Recommended espresso machine?

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#934925 16-Nov-2013 15:06

My grandma used to put sugar, lots... But I don't use sugar with any type of coffee now.

thecatsgoolies

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#935089 17-Nov-2013 06:44

freitasm: My grandma used to put sugar, lots... But I don't use sugar with any type of coffee now.

A German I once knew introduced me to the skill of drinking coffee black and sugarless. It took guts I admit but I persevered, then discovered cappucino's in probably the only one real espresso cafe in Liverpool back then!
Look at us now with our fancy coffees we drink like water. Actually, what is water? I seem to have forgotten it in its purest form lol.

oxnsox

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#935170 17-Nov-2013 12:19

Visiting friends in the Sounds for a long weekend. They have Avalanche Duo coffee..... its an instant style that is a mix of 85% freeze dried with 15% fresh ground.
I summarise it as a good coffee to travel with.

JimmyH

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#936326 17-Nov-2013 22:55

thecatsgoolies:
freitasm: I use instant for a cafe con leche: a cup of milk in microwave for two minutes, two spoons of instant coffee... I drink this in the morning, every day, for the last 40 something years. After that is one cafe latte in the morning and then two or three espresso during the day (when at home).

I actually think most of my liquid intake is from coffee than just water...

My nana used to do her instant this way. Schooled us kiddies into drinking coffee at a ripe old age of 9 ;-) Warmed milk, instant coffee and too much sugar lol. Miss12 has now advised me she is drinking coffee I didn't even flinch when she told me. Now if she were drinking whiskey, may be another issue

I was like that. Dad used to drink his coffee milky and very sugary (he was notorious for his sweet tooth!) and I used to get sips. Decided I liked it and started making my own. Coffee drinker from age 7/8. Raised a few eyebrows occasionally when we went out, but my folks were fine with it. Even had a little green tartan thermos that I used to take with me on trips. Ahhh .... memories.

Over time I have graduated to better coffee, less milk (although I can't drink it black), and drastically reduced the amount of sugar to the point where I sometimes have none at all.

About the only instant I can drink (when I get lazy or have to) is Moccona which is drinkable. Mostly it's plunger or, when I have the time, made on my machine (Krupps - which isn't great and it on the replace list).

mrphil

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#939514 23-Nov-2013 16:41

dont feel like reading 25 pages today

recommended coffee machine $500 and under, no capsules machines please

mrphil

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#940360 25-Nov-2013 14:21

mrphil: dont feel like reading 25 pages today

recommended coffee machine $500 and under, no capsules machines please

ummm cant find a edit button on that post

anyways never mind, got one sorted now

Edwood

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#941979 28-Nov-2013 08:37

mrphil:
mrphil: dont feel like reading 25 pages today

recommended coffee machine $500 and under, no capsules machines please

ummm cant find a edit button on that post

anyways never mind, got one sorted now

Perhaps, for the benefit of the next person who can't be bothered reading 25 pages, you may like to enlighten us with your choice and why you picked it?

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k1wi

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#941998 28-Nov-2013 09:15

I just gave up coffee...

Does anyone who uses the nespresso machines actually recycle the cups? It seems like a pretty large waste of resources otherwise.

I remember seeing K-cups in the states (which seemed to pick up critical mass a little bit before nespresso is starting to here) and thinking about how wasteful the system is.

langers1972

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#942015 28-Nov-2013 09:23

k1wi:Does anyone who uses the nespresso machines actually recycle the cups? It seems like a pretty large waste of resources otherwise.

I do, luckily there's a Nespresso shop (I refuse to call it Boutique) in Wellington

freitasm

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#942053 28-Nov-2013 09:58

langers1972:
k1wi:Does anyone who uses the nespresso machines actually recycle the cups? It seems like a pretty large waste of resources otherwise.

I do, luckily there's a Nespresso shop (I refuse to call it Boutique) in Wellington

Are they accepting the capsules at the WLG shop?

langers1972

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#942100 28-Nov-2013 10:35

freitasm:Are they accepting the capsules at the WLG shop?

Yes, there's a bin thingy in the shop opposite the counter, just drop them in

stocksp

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#942172 28-Nov-2013 11:41

We just bought a Gaggia Classic (a joint XMas present for my partner and I). Was tossing up between this and a Rancilio Silvia V3 ) but ended going for the Gaggia given its smaller size and the reviews that said it was more consistent and easier to use for the novice. Cost us $859 from coffeemachines.co.nz, and I can highly recommend it as a great starter machine.

As an aside, can anyone tell me the correct technique for getting lovely smooth velvety milk (as opposed to lots of froth) when using the steamer?

SumnerBoy

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#942177 28-Nov-2013 11:51

When I got my machine (Ascaso Uno) I just googled some you tube clips for how to make the perfect micro foam. It has taken a while but I am pretty happy with my milk these days. The keys I would say are to start the steam wand just on the surface of the milk so the air hole is just breaking the surface by a fraction. Do this for a few seconds (maybe 10-15) until the milk starts to warm up. Apparently once warm the milk won't form anymore bubbles so it is important you have cold fresh milk to start with. Once warm bury the wand deeper into the milk and on an angle so it starts spinning the milk. Do this until the milk gets up to about 60-65 degrees. I usually have to use a teaspoon to prevent the heavy foam on top of the milk from pouring out but most of the time I get lovely, creamy, hot milk!

Fred99

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#942192 28-Nov-2013 12:20

SumnerBoy: When I got my machine (Ascaso Uno) I just googled some you tube clips for how to make the perfect micro foam. It has taken a while but I am pretty happy with my milk these days. The keys I would say are to start the steam wand just on the surface of the milk so the air hole is just breaking the surface by a fraction. Do this for a few seconds (maybe 10-15) until the milk starts to warm up. Apparently once warm the milk won't form anymore bubbles so it is important you have cold fresh milk to start with. Once warm bury the wand deeper into the milk and on an angle so it starts spinning the milk. Do this until the milk gets up to about 60-65 degrees. I usually have to use a teaspoon to prevent the heavy foam on top of the milk from pouring out but most of the time I get lovely, creamy, hot milk!

There's a bit of an art to getting it perfect, and big differences between the steam power from small domestic machines, to larger domestic HX machines, then to commercial HX machines with very large boilers. Faster/more powerful is not necessarily easier.
With my machine, using a thermometer is basically useless - except as "post mortem", as the reaction time from the thermometer is pathetic, so if you stop steaming at 65 deg then you'll probably overshoot and scald it - but how much you overshoot depends on how much milk you're doing, one cup or two, cappuccino or latte or flat whites.
Practice makes perfect, your fingers on the side of the jug are faster thermometers than anything you can buy (oh well - I suppose some extreme solutions are possible), and you've got to use your ears as well - the sound can tell you what's going on.
I can make perfect steamed milk every time, but I'm absolutely hopeless at pouring latte art, unless obscure and non-repeatable abstracts count. I pour Rorschach tests, not tulips, ferns, hearts etc. My son pours perfect art - damn it - he's tried to instruct me in how to do it, I'm a hopeless student.

mrphil

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#942201 28-Nov-2013 12:32

Edwood:
mrphil:
mrphil: dont feel like reading 25 pages today

recommended coffee machine $500 and under, no capsules machines please

ummm cant find a edit button on that post

anyways never mind, got one sorted now

Perhaps, for the benefit of the next person who can't be bothered reading 25 pages, you may like to enlighten us with your choice and why you picked it?

i was given one for free from my sister, just a cheap breville one which she won and never used

before that i was learning towards a sunbeam machine
http://www.briscoes.co.nz/kitchen/appliances/coffee-machines/1049613/Sunbeam-PU6910-Espresso-Coffee-Machine-and-Coffee-Grinder.html

abit more than $500 but it comes with a grinder

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