I've been making cold brew daily for the last couple years with Peets (ground) in a Primula carafe and have been pretty happy with it. Just looking down the rabbit hole to expand my horizons a bit. The Folgers instant lives in my truck with some other just-in-case stuff, lol.
I go through so many coffees (subscriptions) that each new one I adjust my grind time (but not the grind size) to get approx 18g. Tamp with depth adjustable one. Breville to pull the shots but Baratza sette 270 grinder. 100% lattes.
14g in 28 to 30g out (hard to stop precisely with the robot and cheap scale) with 10 second infusion and a total 30 second pull (ideally). Depending on the beans I tweak the ratio to taste, maybe skim crema if too bitter. Always start at 100 C brew water due to thermal loss. WDT and then a light tamp. Usually 6-7 bar (similar to 9 bar for a machine that measures at the head not the puck)
Thanks!! I created a google sheet on phone to track. I have these apps for beer and wine but not coffee. Thx
I usually have several bags I’m using at once so I don’t fill the hopper. I weigh out what I’m using each time and grind it all. Always the same starting weight, but different shot volume based on the roast level. The only variable I (try) to adjust now is the grind size to have it pull within the time range I want. I have a good starting point on my grinder for blends and one for single origins or other light roasts, then go from there. And as a bag ages it will creep towards talking too long to pull and I’ll dial it back in with a little smaller grind.
WDT using a 3d printed tool + Spring loaded tamper (Decent Espresso) Single dose for each (double) shot + typically rotate between a couple of beans. Typically dose 18g in, 36g out, 25-30s pulls for Medium / Light Medium roasts - typically 2 weeks off roast 18g in, 40-45g out, 35-40+ seconds for Light roasts - at least 3 weeks off roast. Some of the Nordic ones are best 1 month+ out. At least 90% of my drinks are either flat whites or cortados.
Are you waiting 2-3+ weeks before you even start using a bag, or is that when you think they’re generally optimal in flavor? I usually start within a week of the roast date on my subscription bags depending on what else I have currently when they come.
Is there a TMB approved super automatic espresso machine? I’m looking for something that is easy to use but also has good results. I know my wife won’t learn to use a regular espresso machine.
So, at this level and all levels for that matter. A quality grinder seems more important. No matter what machine you use and whether it has any automatic modes, there will be a learning curve for everything your machine is not doing. Dosing and ratios, grind size, puck prep, making the shots into something else if you choose, etc. I have the Breville Infuser and am happy with it. I think only if it becomes a real hobby/obsession do you need to get into truly manual machines. I use manual mode on mine, but that just means I control how long it’s in the pre-infusion period before full pressure extraction starts, and I can stop that when I get the weight/volume I want out. Automatic is push one button, manual is hold that same button down for pre-infusion, release it to start pressurized extraction, then push it again to stop. Here manual isn’t as complicated as it sounds. I’ve never had experience with any of the cheaper intro brands. Which ever way you go, plan to dump a lot of sour and bitter coffee down the drain, and do some reading on why the shots came out that way so you can adjust. I have the Breville Smart Grinder Pro and it gets the job done well for my machine, but wouldn’t be good enough for a nicer machine. So I will be looking for a new grinder whenever I do upgrade. I would stay away from the Breville models with grinders built in, even if you decide on a Breville grinder. The Baratza Sette 270 seems to be the most recommend nice home grinder, but is twice as much as the Breville.
You can really choose how far down the rabbit hole you go. I quickly graduated to trying out different tools to help with puck prep and tamping, made a tool of my own that I still use, and bought a bottomless portafilter so I could visually see any puck issues.
No experience or knowledge on them but at the risk of always relying on James Hoffmann, here’s a Hoffmann video on them. Definitely seems a compromise for convenience but probably no shock there.
Ahh yeah, these machines didn’t cross my mind. I don’t know much about them either. I never really looked into them because of the price as an entry point into espresso. I was thinking more push button “automatic” modes vs a machine that would literally do everything. I would assume these still take some level of dialing in for different beans, but not sure how that works there.
2-3 weeks from roast date to open the bag - too fresh & you'll get off-gassing affecting your shots / brews + some lighter beans need time to develop the notes that the roaster is aiming for. I also freeze unopened coffee bags, if I have a few that I'm not going to be drinking right away. James Hoffman has some videos around beans that may be a good investment (time wise)..
That’s the type of machine I was looking at mainly for convenience for my wife. We had an espresso machine in our old house and my wife never took the time to learn how to use it. When we moved into a rental while the house was being built we got rid of it due to lack of space. I’ve been wanting another machine but my wife also wants to be able to use it. It looks like my best option may be to buy what I want and buy her a small Nespresso pod machine.
Absolutely. Already eyeing the Lagom P64 for next year if I don’t have to flush money down the home ownership drain. This is the way. Good Super automatics are $$ and in general, a pain in the ass to maintain as well.
There’s a lot to break in there as for the P64, I worry I don’t have the pallet to notice the improvement
Im buying a Nespresso machine for my parents and one for my brother for Christmas. Just so I don’t even have to see a k-cup when I visit them.
I've held steadfast in my aversion to in-home espresso... I have enough expensive hobbies & my marriage cannot withstand another.
Anybody in here gonna take the plunge on fellows new stagg kettle? don’t need any of the new bells and whistles, just curious if anyone talked themselves into “needing” one
I am holding strong too. I know myself far too well to go down that rabbit hole. One day I will break but not today.
To be honest, it's probably at a point of diminishing returns and just a bit of upgraditis. I may just stick it out with the Niche for what it's worth. A lot of my beer & booze spending has been diverted to coffee lately, so that's one way to "justify" it.
Y’all are really missing out. Not really enjoying life to its fullest until you explain to your spouse why stirring ground coffee with 8 super thin needles makes all the difference in the world or you’ve forced down an under extracted 10 second shot with screaming kids in the background.
Hey, you can have that with regular coffee as well. Plenty of times I've had to tell my fussy baby that she's just gonna have to wait until I finish this pour
My wife already thinks I’m nuts, and defeats all efforts to provide her with a perfect cup, by adding Coffee Mate. I’ll put my eccentric pour over routines, methods & gadgets up against anyone.
so 10 months later, how are you liking it? i'm doing my annual research into prosumer espresso makers during black friday. i'm probably a year from ordering one, though.
a while back, you were going to get a fancy espresso maker through a friend who sold them. did that fall through or did you not like it?
I moved into my new house and I will be building a ‘pantry bar’ for coffee and booze. It’s on my list but also have an empty office etc. And my breville works. Once I do switch it will include water and drain lines. No filling or draining https://www.crem.coffee/ONE
Short answer - love it so far. Quite a bit of an upgrade over my profitec 300. Still figuring out my way around flow profiling but love the stable temps and steaming power. I need to look at getting the machine plumbed in because the tank feels small in relation to the amount of coffee I make (3 double shots in the morning and 1 in the afternoon). What's your budget / space like? I'd say that you should pay equal if not more attention to the grinder.
i don't really have a budget yet because I'm not yet serious about buying. but i usually read about and watch videos on the lelit, profitec, ecm priced machines and don't bother with la marzocca stuff. if i were buying today, it's the bianca, pro 600, or possibly a DE1XL. I think I had settled on a Niche Zero for a grinder but haven't looked into it for a year
You couldn't go wrong with either of those 3 choices. La Marzocco machines are top notch but it's more aesthetic than functionality to me for the $$. Every now and then, I keep thinking about the Decent but i just worry that it's going to be too much of a time sink, chasing down the "perfect" parameters etc. Besides, another espresso machine may just cause the missus to melt down. I don't think there's anything that's better than the Niche within 500-1000$ (esp. with Niche being at 499$ with the drop in the GBP value) - the upgrade I see over Niche is the Lagom P64 but availability in the US is a pain. If you are OK playing the lottery & modding game, a DF64 with SSP HU burrs (or Unimodals if you drink a lot of light roasts) & proper alignment may scratch that itch.
Just got the latest Bold Bean special release… anyone else that ordered should have it soon. It’s a Costa Rican delight
Just got mine today but finished up my other beans first. So going to start thanksgiving off right with them in the morning.
I just got one bag. I was going through to check but I got one 10oz bag. Is this one bag a month? I’ve not subscribed before. Pardon the ‘dumb’ question
Welp, I just shattered my best friend, my confidant, my Chemex. Kid #2 is on the way and I was already looking at a drip coffeemaker to make the mornings easier. Should I just got with the Mochamaster?
And? I’ve been using my last few mornings for latte. I like it but nothing to blow me away. really like Bold Bean tho. Some of their regular stuff is top notch.
I'm not sure an auto really saves time, though. I always spent more time cleaning the bonavita than I would have brewing and rinsing a cup using a v60/wave/clever. I only drink 1-2 cups a day though
My wife wants an espresso machine for Christmas. Have only done some cursory research, but it appears DeLognhi and Breville products get consistently good reviews. We both enjoy a good cup of coffee and have a nice coffee maker, but we aren’t particularly experienced on the espresso side of things. Looking for a good mix of convenience/ease with reliability and quality. The DeLonghi La Especialista is looking promising, as is the Breville Barista Touch. Am I making a mistake here? Any other suggestions?