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Mu Zeta posted:I'm dumping my V60 in the trash nosleep posted:Yep. Makes me want to go out and make coffee in a rusty metal pot over a bonfire just to do as close to the exact opposite of that as possible. dik-dik posted:That's it. I'm leaving this hobby. God loving dammit. Google Butt posted:someone start the tea thread Tiny Chalupa posted:This is why people think we are nuts for liking good coffee. This poo poo is the reason we can't have nice things I agree that he should have used a scale and not a measuring spoon, but you guys are harsh!
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Nov 19, 2015 18:10
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| # ? Jun 5, 2024 04:22 |
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First - I WANT that roaster. Ok, so I'm looking for a decent hand-grinder, something I can casually do one cup with, mainly for testing and tasting. I see this Porlex . Has anyone used it, or have a better recommendation?
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Nov 19, 2015 22:09
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I have the mini porlex and it's perfectly fine for pour over.
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Nov 19, 2015 22:27
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http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35 This makes for a really great stovetop roaster. Especially if you use some pliers to bend the poo poo out of one of the hinges so that you can see your beans while you roast them. Cast Iron Brick fucked around with this message at 23:48 on Nov 19, 2015 |
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Nov 19, 2015 23:20
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Mu Zeta posted:I have the mini porlex and it's perfectly fine for pour over.
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Nov 19, 2015 23:25
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I tried to get into espresso but I ended up losing interest pretty quick. No biggie, I sold the Crossland CC1 machine but I kept my Baratza Vario because I figured hey, it should be pretty good. Well, I have zero desire to get into espresso again and I'm sitting here looking at a $400 grinder that I use for coffee on the weekends via French Press, Chemex, or Aeropress...I think the Vario is overkill so I found someone off Craigslist to buy it for $350. I have a CCD and Capresso Infinity at work, hence the need for only needing something on the weekends. Now I'm in the market for a new grinder. Any suggestions? I've toyed with the Lido 2, but I don't know if I'll feel like hand grinding and if it will be an appreciable difference over what I can get out of an Encore or Virtuouso. I'd like to keep the grinder under $200, lower the better.
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Nov 19, 2015 23:36
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Cast Iron Brick posted:http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35 How much smoke do you get with this?
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Nov 20, 2015 00:25
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Syncopated posted:How much smoke do you get with this? A lot. You're going to need a good kitchen vent and probably a box fan.
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Nov 20, 2015 02:42
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Cast Iron Brick posted:http://www.amazon.com/Wabash-Valley-Farms-Whirley-Pop-Stovetop/dp/B00004SU35 or just tape one of the doors open?  Anyway yeah this is a great way to home roast as long as you have a way to deal with the smoke. Sweet Maria's has some very good directions for how to go about doing it
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Nov 20, 2015 02:59
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Stovetop Whirley-Pop 4 lyfe. I turn my hood exhaust on high and point a box fan out the kitchen window to manage the smoke.
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Nov 20, 2015 03:21
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Get a propane burner and do it outside!
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Nov 20, 2015 04:49
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nwin posted:I tried to get into espresso but I ended up losing interest pretty quick. No biggie, I sold the Crossland CC1 machine but I kept my Baratza Vario because I figured hey, it should be pretty good. If you're just making filter (and not, say, Turkish) there is zero reason not to get an Encore. It'll do the job perfectly well, and it's well under your budget.
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Nov 20, 2015 14:28
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nwin posted:I tried to get into espresso but I ended up losing interest pretty quick. No biggie, I sold the Crossland CC1 machine but I kept my Baratza Vario because I figured hey, it should be pretty good. I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with JohnCompany a little bit. The Encore burrs and the Preciso burrs (which are used in the Virtuoso 586) are very different, and the amount of fines produced on coarser grinds varies wildly between the two. Since you say you do both press pot and Chemex - both of which are at least somewhat sensitive to fines - I think you would be happier spending a little bit more and getting the Virtuoso. Don't just take my word for it, do some Googling for "encore vs virtuoso" and make an informed decision. The Breville Smart Grinder is probably also worth looking at. I see a black version on Amazon for $169.99. A lot of people really like that grinder, including many folks in this thread.
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Nov 20, 2015 15:52
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becoming posted:The Encore burrs and the Preciso burrs (which are used in the Virtuoso 586) are very different, and the amount of fines produced on coarser grinds varies wildly between the two. Since you say you do both press pot and Chemex - both of which are at least somewhat sensitive to fines - I think you would be happier spending a little bit more and getting the Virtuoso. Don't just take my word for it, do some Googling for "encore vs virtuoso" and make an informed decision. This is 100% true. Virtuoso is much better than the Encore for brewed coffee, especially if you need a larger grind size. I think refurbs from Baratza come in at under $200.
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Nov 21, 2015 02:06
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dik-dik posted:What up, STL Buddy! Just found out that I'll be working afternoons at the Ladue location at Northwest. If you come by, I'm the fat goon with an insufferable mustache.
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Nov 21, 2015 02:12
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Which cafe are you working at?
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Reading the coffee nerd forums, I shouldn't attempt to use my Vario for both filter and espresso, as constantly changing settings is likely to wear it out, and make it hard to dial back in perfectly. I'm not so worried about dialing it back in perfectly, but I don't want to break my grinder. It seems silly to me that a $400 grinder wouldn't be able to handle changing settings, and I assume this is just the internet being the internet, but then again, this is also the grinder that even after tearing it apart and putting shims on the sliders, still needs the sliders held by hand while grinding to stop it from changing settings on it's own. Any thoughts? I'm not trying to use it to run a cafe or anything, just switching to a coarse grind if we wake up and decide both of us are too lazy to make espresso.
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Nov 21, 2015 19:52
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Kreez posted:Reading the coffee nerd forums, I shouldn't attempt to use my Vario for both filter and espresso, as constantly changing settings is likely to wear it out, and make it hard to dial back in perfectly. I'm not so worried about dialing it back in perfectly, but I don't want to break my grinder. It seems silly to me that a $400 grinder wouldn't be able to handle changing settings, and I assume this is just the internet being the internet, but then again, this is also the grinder that even after tearing it apart and putting shims on the sliders, still needs the sliders held by hand while grinding to stop it from changing settings on it's own. Baratza advertises this feature, but the reality is dialing in an espresso grinder every time you use it really sucks, even for grinders that can easily be adjusted over a large range. Ideally you want one grinder for espresso that is left dialed in, and a second grinder for other methods. Moving the setting back and forth shouldn't damage the grinder, but keep in mind if you use it with the hopper full (i.e. not grinding individual weighed doses), you must run the grinder and grind coffee while you adjust it finer. The Vario also doesn't predictably return to exactly the same setting, which means sink shots getting it dialed in again. The end result is a lot of wastage as well as less consistent results with all brew methods.
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Nov 21, 2015 21:18
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Is the OP still up to date for espresso? I'm hitting the point where I'd like to take my daily habit into the kitchen, but not really sure exactly where to start.
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Nov 22, 2015 09:18
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Falcon2001 posted:Is the OP still up to date for espresso? I'm hitting the point where I'd like to take my daily habit into the kitchen, but not really sure exactly where to start. What's your price point? Do you have a grinder already and if so which one?
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Nov 22, 2015 16:19
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rockcity posted:What's your price point? Do you have a grinder already and if so which one? Probably up to around $600, I think I might have a burr grinder kicking around somewhere but I haven't used it in a few years, and it was likely a cheap one.
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Nov 22, 2015 23:10
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Falcon2001 posted:Probably up to around $600, I think I might have a burr grinder kicking around somewhere but I haven't used it in a few years, and it was likely a cheap one. Then I'd look at something like a Gaggia Classic and a Baratza Virtuoso or the Breville Smart Grinder.
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Nov 23, 2015 00:06
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Staying in espresso-newbie land but bumping up the budget a little bit, is the BDB (920) still tough to beat without spending $2k or more? Once I finish my kitchen, I'd like to get an espresso machine. Let's say the budget is $2k not including the grinder, which I'll buy separately. I've been reading really great things about the Breville BES920XL, and even though it's only $1300, many folks say they'd take it over machines costing much more. [ Edited to add - I could potentially plumb one in too, as that section of the kitchen isn't finished at all and I do plan on putting a sink right near the coffee area, so the discussion does not need to be limited to tank-fill only units. ] Second question is, with a BDB or better machine, am I likely to benefit substantially from a better-than-a-Vario grinder? I expect that the answer is "yes" but would like confirmation from folks that actually know what the gently caress they're talking about. I like espresso, and like anyone with a working tongue I can taste the difference between awful espresso and not-awful espresso. I'd like to make not-awful espresso at home. becoming fucked around with this message at 00:22 on Nov 23, 2015 |
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Nov 23, 2015 00:19
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becoming posted:Staying in espresso-newbie land but bumping up the budget a little bit, is the BDB (920) still tough to beat without spending $2k or more? Once I finish my kitchen, I'd like to get an espresso machine. Let's say the budget is $2k not including the grinder, which I'll buy separately. I've been reading really great things about the Breville BES920XL, and even though it's only $1300, many folks say they'd take it over machines costing much more. I bought the BES920XL last year around black friday from Overstock, I believe they had a blanket 15% off coupon. I have a Baratza Vario and have really enjoyed the setup. I think even with a virtuoso and gaggia classic you are in "not-awful" espresso territory. The BDB/Vario is drat good. I think the BDB/Vario combo is a good spot where you are getting diminishing returns above this price point. When I was looking at grinders again I found that I would have to spend ~9-1200 to make a grinder upgrade worth it vs the Vario, but i'd be interested if you find other information. I think the BDB has a lot of quality of life features that you don't get right out of the box with those beautiful stainless italian machines at the same price: dual boiler, PID, timer to turn itself on, and "clean me" reminder based on number of shots. The BDB thread on coffee-geek mention that a $329 service should be expected every 4 years or so. Overall would buy again.
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Nov 23, 2015 02:02
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becoming posted:Staying in espresso-newbie land but bumping up the budget a little bit, is the BDB (920) still tough to beat without spending $2k or more? Once I finish my kitchen, I'd like to get an espresso machine. Let's say the budget is $2k not including the grinder, which I'll buy separately. I've been reading really great things about the Breville BES920XL, and even though it's only $1300, many folks say they'd take it over machines costing much more. The BDB is great except when it comes to reliability (at least in my admittedly anecdotal experience!). Mine broke within the year, and my friend is on his 3rd in under two years. Breville service is great if you are under the 1-year warranty, but don't expect a ton of help if you're outside it.
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Nov 23, 2015 02:49
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I ended up getting a cheap frothing kettle and a moka pot, good combo IMO. I'm sad that apparently soy milk doesn't froth for poo poo though.
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Nov 23, 2015 05:21
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Kreez posted:I don't want to break my grinder Wowporn posted:I'm sad that apparently soy milk doesn't froth for poo poo though.
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Nov 23, 2015 18:30
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Wowporn posted:I ended up getting a cheap frothing kettle and a moka pot, good combo IMO. I'm sad that apparently soy milk doesn't froth for poo poo though. It hardly froths for poo poo with a proper steam wand, honestly. gently caress, it'll actually condense.
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Nov 23, 2015 18:45
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Obligatory Toast posted:It hardly froths for poo poo with a proper steam wand, honestly. gently caress, it'll actually condense. Yeah I've had very little success steaming both soy and almond milk.
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Nov 23, 2015 18:55
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So after playing around with using my Vario for drip coffee, it's objectively terrible at it anyway. There's so much fine espresso grind dust mixed in with the kosher salt sized coffee chunks that my CCD never actually gets anywhere near draining unless I sit there like an idiot stirring it the entire time. Still brilliant for espresso though. I guess I have to decide whether to steal my Virtuoso back from my parents. They're finally at the point that they actually appreciate better tasting coffee enough to use it every morning instead of using preground, but probably not at the point where they would go out and buy a grinder if I took theirs away. Maybe I'll buy them a cheap burr grinder for Christmas. bizwank posted:Sounds like your grinder is already broken, but I doubt adjusting the grind is what did it. I've had a Vario for 4-5 years and adjust the hell out of it pretty regularly (use it to test a lot of "theories") and have never seen anything like this. Kreez fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Nov 23, 2015 |
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Nov 23, 2015 19:10
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Being able to use the CCD with fines is one of the reasons I love it. I've poured onto the middle of my fine grinds with some force then circle it out which makes the grind stick to the filter all the way up and it drains properly. I try to avoid changing the grind with my Vario so I use a constant 9 for my aeropress, moca and that.
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Nov 23, 2015 19:46
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Obligatory Toast posted:It hardly froths for poo poo with a proper steam wand, honestly. gently caress, it'll actually condense. It also burns easily and is disgusting when it does. D:
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Nov 23, 2015 19:53
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I've seen some "barista" formulations of soy/almond milk around. No idea if they're better or not, but looking at fine dining foams I'm sure there's a way of doing it that'll work.
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Nov 23, 2015 20:43
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AriTheDog posted:I've seen some "barista" formulations of soy/almond milk around. No idea if they're better or not, but looking at fine dining foams I'm sure there's a way of doing it that'll work. We use Pacific barista soy and almond at work, and it works quite well. It's still not the same as dairy, but it can make a tasty drink.
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Nov 24, 2015 03:24
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rockcity posted:Yeah I've had very little success steaming both soy and almond milk. I froth soy regularly for my wife's favorite abomination, soy chai latte. I'm using a Silvia with whatever default tip was on the wand 5 years ago.
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Nov 24, 2015 03:31
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ChickenArise posted:It also burns easily and is disgusting when it does. D: Yeah it did make a cool brown layer of gak on the bottom of the thing. ChiaPetOutletStore posted:We use Pacific barista soy and almond at work, and it works quite well. It's still not the same as dairy, but it can make a tasty drink. Good to know thanks. I like fake milk because I don't use milk in enough stuff to buy normal milk without it going bad, and i'm a hippie so I'd be wasting expensive fancy organic nice to cows poo poo.
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Nov 24, 2015 03:36
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porktree posted:I froth soy regularly for my wife's favorite abomination, soy chai latte. I'm using a Silvia with whatever default tip was on the wand 5 years ago. To be fair, I haven't tried using soy milk since I switched to my Silvia from a Gaggia Classic. I did try almond milk with the Silvia and had pretty mixed results though.
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Nov 24, 2015 05:12
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I used to work a place that offered Soy, Almond, Lactose-reduced and rice milk. Soy and Almond foams beautifully compared to rice milk, and the people who ordered it were pretty used to it not being foamy. Smelled nice, though.
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Nov 24, 2015 06:28
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From the Amazon Black Friday thread: Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker down to $23.99
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Nov 27, 2015 15:38
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I have been to coffee houses with little signs explaining that they don't have soy milk, only almond milk, because soy milk is Bad and they don't want anyone putting it in their coffee. It's an impressive commitment to principles, but I've always wondered, how full of poo poo were they? As a filthy nordic cream-drinker, I wouldn't know the difference.
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Nov 27, 2015 17:39
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| # ? Jun 5, 2024 04:22 |
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There are claims that soy and soy products can have negative health effects. For what it's worth I find high quality almond milk to compliment coffee significantly better than soy. Cashew milk too for that matter. This is all in reference to steamed mind you.
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Nov 28, 2015 11:23
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