Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

[turion]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Greetings!

I have had CS recommended by a number of friends, and keep running across it through Google when looking up machine-related information.  I enjoy exceptional coffee, (and am slowly learning to make said exceptional coffee).  As I continue to learn and gain experience, I am getting more and more dissatisfied with the "average" cup of coffee at many cafes, (so much so that if it was not for the cafe atmosphere, I would avoid cafes altogether and only have coffee at home).

My current setup is adequate, but has lots of room for improvement, (a second hand DeLonghi EC410 with a depressurised basket, and a Gino Rossi RR45 masquerading as a Bo-ema).  I am slowly saving up for my next machine.  At this stage, I am thinking of stepping up to a Saeco Via Venezzia temporarily while I then save up for a Silvia.

I am also very keen to source fresh roasted fair trade or rainforest alliance coffees, (preferably organic, but the fair trade part is more important to me).  To date I have been enjoying some organic rainforest alliance mexican beans, but intersted to see what else is out there.

Finally, I am also looking forward to learning lots and getting to know everyone here.

[Farmhaul]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Gday fellow Snobbers.
Ive been a member for a couple of months now but i havent been game to create a post. I have been converted by a great friend and another fellow snobber who has been a member for some time. I am currently in the market for a new expresso machine, (probably a simonelli oscar). I have been gathering information from this site inrelation to this product which has been fantastic for me in deciding what unit would best suit my needs and budget.
Cheers

[Mono]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Welcome FH to the CS community. No need to be shy, post away. Take your time with the research, use the search button and aske questions as needed........and pick the right machine, but most of all enjoy the journey.

Steve

[Trish25]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi

Im a real freshy here, Only known about CSs for a little while now but have been doing a little reading and have now joined.

Ive recently acquired myself a baby gaggia machine and am re-learning the art of making coffee (Has been neglected since I left my hospitality career)

From my not so good attempt at the milk frothing side of things today I have some much needed learning to do

[turion]

A whole new world

I have only recently joined CS, and prior to that thought I knew a little bit about coffee.  Since joining, I have discovered that all I knew was enough to pull an adequate shot of espresso.  From what I have learned since joining CS, I have gained more confidence in experimenting with grind settings, and have just yesterday pulled one of the best shots I have ever had!  (I described it to my wife as being as if my taste buds started singing from the first sip!).  Plus, I have been able to repeat it a number of times since, (I suspect that the fresh roasted beans have played a part in that too).

Suddenly it is as if a whole new world has opened up before me!  I had assumed that my espresso machine was almost dead, and so producing only adequate coffee.  It is on its way out, (a second hand DeLonghi EC410), but I couldnt believe how good a shot I was able to pull through it!  

I know there is so much more for me to learn, and I am looking forward to the learning.  I thought I also had a good idea on what my next machine would be, but after reading a bit, am not so certain any more, (though when the time gets closer, Ill probably pose a few more questions about it).

Thanks so much to everyone here who is so willingly sharing their knowledge and expertise with regard to coffee.  I know I have really appreciated it!  

[tearocks]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hello all, just a newbie to the world of better coffee at home, but am already enjoying the challenge of trying to produce it. Had an EM4800 for a few years and thought that was okay. After a bit of searching and reading I managed to pick up a second hand NS Oscar from a CSer. I put a vacuum breaker in him last night that promptly arrived from Coffeeparts, plugged in a timer and he was ready to go when I woke up this morning. Have taken the importance of the grinder advice on-board and paired Oscar with a K3 Touch (from Coffee-a-roma). Just need to spend some time sampling different beans, tweaking the grind and practising the art of stretching milk properly.
A big thank you to this site and all the contributors. The information youve provided has been invaluable.

[demianm]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Greetings all - long time lurker, posted a few times and trying to get my post count up to get access to some other goodies on the site

Rocking an Ikon/Rocky combo at the moment but really tempted to upgrade. Posted an offer on the Diadema Unico Splendor Maxi on the hardware board - such a sexy machine...hope it works out. If it does, the Ikon will go on to board - its actually not a bad little unit.

[jonners]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

howdy yall

Long time reader, first time poster. In fact, ive been reading CS for a couple of years on and off, but never jumped in for some bizarre reason. Anyway, here now, so thats the main thing.

Ive just ditched an old Gaggia Classic that was really (and I do mean REALLY) past its prime. It had suffered from being dragged around the country time after time as I moved homes. To be honest I never really made the most of the machine. I suppose I could offer up all the excuses in the world, but lets just say that Ive calmed down a little now and have the time to dedicate to brewing a decent shot.

With that in mind, ive just grabbed a Silvia off of a CSer, which should arrive sometime next week, so ill be firing that up asap. Budget didnt stretch to a new grinder, so ill be sticking with my ceramic Kyocera manual one. Ive had pretty good results with this hand grinder and and looking forward to teaming it with the Silvia until i can afford a new one.

Cheers to everyone for the super useful posts. Ive been through many a thread, half of which confuse me more, but the other half have been great

Catch ya

Jon

[BaerenBim]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi everyone!

Ive been lurking for a few months, and thanks to this forum I have gone from using supermarket ground coffee in a plunger to the following purchases (all through site sponsors, too!)

Rancilio Silvia
Rocky Doser
Naked Portafilter
Behmor 1600

Im having a lot of problems with getting a good extraction that I notice a lot thanks to the naked portafilter, so Im focussing on getting this right first.

Behmor has only just been unboxed and I cant wait to get playing with that, too!

[sidewayss]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Welcome everyone. Am sure you will be happy to steer away from supermaket/instant coffee finally and realising a whole new world of REAL coffee.
Enjoy your journeys and we welcome your inputs from time to time.
It is a huge jump in quality when you use the freshest quality beans, half decent machinery and basic know-how to extract a good espresso or brew a nice cup through a humble plunger.
We are here to help you with any help and advice needed.
Sometimes the veterans (including me) can appear blunt and pragmatic at times, but we share the same desire to help/assist/advice.

Enjoy. Gary

[JDCrema]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

the journey has begun.............

Took an interest in coffee when I was in Europe a few years back, alas only ever played with my stove top using ground coffee mostly from coffee places that roasted on site. if i liked something would buy in bulk and store in the fridge : My coffee journey stalled due to my wine mania, now that after 15 years it has subsided and the cellar is well stocked and another adventure begins (nice way of saying, emptying my pockets)
After spending the past two weeks perusing the forum regards grinders, machines, extraction etc etc. I was initially overwhelmed but it is slowly sinking in, so much so that today I ordered the Breville BCG800 grinder and there the journey begins...

[rmoulynox]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Seeing as this thread is getting some activity, I thought I might introduce myself and make a "first post".

I was linked to this site from Overclockers Australia Forums on a thread entitled "what coffee do you drink" - Geeks love their coffee it seems. I was drawn to my investigations after my local coffee place was closed for Melbourne Cup day (lactose intolerant, and dont like soy, so have very limited choice), so I pulled out the old nasty Breville espresso machine that consistently has made bad coffee since I bought it for around $100 >5 years ago.

Within one week, I was hooked, bought a Sunbeam EM0408 to see if it would make my coffee better, and found some freshly roasted local beans. It was better, but still no crema, and just didnt hit the spot.

Bought a Lelit PL041EM from Neli Coffee (jetblackespresso reseller for QLD), just over a week ago, and havent looked back. Pulling three shots for me and the fiance every day and its just getting more and more perfect. Sampling various freshly roasted beans both locally and via mail order, and hanging out to get some from bean bay once I have worked through the sample bags that came with the machine.

Still trying to find a justification for buying a Behmor, as Im having trouble with some of the local roasters and their consistency (or lack thereof).

My fiance respects the machine, and has really been getting involved in the process, and getting excited in the impossible quest for the "perfect cup".

[colwich]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

Hi all. Im a barista from Adelaide although since August Ive been living and studying in Leeds, UK. Ive been working as a barista for the last five or six years but really only started to hone my craft seriously in the last couple of years (working alongside some of South Australias best barista talent). I have a burning passion for coffee which is what has brought me to this website.

You see, the kind of coffee culture we have in Australia just doesnt exist in the UK. Ive heard that in London its starting to gain momentum but if youre not in London, the chances of obtaining quality espresso are slim to none. Ive snooped around the south, Bristol and Leeds for the best shots but had to resort to Google to find quality roasters and cafes. If you jump into any old cafe, the chances are that youll be very disappointed with what you pay for. I am most definitely a snobby barista!

So far my experience is that a lot of the cafes/baristas who take their profession seriously are either from Australia or New Zealand. Doesnt surprise me a bit! So dont take great coffee in Australia for granted.

There is one cafe in Leeds Ive found to do excellent espresso so, once my studies are finished in January, I will be applying for a job there. Im itching to get back into it.

Anyway, thats me. Glad to be here!

[kotaro]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

I have a burning passion for coffee..

Welcome colwich, sounds like youll fit right in just fine

[Thundergod]

Re: Hi! Im new here. Go easy on me!

have a burning passion for coffee

Thats better than a passion for burning coffee.

Welcome.