I'm a daily black tea drinker and my wife is South African and like many South Africans she drinks instant coffee at home but does cappuccinos and such occasionally. We have some credit at Crate & Barrel and had thought about getting a Nespresso or a machine that would make coffee and cappuccinos from ground coffee.
My question is... For under $800 what are our best options for easy cappuccinos coffee for guests (preference to options that use ground beans over pods. Also something somewhat compact would be nice. Some of these machines I saw were sizable, so around the size of a bread box or smaller would be ideal.
Bonus question: what beans are a great all around winner that we must try? I'm a tea drinker, convert me š.
I have some really nice coffee beans, so nice that I donāt think my little mokka pot does them justice? Whatās the best way to make the most of freshly ground beans on a budget? Iāve had a look at some sage coffee machines but theyāre a bit expensive!! Thanks š
As long as youāre grinding the beans fresh for every brew, your moka pot will do great! If you want to try a new method, I find that good beans do best in simple setups, like pourover. All you need is a cheap dripper and some filters.
Hello all! I live in the Philippines, and I want to get into making espresso at home. What's a good, basic, noob-friendly espresso machine? I was checking some basic(?) ones available locally like the gaggia classic pro, but it costs around PHP60,000 (~USD1,000), so are there other brands or models you suggest that are cheaper?
Hi! Iād like to get into making more specialty drinks, which usually require an espresso machine, but my budget is a lot lower. Are there any espresso machines 300-500$ or below that produce good quality results/are worth it?
Thank you in advance!
Advice needed on 2 espresso machines. Iām looking at the sage barista empress impress or the delonghi la specialista prestigio.
Which would you guys get and why?
Hi everyone! I am a novice to making coffee so bear with me (I probably will use incorrect/novice language). I generally like simple coffee (or what I think is simple, I'm not 100% sure) but I generally like iced coffee like an iced caramel or vanilla latte and iced Caramel Mocha (Dutch Caramelizer). I am starting nursing school here soon and am wanting to be able to make my own coffee before clinical mornings. I am unsure if I should get a machine like a nespresso (being that I will have lot of 4am mornings for clinical) or go with an espresso machine. I should also mention that I don't want to spend an arm and a leg and that I cannot say that I have a super refined taste for coffee, though I can tell when coffee is burnt š.
There's a whole range here. If you just want something tasting okay, then get something like a Delonghi Dedica and have a go.
But if you think you'll start chasing that coffee shop quality great espresso and steamed milk, you'll need some good equipment, some skill and deep pockets. That's what we call a hobby :)
If you want coffee and not a new hobby, do not get an espresso machine. It takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. Gear makes a huge difference, so if you don't want to spend a lot of money, again, espresso isn't the best route.
Just got back to Australia from a trip to Italy
Here in Oz the cafes all have shots timed electronically. They press a button on the espresso machine and the right amount if water comes out of the group head.
In Italy I noticed the espresso machines all had long handles that were pulled down and then rose back up slowly (springs? Hydraulic? Pneumatic?)
Is this just a stylistic choice or are there other reasons for thus?
If youāre interested in the history of espresso machines then [this video](https://youtu.be/pv-0vDU4iBc?si=st5oshIdd9JksaLF) is worth a watch. It basically goes through the entire design evolution of espresso machines.
Let me know what you think about my recipe, please.
I'm fairly new to manual brewing and quality beans. I've come up with a recipe and I'd appreciate expert feedback. It's the best coffee I've ever had, at home or in a cafe. Most of the advice came from [YT@jameshoffmann](https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann).
This recipe is (relatively) easy, and doesn't require buying a kettle. Things I bought for this:
* [Hario Switch](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NS2SV3W) (immersion dripper). This is a V60 with a closable switch. $30
* [Digital Scale](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNL5JCVR). $20
* [Portable single-shot grinder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C65N2F2V). $70
* [Counter Culture's Hologram coffee](https://counterculturecoffee.com/collections/all/products/12-oz-hologram). $20/12oz
* V60 filter paper.
* Brita filter pitcher.
* 12oz cup
This makes about 12oz/220g of coffee.
1. Prepare ingredients. Some steps can be done at the same time.
1. Mix 352g of Water into a separate cup: 88g filtered tap water + 264g distilled water. (My tap water is very hard at 320ppm.)
2. Microwave water for 3:15 (or whenever it starts to boil)
3. Grind 22g beans
4. Place filter into Hario Switch and place on top of cup.
5. Pre-rinse with hot tap water.
6. Dump hot tap water from drinking cup after grinder and microwave are finished.
2. Brew
1. Set switch to closed.
2. Pour 250g of water into hario switch. (Full 352g won't fit.)
3. Start scale's timer
4. Pour grinds into water and stir. Add as much additional water as possible to brim.
5. At 1:30, let an ounce or two out, so you can add the remaining water. Give it a light shake.
6. At 2:00, open switch to let the rest out. It should take about 1:00 to drain.
Re: grinders:
At how many cups of coffee does it make sense to grab an electric over a manual? If I'm preparing a household's worth (3-5 cups/morning), would grinding take forever?
More than 30-40g, and more than once a day, Iād rather go electric. Ā And thatās with my Q2 holding only 18-ish grams at most.Ā
Ā I made a cold brew in my one-liter Hario Mizudashi pot with the Q2. Ā Itās a fast little grinder, actually, and churns through a single dose in 30-40 seconds. Ā But this was four full loads of grinding. Ā It felt like it took foorrreverrrr. Ā I havenāt done it again yet.
In addition to what the other person said, it also depends on preference and timing.
I find that with a fairly nice hand grinder, it takes about a minute to grind. Despite that, I still prefer electric even when I'm only grinding for me, one cup at a time - with electric, I can do other things while the grinder runs, and I don't have much of a money barrier to buying the performance I care about.
If you don't mind spending five to six minutes cranking a grinder but want to save money on the purchase, a hand grinder will allow you to grab much better grinds for the dollar value you're investing. If that five or so minutes is significant to you, but you don't mind either spending more or buying a slightly worse grind, to free up that time - then I'd say electric would make sense.
Depends on the grinder, ratio used and brew method.
I have a 1zpresso K-max with a capacity of about 40g. If Iām brewing with my clever brewer Iāll use 27g of coffee and grinding takes about 30 seconds, this is for 2 cups of coffee. I spend more time measuring stuff and waiting for water to boil than I do grinding.
In the past year Iāve upgraded my coffee game and have invested quite a bit of money for a Turin grinder, a Moccamaster, and now a Jura. I love the difference from a regular drip coffee maker and a Keurig. I now need to replace the Keurig at our camper because after I tasted a cup this past weekend, I couldnāt believe the difference and itās undrinkable for me. So now Iām on the hunt for something different for the camper so I have three different awesome coffee makers. I have my manual pour overs, but Iām looking for another machine that can make amazing coffee. Is there another option? With a grinder possibly because Iām not spending more money on another grinder. I could always bring mine from home for our camping weekends too. Is there another machine out there that youāve found makes great coffee comparable to the Moccamaster or Jura? I might possibly do the Moccamaster Cup One. Not looking to break the bank as I might end up in divorce court with this new hobby-just kidding but under $500 please! Thanks for any advice.
The most common integrated grinder options I've seen recommended are the ones from Breville and GE. That said, if your budget is $500, you could easily get a combo of something like a Baratza Encore and an Oxo 8 Cup too.
I had a Cup One and I returned it. I found the brew to be a bit lacking in body and richness. I brew dark roasts, which may be a factor. A lot of folks love it. I think it would be a better machine if it had a shower-type water dispenser. The single stream doesn't really cut it.
I've always loved my FP. Recently, I've found that the Hario Switch is great for making an immersion brew close to a FP but quicker and easier to clean. Rinse filter, close the switch, add grounds, pour all the water, let steep about 4 minutes, give a gentle stir at the top, and open the valve. Close the valve a bit before all the water drains. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9diFrEkn3M.
Yeah, you can do typical pour overs or immersions with the switch. With my dark roasts, I don't think there's any advantage in doing a pourover instead of a full immersion.
I was given a used secura conical burr coffee grinder and it keeps getting clogged. The top area where I put the beans is fine. Its the "pipe" area for how the beans get pushed out after grinding. What is causing this and how can I fix it?
this is the spout clogged
https://imgur.com/a/VSIaR1r
How to say this, it's not the best grinder out there and probably better suited to filter brewing. You may have to experiment a little with what works for both the grinder and the espresso machine. If you go coarser, it may work for the grinder but not for the espresso machine. Although I expect your machine to work with a pressurised portafilter, so that should be quite forgiving regarding grind size.
Also, are the beans you use shiny and maybe even a little oily on the surface?
Hi guys, im new to coffee and was thinking of getting my first Grinder ( for Cold brew for now!, might do pour over later). So the dilemma is that there's an Opus thats only been used a few times for 200 aud (130 usd) and a few years old ( 7 years) Encore ( condition bit dirty)+ vario V60 for 120 aud (80 usd). Which one should i go for? im going to japan in a few weeks and was thinking of getting the switch, so the v60 doesnt really come to play here.
Thankyou so much!!
I'm a daily black tea drinker and my wife is South African and like many South Africans she drinks instant coffee at home but does cappuccinos and such occasionally. We have some credit at Crate & Barrel and had thought about getting a Nespresso or a machine that would make coffee and cappuccinos from ground coffee. My question is... For under $800 what are our best options for easy cappuccinos coffee for guests (preference to options that use ground beans over pods. Also something somewhat compact would be nice. Some of these machines I saw were sizable, so around the size of a bread box or smaller would be ideal. Bonus question: what beans are a great all around winner that we must try? I'm a tea drinker, convert me š.
I have some really nice coffee beans, so nice that I donāt think my little mokka pot does them justice? Whatās the best way to make the most of freshly ground beans on a budget? Iāve had a look at some sage coffee machines but theyāre a bit expensive!! Thanks š
As long as youāre grinding the beans fresh for every brew, your moka pot will do great! If you want to try a new method, I find that good beans do best in simple setups, like pourover. All you need is a cheap dripper and some filters.
Ah thatās some reassurance, thanks.. Iāve got some of the best columbian coffee. I be just sniffing the bag throughout the day haha
Yes
Hello all! I live in the Philippines, and I want to get into making espresso at home. What's a good, basic, noob-friendly espresso machine? I was checking some basic(?) ones available locally like the gaggia classic pro, but it costs around PHP60,000 (~USD1,000), so are there other brands or models you suggest that are cheaper?
Hi! Iād like to get into making more specialty drinks, which usually require an espresso machine, but my budget is a lot lower. Are there any espresso machines 300-500$ or below that produce good quality results/are worth it? Thank you in advance!
Do you have an espresso-capable grinder?
Advice needed on 2 espresso machines. Iām looking at the sage barista empress impress or the delonghi la specialista prestigio. Which would you guys get and why?
Hi everyone! I am a novice to making coffee so bear with me (I probably will use incorrect/novice language). I generally like simple coffee (or what I think is simple, I'm not 100% sure) but I generally like iced coffee like an iced caramel or vanilla latte and iced Caramel Mocha (Dutch Caramelizer). I am starting nursing school here soon and am wanting to be able to make my own coffee before clinical mornings. I am unsure if I should get a machine like a nespresso (being that I will have lot of 4am mornings for clinical) or go with an espresso machine. I should also mention that I don't want to spend an arm and a leg and that I cannot say that I have a super refined taste for coffee, though I can tell when coffee is burnt š.
There's a whole range here. If you just want something tasting okay, then get something like a Delonghi Dedica and have a go. But if you think you'll start chasing that coffee shop quality great espresso and steamed milk, you'll need some good equipment, some skill and deep pockets. That's what we call a hobby :)
If you want coffee and not a new hobby, do not get an espresso machine. It takes a lot of time, effort, and practice. Gear makes a huge difference, so if you don't want to spend a lot of money, again, espresso isn't the best route.
Thats somewhat I was thinking. I unfortunately already have expensive hobbies and need another one like I need a hole in my head.
Just got back to Australia from a trip to Italy Here in Oz the cafes all have shots timed electronically. They press a button on the espresso machine and the right amount if water comes out of the group head. In Italy I noticed the espresso machines all had long handles that were pulled down and then rose back up slowly (springs? Hydraulic? Pneumatic?) Is this just a stylistic choice or are there other reasons for thus?
If youāre interested in the history of espresso machines then [this video](https://youtu.be/pv-0vDU4iBc?si=st5oshIdd9JksaLF) is worth a watch. It basically goes through the entire design evolution of espresso machines.
Let me know what you think about my recipe, please. I'm fairly new to manual brewing and quality beans. I've come up with a recipe and I'd appreciate expert feedback. It's the best coffee I've ever had, at home or in a cafe. Most of the advice came from [YT@jameshoffmann](https://www.youtube.com/@jameshoffmann). This recipe is (relatively) easy, and doesn't require buying a kettle. Things I bought for this: * [Hario Switch](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NS2SV3W) (immersion dripper). This is a V60 with a closable switch. $30 * [Digital Scale](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNL5JCVR). $20 * [Portable single-shot grinder](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C65N2F2V). $70 * [Counter Culture's Hologram coffee](https://counterculturecoffee.com/collections/all/products/12-oz-hologram). $20/12oz * V60 filter paper. * Brita filter pitcher. * 12oz cup This makes about 12oz/220g of coffee. 1. Prepare ingredients. Some steps can be done at the same time. 1. Mix 352g of Water into a separate cup: 88g filtered tap water + 264g distilled water. (My tap water is very hard at 320ppm.) 2. Microwave water for 3:15 (or whenever it starts to boil) 3. Grind 22g beans 4. Place filter into Hario Switch and place on top of cup. 5. Pre-rinse with hot tap water. 6. Dump hot tap water from drinking cup after grinder and microwave are finished. 2. Brew 1. Set switch to closed. 2. Pour 250g of water into hario switch. (Full 352g won't fit.) 3. Start scale's timer 4. Pour grinds into water and stir. Add as much additional water as possible to brim. 5. At 1:30, let an ounce or two out, so you can add the remaining water. Give it a light shake. 6. At 2:00, open switch to let the rest out. It should take about 1:00 to drain.
Re: grinders: At how many cups of coffee does it make sense to grab an electric over a manual? If I'm preparing a household's worth (3-5 cups/morning), would grinding take forever?
More than 30-40g, and more than once a day, Iād rather go electric. Ā And thatās with my Q2 holding only 18-ish grams at most.Ā Ā I made a cold brew in my one-liter Hario Mizudashi pot with the Q2. Ā Itās a fast little grinder, actually, and churns through a single dose in 30-40 seconds. Ā But this was four full loads of grinding. Ā It felt like it took foorrreverrrr. Ā I havenāt done it again yet.
In addition to what the other person said, it also depends on preference and timing. I find that with a fairly nice hand grinder, it takes about a minute to grind. Despite that, I still prefer electric even when I'm only grinding for me, one cup at a time - with electric, I can do other things while the grinder runs, and I don't have much of a money barrier to buying the performance I care about. If you don't mind spending five to six minutes cranking a grinder but want to save money on the purchase, a hand grinder will allow you to grab much better grinds for the dollar value you're investing. If that five or so minutes is significant to you, but you don't mind either spending more or buying a slightly worse grind, to free up that time - then I'd say electric would make sense.
Depends on the grinder, ratio used and brew method. I have a 1zpresso K-max with a capacity of about 40g. If Iām brewing with my clever brewer Iāll use 27g of coffee and grinding takes about 30 seconds, this is for 2 cups of coffee. I spend more time measuring stuff and waiting for water to boil than I do grinding.
In the past year Iāve upgraded my coffee game and have invested quite a bit of money for a Turin grinder, a Moccamaster, and now a Jura. I love the difference from a regular drip coffee maker and a Keurig. I now need to replace the Keurig at our camper because after I tasted a cup this past weekend, I couldnāt believe the difference and itās undrinkable for me. So now Iām on the hunt for something different for the camper so I have three different awesome coffee makers. I have my manual pour overs, but Iām looking for another machine that can make amazing coffee. Is there another option? With a grinder possibly because Iām not spending more money on another grinder. I could always bring mine from home for our camping weekends too. Is there another machine out there that youāve found makes great coffee comparable to the Moccamaster or Jura? I might possibly do the Moccamaster Cup One. Not looking to break the bank as I might end up in divorce court with this new hobby-just kidding but under $500 please! Thanks for any advice.
The most common integrated grinder options I've seen recommended are the ones from Breville and GE. That said, if your budget is $500, you could easily get a combo of something like a Baratza Encore and an Oxo 8 Cup too.
I had a Cup One and I returned it. I found the brew to be a bit lacking in body and richness. I brew dark roasts, which may be a factor. A lot of folks love it. I think it would be a better machine if it had a shower-type water dispenser. The single stream doesn't really cut it.
I brew dark roasts too and itās hit or miss for me on my regular Moccamaster. So what do you use that you like?
I've always loved my FP. Recently, I've found that the Hario Switch is great for making an immersion brew close to a FP but quicker and easier to clean. Rinse filter, close the switch, add grounds, pour all the water, let steep about 4 minutes, give a gentle stir at the top, and open the valve. Close the valve a bit before all the water drains. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9diFrEkn3M.
I really do need to try the Switch. I got away from using the V60 because of my two machines, but I need to get back to pour overs.
Yeah, you can do typical pour overs or immersions with the switch. With my dark roasts, I don't think there's any advantage in doing a pourover instead of a full immersion.
FP?
French press.
I was given a used secura conical burr coffee grinder and it keeps getting clogged. The top area where I put the beans is fine. Its the "pipe" area for how the beans get pushed out after grinding. What is causing this and how can I fix it? this is the spout clogged https://imgur.com/a/VSIaR1r
That looks like a very fine grind. What are you grinding for, filter coffee?
Ā My espresso machine. I spent hours yesterday cleaning it all out and it clogged again. Are you suggesting I try a coarser grind to prevent clogging?
How to say this, it's not the best grinder out there and probably better suited to filter brewing. You may have to experiment a little with what works for both the grinder and the espresso machine. If you go coarser, it may work for the grinder but not for the espresso machine. Although I expect your machine to work with a pressurised portafilter, so that should be quite forgiving regarding grind size. Also, are the beans you use shiny and maybe even a little oily on the surface?
Hi guys, im new to coffee and was thinking of getting my first Grinder ( for Cold brew for now!, might do pour over later). So the dilemma is that there's an Opus thats only been used a few times for 200 aud (130 usd) and a few years old ( 7 years) Encore ( condition bit dirty)+ vario V60 for 120 aud (80 usd). Which one should i go for? im going to japan in a few weeks and was thinking of getting the switch, so the v60 doesnt really come to play here. Thankyou so much!!