All Things Coffee
- Thread starter lazerviking
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Coyote
Get your purse, we’re leaving
Dialed in that Yemen this morning to nearly perfect for my palate. Strong dark bread backbone, dry with just enough acidity to invite another sip. I think "cotton candy" is a bit much and maybe I'm not getting the sweet tones with my ratio. Still, one of my favorite cups of coffee this year.
Recent order from Happy Mug. Planning to get the Hario out for these and actually do pourovers instead of my usual cold brew.
If you're looking for Yemen they still have it and it's very affordable like all their stuff.
dan
🌇
Anyone have experience with a super automatic espresso machine? Youtube's algorithm knew I was looking for something and ATK recommends a model from Gaggia, their Magenta Prestige. I'm old, and can be lazy - I'm willing to sacrifice some quality for ease of use here. I'm not seeing a consensus on Reddit about brands to avoid (though it seems that Phillips, Saeco and Gaggia all share the same internals, and many point to models from Delonghi or Jura instead). Ideally I'd like a machine that can do a macchiato or cortado (or something similar) in addition to plain espresso so if there's an automatic milk frother/foamer, that's even better.
Thoughts on an espresso machine in the 1500€ range?
Friend has a Sage/Breville Barista Impress Touch and it’s quite nice.
Curious about the forthcoming Fellow Series 1:
fellowproducts.com
and the Meraki:
eu.merakitech.com
Sage and Meraki of course have a built in grinder, which is nice, but not overly concerned about as i suspect ill buy a new one since my old grinder at work died.
Grinder suggestion as well for one that can do espresso and pour over. I have a Wilfs uniform I love, but the new version Evo has an espresso attachment.
Thanks
Friend has a Sage/Breville Barista Impress Touch and it’s quite nice.
Curious about the forthcoming Fellow Series 1:
Espresso Series 1 Semi Automatic Home Espresso Machine – Fellow
The Espresso Series 1 makes it simple to brew barista-quality espresso for flavorful lattes and cappuccinos. Reserve your Fellow espresso machine now.
fellowproducts.com
and the Meraki:
Meraki Espresso Machine
Meet the Meraki Espresso Machine — designed for coffee lovers seeking precision, style, and exceptional taste in every cup.
eu.merakitech.com
Sage and Meraki of course have a built in grinder, which is nice, but not overly concerned about as i suspect ill buy a new one since my old grinder at work died.
Grinder suggestion as well for one that can do espresso and pour over. I have a Wilfs uniform I love, but the new version Evo has an espresso attachment.
Thanks
theLostWizard
🧙♂️
Please don’t buy a machine with a built in grinder. I’d also hold off on the fellow espresso given its brand new; let them iron out the kinks post first gen.
Yeah, I have a Hess grinder at home and a great handgrinder. I’m not looking at in the next month, but in a bit. Fellow won’t be in Europe until spring or summer, so can see all that goes wrong first.
Also why I’m curious about other recs
Can’t help you on espresso, but I love my Virtuoso grinder and it’s held up extremely well. I’m also terrible about cleaning it too.
The bambino + df54 is the new budget combo, but with the extra cash you can definitely do better.Thoughts on an espresso machine in the 1500€ range?
Friend has a Sage/Breville Barista Impress Touch and it’s quite nice.
Curious about the forthcoming Fellow Series 1:
Espresso Series 1 Semi Automatic Home Espresso Machine – Fellow
The Espresso Series 1 makes it simple to brew barista-quality espresso for flavorful lattes and cappuccinos. Reserve your Fellow espresso machine now.
and the Meraki:
Meraki Espresso Machine
Meet the Meraki Espresso Machine — designed for coffee lovers seeking precision, style, and exceptional taste in every cup.
Sage and Meraki of course have a built in grinder, which is nice, but not overly concerned about as i suspect ill buy a new one since my old grinder at work died.
Grinder suggestion as well for one that can do espresso and pour over. I have a Wilfs uniform I love, but the new version Evo has an espresso attachment.
Thanks
What kind of beans do you like? If it's dark roasts, and you aren't in a hurry, I'd keep an eye out for a 2nd hand weber key or similar. Basically unbeatable for traditional espresso (uses mazzer robur burrs - the f150 of café grinders). Then get whatever espresso machine you like. If you are OK with used, there are tons of e61-based machines which all work about the same and are easily serviceable.
You could probably do this combo for 1200 if you are patient. And you can beat 95% of cafés.
theLostWizard
🧙♂️
I’m not sure how you do both well, unless you have a zero retention grinder that you can easily adjust. Once dialed in for espresso wouldn’t you waste a bunch trying to redial it back? For this reason we have two grinders: one really nice one for espresso (Atom 75) and another for everything else (Fellow Ode).
As mentioned above I’d love a Weber Key or the EG1 but $$$$$
The eg1 seems a terrible value nowadays unless you value the aesthetics at 2 grand. You can get a kafatek sdrm for 60% of the price (plus, made in USA) or a lagom p80 for 40% of the price (same burrs and also made in Asia like the weber).
If you are interested in a key, here is a grinder that's arguably better, unless you absolutely must single dose. Compak k10 fresh for $520. It has big conical burrs like the key, but is much more heavy duty and made in Spain.
Thanks a ton for the responses. So a few answers to questions/comments:
- not a fan of dark roasts
- makes sense with 2 grinders and not having to dial both in. I’d get then a dedicated espresso and keep the wilfa uniform/1zpresso for pour over/machine
- I’ve also always been weary of all in one machines. I get the appeal, but might as well either wait or spend a bit more.
A friend has a Bambino Plus, and I thought the espresso was fine, but then just yesterday he got a new grinder, d64, and I’d say the espresso is now rather good. Granted it was 1 espresso. He said he is quite happy, but that machine may move to his office and he’s eyeing a Lelit V3?
- not a fan of dark roasts
- makes sense with 2 grinders and not having to dial both in. I’d get then a dedicated espresso and keep the wilfa uniform/1zpresso for pour over/machine
- I’ve also always been weary of all in one machines. I get the appeal, but might as well either wait or spend a bit more.
A friend has a Bambino Plus, and I thought the espresso was fine, but then just yesterday he got a new grinder, d64, and I’d say the espresso is now rather good. Granted it was 1 espresso. He said he is quite happy, but that machine may move to his office and he’s eyeing a Lelit V3?
A grinder establishes the maximum quality of the espresso from any given bean. The df64, especially the newest versions and when using ssp burrs, can achieve dollar:quality ratios pretty much better than anything else out there. And, from what I've heard, the usability has improved quite a bit from the early versions. They are better for lighter roasts than the big conical burr grinders I mentioned. One of these with a bambino plus is a great place to start. Then you can upgrade the machine when you figure out what features are most important to you (ease of use, style, steaming, etc)
Grinder wise I have a Niche Zero and exclusively use it for espresso, but have heard that it operates well for pour over as well outside of the requisite waste of beans to dial it back in.
I had one for a while. By far the least fussy espresso grinder I've used and made excellent espresso. The few times I tried it for pour over were disappointing, though.
I think I paid like $550. Now, with the duties and everything, you're looking at over $1000, which kind of destroys the justification for choosing one.
Sacrelicio
RV-Curious
My first Aeropress. Came out pretty strong!
Also Silverbird opening their first store a couple blocks away has been dangerous.
BigFrank
Forbidden Chicharron
I have been thinking of a trip to Columbia for years. Would love to hear a review in the travel thread. See any Botero works?
This was all passion fruit all day. Colombian coffee from Jardín doing me well and blowing mind. We also had some geisha in Cartagena, earlier in our trip, that tasted like flowers and fine tea and with the softest reminders that it was coffee. Neato!
Saw one or two Botero in the Museo Nacional.... I believe. Happy to share some feedback in travel.