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Which Machine?

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  • coffee_mum
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Note to self Keep doors & windows to house closed when cremating beans outside. I wouldnt recommend burnt bean as an air freshener. [smiley=cheesy.gif]

    Leave a comment:


  • greenman
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Good work Caryn, you will really notice a difference with the deeper basket and Pullman tamper, you will enter a new phase in your coffee journey.
    Glad to see you getting into home roasting, a Corretto is just around the corner I feel!!!

    Leave a comment:


  • coffee_mum
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Silvia and Rocky have been in residence for a week now, I am happy with my results (poor technique and all) which are steadily improving, I cant get a good tamp with that silly plastic thing. Im getting very uneven - 30 & 50ml shots from the one pour, my solution - I have ordered a Pullman tamper, deep basket and some other goodies from Jetblack Espresso, so then I will know any deficiencies will be me. I cant get into a barrista course until Feb (my commitments)

    Silvia is steaming wonderfully, quick and strong, I am getting what I consider to be good microfoam from full cream milk, not so great from the low fat lactose free zymil, just another excuse for more practice [smiley=rolleyes.gif]

    Rocky is fine, but son doesnt like him as an alarm clock.

    I bought some beans from where I got my machine (unfortunatley not a site sponsor - long story) which are OK, and also some from a local Cafe who roast their own, which are awful down the sink shots, after doing some reading I think they are under roasted, they are about a 4 on the CS card (computer view) and seem to have a lot of chaff still on them. Which has lead me to buy a popper, a couple of large seives and place an order for a green bean starter pack.

    Now I am impatiently waiting for my orders to arrive, so that I can have even more fun, and learn even more about this wonderful "hobby" (my excuse for aquiring bits and pieces of bench top bling) [smiley=smiley.gif]

    Just for a practice run, I am going to put those yucky beans in the popper this afternoon, they are a week old and are destined for the bin anyway, I am hoping I might get a second crack out of them, so that I know what it sounds like. I will cremate one batch of greens to get a feel for the process, but I want to play now!

    Once again I really want to say "Thank You" [smiley=thumbsup.gif] to all who have replied to my questions and those who have contribruted to the many, many theads I have been reading, you have all helped me make what I consider to be the right choice for my circumstances and justifiable $$ outlay. I hope that with practice and time I will be a worthy Coffee Snob, but for now the "L" plates are firmly in place.

    Caryn

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  • martybean
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Congradulations! Coffee Mum,
    Thats a good purchase now all you have to do is get some fresh coffee and have a go at making great coffee

    Leave a comment:


  • coffee_mum
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Hi All and hope you had a merry Christmas

    [smiley=smiley.gif] [smiley=smiley.gif] [smiley=smiley.gif]

    I"m Happy Happy Happy! Hubby has finally said yes to both Silvia and Rocky. So Im heading off Melbourne tomorrow  and will be bringing my new friends home.

    Im really looking forward to making a "real" coffee and have been looking at the roasting threads, might let the dust settle for a couple of weeks before I get some green beans and bring home a new popper. I think my coffee should have a dedicated popper, wouldnt want popcorn flavoured coffee or coffee flavoured popcorn

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    I used to be able to judge by eye how much to put in the hopper for one shoitbut it was a little inconsistant.

    Now I measure my beans into a spare basket and toss them in.
    Havent had any leftover grinds for many, many months since doing it this way.

    Leave a comment:


  • Crisp_image
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    You never need to leave grounds in the doser.
    You only need to grind enough for one cup if you want.
    If you dont have a doser and need to do more than a couple of coffees at a time youll wish you had a doser.
    If you have a doser you can grind for one or a few at a time.

    So I stand corrected however I think I would find that I grind too much (even on a doserless) and would be constantly be throwing out the surpluss. So How do you overcome this. I use to put just enough beans in the hopper but have changed my ways and put in enough for a day or 2.
    Regards
    Crisp Image

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Ill second "flynnauss" suggestion for the Nemox Fenice line of machinery...

    At east one of our site sponsors sells this range of machines which represent excellent bang for buck and are superior to both the Sunbeam EM6910 and the Gaggia Classic in my opinion (from an engineering standpoint).

    Heres a link to our sponsors page... Coffee Machine Express

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • Thundergod
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Originally posted by Crisp image link=1228792765/20#22 date=1229505025
    I would say a doserless grinder wold be better. Simply the doser can store gound beans which is good if you are constantly making coffees but if you make one or 2 a day then the grounds will go stale in the doser. This is my opinion and I will stand to be corrected if needed.
    Regards
    Crisp Image
    You never need to leave grounds in the doser.
    You only need to grind enough for one cup if you want.
    If you dont have a doser and need to do more than a couple of coffees at a time youll wish you had a doser.
    If you have a doser you can grind for one or a few at a time.

    Leave a comment:


  • flynnaus
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Recommendations for the $500-$1000 machine normally fall into the choice of the Gaggia Classic, the Sunbeam EM6910 and the Rancilio Miss Silvia (without PID) which is always accompanied by the advice of getting a good grinder first.

    One brand that also falls into this price range is Nemox with the Dell Opera only getting the occasional mention. This is somewhat surprising as I havent really heard a bad word against it. It also has the bonus of a built-in grinder which reportedly does an adequate job. I realise that few CS sponsors sell this machine but it does appear to tick quite a few boxes.

    Theres even the Nemox Lux grinder at around $300. Looks like an Ascaso iMini style of grinder. If you couple that with a Nexox Fenice, you still have change from $1000.

    I have no experience of this brand so cant speak for or against it. Should it be avoided? Im not thinking of buying one, just wondering why it doesnt get much of a mention.

    Leave a comment:


  • Crisp_image
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    I would say a doserless grinder wold be better. Simply the doser can store gound beans which is good if you are constantly making coffees but if you make one or 2 a day then the grounds will go stale in the doser. This is my opinion and I will stand to be corrected if needed.
    Regards
    Crisp Image

    Leave a comment:


  • Dimal
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Sheesh..... :-?

    What hope have we mere males got against an onslaught of those proportions ....

    Anyway, all power to you "coffee mum" and hope the grinder is sitting under your Xmas Tree ;D

    Mal.

    Leave a comment:


  • CarrieK
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Hello CoffeeMum

    Love your work     But PLEASE, dont give away too many tactical secrets    
    Ive been trying to encourage my luvly man to read some of the threads here.  Its part of my plot to buy some equipment for home-roasting while retaining domestic harmony  :    
    But if he sees some of your posts.. hell be on to my evil plan in no time  ;D  ;D  ;D

    - Carrie  

    Leave a comment:


  • andrew
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Dont forget to consider the second hand market - you can often find very well cared for equipment right here! The silvia/rocky combo goes for ~$800 which is exactly your budget as referred to a few posts back... I would never buy a plasticy thing 2nd hand but the rancilios are semi-industrial... as you have seen. I went a few months without a grinder when I first stumbled into the coffee world and honestly its better to think of the coffee machine and grinder as a single unit.. though yes, $800 is a rather large obstacle. But soy lattes are expensive... a coffee a day for three months and youre approaching it!

    Leave a comment:


  • coffee_mum
    replied
    Re: Which Machine?

    Hi Crisp Image, making bad coffee is just one of the many weapons I have up my sleeve, but it is probably going to be the most used, and it may not be intentional, but I will certainly be blaming the grounds, and letting him know (nag) that a grinder will definitely fix the problem.

    I am hoping to be able to produce a reasonable cup with some "just home" coffee, then make comment (pout) that the next brew doesnt taste as good, and the next even worse. Then, I can run out of ground coffee Saturday afternoon (of course) and buy some really cheap supermarket stuff for Sunday brunch, making sure that there is a nice fresh home-made fruit loaf to go with the crappy coffee (whinge). By that stage I am hoping for the "if you must " sigh, and Ill have my grinder as soon as I can get to the shop.

    In the meantime I need to do some more research, Rocky is my choice at the moment, but Im going to look at what is around that may be a little better. Also need to decide on doser or doserless. Looks may be important as well, at the moment any grinder will be living in the cupboard and only coming out for duty, but a good looking one may eventually be allowed to live on the bench.

    Leave a comment:

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