Espresso Enthusiasts

[AVBeatMan]

Now that I am drinking two big cups of coffee a day, instead of one cup, I am using up my coffee beans much more quickly.

Maybe twice as fast as before.

(I figured that out all by myself. Even though I have a broken neck, my head is still tenuously attached to my body and I'm still pretty bright. )

I decided I would try some coffee from the site mentioned above.

As I prefer a dark roast, I'm going to try http://www.highwirecoffee.com/collections/coffee/products/french-roast.

After I try it I will report back.

Are you based in the US? I've looked on the intelligentsia site but don't see any UK (where I am) store?

Although I've been drinking coffee all my life I'm still "progressing" on my journey. I drank instant until around 15 years ago. I then progressed to a cafetiere then a Dolce Gusto machine (a step back perhaps?) then a Tassimo, then a Nespresso machine (best of the three) which I still use along with a Bialetti and a Le Creuset. Oh, and an aeropress (which is v good). I've still to grind my own beans but feel that'll be the next step, along with my tastebuds that still prefer a good old latte. Anyway, I'm wafting on a bit but err, what was my question?!!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Are you based in the US? I've looked on the intelligentsia site but don't see any UK (where I am) store?

Although I've been drinking coffee all my life I'm still "progressing" on my journey. I drank instant until around 15 years ago. I then progressed to a cafetiere then a Dolce Gusto machine (a step back perhaps?) then a Tassimo, then a Nespresso machine (best of the three) which I still use along with a Bialetti and a Le Creuset. Oh, and an aeropress (which is v good). I've still to grind my own beans but feel that'll be the next step, along with my tastebuds that still prefer a good old latte. Anyway, I'm wafting on a bit but err, what was my question?!!

View attachment 635427

I have ordered coffees from Intelligentsia by post (and yes, the costs of the postage & transport are rather pricey) as I'm also in your part of the world and Intelligentsia do not have stores/shops - or a bricks-and-mortar presence - outside of the USA. So, no, alas, there are no Intelligentsia stores in the UK.

Thus, when I buy from them, I buy several coffees, as the cost of transporting several coffees is only marginally more than buying a few.

 

[Shrink]

Are you based in the US? I've looked on the intelligentsia site but don't see any UK (where I am) store?

Although I've been drinking coffee all my life I'm still "progressing" on my journey. I drank instant until around 15 years ago. I then progressed to a cafetiere then a Dolce Gusto machine (a step back perhaps?) then a Tassimo, then a Nespresso machine (best of the three) which I still use along with a Bialetti and a Le Creuset. Oh, and an aeropress (which is v good). I've still to grind my own beans but feel that'll be the next step, along with my tastebuds that still prefer a good old latte. Anyway, I'm wafting on a bit but err, what was my question?!!

View attachment 635427

If I'm reading your post correctly, you are not yet grinding your own beans. If I'm correct in that reading I can't recommend strongly enough that you grind your own beans. If it is at all possible, grinding your own will make an unbelievably noticeable difference in the taste of your coffee, however you make it. Pre-ground coffee begins to go stale in a matter of seconds. No matter how it's packed by the time you receive it it's stale. If you buy whole bean coffee, grind it immediately before use, you will discover an amazing improvement in the taste of your coffee.

I very strongly recommend a burr grinder and to avoid, at all costs, one of those dreadful blade grinders. If you choose to go for a burr grinder I'm sure that'll of us here we'll be more than happy to make recommendations about the grinders to check out.

As you have made progression from instant to actual coffee your definite next step is to grind your own.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Any recommendations for a burr grinder (and a link if possible) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[S.B.G]

Any recommendations for a burr grinder (and a link if possible) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Oh, now you stepped in it!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If I'm reading your post correctly, you are not yet grinding your own beans. If I'm correct in that reading I can't recommend strongly enough that you grind your own beans. If it is at all possible, grinding your own will make an unbelievably noticeable difference in the taste of your coffee, however you make it. Pre-ground coffee begins to go stale in a matter of seconds. No matter how it's packed by the time you receive it it's stale. If you buy whole bean coffee, grind it immediately before use, you will discover an amazing improvement in the taste of your coffee.

I very strongly recommend a burr grinder and to avoid, at all costs, one of those dreadful blade grinders. If you choose to go for a burr grinder I'm sure that'll of us here we'll be more than happy to make recommendations about the grinders to check out.

As you have made progression from instant to actual coffee your definitely next step is to grind your own.

But, not always, dear @Shrink, not always.

And, for me, grinding takes minutes, not seconds. Then, a slow potter back to the Le Creuset pot, and the ritual (slow, by definition) of unscrewing the bottom jar from the OE Lido, and all of the other stuff (brush, for example) and so on.

Both brothers - and others - rather like the idea of freshly ground coffee - and yes, the aroma is usually extraordinarily seductive - and yes, of course, the taste is to die for - but they will argue that 'it is complicated' (it is), and it is time consuming (it is), and, bloody hell, some mornings, I have to draw breath - and work hard - while grinding this thing. Hercules, I am not.

Let us just say, it takes effort: Elbow grease and all that - as one brother muttered 'this is a bit of work, or even a bit of a work out' (he is a writer, and neither of us have ever haunted the door of a gym. And never will).

The other brother, the chap I refer to as Decent Brother, asked me with quizzical concern while watching me with genuine bewilderment as I was busily grinding beans one Sunday morning - 'yes, it's lovely, but is it not a bit too......um, complicated, and sort of like hard work?' his brows furrowed with worry at what he clearly thought was some sort of irrational masochism on my part.

For me, @Medz1, you make your coffee to suit your circumstances: I will almost always have (actually, I ran out three or four days ago, so I don't ahem any to hand just now - very annoying) some pre-ground coffee. Mornings when I ma dashing for planes or buses or trains or taxis, I cannot muster the effort and bandwidth, and time, to grind my own.

Therefore, for me, pre-ground is my preference for time pressed week days; and grinding my own is for when when time is not of the essence - that is, when people (I like) pay a visit, or when I am at home at week ends, or when brothers are about.

Actually, my next grinder will be powered by electricity..........
[doublepost=1465769681][/doublepost]

Any recommendations for a burr grinder (and a link if possible) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

As @SandboxGeneral has observed, now that our friend, and mentor, and venerable sage, @Shrink has returned to us, ah, well, this is a topic on which he has no small expertise......

 

[Shrink]

Any recommendations for a burr grinder (and a link if possible) will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I just bought this grinder...https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MLQHRG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The link is to the US Amazon...

I am very pleased with the grinder. For all practical purposes it has a zero retention. I did read on one site that the retention was rated at 0.001 - 0.002 grams. It is easy to use and clean and has 40 grind settings which will allow you to be able to vary carefully and specifically dial in your grind for any production method… espresso, pour over, drip or press.

There are also less expensive grinders that you can purchase so you will have some choices. We certainly we can discuss the various attributes of the grinders recommended

Edit: Nothing like living up to one's reputation as a pain in the neck!

 

[AVBeatMan]

$229!! Think I'll go to bed.

Only joking. This subject needs revisiting tomorrow with some revised price limited recommendations!

 

[S.B.G]

$229!! Think I'll go to bed.

Only joking. This subject needs revisiting tomorrow with some revised price limited recommendations!

That's a drop in the well! Wait until @Shrink and @Kurwenal tell you what you should really get.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

$229!! Think I'll go to bed.

Only joking. This subject needs revisiting tomorrow with some revised price limited recommendations!

Mine - a manual grinder (actually manufactured/made to order - they fell behind on their orders and explained, apologetically, that they would take some months to fulfil mine, which they did, eventually), and yes, resembling an outsized chess piece and yes, also, built like a tank - much of it is made from metal - you could murder someone with this thing, it is a fantastic piece of equipment, and, for all of my occasional grumbles, I have to say I physically hugely enjoy the process of actually using it - cost around $175, - that is, give or take, around £140.

And that is not counting the additional cost of postage, carriage (why did that bloody auto correct think I wished to write 'carnage'?) and transport.....
[doublepost=1465771295][/doublepost]

That's a drop in the well! Wait until @Shrink and @Kurwenal tell you what you should really get.

Exactly.

A very slippery slope, one that requires bottomless financial resources......or a spare kidney...to indulge.

 

[Shrink]

That's a drop in the well! Wait until @Shrink and @Kurwenal tell you what you should really get.

No...no. I promise to be good.

I'll be perfectly reasonable, controlled, and practical.

Really...

No kidding...

Trust me...

 

[S.B.G]

Trust me

Famous last words!

 

[Shrink]

Famous last words!

OK...I lied!

Here goes...

$229!! Think I'll go to bed.

Only joking. This subject needs revisiting tomorrow with some revised price limited recommendations!

First, Full Disclosure.. I am a certifiably insane coffee freak. You have been warned…

And now, a few thousand well chosen words on the topic of grinders:

Of the three elements in making coffee the high quality, freshly roasted beans are, of course, the most important element. The least important element is the production method. Whether you are making press, pour over, drip, or espresso… the device you use is far less important than the grinder.

The qualities to look for in any grinder - expensive or inexpensive, manual or electric - is the uniformity of particle size and, secondarily, retention, build materials, and ease of cleaning.

Particle size is the most important element in that having uniform particle sizes, no matter what your extraction method, allows for maximal extraction for the best coffee production. If there is very high variability in particle size, i.e. a mixture of large particles ("boulders"), proper size particles, and dust you will get poor and inconsistent extraction from your good beans and very variable tasting coffee each time you make it. Whether you're making espresso using a very fine grind (particle size of about 250 microns), or press using a coarse grind (particle size of around 1000-1200 microns) you want all the particles to be as close to the same size as possible to maximize the extraction and get the best possible coffee out of your beans.

Retention is only important insofar as it easier when you measure your whole beans going in you know how much to allow for the loss of grinds in the grinder. So if you know that your grinder has a consistent 10% retention you can always make a predictable compensation when weighing your whole beans.

Such issues as build materials and ease of cleaning generally are correlated with the cost of the grinder.

Having said all that, one's budget now enters equation. When it comes to the equipment necessary to make coffee, I would always recommend spending as much as you can manage, within your budget, to buy the best grinder possible. Again, aside from fresh high-quality beans, nothing is more important in the production of coffee than the grinder.

Please feel free to totally ignore the above as it was written by a lonely old man who has nothing better to do to torture the innocent.

And to @SandboxGeneral...see, perfectly reasonable, controlled, and practical.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

No...no. I promise to be good.

I'll be perfectly reasonable, controlled, and practical.

Really...

No kidding...

Trust me...

Hm.

My innate scepticism reminds me to treat this avowal with a degree of caution...

Famous last words!

Oh, yes. A heartfelt, and profound amen to that.

OK...I lied!

Here goes...



First, Full Disclosure.. I am a certifiably insane coffee freak. You have been warned…

And now, a few thousand well chosen words on the topic of grinders:

Of the three elements in making coffee the high quality, freshly roasted beans are, of course, the most important element. The least important element is the production method. Whether you are making press, pour over, drip, or espresso… the device you use is far less important than the grinder.

The qualities to look for in any grinder - expensive or inexpensive, manual or electric - is the uniformity of particle size and, secondarily, retention, build materials, and ease of cleaning.

Particle size is the most important element in that having uniform particle sizes, no matter what your extraction method, allows for maximal extraction for the best coffee production. If there is very high variability in particle size, i.e. a mixture of large particles ("boulders"), proper size particles, and dust you will get poor and inconsistent extraction from your good beans and very variable tasting coffee each time you make it. Whether you're making espresso using a very fine grind (particle size of about 250 microns), or press using a coarse grind (particle size of around 1000-1200 microns) you want all the particles to be as close to the same size as possible to maximize the extraction and get the best possible coffee out of your beans.

Retention is only important insofar as it easier when you measure your whole beans going in you know how much to allow for the loss of grinds in the grinder. So if you know that your grinder has a consistent 10% retention you can always make a predictable compensation when weighing your whole beans.

Such issues as build materials and ease of cleaning generally are correlated with the cost of the grinder.

Having said all that, one's budget now enters equation. When it comes to the equipment necessary to make coffee, I would always recommend spending as much as you can manage, within your budget, to buy the best grinder possible. Again, aside from fresh high-quality beans, nothing is more important in the production of coffee than the grinder.

Please feel free to totally ignore the above as it was written by a lonely old man who has nothing better to do to torture the innocent.

And to @SandboxGeneral...see, perfectly reasonable, controlled, and practical.

And, the coffee and espresso demon is fully awakened and returned to us.

The thread hasn't been the same since your departure, @Shrink.

In your regrettable absence, my fervour was sadly lacking the verisimilitude of the true convert - I am, in truth, a coffee dilettante when contrasted with the perfervid fervour of my erstwhile colleagues here, such as @Shrink and @Kurwenal....both of whom have been sadly missed this past while.

 

[Shrink]

Hm.

My innate scepticism reminds me to treat this avowal with a degree of caution...



Oh, yes. A heartfelt, and profound amen to that.



And, the coffee and espresso demon is fully awakened and returned to us.

The thread hasn't been the same since your departure, @Shrink.

In your regrettable absence, my fervour was sadly lacking the verisimilitude of the true convert - I am, in truth, a coffee dilettante when contrasted with the perfervid fervour of my erstwhile colleagues here, such as @Shrink and @Kurwenal....both of whom have been sadly missed this past while.

Thank you, Dear Friend.

I have truly missed you all.

It's really good to be back.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Having one last Jim Beam and then DEFINITELY Bed. (Although might have a coffee of how I'll make have no idea!).

 

[Shrink]

Having one last Jim Beam and then DEFINITELY Bed. (Although might have a coffee of how I'll make have no idea!).

Stop by tomorrow and we can talk more.

If you dare...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Having one last Jim Beam and then DEFINITELY Bed. (Although might have a coffee of how I'll make have no idea!).

Enjoy the Jim Beam. (Mine is a glass or three of Manzanilla, tonight).

Sleep well. But make no promises, rash or otherwise........

 

[mobilehaathi]

Getting ready to roast up a pound of Ethiopian coffee from the Kaffa region grown by the Mitchi Co-op. My kela kochore beans are getting low.

Going to roast these to FC/FC+ and will plan for both SO espresso and pour over.

I just bought this grinder...https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B006MLQHRG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The link is to the US Amazon...

I am very pleased with the grinder. For all practical purposes it has a zero retention. I did read on one site that the retention was rated at 0.001 - 0.002 grams. It is easy to use and clean and has 40 grind settings which will allow you to be able to vary carefully and specifically dial in your grind for any production method… espresso, pour over, drip or press.

There are also less expensive grinders that you can purchase so you will have some choices. We certainly we can discuss the various attributes of the grinders recommended

Edit: Nothing like living up to one's reputation as a pain in the neck!

$229!! Think I'll go to bed.

Only joking. This subject needs revisiting tomorrow with some revised price limited recommendations!

I have this one, and it's quite nice. That brand has a less expensive version that's also quite good. To be honest, the difference over a blade grinder is formidable.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Getting ready to roast up a pound of Ethiopian coffee from the Kaffa region grown by the Mitchi Co-op. My kela kochore beans are getting low.

Going to roast these to FC/FC+ and will plan for both SO espresso and pour over.

SO? Is that 'single origin'?

 

[mobilehaathi]

SO? Is that 'single origin'?

Yes, indeed!

 

[Shrink]

I have this one, and it's quite nice. That brand has a less expensive version that's also quite good. To be honest, the difference over a blade grinder is formidable.

I would take it a step further… the difference between a burr grinder and blade chopper is more than formidable. it is the difference between grinding coffee and totally destroying it.

A blade chopper may be fine for herbs, parsley, or nuts but it is death for coffee beans. It not only produces particles of wildly different sizes, but the extreme heat it produces destroys the oils in the beans that, along with the micro particles, are that which goes to make up coffee during extraction.

In a burr grinder each being is it struck once by the burrs and crushed into the selected particle size. In a chopper the blades hit each bean thousands of times causing heat which destroys the oils in the grind. Also, as mentioned above, the resulting grinds particles are of hugely different sizes.

I would urge, in the strongest possible terms, that a blade grinder be avoided at all costs.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Well, just having a lovely "American" coffee with a dash of full fat milk and it's lovely (yes, after quite a few alcoholic drinks) and made in the Aeropress (thoughts?). Really impressed with this. It kind of "hisses" as the brew "pushes" into the cup. Here's a pic of the instructions.

And... Goodnight!

 

[mobilehaathi]

Well, just having a lovely "American" coffee with a dash of full fat milk and it's lovely (yes, after quite a few alcoholic drinks) and made in the Aeropress (thoughts?). Really impressed with this. It kind of "hisses" as the brew "pushes" into the cup. Here's a pic of the instructions. View attachment 635434

And... Goodnight!

I've heard people rave about their aeropress, but I don't yet have one....yet! This and a small chemex.....

 

[Shrink]

I've heard people rave about their aeropress, but I don't yet have one....yet! This and a small chemex.....

I, too, have never used an aeropress. Do you have any idea of the advantage of the aeropress, aside from portability which is good for travel, over a small (17 ounce) french press? I have a 17 ounce French press which makes one large (10 ounce) cup of coffee.