Let’s talk coffee

[MJ5150]

If you're going to stretch your budget out a little bit the Rancilio Silvia is a solid choice as well. A little too quirky for me, but to be fair, I gave up on it too early. I can't give up the lever action machine.

-Mike

 

[zombywoof5050]

Never posted here, though I consider myself a coffee fanatic.
Been thru lots of types: drip, pourover, steam espresso (ugh), pump espresso, stovetop (moka pot), Turkish cezve, Nepresso, Kuerig. For some reason I never tried a French press.

I still have an old Krups Espresso Novo 2000, a Cusinox stainless Roma (stovetop moka pot), and a Turkish cezve, but mostly these days I just do pourovers with a Hario V60 (I’ve gotten lazy).

I buy my beans fresh from a local roaster, usually just French roast. I grind it myself just before brewing with a small hand operated burr grinder. I tried the ceramic Hario dripper, but switched to the plastic one because the ceramic one cools the water while the plastic one lets it retain more heat

I like my coffee strong with no cream or sugar. Still love pump espresso, but like I said earlier I’ve gotten a bit lazy.

 

[MJ5150]

The V60 and the beehive server are my go to gift for friends looking to up their coffee game.
Although for us, I prefer a flat bottom dripper. We've been experimenting with a few other drippers in recent months.

-Mike

 

[zombywoof5050]

After posting last night, I just had to break out the Turkish rig today and make a couple of cups.
I got these many years ago at a local middle-Eastern market. The Sozen grinder looks crudely built, but it grinds finer than any other grinder I've ever used.

I only used the French roast beans that I currently have on hand, but it was so good (and I do use some sugar when I make Turkish). It's really no more time consuming or laborious than a pourover, and the good thing is that you don't need to buy filters.

Are there any particular beans and roast level that you recommend for Turkish coffee?

 

[walking_line]

If you're going to stretch your budget out a little bit the Rancilio Silvia is a solid choice as well. A little too quirky for me, but to be fair, I gave up on it too early. I can't give up the lever action machine.

-Mike

I ran a Silvia for about 15 yrs. After I installed an Auber PID on it, it was a great machine (but yes, pretty finicky without the PID). Super solid, and really easy to fix yourself if anything goes wrong. Poured great shots too. It’s still in my storage room (I just can’t let it go).

I’ve since moved up to a Lelit Bianca, which, IMO, is a machine that gets me to a point of diminishing returns.

As an aside, I did go through a couple of Brevilles at the start of my espresso journey. Not a fan. Both broke after about a year, and are basically impossible to fix.

IMO, cheap espresso machines should be avoided. They won’t last. Your basic decent entry level machine is Gaggia Classic or a Rancilio Silvia.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[MJ5150]

That setup is a beauty @zombywoof5050.
For me in this situation, I like a Guatemalan or head a little further south to Colombia or Brazil. I prefer my coffee roasted lightly overall, but I may go a little darker in this case.
My times enjoying Turkish coffee has been more about the experience and the friends with me than the end product.

-Mike

 

[PWolverine]

IMO, cheap espresso machines should be avoided. They won’t last. Your basic decent entry level machine is Gaggia Classic or a Rancilio Silvia.

Totally agree. Initially my choice was out of the Silvia or Gaggia, but ended up with the Gaggia as I found second hand mdoels nearby that were cheap. If I was starting over and had the cash i'd probably go a Silvia.

 

[MJ5150]

I ran a Silvia for about 15 yrs. After I installed an Auber PID on it, it was a great machine (but yes, pretty finicky without the PID). Super solid, and really easy to fix yourself if anything goes wrong. Poured great shots too. It’s still in my storage room (I just can’t let it go).

I’ve since moved up to a Lelit Bianca, which, IMO, is a machine that gets me to a point of diminishing returns.

As an aside, I did go through a couple of Brevilles at the start of my espresso journey. Not a fan. Both broke after about a year, and are basically impossible to fix.

IMO, cheap espresso machines should be avoided. They won’t last. Your basic decent entry level machine is Gaggia Classic or a Rancilio Silvia.

Of course, YMMV.

When we first got into coffee, we bought one of those Saeco Barista machines from Starbucks. We blew that up in a couple months, and they replaced it for us. A few months later, another one blew up. They begrudgingly replaced it. When it happened again, the guy asked us what we're doing with it. We told him we were pulling 6-10 shots a day from it. He laughed and told us it's not meant for that much use that frequently.
Fun little machines they were though.

-Mike

 

[walking_line]

Don’t even get me started about coffee roasters (the machines, not the businesses). Probably a whole other topic thread…

 

[walking_line]

When we first got into coffee, we bought one of those Saeco Barista machines from Starbucks. We blew that up in a couple months, and they replaced it for us. A few months later, another one blew up. They begrudgingly replaced it. When it happened again, the guy asked us what we're doing with it. We told him we were pulling 6-10 shots a day from it. He laughed and told us it's not meant for that much use that frequently.
Fun little machines they were though.

-Mike

Funny. An espresso machine that’s not designed to be used. What’s it for then?!

 

[Tom Bomb]

I'm getting off on Turkish (pulverized) coffee, at the mo, via an electric briki.

Choice! Going down a real treat
​

 

[MJ5150]

Don’t even get me started about coffee roasters (the machines, not the businesses). Probably a whole other topic thread…

I roast coffee on a Huky. Started with a stainless steel bowl and heat gun, moved on to a cast iron pan, modified popcorn popper, then the Huky. Got to use some commerical roasters helping out friends, but never owned one.

-Mike

 

[pie_man_25]

I'm getting off on Turkish (pulverized) coffee, at the mo, via an electric briki.

Choice! Going down a real treat
​

I've never seen an electric one, but they've got some enamel ones at the convenience store by my folk's place.

 

[Tom Bomb]

It's one of these Unorthodox, I'll admit.
They don't call it a briki at Birko — don't see see why not— but it serves perfectly well in the role Makes life easy, no filters, no mess, precision hit, in no time at all.​

​

I've never seen an electric one, but they've got some enamel ones at the convenience store by my folk's place.

 

[walking_line]

I roast coffee on a Huky. Started with a stainless steel bowl and heat gun, moved on to a cast iron pan, modified popcorn popper, then the Huky. Got to use some commerical roasters helping out friends, but never owned one.

-Mike

Right on, I looked at a Huky when I wanted to upgrade from my Behmor, but settled on a Bullet. Needed something electric so I could roast indoors in my cold winter climate.

Roasting started as a way to save money on beans. After the outlay on the equipment, I’ll realize savings on coffee in 10 years…

 

[pie_man_25]

Right on, I looked at a Huky when I wanted to upgrade from my Behmor, but settled on a Bullet. Needed something electric so I could roast indoors in my cold winter climate.

Roasting started as a way to save money on beans. After the outlay on the equipment, I’ll realize savings on coffee in 10 years…

Gotta spend money to make money.

Plenty of hobbies can trap you into consumerism, this one can at least hypothetically save you a few bucks if you do play your cards right. Plus, I'm sure with a rig at that price, you could probably do local sales "by donation" in your neighbourhood if you were so inclined.

 

[walking_line]

Gotta spend money to make money.

Plenty of hobbies can trap you into consumerism, this one can at least hypothetically save you a few bucks if you do play your cards right. Plus, I'm sure with a rig at that price, you could probably do local sales "by donation" in your neighbourhood if you were so inclined.

Haha, yeah, this is true. I’m pretty much at capacity for the amount of time I can devote to it with just keeping up with mine and my wife’s consumption plus giving a few bags out to friends & clients from every roast. I don’t mind though. The actual cost of greens is about 25% the cost of ‘artisan’ roasted coffee. I can call in all sorts of favours from my well-caffeinated audience.

 

[MJ5150]

I started roasting to make money on my Huky, but soon realized I was running afoul of local laws regarding the validity of a coffee roasting business in my home. At that point, I stopped selling it. I'll trade with other artisans, like winemakers and distillers, but I don't accept money any longer for coffee I roast.
That was six years ago. At this point, I have recovered my initial investment and am realizing a financial savings in addition to the benefits of coffee roasted on demand.

-Mike

 

[pie_man_25]

I started roasting to make money on my Huky, but soon realized I was running afoul of local laws regarding the validity of a coffee roasting business in my home. At that point, I stopped selling it. I'll trade with other artisans, like winemakers and distillers, but I don't accept money any longer for coffee I roast.
That was six years ago. At this point, I have recovered my initial investment and am realizing a financial savings in addition to the benefits of coffee roasted on demand.

-Mike

Yeah, plenty of places have regulations about making stuff like this into a business within one's home. Zoning restrictions, permits, etc... Probably a PITA.

I've had folks offer to pay me for homebrew, as much as I don't think the mounties were looking, I decided against it. Now, a free sandwich or pound of wings at the pub? Call me a marine biologist, because I'm down for a little squid pro quo.

 

[MJ5150]

Agreed. I don't think anyone would raid my house and confiscate my roasting equipment, just the idea of operating outside the law when other roasters are abiding by the published regulations. It didn't feel like the right thing to do.

-Mike