The Coffee Thread

[caspian]

I recently "upgraded" from my little Breville espresso machine to a Saeco Syntia. it's not what I would have ideally had (Rancilio Silvia and a Rocky - or at least a Breville BES860), but the handbrake won't use anything that requires more effort than pushing a button, so here I am.

despite being a full auto with little control other than the grind and volume, it produces a pretty fair sort of coffee. I am working my way through the Coffeesnobs catalogue, so far I am favouring the Tanzania Kyaurinde - it just needs the grind turned up to 3 instead of 2 or the extract takes too long.

one day I will treat myself to a Giotto or something really decadent.

[Caffeine Dealer]

The only thing to remember with the full auto's is to keep on top of the cleaning schedule. Get behind and not only does it start to not taste so good anymore but parts start to fail.

Jumping from your machine to a Giotto is a rather HUGE jump. Make sure you have someone show you how to use it properly.

One of the best coffee's i have ever tasted came from coffee snobs. It was an Ethiopian Sidamo Guji, natural processed, ungraded green bean. Very ugly but it tasted sooooo good that after pulling the first shot, i got back on beanbay and bought what was left for a total of about 14.5kg's. It has never been back since

This is a few pics of my coffee tree's

Most of them are Australian K7 arabica or Cataui CRB Aussie.
Amongst them are a few hush hush, Pacammara's(elephant bean) from Niccaragua.





The first few reds of the season...


If anyone wants to try their hand at growing, just let me know and i'll post you some seed stock. Advice and instructions included

[lithos]

Did you check with the council before you planted those?

[Caffeine Dealer]

In most of my area they are counted as a pest by farmers but i live in a coffee growing region... but no, i did not

Why? You don't work for Ballina City council do you? lol

[JolyV]

some friends were in South America and brought me a bag of Jaun Valdez coffee. I loved it, I recommend it, It´s possible to buy somewhere in sydney?

[Urbansprawl]

Hey guys,

Would you recommend a Ranccio Silvia or a Gaggia Classic for a 'my first serious coffee machine'? Or something else entirely ($500 to $800 range).

[303-Acid]

Silvia. Biased as I have one.

The Silvia uses commercial parts, brass parts, commercial sized group head, etc. It's built like a tank.

Don't forget to budget for a decent grinder too. The Breville Smart Grinder is pretty good and can be had for ~$170. Or pair it up with a Rancilio Rocky for a bit more.

Then you will also need a decent tamper. The Silvia comes with an awful plastic one.

[phrosty-boi]

I'd certainly consider the Silvia, but there are other machines that cost a couple hundred more than Silvia but are much better (or so i'm told)

I've owned mine for 4 or 5 years and never had a single issue with it

As far as grinders go the Kompak series would probably be a better bet than the rocky as far as bang for buck goes

if you're in melbourne, contact a mob called talk coffee which is where I bought mine from, I was well looked after and given good advice

[DraGoN-BoY]

I find the Silvia good for 1-2 coffees at a time. Not so good for entertaining due to the boiler recovery times.

Other then that it works beautifully and has endless "mods". Slap on a PID and you won't need to upgrade for a long time.

[Urbansprawl]

Thanks guys thats all really useful. I'd prefer to buy it from a retail place so I can get some training etc.

[holdennutta]

Hey guys!

Im moving out and thus need my own coffee machine.

I've pretty much decided on the Silvia V3 with an added bottomless pf.

I cannot for the life of me decide on a grinder! Everyone I ask for advice has a different idea.

I'm tempted to go mainstream and get the V3 + Rocky doseless combo. But while the Rocky is 'good' there seems to be a lot better for a little more money.

I've been suggested Mazzer Mini E (Waaaay outta my price range :'( ), Compak M3 and Macap M4D.

95% espresso grinding for the silvia and 5% aeropress use.

Thoughts? I'd love to spring for a Mazzer Mini E but it's just too expensive. I'm not averse to hand grinding. I like the look of the Kyocera C-45 but can't seem to find them anywhere.

Someone mentioned the Breville smart grind but that's too much trouble trying to find one post shimming disaster :P

Edit: Prefer doseless models... Looking to get away with a whole package for <$1500.

[XST]

pretty simple question. I've recently decided to go espresso after doing plunger coffee for a long time. I managed to pick up my housemate's Breville Bar Italia (ESP4) for very cheap. Made 2 cups today, was quite good.

I know the reviews aren't fantastic for this unit, but so far I'm fairly happy until I get the upgrade itch. And once I get a bigger wallet to get a better grinder, find a source of freshly ground beans, etc.

the question is. Once I have made my cup, do I have to empty the water that is still in the unit, or am I ok just leaving it there for the next cup? I couldn't find any info about whether the tank has to be emptied every time or not.

Next question, any recommendations for freshly roasted beans in Brissie northside? Currently I'm using some Vittoria beans from Coles, no idea when they were brewed as I chucked the wrapping a while ago.

[broccoli]

I'm pretty sensitive insofar as taste/smell goes but my coffee machine (sunbeam, plastic tank) doesn't give off any unpleasant taste from water left in the reservoir. I use filtered water, and there's also an anti-calc thing in the tank. If it's a metal reservoir and you use unfiltered water, I'd empty it, otherwise go by taste.

[holdennutta]

Well, today I pulled the trigger on my new rig.

Ordered the Rancilio Silvia V3 from Coffee-a-Roma and a Hario hand mini mill from Things Coffee.
Fully expect the mill to either wear out or not be good enough in the long run. But it gives me some spare time to save for a Mazzer Mini E or something.

Also included with the Silvia were:
Naked portafilter + 21g basket.
2x other baskets (forgotted sized. 2g up on usual I think).
Cleaning kit.
Rancilio tamper
350ml jug
thermometer
Knock.

Hurts the wallet, but coffee is almost as important as water these days for me :P

[phrosty-boi]

@ XST - you're fine leaving the water in there, no problems at all but use filtered water like brocolli suggests (I use a brita jug myself and find it quite good)

your beans from coles will be stale for sure, a quick google brings the following article which you might find useful (i'm from melb so have no idea where any of those places are, surely one must be near where you are?)

just googled 'brisbane coffee roaster' first article linked below

http://www.couriermail.com.au/life/f...-1226396933650

@holden, if the tamper you get with the silvia is just the plastic one it will be horrid, get a decent one like a pullman or similar

nothing wrong with a hand grinder either, the hario is one of the better ones, nothing wrong with the quality of hario gear by any means