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Time to give it away!

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  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Agree with TG and CS Ron,

    You should just try making coffee the way you and your wife would normally drink it, if espressos arent your thing then thats fine. You can make a world of coffee beverages from an espresso machine to suit pretty well any coffee palate on earth. I dont drink too many espressos, mostly Doppio Ristretto Piccolo .... love the strong, rich flavour but not without a touch of milk. If you enjoy a long black, then go with that..... nothing or no-one says you have to drink espressos, full stop.

    When Im cupping new beans or different roasts of previous beans Ive used, I dont go near the espresso machine, much prefer the Plunger for that as it seems to allow for a broader spectrum of flavours to be detected (with my palate anyway). Trying to cup just with espressos is a bit overpowering for me, seems to assault my palate to such a degree that Im not sure what flavours Ive been hit with . Of course, if none of this still works out for you, as CS has already mentioned, at least you know the primary ingredient of great coffee irrespective of the brew method employed, and that is freshly ground, freshly roasted coffee.

    Cheers mate,
    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Ron,

    have you tried making a cap with the Solis (I couldnt see the answer in this thread)?

    I can taste the difference in my flat whites between a great shot and a not so good one.

    If you dont normally drink espressos then I dont understand why you are trying to get a "good" one.

    I do understand that they are the base of all coffees including caps but why torture yourself testing espressos when you can just try improve your caps?

    If youll permit me to do some auditing here, what I need to know is what your requirements were before deciding on buying the Solis.
    And you need to remember what they were too so you can decide if you are being too harsh on yourself (as we think) or not.

    Leave a comment:


  • COFFEECHASER
    Guest replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Is hard to compare espresso with cap or plunger though. Not really apples with apples. Espresso is stronger so you may feel it is bitter. Espresso is not everyones cup of t.... um I mean coffee
    Milky coffees like caps will hide a bad shot more than what a straight espresso will. Of course a good shot of espresso will make your cap taste better but is easier to "hide". You should work on getting the espresso right but if you dont normally drink it than make what you would normally drink.
    Of course if you decide to go a different option and sell your machine you can still enjoy fresh coffee no matter how you brew it. So we will still call you a snob

    Leave a comment:


  • p38arover
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    My usual coffee is black from a plunger (no sugar) or from a stove top moka pot - sometimes it needs sugar.  However, if I go out for coffee, Ill have a cappuccino - no sugar.  (We use so little sugar, we dont have a sugar bowl - the only white sugar we have is stuff Ive picked up at coffee shops.   )

    I dont normally drink espresso but Ive been trying them with the espresso machine.  I thought if I cant get a decent espresso, how will I make a decent cap?

    Im tempted to buy a drip machine (we tossed ours out a few years back) from my local supermarket - they are only $9 this week.    )

    Now, where is that bloke who wants to to buy a Solis SL90?  He must need a almost new Iberital grinder as well.

    My wife would be happy to not have coffee grinds everywhere on her benchtops.  

    Ron

    Leave a comment:


  • lucinda
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Originally posted by Thundergod link=1168611635/15#18 date=1170044149
    Originally posted by marcstolk link=1168611635/15#16 date=1170020497
    Originally posted by Thundergod link=1168611635/0#13 date=1169885360

    Maybe you could do the same; have either Renzo or someone else you trust, to make you an espresso to use as a yardstick for yours.
    Excellent Advise!!
    Thanks.

    Thats what they pay me for (when Ive got a job  ).

    I thought it was your good looks and charm TG :P

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Originally posted by marcstolk link=1168611635/15#16 date=1170020497
    Originally posted by Thundergod link=1168611635/0#13 date=1169885360

    Maybe you could do the same; have either Renzo or someone else you trust, to make you an espresso to use as a yardstick for yours.
    Excellent Advise!!
    Thanks.

    Thats what they pay me for (when Ive got a job  ).

    Leave a comment:


  • varanid99
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Have to agree about the benefits of the courses - Ive only done the freebie sunbeam one that came with the machine, but even that was a big help - its a huge help reading all the great advice here, but very worthwhile actually seeing someone doing it, and then doing it yourself.

    Leave a comment:


  • marcstolk
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Originally posted by Thundergod link=1168611635/0#13 date=1169885360

    Maybe you could do the same; have either Renzo or someone else you trust, to make you an espresso to use as a yardstick for yours.
    Excellent Advise!!

    Leave a comment:


  • muppet_man67
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    make your coffees the same as you have when you go out. if you normally have suger then do that and likewise for milk it will give you a better point of comparison. If your making great lattes with 1 or two sugers then your strait espresso is probably close to the mark as well.

    Leave a comment:


  • JavaB
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Ron,

    Im also starting to wonder how sweet you feel a good espresso should be....

    I was trying to think of something else which is a similar sweetness - and high cocoa chocolate >>70% comes to mind. I find it sweet (and really enjoy it) yet others (dare I say those with a "sweet tooth") are amazed I can even eat the stuff- its just so bitter !!

    Yep, maybe time for some taste comparisons....

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Ron,

    last time I went to Di Bartoli, Renzo made me an espresso.

    I dont normally drink them, flat white is my choice.
    But I was brought up on Greek coffee so I can drink it without too much trouble.

    However, it was my intention on this occasion to judge my own shots against his.
    Outcome - mine are OK.

    Maybe you could do the same; have either Renzo or someone else you trust, to make you an espresso to use as a yardstick for yours.

    Leave a comment:


  • Bon
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    I concur with the others, invest in some training.

    Dont avoid training thinking its a waste of money and youre better off learning on youre own, some things you need to be taught and the expertise and critical eye of an expert can help a lot.

    Its a small investment to make to get the enjoyment you want out of your machine & grinder.

    Leave a comment:


  • lucinda
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Okay, now I think I get what is happpening here. You can try the following. Contact one of the site sponsors that you can get to and ask if they can teach you a little about how the different types of coffee tastes and do some tasting (you need to arrange to pay them a visit). Explain your problem that you are having and I am sure one will be able to help.

    I do not know where you are living so I cannot make a recommendation.

    What sort of coffee so you usually have when you go out???

    If you are having milk coffees, my guess is that you are getting a single shot of coffee and with your machine you are using the double basket, giving you a double shot (in simple terms) so a much stronger coffee, which your palette is freaking out about.

    Try a wee bit of sugar, many here will shout at me for suggesting this, but a little bit takes the over bitter edge off the coffee. I usually have sugar with my cofee and I also use milk (a double sin to some). I do not use a lot of sugar, but I use a bit as I am not a huge fan of overly bitter cofee.

    Personally, I dont think you are doing anything wrong.
    Also I think it is great that you have come on here asking questions.

    I hope this all helps you a bit.

    Leave a comment:


  • scoota_gal
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Originally posted by p38arover link=1168611635/0#9 date=1169867223
    Yes, Im buying fresh, Scoota Gal (are you on the scooter thread on the Two Wheels forum?).
    Only if theyre talking about me there! LOL! I do moderate at Aussie Scooters though.

    Scooters and coffee seem to go hand in hand!

    Originally posted by p38arover link=1168611635/0#9 date=1169867223
    My espresso really is bitter and undrinkable. It could be, of course, that I have no idea what an espresso should taste like.

    Ron
    Of course, that could be it as well!

    Leave a comment:


  • p38arover
    replied
    Re: Time to give it away!

    Love the reply, Bart! ;D

    Yes, Im buying fresh, Scoota Gal (are you on the scooter thread on the Two Wheels forum?). Ive given up roasting my own.

    Ive not turned the espresso machine on in the past couple of weeks. Im so disgusted with it all.

    I plan to do a course shortly although I am tempted to cut my losses and give up.

    I think of all the coffee Ive put through the machine, I may have had one or two reasonable cups. Most went down the sink.

    My espresso really is bitter and undrinkable. It could be, of course, that I have no idea what an espresso should taste like.

    Ron

    Leave a comment:

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