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OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

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  • MichC
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Thanks so much - I am also very much a newbie and have been trawling the threads. This one was full of excellent hints and ideas!!

    I cant wait to start my own upgrading...

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Now you have to spread the word.

    Leave a comment:


  • noni
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Got my beanbay beans today and wow what a difference they made. Thank you Andy!
    The pressure gauge actually moved to where it was supposed to go and I got a lovely shot instead of a burst of brown water.
    Still a lot to learn but was very impressed at the difference the beans made, thanks

    Leave a comment:


  • martybean
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Originally posted by 3F3E3F38510 link=1255320702/15#15 date=1256033243
    Speaking of which, I have noticed the pressure gauge on my machine hardly moves at all so Im thinking the grind I have been using so far is too coarse (although Im sure it could be a dozen other things as well). Will post an update once Ive tried some decent beans.

    noni
    Yeah the grind was probably to course or you tamped to lightly or you underdosed.
    When you get the grinder you will get better results than preground.

    Leave a comment:


  • noni
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Originally posted by 5875717D701C0 link=1255320702/14#14 date=1255874329
    Originally posted by 6E6F6E69000 link=1255320702/11#11 date=1255863635
    hi all, well i came home from bing lee yesterday with a em3910 and the 4080 grinder will follow shortly, all up $670
    Is this meant to be a EM6910 machine Noni?

    Mal.

    Er yes, oops. EM6910

    And I know the GJ beans would have been crappy but it was a matter of getting anything on the way home from the shop to try it out. As soon as I get the grinder Ill be on bean bay! I havent even sent the form off yet though, the sales guy at bing lee didnt have any left so said hed have to ring and get more and would post me one so it will be delayed a little more than usual.

    EDIT - just realised i can buy ground off bean bay. i was thinking it was just beans, der. Ok I will go order some shortly!

    Speaking of which, I have noticed the pressure gauge on my machine hardly moves at all so Im thinking the grind I have been using so far is too coarse (although Im sure it could be a dozen other things as well). Will post an update once Ive tried some decent beans.

    noni

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Originally posted by 6E6F6E69000 link=1255320702/11#11 date=1255863635
    hi all, well i came home from bing lee yesterday with a em3910 and the 4080 grinder will follow shortly, all up $670
    Is this meant to be a EM6910 machine Noni?

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • A_M
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Originally posted by 717071761F0 link=1255320702/11#11 date=1255863635
    hi all, well i came home from bing lee yesterday with a em3910 and the 4080 grinder will follow shortly, all up $670 - a good deal but a bit more than i wanted to spend! this is what happens when i take my husband shopping.

    i didnt realise at first that the free grinder deal was by redemption and that you have to send away for it, so we just stopped by gloria jeans on the way home to get some coffee to try out the new toy.

    my first attempt tasted a bit like the plunger stuff i used to make with stale supermarket beans but a few more tries the result is almost passable as something that could have come from a cafe (albeit a dodgy one). not much crema going on yet, possibly because i figured id just start off using the unpressurised baskets that came with it (handy!). no idea about the milk frothing technique either but i havent had a chance to watch the dvd yet and am looking forward to doing the free course too.

    yay! im sure ill be on here more often with lots of new questions!
    There the only ones to use....

    See here http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1238585788/18#18
    and lots of other posts on CS as to how to get the best from your SB6910..

    But stay away from GJ, CC etc etc and Supermarkets...

    AM

    Leave a comment:


  • WSullivan
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Sorry noni, but those beans you have from Gloria jeans are far from fresh ! The only way to aquire fresh beans is through a local roaster, one of the site sponsors, through brown bay on the left or roast ya own.....dont worry though, fresh beans are no more expensive than the stale stuff ya get in the supermarket/Gloria jeans/coffee club!
    Cheers
    Warren

    Leave a comment:


  • noni
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    hi all, well i came home from bing lee yesterday with a em3910 and the 4080 grinder will follow shortly, all up $670 - a good deal but a bit more than i wanted to spend! this is what happens when i take my husband shopping.

    i didnt realise at first that the free grinder deal was by redemption and that you have to send away for it, so we just stopped by gloria jeans on the way home to get some coffee to try out the new toy.

    my first attempt tasted a bit like the plunger stuff i used to make with stale supermarket beans but a few more tries the result is almost passable as something that could have come from a cafe (albeit a dodgy one). not much crema going on yet, possibly because i figured id just start off using the unpressurised baskets that came with it (handy!). no idea about the milk frothing technique either but i havent had a chance to watch the dvd yet and am looking forward to doing the free course too.

    yay! im sure ill be on here more often with lots of new questions!

    Leave a comment:


  • purple
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Hi Noni...I still consider myself very much a noob when it comes to coffee but I can make a surprisingly good latte from my modest set up...
    I went the Breville option but have the same grinder as you...I found the key to success and good taste was the great Pullman tamper and the naked/krups basket with fresh beans...
    I reckon you will do fine with all these guys advising you...grab a machine and some fresh beans and get ready to have fun brewing...

    The machine cleanup isnt too bad really...wipe of the steam wand, rinse out the handle thingy after every use and empty the drip tray at the end of the day...also flush/washout the machine every so often (monthly) with de-scale.

    Leave a comment:


  • martybean
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Hi noni.
    If you like tea then why not try syphon coffee. Just thought I would give you more to think about.

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Welcome noni.... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

    Which ever method of preparation you prefer, as alluded to above a few times, you need to have access to freshly roasted, high quality beans and only grind the amount you intend to use immediately before brewing/pulling a shot.

    Lots of our Site Sponsors sell excellent quality beans via mail order to anywhere in Oz, as does Andy Freeman via the Buy Brown link in the top L/H corner. Many of these freshly roasted beans have won nationally recognised awards for their Roast Masters, so are well worth a try.

    Andy actually sells a Brown Bean Sample Pack that contains 4 x 250g packs of currently available beans from different coffee growing regions around the world and may be a great way to get started, just to see what sorts of beans you really enjoy. I pretty well love all the beans that Andy manages to acquire but there are very distinctive differences between beans say, from N.E. Africa and South America and you may discover that you end up with a penchant for beans from particular regions as opposed to others. Its great discovering the differences though.... 8-)

    Anyway, youre well on the path to achieving coffee nirvana so enjoy the journey... ;D

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • noni
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    thanks greg - interesting info about the temps. i am hoping to become a real snob one day and drink espresso instead of a wimpy girls drink, so I assume a black coffee will always be marginally warmer than a milk coffee? maybe I should quanitfy scalding hot though - what I basically mean is Im sick of having to ask for my coffee extra hot at cafes. Eg if im making tea at home Ill pour the water when the jug has only just clicked off the boil (and I know im probably opening another can of worms here because technically tea leaves are burnt at certain temps too) but its really just so I can sit and sip my drink and dont have to scoff it before it gets lukewarm.

    caffeinejunky - hmm... i think some of those machines are worth more than my house!

    cheers guys
    noni

    Leave a comment:


  • GregWormald
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Hi Noni, and welcome to CoffeeSnobs.

    Let me give you some information to add to your pile and the comments above.

    Re: scalding hot coffee

    The water for good tasting espresso is usually regulated to about 93°C. Since it passes through cold grounds the coffee will never exceed 80° in the cup. Heating it hotter will start to destroy the taste.

    Milk starts to make the coffee taste burnt above 70°, and loses its own sweetness at that temperature as well, so a good tasting milk coffee is limited to 70°, which is a long way from scalding. (Taste is of course relative, but these guidelines are fairly well agreed.)

    So, if "scalding hot" is really important, then I doubt there will be much difference in the cup between instant with microwaved milk and a skim latte made with a machine. Save your money.

    Have you ever had a really good coffee? If you dont know whether you have (and that wouldnt surprise me cause really good coffee is scarce) then either a Snob, or one of the Sponsors, or one of the cafés in the "Good Coffee Where" section will be happy to introduce you. You may well decide that taste trumps scalds. If it does then a starter machine and grinder as you have suggested is a good start.

    I hope this helps.

    Greg

    Leave a comment:


  • jkarlis
    replied
    Re: OMG im a noob... information overload... can you help?

    Dont forget to allow a little extra money for a decent tamper too.

    You never get a chance to watch TV when you have young ones, better off investing in something like what Chris has on offer:

    http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1163933911/6#6

    Oh and you can buy great quality beans from Bean Bay (see top left of page).

    Leave a comment:

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