Coffee lovers: try a stovetop espresso maker

[DigDog]

anyway,

i know this will sound unpopular, but i have actually been very impressed by the Nespresso machine

they are waaay less expensive than a real home espresso machine.. here i can find one for 100 Gbp, while others are 300~600 (500 to a thousand bucks).

it does work with the pods (you don't get to grind your beans(), which i thought was a horrifying idea, until i tried one.

i'm totally serious, you can get great creamy coffee from that thing. cheap and plasticky and you'd never think so, but it actually works really well.

pods are not expensive. first, the market is flooded with them so you find great deal every day (like, half price) and while it's a bit more expensive per-coffee than your regular moka, the end result justifies the extra money.

ok, plug over, now i go cash my check by Nespresso(tm)

(i dont own one btw, but i will get one in february)

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

anyway,

i know this will sound unpopular, but i have actually been very impressed by the Nespresso machine

they are waaay less expensive than a real home espresso machine.. here i can find one for 100 Gbp, while others are 300~600 (500 to a thousand bucks).

it does work with the pods (you don't get to grind your beans(), which i thought was a horrifying idea, until i tried one.

i'm totally serious, you can get great creamy coffee from that thing. cheap and plasticky and you'd never think so, but it actually works really well.

pods are not expensive. first, the market is flooded with them so you find great deal every day (like, half price) and while it's a bit more expensive per-coffee than your regular moka, the end result justifies the extra money.

ok, plug over, now i go cash my check by Nespresso(tm)

(i dont own one btw, but i will get one in february)

Pods are unfortunately train wrecks for the environment, unless they've somehow advanced recently. I'd rather just do my own coffee. Takes 3 minutes each morning with the Aeropress.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Every time I use mine I always wonder how long the rubber is going to hold up for. Using the upside-down method, I'm just waiting for the day for all of the boiling hot water and grinds to come running down all over the counter. Now I know!

Talking to other Aeropress users, the ones who thrash it daily say their rubber lasts for about a year. 3 years is probably OK if you just give it nice, even, slow pressure. And of course don't store the rubber compressed inside the cylinder. Have it sticking out the other end.

 

[mrrman]

I wouldnt buy any aluminum espresso maker...go stainless steel

 

[CraKaJaX]

Talking to other Aeropress users, the ones who thrash it daily say their rubber lasts for about a year. 3 years is probably OK if you just give it nice, even, slow pressure. And of course don't store the rubber compressed inside the cylinder. Have it sticking out the other end.

Usually takes about 20-30 secs for a good press -- but that also depends on how fine/coarse the grinds are you're using. I always store mine completely separated so I've got no issue there.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Usually takes about 20-30 secs for a good press -- but that also depends on how fine/coarse the grinds are you're using. I always store mine completely separated so I've got no issue there.

Damn, 20-30 seconds for the full depression is a long time. I usually do 10 seconds (impatient). When people say they thrash it they probably mean they hammer it down in 3 seconds.

 

[yuchai]

I like moka pot coffee. I heard that's the method that most Italian households make their coffee.

That said, I can't personally do the ones that you heat via the stovetop...too easy to forget about and have burned coffee or worse. There is an electric model from DeLonghi that is fairly failproof. I've been using that for a while now and am happy with it.

 

[Cappuccino]

There is one on Black Friday. I think it's the Asimo or whatever its called. IT'S FREAKING SHITTY!!!

 

[DigDog]

I heard that's the method that most Italian households make their coffee.

well, kinda. we use it in the morning, after that, almost exclusively at a "bar" (think of it as a starbucks that also sells alcohol.. minus the fancy seats. and while they do sell alcohol, most people don't drink there)

an espresso in italy is still around 80 or 90 cents of a euro, less than a buck. it's not unusual for people to have 3 espressos in a day, plus the morning coffee.

 

[CraKaJaX]

well, kinda. we use it in the morning, after that, almost exclusively at a "bar" (think of it as a starbucks that also sells alcohol.. minus the fancy seats. and while they do sell alcohol, most people don't drink there)

an espresso in italy is still around 80 or 90 cents of a euro, less than a buck. it's not unusual for people to have 3 espressos in a day, plus the morning coffee.

I loved this about Italy. The tonic water served with a shot of espresso was kind of weird though.

 

[TallBill]

Checked the grocery here for espresso and they sell beans. Just get a regular grinder or what?

 

[WelshBloke]

I loved this about Italy. The tonic water served with a shot of espresso was kind of weird though.

That sounds... Horrible?

I'm pretty shocked that an Italian would do that to coffee as well TBH.

 

[CraKaJaX]

That sounds... Horrible?

I'm pretty shocked that an Italian would do that to coffee as well TBH.

Yea. I'm not an expert, but maybe DigDog can chime in on this. When ordering an espresso, they always gave you a shot glass of tonic water on the side. I learned this when I finally asked what this was for (thinking they charged me for it) but was told that it's complimentary and basically used as a chaser to the coffee.

 

[WelshBloke]

Yea. I'm not an expert, but maybe DigDog can chime in on this. When ordering an espresso, they always gave you a shot glass of tonic water on the side. I learned this when I finally asked what this was for (thinking they charged me for it) but was told that it's complimentary and basically used as a chaser to the coffee.

I've had mineral water (fizzy and still) bur never been given tonic water. (You are talking about the stuff you make G&Ts with aren't you?)

I actually thought that you were referring to this... http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/national/17507/Coffee_Tonics_Are_the_New_Iced_Coffee.htm

I wouldn't have the nerve (or desire) to order that in Italy.

 

[DigDog]

Yea. I'm not an expert, but maybe DigDog can chime in on this. When ordering an espresso, they always gave you a shot glass of tonic water on the side. I learned this when I finally asked what this was for (thinking they charged me for it) but was told that it's complimentary and basically used as a chaser to the coffee.

i have honestly never seen this happen; i've been to about a dozen different italian cities and again, never.
at most, if you ask for it .. a glass of tap water? surely not soda water. that would be gross.

a coffee ends the meal, you don't do stuff "after the coffee".

 

[Tweak155]

I drink light to medium roast coffee, not a fan of dark. I use a french press at home and think it tastes really good... any point in trying something like this?

 

[WelshBloke]

I drink light to medium roast coffee, not a fan of dark. I use a french press at home and think it tastes really good... any point in trying something like this?

No. It's pretty much the opposite of a light roasted cafetiere coffee.

 

[CraKaJaX]

i have honestly never seen this happen; i've been to about a dozen different italian cities and again, never.
at most, if you ask for it .. a glass of tap water? surely not soda water. that would be gross.

a coffee ends the meal, you don't do stuff "after the coffee".

I was in Vernazza (where it did NOT happen), Genoa and Pisa. The latter two I experienced this.

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-carbonated-water-or-club-soda-sometimes-served-with-an-espresso

 

[DigDog]

well... how was it?
i'm in the "don't knock it before you tried it" camp.

 

[CraKaJaX]

well... how was it?
i'm in the "don't knock it before you tried it" camp.

You're asking the wrong dude. I hate that stuff to begin with unless of course there's gin in it. Just give me the espresso and I'm happy.

Also on a similar note, that tonic/espresso mixed drink looks terrible. D:

 

[TallBill]

Just bought the 6 cup in the OP and a decent grinder. And a bluetooth speaker, and another cast iron skillet. Damn you amazon, damn you.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I see nothing wrong with that statement.

What grinder did you get?

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I loved this about Italy. The tonic water served with a shot of espresso was kind of weird though.

It was just sparkling water. I used to hate sparkling water until I lived in Italy. God I miss the cheap espressos basically anywhere you go.

My hotels in Tokyo had a nespresso in every room and lobby (the lobby one was much fancier) and I was surprised at the quality of coffee they make. I might consider one in the future.