yep here's a cortado at what many consider to be the best cafe in the world - made with a nitro wash processed Columbia. one of the most buttery, decadent cups I've ever had in my life.
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yep here's a cortado at what many consider to be the best cafe in the world - made with a nitro wash processed Columbia. one of the most buttery, decadent cups I've ever had in my life.
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UPDATE on my free Expobar Brewtus IV.I replaced the vibration pump and got water flowing into the system.Also purchased a back flow disc to rinse the system, but I could not get any flow out though the portafiltlter. I disassembled the leva group and I found that the orifice in the Trumpet Reducer was severely narrowed with some hard water build up. A few precision drill bits spun by hand carefully opened that orifice to its original spec. Some specific cleaning solution, food safe o-ring lube, and a new filter on the end of the pump hose and I'm ready to go. I put it all together and I have a functioning machine!
I was not sure if the fee machine was actually going to make coffee so our test coffee has been some pre ground Illy in a can. (I know, I know). But with an accurate bike tool scale, a digital timer, and a pressure measuring tamp I am getting some consistent and tasty pours. Amazing how adjusting weight, tamp pressure, and run time can change the pour. The Illy is not too bad, and it has been 50% off at our local grocery store lately, so we have a few cans to get though before we venture into buying a grinder and go down that rabbit hole. Next purchase will be a dedicated espresso scale/timer to keep the counter looking cleaner/sleek. Thanks for the info here. I'll reach out once I want to buy a grinder.
My understanding is that Cortado and Macchiato are the same thing. Spanish vs Italian.
Obviously when the Italians say Macchiato they do not mean what Starbucks is selling. The Italians call that a Latte Macchiato.
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However many are in a shit ton.
The Best Cafe in the world is the one where they treat you like Norm from Cheers and the drinks are good.
But since you baited us, where is that pic from?
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However many are in a shit ton.
Home espresso machines that aren't like $1500-50,000?
The lady and I have been drinking from a Moka Pot every day. A bit tedious and honestly just not as good as even an Aero Press (which we also have but rarely use because it's also a bit messy). We just want to be able to make decent shots with good beans from a machine.
The Ninja mentioned up thread seems to be making the amateur baristas happy. I was looking at the $1000-1500 Brevilles and the Ninja has me very interested. Lots of goo YouTube reviews on them.
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Maybe look at the Rancilio Silvia. I got one - cause I'm a total amateur, lots of vids online how to fix if need be, been around for ages and on version 7 or who knows now, can get parts online.....I've had for 4+ years now and between me and the wife I think I've put through 5,000+ shots without any issues. I'm sure there are better machines out there but still happy with mine. I think the Silvia and grinder were about $1,000. I'd be nervous of getting an espresso machine grinder combo just in case it breaks. From lurking on here - the best upgrade I did was start roasting my own beans. My buddy at work is on the roasting bandwagon - as we talked about the other day, there are people who roast their own coffee and then the rest of the 7+ billion people in this world.
To just do espresso the Flair fifty eight is your best bet. I’ve had one for years and love it. The ability to adapt to a shot / grind is unparalleled.
I also got a Bellman milk steamer to do milk drinks. It’s probably ninety% as good as a higher end espresso machine is at steaming milk.
Total cost like $seven hundred
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Last edited by neufox47; 02-19-2025 at 03:36 PM.
Buddy of mine got a Breville Barista Pro and loves it. Seems like it allows enough control to get good shots. His wife picked it up too.
I like my Delonghi superauto.
It’s all about how much you want this to be your new hobby.
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However many are in a shit ton.
<p>
For a reasonably priced home machine, it might be hard to beat a new Gaggia Classic Pro E24 model w the upgraded brass boiler for ~$500 from online retailers like Whole Latte Love. And for grinding single servings, I think its hard to beat the value of a competent entry-level espresso handgrinder like the $100 KINGrinder K6. Youll probably also want upgraded accessories like a decent portafilter basket, solid metal tamp, digital scale, +/- needle-type distributor too. So total for machine + grinder + accessories could be under $750. But for about the same amount, you could also get everything in one machine like the Breville Barista Express, and a friend is pretty happy with her Breville machine.</p>
<p>
If you like to wrench on gear, those GCP and Rancilio Silvia machines are also great platforms for DIY mods, with tons of online support, DIY videos, replacement parts, and 3rd party upgrades available.</p>
<p>
I picked up an older used GCP machine for $100 this summer, watched some videos, then tore it apart and descaled the bejeezus out of the lower boiler half, solenoid and other valves, as well as the non-electric pump bits, and all the lines with descaling solution in an ultrasonic parts cleaner. I then rebuilt it from the ground up with a bunch of new parts and additional GCP-specific mods to better control temperature (PID kit) and pressure (pressure gauge and dimmer switch). This was a time-sink like a lot of projects, but I probably spent under $500 for the whole enchilada to brew decent shots at home.</p>
<p>
Buying freshly roasted beans in small quantities from local roasters is also key for consistently brewing good shots.</p>
<p>
Its way beyond the scope of entry-level brewing, but if you fall deep down the rabbit hole and wanna go nuts modifying a basic machine, the Gaggiuino digital microcontroller kits for GCP machines allow you to control every aspect of brewing temperature and pressure over time with preset and customizable brewing curves.</p>
Not sure if you’re opposed to a manual lever machine, but my wife and I like the Cafelat robot. It’s probably similar to the flair that someone else recommended. We’ve used it daily for a few years with a baratza burr grinder. We don’t do steamed milk so it’s all we need and simple. I think $450 for the machine and $150 for the grinder. Pulls good shots
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I like our breville bambino plus df54 grinder. The gagglia take like 20 minutes to heat up and the breville takes 30 seconds to pull a blank shot. For basic shots I have been very happy with this setup, easy to dial in and use and not huge or expensive.
Maybe look at the Rancilio Silvia. I got one - cause I'm a total amateur, lots of vids online how to fix if need be, been around for ages and on version 7 or who knows now, can get parts online.....I've had for 4+ years now and between me and the wife I think I've put through 5,000+ shots without any issues. I'm sure there are better machines out there but still happy with mine. I think the Silvia and grinder were about $1,000.
when i got sylvia it was under 700CAN including 2 sets of espresso cups so thats about 37$ US Sylvia are now petty much double
after about 18000 shots it was having issues so I sent it away and they fixed it up I'm over 20000 shots at this point
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
Yeah…had a Sylvia since forever. Hard to beat like others have said. Maybe the Gaggia Classic EVO Pro is as good but different. Kinda looks cooler.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
I just drink 5 espresso an AM while wanking about on TGR so Sylvia is all I need, I like the industrial SS with the big rocker switches look which tells me it wont break so different tastes I guess, the trick is knowing what TO replace so I just sent it to the Pro who replaced the pump the screen and gave it the once over I have since replaced the on/off switch which was a no brainer
Last edited by XXX-er; 02-22-2025 at 03:08 PM.
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
You drink five espresso’s a morning?!
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Last edited by neufox47; 02-22-2025 at 07:47 PM.
Doesnt ever one ? Without Caffene how else does one write 33275 posts ?
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
Are twenty gram shots? Are you going through almost a quarter pound of coffee a day?!
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I drink 4-5 ristrettos a day, 20g in, 20 out.
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yeah I go thru a lot of coffee just the standard rancilio porta filter so if i see the kick ass blend it on sale I buy a 6lb box which often lasts till I see it on sale again
coffee with no cream no sugar is just an anti- oxidant I am a 68 yr old off white male not on any meds which you do not see often so the micro dose doesnt count eh
Lee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
@WG - My wife and I (mostly me) went down the home espresso machine rabbit hole around the holidays. We ended up with the Profitec Go and are loving it so far. The steam power wasn't amazing OOB, but turning up the PID for steam made a huge difference.
Happy Brewing!
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