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twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
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What kind of filter basket are you using in your portafilter?

If you are using a VST or a Strada...take a look at the Cafelat Royal tamper. It is 58.35MM with a 0.05MM variance. Fits those baskets perfectly...and would probably fit any good 58MM basket.

I have both the Cafelat and the Rocket tamping stations. I like the Rocket a lot, and don't use the Cafelat any more.

Um, what?! Will have to look up half of what you wrote tomorrow but I'm still using that little Bialetti machine which is 55mm in diameter...if that is what you've asked..:p
 

Scepticalscribe

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Jul 29, 2008
65,135
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In a coffee shop.
Um, what?! Will have to look up half of what you wrote tomorrow but I'm still using that little Bialetti machine which is 55mm in diameter...if that is what you've asked..:p

Ah, a traditionalist. I'm a big fan of the Bialetti, myself, as you know; unfortunately, I don't have it with me where I am currently based but shall be returning to reacquaint myself with its manifold delights shortly.

A bean delivery update: We did receive beans, finally, all of three days ago, to my inexpressible joy, and the somewhat better contained joy of some of my colleagues.

Alas, sad to relate, they were not imported from a sufficiently far distance, but seem to have been sourced, ah, more locally. Suffice to say that the taste is not quite what I had in mind…….
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
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New England, USA
Um, what?! Will have to look up half of what you wrote tomorrow but I'm still using that little Bialetti machine which is 55mm in diameter...if that is what you've asked..:p

Sorry...I forgot you are using a Bialleti...which is the model pictured below, if I am correct. (I know zip about the Bialetti!)

So now I'm really confused (quite normal for me, of course)...if you are not using a machine which employs a portafilter (as below)...why do you need a tamper?

Do you use a tamper with that machine?

EDIT: I just watched a video about making espresso with the pot pictured...and it didn't indicated the need for tamping.

Increasingly confused as to why you need a tamper.:confused:
 

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mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
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The Anthropocene
Sorry...I forgot you are using a Bialleti...which is the model pictured below, if I am correct. (I know zip about the Bialetti!)

So now I'm really confused (quite normal for me, of course)...if you are not using a machine which employs a portafilter (as below)...why do you need a tamper?

Do you use a tamper with that machine?

EDIT: I just watched a video about making espresso with the pot pictured...and it didn't indicated the need for tamping.

Increasingly confused as to why you need a tamper.:confused:

You know, sometimes life requires one to be, ahh, how did Keats put it, "capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.":p
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
You know, sometimes life requires one to be, ahh, how did Keats put it, "capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason.":p

Well, if you're going to quote stuff that is way over my reading comprehension level...:p

Inquiring minds STILL want to know!

(Masthead of National Enquirer...closer to my comprehension level!:cool:).
 

mobilehaathi

macrumors G3
Aug 19, 2008
9,368
6,353
The Anthropocene
Well, if you're going to quote stuff that is way over my reading comprehension level...:p

Inquiring minds STILL want to know!

(Masthead of National Enquirer...closer to my comprehension level!:cool:).

Well in that case, if twietee doesn't get back to you in reasonable time, I hear Elvis uses one. Perhaps the Enquirer can put you two in touch. ;)
 

Scepticalscribe

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Jul 29, 2008
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In a coffee shop.
The Bialetti is a source of pure and simple unadulterated joy. And no, I cannot see why one would need a tamper when using it. I am sure that twietee will agree with me when I say that one of the most delightful sounds in all of civilised existence (forget twittering birds, or babbling brooks - they are nothing - nothing! - in comparison) is that gurgling and spluttering noise the Bialetti makes as the espresso is ready to be taken off the source of heat and is ready to be consumed…..

Edit; And yes, that is the pot. An object of great beauty, in my jaundiced eyes, at least. Meanwhile, I will say that I am looking forward to re-making the acquaintance of mine...
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
The Bialetti is a source of pure and simple unadulterated joy. And no, I cannot see why one would need a tamper when using it. I am sure that twietee will agree with me when I say that one of the most delightful sounds in all of civilised existence (forget twittering birds, or babbling brooks - they are nothing - nothing! - in comparison) is that gurgling and spluttering noise the Bialetti makes as the espresso is ready to be taken off the source of heat and is ready to be consumed…..

Edit; And yes, that is the pot. An object of great beauty, in my jaundiced eyes, at least. Meanwhile, I will say that I am looking forward to re-making the acquaintance of mine...

I hope nothing I said sounded critical of the Bialetti...it sounds delightful and looks elegant!:D

I was just confused when twietee said he was going to buy a Motta tamper...and why he would need it for a Bialetti.
 

Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
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In a coffee shop.
I hope nothing I said sounded critical of the Bialetti...it sounds delightful and looks elegant!:D

I was just confused when twietee said he was going to buy a Motta tamper...and why he would need it for a Bialetti.

I agree.

Actually, all the Bialetti needs is a stove top, some very good ground coffee, water, and a little patience. (Then just wait for that gurgling sound……)
 

twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
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:eek:

:eek:

Okokokok! Just read a good deal of this thread but have to hurry back to work now, so please hold your guns for a while and let me sort out my defense! Hope I have one....
 

twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
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Well, good that we talked about that. Seems like I don't need a tamper, shows how much I know about making coffee! I blame that upon my real-life teachers though!

"Place the basket in the reservoir and spoon coffee grounds into it. You want the coffee to be quite loose, so don’t tamp it down – coffee expands when it gets damp, so it needs a bit of room to do this. Fill the basket about three-quarters full."

6654682_f260.jpg



I would've always evened out the grounds in the basket, until now with a spoon, so really learned my lesson here! And saved myself some money...;)
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Well, good that we talked about that. Seems like I don't need a tamper, shows how much I know about making coffee! I blame that upon my real-life teachers though!

"Place the basket in the reservoir and spoon coffee grounds into it. You want the coffee to be quite loose, so don’t tamp it down – coffee expands when it gets damp, so it needs a bit of room to do this. Fill the basket about three-quarters full."

Image


I would've always evened out the grounds in the basket, until now with a spoon, so really learned my lesson here! And saved myself some money...;)

Saving money on espresso stuff is ALWAYS a good thing!

I hope it didn't seem as if I was dumping on you, Mate!

Was just confused...and considering my continuing cognitive decline, I just wanted to be sure I hadn't lost it completely.

This is such a great thread for learning stuff...but more often than not it's about spending money on stuff!:D
 

Grey Beard

macrumors 65816
Sep 10, 2005
1,021
72
The Antipodes.
OK...you got me!

It looks like the top of a Bialetti...sort of...

What is it?:confused:

Hey that's pretty nifty! Two spouts to dispense your coffee directly into two cups.

Top marks Shrink yes it's a two headed Bialetti. And if you are flying solo, then there's the single head as well. It's the Mini Express model. It's just too cute.

KGB:D
 

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Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
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New England, USA
Top marks Shrink yes it's a two headed Bialetti. And if you are flying solo, then there's the single head as well. It's the Mini Express model. It's just too cute.

KGB:D

That is a really nice little Bialetti.

I've never seen one with a spout before...really cool.:cool:

Scepticalscribe loves her Bialetti. Maybe you could post a link to wherever it was that you found the one with spouts...she might want to look at it.
 
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Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
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In a coffee shop.
Yes, as it happens, I have indeed made the acquaintance of that device.

Actually, in a faraway land (but not where I am currently based), some years ago, I was once offered (and naturally, accepted the offer so kindly tendered) of an espresso by an Italian colleague who had one of those strange, beguiling, and extremely fascinating looking Bialettis, the one with the double spouts.

In other words, I have seen it, have seen it used (watching, fascinated, utterly absorbed while my Italian host paid the sort of close - almost obsessive - attention to monitoring this device, while preparing the espresso, that one would inevitably expect of an Italian making espresso), and have tasted the results. Yes, lovely. Indeed, quite delicious…....
 

twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
5,300
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Just read that Turkish coffee got included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

Although the modern audience doesn't use this thick brewage anymore as an oracle it's still a traditional custom when meeting the parents of the girl you're dating for the first time that a cup of coffee will be drunk. But beware! If you find your beloved girl putting salt instead of sugar into your Mokka, you know that it's time to leave...:D
 

Shrink

macrumors G3
Feb 26, 2011
8,929
1,727
New England, USA
Just read that Turkish coffee got included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

Although the modern audience doesn't use this thick brewage anymore as an oracle it's still a traditional custom when meeting the parents of the girl you're dating for the first time that a cup of coffee will be drunk. But beware! If you find your beloved girl putting salt instead of sugar into your Mokka, you know that it's time to leave...:D

NOW you tell me! :(

Interesting post!:D
 

twietee

macrumors 603
Jan 24, 2012
5,300
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NOW you tell me! :(

Interesting post!:D

Sorry, I'm just the messenger, mate! Never experienced this first hand - but I'm going to Istanbul in my next holiday after Christmas, so maybe afterwards I can give out some more undercover intel on this topic....


Learned one more thing from the article though, probably of more use to some: you brew the sugar immediately with the Turkish coffee (mokka). When ready you wait for about five minutes to let the ground settle down. (Poorly worded I know, I know). Didn't know about the sugar.
 

Scepticalscribe

Suspended
Jul 29, 2008
65,135
47,525
In a coffee shop.
Just read that Turkish coffee got included in UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

Although the modern audience doesn't use this thick brewage anymore as an oracle it's still a traditional custom when meeting the parents of the girl you're dating for the first time that a cup of coffee will be drunk. But beware! If you find your beloved girl putting salt instead of sugar into your Mokka, you know that it's time to leave...:D

As I have had occasion to pass through Istanbul quite a bit in recent months, I have sampled more than my fair share of Turkish coffee……..invariably beautifully served, and needing to be carefully consumed, as the grounds tend to make their presence felt….

Yes; from the vantage point afforded by the study of social anthropology, one can conclude that such tests are always exceedingly fascinating.….


Sorry, I'm just the messenger, mate! Never experienced this first hand - but I'm going to Istanbul in my next holiday after Christmas, so maybe afterwards I can give out some more undercover intel on this topic....


Learned one more thing from the article though, probably of more use to some: you brew the sugar immediately with the Turkish coffee (mokka). When ready you wait for about five minutes to let the ground settle down. (Poorly worded I know, I know). Didn't know about the sugar.

Yes, this is true; the sugar is already dissolved in the (small, neat, elegant, little) cup before it is handed to you to drink…..

On a very recent flight with Turkish Airlines, I noticed an elegant espresso machine; the machine worked, (I was informed) but, inexplicably, there were no beans with which to make espresso. I was offered Turkish coffee, instead, (and gratefully accepted; the things we do for our caffeine habit).

Having said that, I will say that the lovely little copper pots, or jugs, that Turkish coffee is boiled in, delight me; they are utterly exquisite...
 
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