Interesting thread...given the standardisation of Nespresso or similar coffee pod systems, the heat and pump specification are the same across manufacturers and models - so in some ways buying anything other than the cheapest model is a bit of waste. Sure the more costly models may have add on features for convenience and style but the coffee with highly likely taste the same. The house we moved to has a built in Miele Espresso machine - has a hopper for 5 different capsules, various cup/volume choices and a dedicated steamer and steamer jug for frothing the milk. Tells you when to descale it - which takes forever to preform. Makes an awesome babycinco for my kids - which has been it main use. The steamer has broken and now rarely use it. Kids not happy - must be a repairer somewhere but have not been bothered to look. Not sure the coffee tastes any better than the cheapest Espresso machine at Argos. But each to their own.
Personally I know favour a filter/pour over coffee over espresso based coffees and have a Mazzer Mini grinder to freshly grind my favourite blend, which I helped specify while working on a new restaurant-cafe-bar concept. During one tasting session at the roasters we trialled 9 different beans/blends - first as an espresso shot and then as a flat white - to see whether the espresso made it through the milk. Milk has such a great impact on coffee taste - far more than the beans. We then retasted 4 beans/blends with a different roast profile (i.e. number of seconds in the roaster at max roast temp). Another 8 shots. All made as double shots with 20 grams of coffee. I could have flown back to London with all that caffeine.
For making filter coffee with a press or aeropress I use 60gr/litre of coffee and brew for 3mins (sometimes 4 mins). If making espresso, I use 20grams for a double shot. What are people using? What milk are you using? Cravendale was a favourite by some - a bit sweet to my taste. What beans/blends?
If looking for an espresso machine, I do not think you could go past a La Marzocco G3 for home use. It does not grind the beans (a parallel to not processing audio and video in the one processor) but most importantly it has dual boilers for temperature stability. Mind you it is not cheap:
La Marzocco GS3 I saw this from Sage - looks like an interest spec as will also grind the beans - but have no idea whether it is any good:
The Oracle My favourite appliances, some owned - some desired - are:
Atomic Espresso & Milk Frother My first espresso machine from university days and still with me. Can take it anywhere (home/boat/caravan/camp fire) but not a inductive hob as it is made of aluminium. Not nearly as light as an Aeropress - which I also have for holidays. They will ship to the UK and stock spares. Somewhat like an Italian espresso stove top machine but with steam and frother.
Mazzer Mini A great grinder - easy to adjust the grind profile over time as the blades wear. Efficient and does not over heat/burn the beans as they grind. Noisy, takes up space on the counter but leaves a great aroma in the air. Had to buy a separate smaller hopper as the 5L one supplied did not fit under the shelves but 0.5L is just fine for home use. Wish I had purchased the electronic dispenser too. You can find all of this gear on eBay second hand too.
Commercially, in the speciality coffee trade, Mahlkoenig is the favourite grinder:
Mahlkoenig Grinders Drip filter machine - I have not acquired one but will one day - Technivorn. Arguably the best coffee making machine fully featured for coffee making but low on convenience factors (clock/timers etc).
Technivorn Drip Filter I have a Sage kettle - which allows you to heat the water (filtered) to 85C as 100C scalds the grinds:
Sage Kettle It is not cheap but when making non-builder teas it comes in to its own too. The kettle takes longer to get to 85C exactly than 100C. I am regularly impatient and just hit 100C and then let it cool for a bit then pour away...defeats the purpose but I am only human. it is stainless steel so does not add a burnt plastic taste to any hot beverage and descales easily with citric acid. Had it now for 3 years. Have had to take a dry plastic scourer to the power contact rings to remove some rust but otherwise keeps trucking on.
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