Life is too short for bad coffee - The Off Topic thread

DaveyDave · 22-10-2022 2:54pm

I was looking into replacing our Barista Express but all the usual entry level machines are boilers and there seems to be a lot of messing about with them. People suggest smart plugs to solve the warm up times but if you need to pull blank shots or purge steam every time to get the machine ready it's probably a no go.

My girlfriend just wants to pull a shot and steam milk, no messing around. Both of us wake up, make coffee and go to work. Realistically is there anything out there as easy to use as the Barista Express? There's nothing wrong with our machine, I'd just like a smaller machine since we have a grinder and it's a good excuse to upgrade.

saabsaab · 22-10-2022 3:15pm

Coffee with the full Irish? Is it a thing now?

alec76 · 22-10-2022 7:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119779417#Comment_119779417

Probably no point to buy another entry level machine. Especially if you do lots of milky drinks. Stay with Barista Express until you ready to spend bulk cash and get DUAL Boiler or Heat exchanger espresso machine.

If you only drink black coffee I would suggest you to get Lelit Anna with PID.

https://www.homecoffeemachines.ie/products/lelit-anna-pl41tem-with-pid

But if it is about steaming then single boiler ( 250ml) not great for this , your girlfriend won't be happy 😊

Realistically , if you want a step up then

1# Single Boiler PID plus thermocoil for steaming. ( €800-€1100)

2# Heat Exchanger ( normally it is 2L boiler for steaming and exchanger inside this boiler for brewing

3# Dual Boiler with PID ( brewing boiler from 300ml and 1L+ steaming boiler )

cheapest would be Rancilio Silvia Pro Vs Lelit Elizabeth

Hodors Appletart · 26-10-2022 10:20am

Will definitely be seeking out a few more Honey Process coffees over the next while, I got a Costa Rica in Old Barracks and it's really nice and tasty, really funky flavours it's almost like an aged Jamaican Rum

Hodors Appletart · 09-11-2022 10:39am

I was watching the recent Hoffmann video where he deep-fried some green beans, but at the start he mentioned that an airfryer is the closest thing to a commercial roaster, so I'm going to buy a kilo of green beans off discount coffee and give it a go in my Ninja Dual Zone airfryer, see what comes out.

BalboBiggins · 09-11-2022 10:47am

Hi lads, which roasters are considered the best in Ireland now? I used to buy from Bell Lane and Ponaire and preferred Bell Lane.

Hodors Appletart · 09-11-2022 11:11am

I'm loving the coffee I got from The Old Barracks recently. Badger & Dodo are usually very consistent too.

cnocbui · 09-11-2022 3:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852315#Comment_119852315

A courier dropped off a box with 7Kg of beans this morning, 6 of those being green. I have neither a popcorn maker or airfryer and am happy with the results from just using a fan forced oven.

The cost saving is pronounced, basically half the price.

Hodors Appletart · 09-11-2022 4:05pm

good to hear, I think I'll probably take them out and shake them at 90-120 second intervals until they are at a level of roast I want.

How long do you leave them after roasting until you use them?

cnocbui · 09-11-2022 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119853568#Comment_119853568

About as long as it takes them to cool to room temperature 8-)

To save on energy, I'm doing 500g at a time, so most of it get's left for a more decent length of time, spent mostly in the freezer.

You'll be busy with that schedule. I take them out of the oven after about 20 minutes, dump them in a wok, pour back on the trays and back into the oven. I pre heat the beans in the microwave to get them up to speed quicker.

Krusty_Clown · 11-11-2022 1:11am

I still have a popcorn maker going for free, if anyone wants it. It's been quite a while since I used it, but IIRC it's good for roasting batches of around 80-125g at a time. I'm still going strong with my Behmor - roasting batches of around 400g at a time and getting amazing results. The only risk of using an air-fryer is the amount of flammable chaffe that's produced. Like the popcorn maker, you'd want to be comfortable with a fire extinguisher. 😀

My last order was 12kg from mondodelcaffe (cnocbui's recommendation), and it works out really good value in larger quantities. Wish their range was a little wider with some more naturals, but can't argue with the value. Packaging is in decent 1kg bags (better than the 5kg bags I had been ordering previously). Didn't try their roasted stuff. Discountcoffee are definitely worth a try if you want to dip your toes in home-roasting. Most of their green coffees seem to be almost permanently out of stock, but their Columbian Supremo green coffee produces a great roast.

Hodors Appletart · 11-11-2022 9:05am

I got a Brazilian natural off Discount Coffee

I might come back to you on that popcorn maker though

caviardreams · 12-11-2022 11:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119852345#Comment_119852345

I used to love Belle Lane but they only do single origin in 250g bags which put me off.

Badger & Dodo and West Cork Coffee are a good price point and always freshly roasted from experience. Good selection too. Coffee Angel is a good shut but more limited choice. All round teh €35-40 per kg price point. If budget is higher Old Barracks, Carrow, Roasted Brown, Bear Market all worth a look

caviardreams · 12-11-2022 1:10pm

Starting to look for a nice bean to order for over Xmas in teh next couple of weeks. I have a WCC sub but will need extra beans for over the holiday period.

Anything on the filter front people would recommend? Has anyone tried the Honey processed BRI from coffee angel?

https://coffeeangel.com/collections/coffee/products/butegana-intenso-bri?variant=43537815666922

Hodors Appletart · 14-11-2022 9:51am

Can't speak to that particular coffee, but I had a honey process Costa Rica from Old Barracks and loved it.

that looks a decent price too

Hodors Appletart · 14-11-2022 9:56am

actually, I've just bought a bag of that, the natural brazilian they have and a pog milis too

was looking for a few bags, so nice one for pointing that one out.

Hodors Appletart · 14-11-2022 11:38am

coffee angel are amazing!

ordered those 3 bags at ten to nine, sand they've arrived already with a nice handwritten note.

that is incredible service

caviardreams · 14-11-2022 7:18pm

I know - I think they started it during the pandemic and glad they have kept it up.

If you ever run short and live in dublin you will have it next day at the absolute latest. Some places would charge you an extra fiver for express delivery!

They also have the filtropa papers at a good price!! WCC charge a tenner for 100 which is wild

Hodors Appletart · 15-11-2022 11:42am

I get my papers from amazon, I love the Militta Gourmet ones.

18-11-2022 10:27am

Very happy with a Fracino Piccino (with the PID option) & Piccino Grinder we've been using for over a year.

After trying various suppliers use mostly the hatter coffee company in Donegal's Brazilian Roast,

caviardreams · 19-11-2022 10:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119876509#Comment_119876509

You have piqued my interest here! Are the gourmet any better than the usual?

Just picked up the 3FE Xmas blend today - will give it a whirl later in the week.

Hodors Appletart · 22-11-2022 9:43am

I think they are, but that could be a psychological thing haha!

magicbastarder · 22-11-2022 10:00am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119271403#Comment_119271403

i know i'm responding to an old post, but there is a hoary old chestnut i've heard that it's better to keep your immersion on all the time (and friends of my mother's have done this), because the rationale is that 'when you shower, you're only then heating the cold water which replaces what you've used'.

they seem to think that heating the immersion and letting it cool down is a waste, but don't also take into consideration that if their immersion is cooling down, there's a heat loss which will be much worse, and sustained, if you leave it on.

The Nal · 26-11-2022 10:17am

Liking this at the mo. Makes a great latte

Mad_maxx · 27-11-2022 12:39pm

Hi folks, never posted here before, you have to try this out , Vietnamese coffee ,unfortunately can be difficult to source at times post Brexit, I currently buy from a retailer in Finland so no currency exchange issues

74EC686D-055C-4151-BCDF-95E60AB801B1.png

The Nal · 27-11-2022 12:46pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119927164#Comment_119927164

Not sure if they sell beans anymore but Jolins on Clanbrassil St is worth a call. I bought some beans fro them a few years back.

https://www.instagram.com/jolinsvietnamesecoffeehouse/?hl=en

Mad_maxx · 27-11-2022 12:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119927183#Comment_119927183

I don’t buy bean’s myself

Weepsie · 27-11-2022 1:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119927164#Comment_119927164

3FE recently had a vietnamese coffee a couple of months ago. I hated it. It was like a bad tea, sort of like earl grey or something. Dublin Barista School have an incredible filter at the moment. Think it's the ethiopian one (they had 2, can't remembe which one I got). Can only buy in big bags though

Mad_maxx · 27-11-2022 1:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119927239#Comment_119927239

I can well believe that a particular Vietnamese coffee can be terrible, I once bought Ethiopian coffee in Lidl and it was awful

Weepsie · 27-11-2022 1:59pm

I've never had a good coffee from lidl.

limnam · 28-11-2022 10:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119895172#Comment_119895172

How was the 3FE xmas blend?

Weepsie · 28-11-2022 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119927282#Comment_119927282

To follow up on previous. Had the same one today from Dublin Barista School and didn't enjoy it. Overextracted I think. It was far too sweet for me today.

DaveyDave · 09-12-2022 6:13pm

Hi all,

At recommendations for a good travel mug/thermos?

Don't see any from the usual coffee roasters, thought they'd have a selection of them!

Hodors Appletart · 12-12-2022 9:31am

I have a Bodum one, it keeps the coffee so hot that I have to let it cool in a mug before transferring to the travel cup such is the heat retention ability of the thing.

https://www.bodum.com/ie/en/coffee/travel-press-mug?gclid=CjwKCAiAv9ucBhBXEiwA6N8nYISZdviQ57KsA0x2trvvDuzM0ic26QC84fUKDRkO78Sruz6OyUDF3RoC2eEQAvD_BwE

I also love Keep Cups, and I've 2 of them in different sizes, 6oz and 12oz - they aren't thermal though

https://eu.keepcup.com/shop/reusable-cups

Black Sheep · 14-12-2022 9:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119976161#Comment_119976161

Yeti is reliable in this area, and I've tried many alternatives.

Hodors Appletart · 20-12-2022 9:10am

what are you all getting in for xmas?

I ordered the B&D Xmas Blend, an Ethiopian Natural and a Costa Rican Red Honey Process

caviardreams · 20-12-2022 10:41am

I got the new Ugandan beans from WCC on my sub a couple of weeks ago so looking forward to that. Half hoping coffee angel do their reduced beans after Xmas again!

breeno · 20-12-2022 10:52am

I've gone for the Fusion blend from Artessa. I've never had it but remember seeing a lot of people on here recommending it in the past.

mossym · 20-12-2022 11:13am

been on the Ponaire xmas blend since the tree went up start of December, just about to run out ( was travelling with work so not going through my musual amount), now debating whether i spin up to them for another bag

breeno · 20-12-2022 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017145#Comment_120017145

Arrived just now with a roast date of yesterday. Can't argue with that 😃 have a new grinder under the tree for Sunday so it'll be a caffeine heavy day I'd say.

Hodors Appletart · 10-01-2023 10:29am

Just received James Hoffmann's latest book, it's pretty keenly priced on Amazon at the moment.

Oscar_Madison · 10-01-2023 6:58pm

Great forum - I've had super advice over last few days from posters as I start my coffee bean journey so just to say thanks to all.

2011abc · 23-01-2023 1:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088764#Comment_120088764

I was ready to love his last one and got the e-book.Ended up a bit underwhelmed to be honest

caviardreams · 31-01-2023 7:36pm

New WCC sub arrived today - a honey process Honduran bean exclusive to subscribers it seems! Looking forward to tucking in a week or so.

Hodors Appletart · 01-02-2023 10:01am

yeah definitely let us know how it is, the Costa Rica honeys I've had have been exceptional, and I just ordered another one from B&D

caviardreams · 01-02-2023 11:17am

Was disappointed with this months to be frank - a "meh" Colombian that for my liking was roasted a bit dark. But normally the choices are spot on.

Hodors Appletart · 01-02-2023 2:43pm

this is why I stopped getting subs

Gael23 · 08-02-2023 11:29am

Does coffee really make you need to go #2 in the morning?

cnocbui · 11-02-2023 2:12pm

Coffee doesn't cause an increase in blood pressure, in fact it reduces it, a new study has found.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230207/People-who-regularly-drink-coffee-have-significantly-lower-blood-pressure.aspx

The field of medicine has been trying to demonise coffee and has looked very hard for evidence of harmful effects, instead, the evidence is for a net health benefit, 26% reduction in colo-rectal cancers; 3-4 cups of coffee or tea a day can reduce the chance of type 2 diabetes by 40%.

Large bottle small glass · 18-04-2023 3:55pm

I was listening to a rather long and interesting podcast on the role of circadian rhythms as they pertain to nutrition and came across a bit of interesting history in relation to coffee.

In Turkey circa 16th century coffee had been an evening drink as it gave a boost people attending evening social/political/family occasions. With the population being predominantly muslim it was soon discovered that it also helped to waken people for the very early first prayer.

The problem with coffee so early with a subset of the population is acid reflux and hence people consumed a little food before coffee and thereby did break--fast.

Life is too short for bad coffee - The Off Topic thread

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