability.

Oh, and never buy supermarket beans, always get freshly roasted, otherwise you'll end up with cold horrible bog water!
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Or you can get a Nespresso milk frothing jug. Stick the milk in and press a button without messing with a foaming arm.

We have an entry level B2C machine. Does the job. Word of warning about B2C though, they are a b****d to clean.
 
atypical_boro said:
Or you can get a Nespresso milk frothing jug. Stick the milk in and press a button without messing with a foaming arm.

We have an entry level B2C machine. Does the job. Word of warning about B2C though, they are a b****d to clean.
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Yes, that's a good option, but not if you want proper micro foam for a latte or flat white, but it will make a decent cappuccino milk.

All depends on what you want to drink I suppose.
 
I have a Nespresso, a grinder, stove top, and a cafetiere. Been looking at a Sage machine but I can't justify it at the moment without getting rid of the rest but the Nespresso is too convenient. I only use it for espresso but it is a latissima so does milky coffee but not as well as a proper steam wand would do I presume.

If you are getting a grinder make sure it is burr and not blade. I'm never fully happy with my cafetiere, been tempted by an aeropress but think I'm just going to wait until I can fit this in the kitchen somewhere https://amzn.eu/d/0K4BsyS
 
Client of mine has the Smeg BCC02 which he raves about and does make a great coffee, it also looks really good .. I’m trying to justify getting one myself!
 
We are not into crushing coffee beans but do have a Bialleti and use a Lavazza Espresso pre ground coffee that we bring back from France - it is a third of the price.

The Bialleti leaves a lovely aroma of fresh coffee that you don’t seem to get from a machine.
 
Talking of coffee the doc has told me to stay off caffeine for a while. Anybody got good tips on the best decaf? Taylor’s coffee for the cafetière is the best I’ve found so far.
 
I have this one
De'Longhi Eletta ECAM 44.660.B Bean to Cup

I love it, It is £500+ but we got ours a few years ago via amazon warehouse. It was basically open box and got it for £270. Best buy I've made. Drinking a strong latte right now.. My wife is having a flat white.
 
Only drink coffee black, so not bothered about frothers, although the attachment to the espresso machine does the job when needed.

Can't be chewed with grinding either (worktop space and hassle) but I buy coffee from a local cafe that roast and grind their own. They normally grind when I come to collect and I get through a bag a week anyway, so it's usually pretty fresh anyway.

Espresso machine is a Dualit, really pleased with it and it looks great, especially next to the toaster. Have used stove top (moka pot) and aeropress in the past, rate both but the machine is the only way to get crema, so that's the ideal.
 
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