In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I know it was covered somewhere, but when I searched on coffee, I was flooded with hits & gave up.........thanks for the heads up!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Tusk,
What do you actually want one for? Do you just wanna spend a fortune and show off or do ya really drink at least five gallons a day to warrant the cost of a decent machine? You have got to spend well over a grand for a halfway decent one.
Do you drink mainly espresso or cappuchino? Which coffee are you using? How often do you use your Stove top? Is it a 'Moka'? How do you clean it? Is it Aluminium or Stainless Steel? All these things are easily sorted and could save you a grand - of which you could send half to me for all the help.. and still be quids in!
PM if you think the answers are too intimate to divulge on the Forum! :D
:) :)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=Anastasia]You have got to spend well over a grand for a halfway decent one.[/QUOTE]
Would that be more than £1,000 or more than €1,000?
[URL="http://www.italy-outlet.co.uk/shop.php?cid=55&pid=599853&lang=en&mall=i"]Gaggia Titanium[/URL] (beans and water in, coffee out) for £565 or €819. And that was just the site at the top of the Google list, so the machine may be cheaper elsewhere.
Are there better domestic machines?
Al
EDIT: Okay, I suppose I should be honest enough to admit that I have toyed with the idea of buying that thing. But then it seemed so terribly poseurish that I spent the money on beekeeping equipment instead. However, now that I gaze upon it's gleaming stainless steel, glowing blue LCD display and myriad buttons again...
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[LEFT][quote=Anastasia]All these things are easily sorted and could save you a grand... [/quote]
Anastasia, how about sharing your opinions on how to make the best espresso or cappuchino without spending a load of money on one of those machines?
Anyone else?
[/LEFT]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
No disrespect if you are going to purchase the all singing all dancing machine.. but does it actually make a good cup of coffee? Sorry, but the answer is no.
To get an decent espresso from a machine then Gaggia is the way to go.. but if you want a coffee of the quality your local bar produces then Im sorry, even a grand wont do it. More like three or four thousand pounds for the good commercial machines and then you still need good coffee (Kimbo black label) decent water (Naples).. and a great Barista!
Stick with your stove top, use it as often as you can, don't wash it with soap, just rinse it thoroughly and let the oils from the beans remain and coat the part you put the ground coffee in.. medium heat and the minute it starts to gurgle.. take it off the heat.. and then buy more beekeeping equipment!
:D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Anastasia is right, had my own coffee/shop bistro and only commercial machines produce the best as far as machines are concerned. So if you still want a domestic machine consider the less expensive or buy second hand commercial but that would bring problems, service and repairs. If you like the all glowing wizzy bits pay a higher price for a domestic! A Gaggia is good. :) [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana][/FONT][/COLOR]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
The only thing a Moka pot cant do that a machine can, is make 'crema' (the ligher brown 'froth' on an espresso) as this is made when the water is pushed throught the ground coffee under high pressure force, which the Moka pot doesn't have; or froth the milk for a cappuchino also called 'crema' and also another word I can't remember (schiuma?)
The frothy milk can be easily created by heating semi skimmed milk and then using a wotjamacallit to whisk it.. one of those hand whisk thingys that look like bicycle wheel.. or if you cant think of what Im talking about either..then use an electric hand blender. Put the hot milk in a glass just wide enough to accept the blender and move the blender up and down within the glass.. this causes more air to be forced into the milk and makes the froth.
Whole milk doesn't froth as easily as semi skimmed.. dunno why.. but it doesn't.
:D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
If it's just frothing milk you can get these, cheap and cheeful, they work!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=Anastasia]No disrespect if you are going to purchase the all singing all dancing machine.. but does it actually make a good cup of coffee? Sorry, but the answer is no.[/QUOTE]
No offence taken, but have you actually tried a cup of coffee made by that machine? If not, why are you so certain it will be no good?
[QUOTE=Anastasia]To get an decent espresso from a machine then Gaggia is the way to go.. but if you want a coffee of the quality your local bar produces then Im sorry, even a grand wont do it. More like three or four thousand pounds for the good commercial machines and then you still need good coffee (Kimbo black label) decent water (Naples).. and a great Barista![/QUOTE]
I'm a complete philistine when it comes to coffee but, based solely on the well-tested principle that 95% of just about anything is not that great, I suspect that a cup of coffee from a Gaggia Titanium which is well maintained and has been supplied with quality beans might well be better than the coffee you'd get in an average sort of bar where the water does not have the mystical properties of aqua napoli, the beans are just average and the barista is on coffee-making autopilot because there's a gaggle of pretty girls at the one end of the counter and football on the television at the other.
Still, £600 quid is a lot of money. For that much, I could stock up before my move with several cases of Gold Blend instant.
:D
Al
Synchrony
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/29/2006 - 12:11In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We have a Gaggia synchrony in England. So far three years of good coffee actually much better than the Moka and milk method. The best bit is automaticallly disposing of the grounds. Not sure if they do this model any more. Anyway the UK base is Halifax, West Yorks and there is a website too.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=AllanMason]No offence taken, but have you actually tried a cup of coffee made by that machine? If not, why are you so certain it will be no good?[/QUOTE] Tried, tested and dismissed. Perhaps after much use the flavour would improve - though I doubt it.. and have you ever taken one to bits to clean and descale the damn thing? What happens when all the blue LCD lights start flashing? No.. no.. it looks too much like a spaceship to me. :p
[QUOTE=AllanMason]I'm a complete philistine when it comes to coffee but, based solely on the well-tested principle that 95% of just about anything is not that great, I suspect that a cup of coffee from a Gaggia Titanium which is well maintained and has been supplied with quality beans might well be better than the coffee you'd get in an average sort of bar where the water does not have the mystical properties of aqua napoli, the beans are just average and the barista is on coffee-making autopilot because there's a gaggle of pretty girls at the one end of the counter and football on the television at the other.
Still, £600 quid is a lot of money. For that much, I could stock up before my move with several cases of Gold Blend instant.[/QUOTE]
I don't talk about an "average" bar here in the UK, but even an average bar in Italy can only produce average coffee.. and you may well be better off with the instant gratification of Putrid Blend!
The trick is to see which bars are busy.. which ones have cars triple parked outside for 30 seconds at a time while the poor driver dives in for his fix, fighting his way through the crowd of other addicts.. gazes pathetically at the Barista.. who knows exactly what to do.. and leaves looking ten years younger.
At least two visits a day are recommended in order to stay eternally young! I am currently 15 years old and have every intention of remaining so.
:D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Trulli - are you sure you've posted the right attachment :) , your pic looks like something you found in the gynae department.....how on earth does it work..........to froth milk??!!
I have one of the "Classic" household Pavoni machines, but I have a friend with a 50 DM Krups which makes better coffee, quicker, more quietly, and without leaking or scalding the operator.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[quote=Relaxed]Trulli - are you sure you've posted the right attachment :) , your pic looks like something you found in the gynae department.....how on earth does it work..........to froth milk??!!...[/quote]
It's the Ann Summers version.............so a friend told me!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You lot! Didn't want to tell you it has other uses! Ooooer! ;) :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
It has other uses? Please explain! :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Well.......you can make very nice milk shakes! :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
LOL here, cannot write what I REALLY WANT TO SAY, as Paddy will be on his way
Coffee machines
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 05:19In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
You don't have to spend thousands of pounds/euros/dollars on a good Espresso/cappuchino machine.Gaggia is a good machine, I saw one in the local Auchan store in Naples, it was 130 Euro, it will give the same results. I bought a machine here in 1982 for $60 and it still works great! Not sure what the brand name is but it has a pump and holds 2 liters of water. I don't bother with the frother anymore. I put a third cup of low fat milk in a cup and put it in the M/W for about one minute and use the the aerolattte and in about 60 seconds I have a great cup of cappooch.
Check on line , like Amazon.com for espresso machines and read the buyers comments to see what might fit your needs. You would be surprised.
Ciao, Dan
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Ah, but Dan.. you've got the water.. and easy access to Kimbo black label!
:) :)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Well, we plumped for a Krups (a non-Italian coffee maker makes me nervous, but hey!)
Small & simple...........we'll see how it goes, but on first taste, I'm chuffed!
D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Tusk!
You are a traitor and should be shot.. immediately! :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I have a GAGGIA Synchrony Digital. It simply makes very good espresso. Not to mention cappuccino. Definitely a very good machine.
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=Anastasia]Tusk!
You are a traitor and should be shot.. immediately! :D[/QUOTE]
I agree. Terminate her ! :D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
:(
Bu'..............sorry!
I'll feel guilty with every sip
D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Sergio
Tusk is usually a man! We don't shoot women and children and Kim is his long suffering better half!
:D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Rules are rules no matter which gender is his/her. I'm Friulano, here we don't bend rules as they do in Gradara.:D
Terminate him ! :D :p
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Va bene! Sorry Tusk.. Sergio said..
[ATTACH]705[/ATTACH]
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Well done ! He could have saved himself ... he had enough time to buy a new Italian espresso machine...he didn't, so he deserved his destiny ! :D :D ;)
Coffee Machines
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 14:25In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
We have recently spent a lot of time researching this. [url]www.coffeegeek.com[/url] is one port of call.
Sorry but the domestic Gaggia machines don't have brass boilers, portafilters etc.
There are others but we ended up settling on a Rancillio Silvia which is a good compromise between the machines costing over £1,000 and the other domestic toys. Around £350, excluding grinder. Built using Rancillio's commercial parts. The pressure is perfectly enough to ensure a decent crema.
If you want a decent crema at home, you need fresh beans, and they must be freshly ground! ie within the last 30 mins. That is the secret of those superb coffees in the bars. You therefore need to add you own blade grinder to the kit! (Around £180 for Rancillio's version) By playing around with the type of bean, and the density of the grind and the pressure with which you tamp the coffee - you get the right crema. A good barrista does this all from experience.
You will never ever get the type of crema you get in bars unless you grind the coffee at home too.
We don't live in Italy yet, but wanted decent home coffee and have found it!
Ciao!
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
I defy anyone, anywhere.. to make better espresso on any other machine than either of these.
[CENTER][ATTACH]706[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]707[/ATTACH][/CENTER]
If you have either one (or both) of these wonderful creations.. please invite me for coffee. However, I may be forced to steal the spaceship. :D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
[QUOTE=arty]We have recently spent a lot of time researching this. [url]www.coffeegeek.com[/url] is one port of call.
Sorry but the domestic Gaggia machines don't have brass boilers, portafilters etc.
There are others but we ended up settling on a Rancillio Silvia which is a good compromise between the machines costing over £1,000 and the other domestic toys. Around £350, excluding grinder. Built using Rancillio's commercial parts. The pressure is perfectly enough to ensure a decent crema.
If you want a decent crema at home, you need fresh beans, and they must be freshly ground! ie within the last 30 mins. That is the secret of those superb coffees in the bars. You therefore need to add you own blade grinder to the kit! (Around £180 for Rancillio's version) By playing around with the type of bean, and the density of the grind and the pressure with which you tamp the coffee - you get the right crema. A good barrista does this all from experience.
You will never ever get the type of crema you get in bars unless you grind the coffee at home too.
We don't live in Italy yet, but wanted decent home coffee and have found it!
Ciao![/QUOTE]
Is the brass boiler the real problem ? I can not believe it. Please try an automatic Gaggia or Saeco machine (without grass boiler but with an adjustable coffee grinder. In the range of 600€). This is the best compromise if you don't want to spend 6000€ and more for a professional machine.
Please Anastasia, terminate him/her too ! :)
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
Waiting for termination isn't too bad; at least I get a great 'cuppa' whilst I'm waiting(!)
:D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
ANASTASIA !!?? Tuscanhills is still alive !!! He is still posting. I told you to terminate him ! :D :D
In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
He is a slippery little s*d! I think he has visited Napoli - and learnt too much!
I will try again Sergio! :D
[ATTACH]708[/ATTACH]
Check this out
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 06:57In reply to A newbie all over again! by Annec
If I really want a great cuppa, I just walk across the street to my favorite Pasticceria and get one:p And yes, Anastasia, the water does make a difference.
Herre's a link to try : [url]http://ga.eespressomachines.net[/url] , has several websites for machines.
Gotta go get my caffeine fix:eek:
Ciao
Buy a Gaggia if ya gaggin' cus anything else is laggin'!
10 bar is about as good as it gets for a domestic machine - your local bar will push the daily grind through at about 27 bar pressure .. and thats what gives the 'crema'!
If you'd read the "Coffee Anyone?" thread.. you would know all this! :D