Coffee

[Michael]

Im seriously considering moving away from the automatic coffee machine and growing back to the manual espressed machines. Once upon a time a had a series of Gaggia espresso machines. Moved into the Saeco automatics as at the time they appeared to be more like a car and I was using a horse and cart.

Anyway, im Looking at a Rancilio Silvia. Research suggests that this machine ticks the quality coffee and the price box.
Also thinking of a mini mazzer or rocky grinder.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[mld]

Can't go wrong with that set-up, and definitely a good idea to move away from automatics.

 

[Michael]

Can't go wrong with that set-up, and definitely a good idea to move away from automatics.

mld the two suggested grinders are bloody expensive, can you suggest an alternative?

 

[mld]

mld the two suggested grinders are bloody expensive, can you suggest an alternative?

I use a Sunbeam EM0480 which has been giving good service for several years, and can be found for less than $200. I've read in the past that it might not have fine enough gradations to do a Silvia justice though.

 

[WesternTiger]

Been using the old stove top for years. Cheap, reliable and a good brew.

Not a fan of the automatics at all.

 

[evo]

we have a Sunbeam grinder, it does a good job. They are bloody messy things for the bench top though.

 

[tigergollywog]

I use a 1930's peugeot hand grinder and a 1960's Atomic stove top espresso every single morning to make mine and the senates brew. Took about a year to work out the perfect grind/tamp/pressure etc, but never fails to make a cracking heartstarter in the morning rush. Im a simple, old fashion kind of guy though.

 

[Azza]

Been using the same Sunbeam cafe series grinder for about 3 years now. Great, affordable option.

 

[WesternTiger]

I use a 1930's peugeot hand grinder and a 1960's Atomic stove top espresso every single morning to make mine and the senates brew. Took about a year to work out the perfect grind/tamp/pressure etc, but never fails to make a cracking heartstarter in the morning rush. Im a simple, old fashion kind of guy though.

Was and still am thinking about purchasing an Atomic TG.

Sunbeam grinder was ok but *smile* itself after about 3 years.

 

[Azza]

Sunbeam grinder was ok but sh!t itself after about 3 years.

MIne may be on borrowed time then! Still, it was very good value even if it dies soon, although it's not showing any signs of it.

 

[tigergollywog]

Was and still am thinking about purchasing an Atomic TG.

Sunbeam grinder was ok but sh!t itself after about 3 years.

It'll be the best $400 youlle spend WT. Form meets function. Never leaves my stove top. Sits there 23.5 hours a day looking superb. Leaps into action 1/2 of an hour a day and fills the house with steam punk sounds and smells and delivers with a cafe quality brew. Every so often, I over tamp and forget it and it blows its safety and shocks the entire family with its excuberance. It truly is my prized material possession. Art, science and the spiritual coming together.

 

[Michael]

TG love the design of the Atomic, great looking gear.

I've been mucking around with my Dads old stove top, circa 1950, one of tose two pieces dodecahedron shaped things.
Fantastic to take camping as it goes on the fire Barbie whatever.

TG do you grind for your Atomic, how course/fine?

 

[tigergollywog]

TG love the design of the Atomic, great looking gear.

I've been mucking around with my Dads old stove top, circa 1950, one of tose two pieces dodecahedron shaped things.
Fantastic to take camping as it goes on the fire Barbie whatever.

TG do you grind for your Atomic, how course/fine?

Yep I grind. Its pretty fine. Allows the coffee to come through slow and the pressure to build up to froth the milk (which I do when the jug is about 2/3 full of coffee). If the grind is to coarse, the coffee flies through and you dont build up enough pressure.

Im not precious with my atomic, I take it camping too. Its a tool. Just a beautiful one.

I get a bit frustrated when i see atomics sitting on a shelf not being used. They make serious good coffee once you understand them.

 

[tigersnake]

Been using the old stove top for years. Cheap, reliable and a good brew.

Not a fan of the automatics at all.

I'm with you western.

I'm not dogmatic with coffee (well it has to be an emergency to drink instant, so maybe I'm a bit dogmatic), cafe-style machine, stove-top, US-style drip filter, they are all different and can all be great. To me its just like home-cooking being different to a restaurant meal, both different, both good. On a brutal cost-benefit analysis, stove-top wins for home.

I can vouch for gollywogs atomic espressos, beats a lot of cafes, he even does the fancy little milky swirls.

 

[Baloo]

I'm not sure how you can mention milk in a true coffee aficionado thread.

 

[WesternTiger]

I'm not sure how you can mention milk in a true coffee aficionado thread.

Sugar is the one you shouldn't mention baloo! The bean barn in Ballarat only service a standard size cup and no sugar!

 

[Baloo]

True, both should be verboten.

Doppio, no sugar man myself.

 

[Michael]

I'm not sure how you can mention milk in a true coffee aficionado thread.

Latte, cappuccino, pod, macchiato. That enough insults, or could I throw soy at you as well

 

[Baloo]

They should rename soy decaf latte to "why bother"

 

[tigersnake]

Sugar is the one you shouldn't mention baloo! The bean barn in Ballarat only service a standard size cup and no sugar!

There are espresso bars in Naples where the barista puts in the sugar and stirs it before giving it to you, they only serve espressos with half a suger, no choice, don't like it *smile* off. (I'm not a creature of habit with coffee, I have it all ways depending on mood, but always have half a sugar)