Life is too short for bad coffee - The Off Topic thread

DaveyDave

Probably a stupid question but is there much difference between single origin and espresso beans in Bell Lane? I'll be using the French press.

lawred2

caviardreams wrote: »

It's only a 200g bag so it's really €5 per standard bag.

Bell Lane have 20% off coffee till end of Jan with code JAN2020

Where can Bell Lane coffee be collected in Dublin?

caviardreams

murphyebass wrote: »

€5 is still a good value for a quality bean not roasted within an inch of its life

No, I agree. I was just clarifying as it's an unusual size bag - I don't know any other roasters who use 200g bags for example, so it makes it easier to compare.

caviardreams

cnocbui wrote: »

Not everyone lives in Dublin.

lawred2 wrote: »

Where can Bell Lane coffee be collected in Dublin?

Not sure what you are referring to cnoc - Bell Lane are in Mullingar but they sell online so ship anywhere I was only trying to help by sharing the code.

I don't think there is anywhere you can collect in Dublin Lawred, sorry.

cnocbui

caviardreams wrote: »

Not sure what you are referring to cnoc - Bell Lane are in Mullingar but they sell online so ship anywhere I was only trying to help by sharing the code.

I don't think there is anywhere you can collect in Dublin Lawred, sorry.

You were going on about the price of the Aldi coffee being incorrect and Actually being €5.00 a bag and then push an alternative that's €12 a bag with postage.

Most people in the country can just walk into Aldi and no postage cost involved.

adrian522

It's not any cheaper for people in Dublin, not sure what point you are trying to make?

DaveyDave

There's nothing wrong with having options. Not everyone wants to buy coffee online and not everyone likes Aldi coffee. It's also fair to point out its only a 200g bag in terms of pricing as it would look slightly cheaper. (also a great way to save money in the likes of Tesco with price per 100g/1kg)

I don't shop in Aldi, but I'll keep an eye out if I'm around. More than happy to shop online too as there's more variety. Whatever floats your boat.

NIMAN

Weepsie wrote: »

I tried that tandem coffee when Aldi first started selling it. Found it to be completely hock. Brought it into work where some colleagues are not remotely fussy and they wouldn't go near it

Tried it too.

Found it very weak. No body or taste really.

murphyebass

NIMAN wrote: »

Tried it too.

Found it very weak. No body or taste really.

That’s gas. I extracted a perfectly acceptable espresso from it.

Be interested to know what brew method you used

murphyebass

Weepsie wrote: »

I tried that tandem coffee when Aldi first started selling it. Found it to be completely hock. Brought it into work where some colleagues are not remotely fussy and they wouldn't go near it

Ah here would ya give over.

caviardreams

cnocbui wrote: »

You were going on about the price of the Aldi coffee being incorrect and Actually being €5.00 a bag and then push an alternative that's €12 a bag with postage.

Most people in the country can just walk into Aldi and no postage cost involved.

They were completely unrelated comments, which were posted in separate paragraphs.
I was clarifying the size of the Aldi bag (as 200g is very unusual)
I was posting a code as I often do for many roasters including Bailies for example - I wasn't "pushing" anything.

I was not making any judgment as to what the best option is for anyone. I was posting a discount code in case it is of use to people.

Hodors Appletart

we have the Tandem from a French Press, about 60g/litre I think I dose or thereabouts. It's grand.

compared to 65g/l Aeropress Bailies Xmas blend, for example, it kind of pales - but as an "everyday" coffee it ticks boxes for myself and my mrs. and for €4 (or €5 for a half pound) it's well worth seeking out imo.

the mrs likes it as an espresso double shot for a latte too.

Hodors Appletart

There are levels though.

Comapring a Bailies to supermarket coffee is apples and oranges but comparing that Tandem stuff to Lavazza Rosso or something and it's a good or better option

cnocbui

I found this interestigng: https://www.smh.com.au/national/international-scientific-study-says-your-barista-is-making-your-coffee-all-wrong-20200122-p53trn.html

I have been thinking for a while that the group head/shower screen in espresso machines, At least the ones I have seen, are too crude. They seem to assume the water will flow evenly through all holes and through the puck evenly. I suspect it doesn't, and that the water wets a path through the puck that lowers surface tension and provides a path of least resistance that a disproportionate amount of the water follows.

I have taken to starting a shot, then stopping it and waiting 15 or so seconds to let the puck wet out, and then starting it up again and proceeding as normal. I think I get a better, more coffee efficient extraction that way.

alec76

cnocbui wrote: »

I found this interestigng: https://www.smh.com.au/national/international-scientific-study-says-your-barista-is-making-your-coffee-all-wrong-20200122-p53trn.html


I have taken to starting a shot, then stopping it and waiting 15 or so seconds to let the puck wet out, and then starting it up again and proceeding as normal. I think I get a better, more coffee efficient extraction that way.

Is it pre-infusion you are talking about?

cnocbui

alec76 wrote: »

Is it pre-infusion you are talking about?

Yes, it would appear so.

alec76

I've PIDed my Silvia long time ago, have control over the pre-infusion time , pump pressure etc ... Not using these features anymore.... hardly visible difference on the shot quality though... Probably makes difference if grinds not consistent/distribution/tamping errors...

limnam

alec76 wrote: »

I've PIDed my Silvia long time ago, have control over the pre-infusion time , pump pressure etc ... Not using these features anymore.... hardly visible difference on the shot quality though... Probably makes difference if grinds not consistent/distribution/tamping errors...

is installing the PID handy?

DaveyDave

3 bags of coffee ordered from Bell Lane had a €30 MasterCard from Christmas, I think 2 might even be a bit much but got the third so I didn't have a few euro left on the card and the discount brought it down to just under €30.

Looking forward to them

Hodors Appletart

I'm going to get some Square Mile coffee, my mrs is going over to London in a few weeks to visit a friend, so I'm ordering a couple of bags to the friend's address.

Sweetshop for sure, and maybe one more.

caviardreams

DaveyDave wrote: »

3 bags of coffee ordered from Bell Lane had a €30 MasterCard from Christmas, I think 2 might even be a bit much but got the third so I didn't have a few euro left on the card and the discount brought it down to just under €30.

Looking forward to them

What did you go for? I really like the blacktie and dragonfly. Always nice trying new ones though. Keep meaning to give square mile a try - especially sweetshop - sounds ðŸ˜

Richard Roma

caviardreams wrote: »

What did you go for? I really like the blacktie and dragonfly. Always nice trying new ones though. Keep meaning to give square mile a try - especially sweetshop - sounds ðŸ˜

They were selling bags of Square Mile last time I was in Wigwam (Dublin).

cnocbui

Coincidentally, a box turned up today with 2.25 kg of beans from Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Peru and Costa Rica.

DaveyDave

caviardreams wrote: »

What did you go for? I really like the blacktie and dragonfly. Always nice trying new ones though. Keep meaning to give square mile a try - especially sweetshop - sounds ðŸ˜

Finca Le Soledad, Beriti Tore and Kawa Kanzuru.

Was torn between Kawa Kanzuru and Moondust or Black Tie but those were espresso beans and the others had filter option. Not sure if it makes much difference for the press.

Looking forward to them

Squidgy Black

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

I'm going to get some Square Mile coffee, my mrs is going over to London in a few weeks to visit a friend, so I'm ordering a couple of bags to the friend's address.

Sweetshop for sure, and maybe one more.

Big fan of Red Brick personally. Preferred it to sweetshop.

Cyrusmekon

cnocbui wrote: »

I found this interestigng: https://www.smh.com.au/national/international-scientific-study-says-your-barista-is-making-your-coffee-all-wrong-20200122-p53trn.html

I have been thinking for a while that the group head/shower screen in espresso machines, At least the ones I have seen, are too crude. They seem to assume the water will flow evenly through all holes and through the puck evenly. I suspect it doesn't, and that the water wets a path through the puck that lowers surface tension and provides a path of least resistance that a disproportionate amount of the water follows.

I have taken to starting a shot, then stopping it and waiting 15 or so seconds to let the puck wet out, and then starting it up again and proceeding as normal. I think I get a better, more coffee efficient extraction that way.

Nice article, must try the 6 bar pressure shot.

Hodors Appletart

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Big fan of Red Brick personally. Preferred it to sweetshop.

nice one I'll get both

Fantacoffee

Saw this new Coffee Roaster Finder on my favourite Gustatory's website. Here's their finder page for Ireland: https://www.gustatory.co/pages/coffee-roasters-of-wales-and-republic-of-ireland

They just launched it I think. Might be worth a gander.

For me, I am a subscriber to their subs and Ireland's Cloud Picker and Calendar are featuring in Feb!

Hodors Appletart

Cloud Picker do good stuff, had it in a coffee shop where I used to work.

caviardreams

Fantacoffee wrote: »

Saw this new Coffee Roaster Finder on my favourite Gustatory's website. Here's their finder page for Ireland: https://www.gustatory.co/pages/coffee-roasters-of-wales-and-republic-of-ireland

They just launched it I think. Might be worth a gander.

For me, I am a subscriber to their subs and Ireland's Cloud Picker and Calendar are featuring in Feb!

That finder page is nifty - thank for sharing.

Hadn't come across calendar before, very interesting - a bit pricey mind you!