Newbie help

[Flo]

Hi Everyone!

Im new and quite inexperienced when it comes to making good coffee. I currently have a Gaggia Classic and Solis 166 (DeLonghi rebadged) grinder...not the ideal setup but its all the finite budget allows...Anyway I digress...

My tamper is rubbish so Im going to buy a Pullman (considering the rave reviews here on CS and the fact that they are Aussie made!)

I have two baskets for my PF; a single 7g and  a double 14g. I do use the 7g for single shots and obviously the 14g for doubles. Is the 7g a waste of time? Would I be better off pulling a single shot from the 14g basket and should I be using a bigger basket for double shots. I want to get the basket issue sorted out before I commit to having a tamper made.

Cheers,

Adam

[Dimal]

Re: Newbie help

Gday Flo,

And welcome to CoffeeSnobs [smiley=thumbsup.gif]. When I first started out using an espresso machine, I used to try and stick with the single basket for singles, and double basket for doubles, et al. After a while though (pretty short while as a matter of fact), I found that I didnt really like shots made with the single basket as much as those from the double (I mainly drink ristrettos or dopio piccolos). Since then, I have never gone back to using the single basket.... If anyone drops around for a coffee and dont like doubles, I still use the double basket as for a double shot, but just pull the shot up short for approx 30ml. Of course its much easier if youre pulling multiple singles from a double basket..... two singles at a time.

As to what kind of double basket to use, a lot of people including quite a few of our professional members prefer to use La Marzocco (LM) baskets as they hold a bit more than the standard 14 grams, more like 18 grams+ and this leads to the production of much richer, sweeter shots. There is also the side benefit that larger baskets are more forgiving of slight dosing inconsistencies so this might also be an incentive . Hope Ive helped a bit,

Cheers,
Mal.

[Flo]

Re: Newbie help

Gday Mal.

Thanks for the tip. A lot of my questions will probably seem really basic but I am a newbie, so please be patient. I do learn quickly though.

I havent as yet done a Baristas course, but I know I need to. Until then is there a link that someone can show me that explains the different terminology that is used in the coffee world (ie: ristrettos or dopio piccolos, temp surfing etc etc.)

I have had my Classic for about 4 years, but have really only been trying to improve my shots within the last year or so. I only found CoffeeSnobs a few days ago! What a great site!

Cheers,

Flo

[scoota_gal]

Re: Newbie help

Hi Adam, welcome BTW...

Theres heaps of threads around here with info and the good ol Intarweb has probably got heaps of information, sometimes leading to the condition commonly called Information Overload on the subjects youre looking for. Id suggest that googling for that sort of thing and using the forums search facility might also bring up some useful stuff.

Happy learning!

[Flo]

Re: Newbie help

Hi Scoota Gal.

BTW, nice scoota!

Thanks for the suggestion. I suppose I was just being lazy  :-[

I have just enrolled to do a baristas course, which Im looking forward to doing. I should get plenty of info there.

Cheers.

Flo

[Flo]

Re: Newbie help

As to what kind of double basket to use, a lot of people including quite a few of our professional members prefer to use La Marzocco (LM) baskets as they hold a bit more than the standard 14 grams, more like 18 grams+ and this leads to the production of much richer, sweeter shots. There is also the side benefit that larger baskets are more forgiving of slight dosing inconsistencies so this might also be an incentive . Hope Ive helped a bit,

Cheers,
Mal.

I just went and bought an 18gr LM double basket from Coffee Parts (its only 10mins away from me). Would this be a genuine LM or an aftermarket basket ? - not that it matters a whole bunch. I now have a 7g, a 14g and an 18g LM basket.
So, do people use the larger 18g basket for pulling single shots or two singles simultaneously? Im just wondering if I should be using the 14g for singles and the 18 for doubles (or 2 singles simultaneously)?

Once again, sorry if these are dumb questions...but dont worry there are plenty more where these came from!  

[scoota_gal]

Re: Newbie help

....Coffee Parts (its only 10mins away from me)...

You lucky, lucky bugger. [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]


I think youll enjoy your course. You will learn heaps there I am sure!

Youll probably learn lots about technical words like "Blonding" and "extraction times", "texturing" and "stretching" etc. Enough to blow your mind really!

Geez, now I read back on that you could be talking about something to do with hairdressing and beauticians! ;D





8-) Everyone loves the scooter....

[Thundergod]

Re: Newbie help

....Coffee Parts (its only 10mins away from me)...

You lucky, lucky bugger.  [smiley=vrolijk_1.gif]

Ill second that.
Its about a 1/2 hour drive for me so its only worth the trip if I need a few things.
About 2 weeks ago I used the excuse that we hadnt been to Eastgardens Shopping Centre for a while and took the wife to lunch and then we did our grocery shopping after visiting Coffee Parts.

I was lucky this week when talking to Hazel from Coffee Alchemy.
She mentioned she was just off to Coffee Parts herself and as I was ringing to warn her of my impending visit the next day she offered to pick up the larger LM basket for me that shed recommended for my Expobar.
So that saved me a trip. Shes so nice.