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

Always full fat milk, it stretches and froths better. Also keep your milk jug in the freezer so it's really cold

Bigbooty

For plant based milk oatly barista is the most popular and rightly so. Rebel kitchen mylk was also developed specifically for coffee but I've yet to get my hands on it. James Hoffman(peace be upon him) was involved in it. Think minor figures oat milk is also quite good.

insert name here 123

Thanks all, I will try the recommendations.

Hodors Appletart

Bigbooty wrote: »

For plant based milk oatly barista is the most popular and rightly so. Rebel kitchen mylk was also developed specifically for coffee but I've yet to get my hands on it. James Hoffman(peace be upon him) was involved in it. Think minor figures oat milk is also quite good.

Hodors Appletart

Couple of little coffee items arrived for me today

First up, a new rubber seal for the Aeropress which I ordered from Amazon.de about 3 weeks ago.

I also ordered some Reusable Filters for the Clever Dripper, also from Germany, but direct from the place that makes them, took about a week.

They are currently boiling away as instructions tell you to do that before use.

Just made my first Aero in about a month.

Hodors Appletart

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

They are currently boiling away as instructions tell you to do that before use..

:eek:

I bleeding forgot about these, the water boiled off and almost caused my kitchen to burn down

cnocbui

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

:eek:

I bleeding forgot about these, the water boiled off and almost caused my kitchen to burn down

I love the timer on my induction stove that repeatedly saves me from myself.

Hodors Appletart

I used the reusable hemp filters in the clever for the first time this morning

couple of things I noticed.

Using my usual grind the drip time was way quicker so I need to grind finer I think

there was also a weird taste, I'd boiled and then dried the filters as instructed

I adjusted the grind size for my second cup, it still ran through very quickly, but the taste is gone. Lots of sludge though

going to grab a bag of cheap beans and experiment

Hodors Appletart

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

I used the reusable hemp filters in the clever for the first time this morning

couple of things I noticed.

Using my usual grind the drip time was way quicker so I need to grind finer I think

there was also a weird taste, I'd boiled and then dried the filters as instructed

I adjusted the grind size for my second cup, it still ran through very quickly, but the taste is gone. Lots of sludge though

going to grab a bag of cheap beans and experiment

I just can't get to grips with the reusable filters at all, they drip way too quickly, and don't filter fine enough so the cup is always sludgy - I've tried using two filters but it's the same, and again this morning there was a weird metallic taste from my first cup.

I've been rinsing the filters immediately after each use, and then before each cup.

I'll continue on with them, but I'm on the verge of giving up

cnocbui

Weepsie wrote: »

Anyone here have and/or used a flair at all?

Tempted by one but unsure if I should get the neo which is the most forgiving and cheapest, or classic/signature which are more expensive or the pro which is possibly unnecessary entirely.

I've an original Rok presso and I like it and have upgrades it but waiting on new bayonet screws to arrive for it.

I don't understand how these types of devices are supposed to work, can someone fill me in? I get the mechanical principles perfectly, but I don't understand how these srts of things can extract coffee with water thats at 92°C.

To get a warm cup of coffe from my espresso machine I have to boil water in the microwave, run it through the filter holder into my ss cup - twice - pop the filter into the now warm water and put that back in the microwave and boil again and repeat before loading the grounds, emptying the hot water from the cup and running a shot before everything cools down

So how do these presses not suck all the heat out of the water almost instantly?

stuchyg

Iv been thinking of getting a flair myself. Isnthere anywhere in Europe they can be bought, likely to get hit on customs otherwise

Squidgy Black

stuchyg wrote: »

Iv been thinking of getting a flair myself. Isnthere anywhere in Europe they can be bought, likely to get hit on customs otherwise

Coffee24.de are the german distributor and they ship to Ireland

stuchyg

Weepsie wrote: »

I found a super deal for a flair pro on eBay, and thought I had delivery from UK sussed, but now PayPal and eBay are blocking me from adding a new UK address completely now.

F*ckin Brexit.

Maxicoffee in France have the neo in white for 130 delivered

Is that ebay or direct via site

Krusty_Clown

cnocbui wrote: »

but I don't understand how these srts of things can extract coffee with water thats at 92°C.

To get a warm cup of coffe from my espresso machine I have to boil water in the microwave, run it through the filter holder into my ss cup - twice - pop the filter into the now warm water and put that back in the microwave and boil again and repeat before loading the grounds, emptying the hot water from the cup and running a shot before everything cools down

Are you talking about 92°C in the cup? Seems like a very lengthy process for an espresso machine with a price tag north of €1k. I have the PID on my Sylvia set to maintain the water temperature at 106°C (equivalent brew water temperature around 96°C). It runs on a smart timer and is timed to start heating at 7:30am for a first cup at 8am. A quick flush into the cup while grinding the beans and it's ready to go. Espresso shot is around 70°C, which is just about drinkable temperature. Steam gets up to about 155°C in about 30 seconds, for milky drinks (single boiler machine). Are you trying to get your shots much hotter than 70°C?

cnocbui

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Are you talking about 92°C in the cup? Seems like a very lengthy process for an espresso machine with a price tag north of €1k. I have the PID on my Sylvia set to maintain the water temperature at 106°C (equivalent brew water temperature around 96°C). It runs on a smart timer and is timed to start heating at 7:30am for a first cup at 8am. A quick flush into the cup while grinding the beans and it's ready to go. Espresso shot is around 70°C, which is just about drinkable temperature. Steam gets up to about 155°C in about 30 seconds, for milky drinks (single boiler machine). Are you trying to get your shots much hotter than 70°C?

No, I'm trying to warm the metal bits that otherwise cool down the shots. The water going through the grounds is at the right temp but then it hits the cold mass of brass that is the filter holder then it's further cooled by the SS cup.

I am in a very hard water area so I am using distilled water in my machine, so This is the alternative to just running water through the machine, given the tap water is more plentiful than the distilled.

It sounds like a bother but It's not really as I just run the preheat water in the microwave while I wait the minute or so for the machine to heat up after switching it on.

No doubt I'm about to get flak for using distilled, but most people don't know about masking or believe it doesn't apply to them.

Pen Rua

I was lurking on this forum the other day, and I saw an Aeropress recipe and I can't find it since. I feel like it's starring right at me. I recall the poster saying steep for 2+ mins, and then another poster saying that was too long for their taste. Where is it hiding?!

adrian522

I was the one saying I wouldn't do it for that long.

I use a modified version of the Blue bottle recipe. It's quick and works for me.

I use 16g ground coffee and use water off the boil.

https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/aeropress

Pen Rua

adrian522 wrote: »

I was the one saying I wouldn't do it for that long.

I use a modified version of the Blue bottle recipe. It's quick and works for me.

I use 16g ground coffee and use water off the boil.

https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/aeropress

Thanks! I go back and forth between a moka pot and Aeropress - back on my Aeropress kick. Have always used the scoop and eyeballed it, but James Hoffman's videos have convinced me to try aim for consistency with a scale (even if the one I have isn't to point-one of a gram)

adrian522

Yeah, filter is a lot more forgiving than espresso in that regard.

I weigh out the coffee alright, but then just cover the grounds from the kettle in the first step and then top up the aeropress in the second pour.

Hodors Appletart

It's me

for my aero I use

15g medium fine grind

inverted method

put in the coffee, then add 30g of water just off the boil - stir and bloom for 30-45 seconds then top up the water to 250g, steep for a further 2mins and then press slowly

The Nal

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

It's me

for my aero I use

15g medium fine grind

inverted method

put in the coffee, then add 30g of water just off the boil - stir and bloom for 30-45 seconds then top up the water to 250g, steep for a further 2mins and then press slowly

Recently bought myself one and am currently enjoying a post lunch cup done exactly as above. Delish. And strong!

Krusty_Clown

cnocbui wrote: »

No doubt I'm about to get flak for using distilled, but most people don't know about masking or believe it doesn't apply to them.

You can make your coffee with lukewarm custard if that's what makes you happy. Coffee is such an individual appreciation (my wife and I enjoy completely different coffee experiences) that I always cringe a little when I read about posters telling other posters they're wrong about their bean choice or what they like and dislike. I was more interested in your coffee regime. Incorporating a microwave would represent a nightmare for me, but coffee seems to me as much about the pursuit of perfection, as the taste, so you do you!

Pen Rua

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

It's me

for my aero I use

15g medium fine grind

inverted method

put in the coffee, then add 30g of water just off the boil - stir and bloom for 30-45 seconds then top up the water to 250g, steep for a further 2mins and then press slowly

adrian522 wrote: »

I was the one saying I wouldn't do it for that long.

I use a modified version of the Blue bottle recipe. It's quick and works for me.

I use 16g ground coffee and use water off the boil.

https://bluebottlecoffee.com/preparation-guides/aeropress

Both methods shared here were great, and streets ahead of my attempt following the instructions on Aeropress' own website.

My kitchen scale doesn't go to 0.1g, so I'm losing some accuracy there. I also found it hard to measure the exact water in the first addition, and I went over in both cases.

Hodors Appletart

a scale that does 1g is ok for my recipe


I don't understand why you had issues there?

Colonel Claptrap

Show me your setup.

I'll show you mine.

Pen Rua

Hodors Appletart wrote: »

a scale that does 1g is ok for my recipe


I don't understand why you had issues there?

I'm not finding issues in the increments for sure, I just had previously read a scale going in 0.1g increments if preferred. My scale does lag and it is slow to update. So by the time I think I've poured Xg of water, it's actually Yg.

Hodors Appletart

ah right, yeah a lag is going to be problematic, but you could pour slower the when you get close to the desired amount stop and then go really slowly

cnocbui

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

Show me your setup.

I'll show you mine.

If you insist.

The Nal

Colonel Claptrap wrote: »

Show me your setup.

DaveyDave

Anyone know a place to get a proper coffee around Santry/DCU? With word of outdoor visits possibly coming back I'd be meeting up with a friend outside for a walk and a coffee.

Only decent coffee places I know are in and around the city centre but not familiar with anything North of the Liffey.