Breville or other Espresso machine (NOT superautomatic) Owners Thread

[Full_Cream_Milk]

Edmw people drink 3-in-1

Please close thread.

 

[sacredrays]

hearsay ppl prefer the espresso machine and grinder to be separate machine.

 

[LaIn]

My setup is LM GS3 MP and eureka Migon zero. Beans now i get from ghostbird (msia) via shopee.

 

[CCCustom]

Finally got off my @$$ and opened this up last night to clean my wand. It’d been sitting in my unopened packages pile for awhile

Ordered in from Amazon US because I decided the liquid version is not a good idea.

Interestingly, making this morning’s coffee it seems the hardened milk residue on the wand wipes off much easier than before.

 

[RyanJ]

Could you explain the reason for the grinder over the machine? I heard a lot online about it too.

I have a separate delonghi espresso standalone coffee machine and a separate delonghi coffee grinder which i use previously and i've kept it in my store room after i got a fully automatic machine.

Got the fully automatic machine because my parents do not know how to operate these machines manually, so i decided to get a fully automatic one which is easier.

I've been deciding to bring out my delonghi espresso machine / separate grinder back out again for my use.

Grind consistency gives less cup to cup fluctuations, and when dialing a batch of different beans the last thing is to have systemic variability despite tweaking only single parameters.

A decent machine basically distribute hot pressurized steam over the (puck).

Agree super automatics are great for less saavy folks who just wants an espresso based coffee drink.

Took me quite a while previously to switch my waifu from Nespresso pods to a grinder / espresso machine setup, until I moved the Nespresso machine to office

 

[CCCustom]

I just msg Soji about restock for Brazil Maritaca Santos and the reply is it is oos and will not be restocked anytime soon. They rec me to try Brazil Santa Maria Cerrado as it has a similar roast profile. Have tried Soji Sul De Minas and did not like it as much compared to Maritaca Santos as it was more bitter and roasted darker for my liking.

The rule-of-thumb is supposed to be, that the higher the altitude, the higher the acidity … and by region:

• Santos: 800 - 1,300
• Cerrado: 900 - 1,300
• Sul De Minas: 900 - 1,200

Somehow, Santos was the best for me, although I guess Sul De Minas is (now) a compromise I can accept, having had Sul De Minas from both Zero and Soji before.

Cerrado I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure, but @Apparatus has this acidity tester thing he’d stick into his coffee and what I recall Cerrado was slightly higher than Santos.

I don’t know what’s the deal with Soji … that 200g bag of Maritaca Santos I bought was also “last bag” … buy already very fast another “last bag” of 200g became available I’d probably have to look at 1 of the M’sia roasters if they don’t want to make Santos available in at least 500g bags.

 

[W3isheng]

i only have a ikape k2 58mm now. No portafilter since it’s a portable espresso machine. Still waiting for decent 1.46 to drop.

today just receive a 2kg box from dak coffee in holland.

 

[Jurong640]

Grind consistency gives less cup to cup fluctuations, and when dialing a batch of different beans the last thing is to have systemic variability despite tweaking only single parameters.

A decent machine basically distribute hot pressurized steam over the (puck).

Agree super automatics are great for less saavy folks who just wants an espresso based coffee drink.

Took me quite a while previously to switch my waifu from Nespresso pods to a grinder / espresso machine setup, until I moved the Nespresso machine to office

I see thanks.

I got this grinder with me in my storeroom

Is this good?

Last time I use this, but my parents don't know how to do and lazy to do. So in the end, I got super automatic.

 

[Jurong640]

The rule-of-thumb is supposed to be, that the higher the altitude, the higher the acidity … and by region:

• Santos: 800 - 1,300
• Cerrado: 900 - 1,300
• Sul De Minas: 900 - 1,200

Somehow, Santos was the best for me, although I guess Sul De Minas is (now) a compromise I can accept, having had Sul De Minas from both Zero and Soji before.

Cerrado I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure, but @Apparatus has this acidity tester thing he’d stick into his coffee and what I recall Cerrado was slightly higher than Santos.

I don’t know what’s the deal with Soji … that 200g bag of Maritaca Santos I bought was also “last bag” … buy already very fast another “last bag” of 200g became available I’d probably have to look at 1 of the M’sia roasters if they don’t want to make Santos available in at least 500g bags.

Thank you. I've tried Santos and it's not bad. But recently, I've switched to Yunnan Bao Shan coffee beans.

Yunnan coffee beans is said to be planted 1000 to 1500m above sea levels. This is my fifth batch, and I'm intending to get my 6th batch soon from taobao.

Btw, Anyone tried those coffee beans from giant supermarket that is inside those tin cans? Not sure how fresh is that, but been wanting to try and not buy too much.

 

[CCCustom]

Got the fully automatic machine because my parents do not know how to operate these machines manually, so i decided to get a fully automatic one which is easier.

Agree super automatics are great for less saavy folks who just wants an espresso based coffee drink.

The thing about superautomatic - and why I retired mine - is that, you really need to manage your expectations, especially when it comes to cleanliness / hygiene.

When the brewgroup ejects the puck into the drip tray box, it is still damp and steaming … if you only want to clear when the Full sensor is triggered, if you are lucky, the pucks are mouldy … if you are not, the internal of your machine also start to build up mould.

After I kenna 1 time because after making my coffee I drink already straight went to work … come home from work I opened up to wash the brewgroup (I always take out and wash before making a coffee), I could see inside walls got mould already. From then on, always after making the coffee I must empty out, wash and dry the drip tray and drip tray box, wash the brewgroup leave it outside to dry … end up the amount of time needed to make a coffee on this superautomatic no different from using an espresso machine with portafilter, so … yeah … if both going to take the same amount of time, might as well choose the option that gives me better coffee, no?

 

[Jurong640]

The thing about superautomatic - and why I retired mine - is that, you really need to manage your expectations, especially when it comes to cleanliness / hygiene.

When the brewgroup ejects the puck into the drip tray box, it is still damp and steaming … if you only want to clear when the Full sensor is triggered, if you are lucky, the pucks are mouldy … if you are not, the internal of your machine also start to build up mould.

After I kenna 1 time because after making my coffee I drink already straight went to work … come home from work I opened up to wash the brewgroup (I always take out and wash before making a coffee), I could see inside walls got mould already. From then on, always after making the coffee I must empty out, wash and dry the drip tray and drip tray box, wash the brewgroup leave it outside to dry … end up the amount of time needed to make a coffee on this superautomatic no different from using an espresso machine with portafilter, so … yeah … if both going to take the same amount of time, might as well choose the option that gives me better coffee, no?

True make sense. That is why for my super automatic, I always air dry after drinking my daily cup in the morning, empty drip tray and empty grounds. Then again in the afternoon coffee. Very mafan also.

 

[RyanJ]

I see thanks.

I got this grinder with me in my storeroom

Is this good?

Last time I use this, but my parents don't know how to do and lazy to do. So in the end, I got super automatic.

Unfortunately I have not used alot of grinders, perhaps can check online / reddit reviews.

But grinders such as the DF54/DF64 are quite well regarded and punches above their price point. I believe there are some edmwers using.

… if both going to take the same amount of time, might as well choose the option that gives me better coffee, no?

Indeed!

 

[zueinder]

Personally, after getting 'poisoned' about premium coffee due to one of my previous jobs, I read up quite abit and found filter coffee to be much more enjoyable while also being easier to cleanup on a daily basis. There's really no need for espresso style brewing unless you drink it specifically in espresso format.

Recommend you watch James Hoffmann youtube videos about the various premium methods of brewing and pick your poison.

 

[fandango]

Thought it’d be a good idea to have a dedicated thread for those of us who own an espresso machine, i.e. the ones where you use a portafilter, to discuss machine related stuff and beans.

Whether yours comes with an integrated grinder, you have a standalone grinder, or you buy pre-ground, you’re welcome to this group.

As a continuation from @Apparatus ‘ thread, my machine:

After all my issues with my same-OEM-as-the-Smeg superautomatic, I finally took the plunge and got this.

I fell for the Normcore hype Normcore tamper, Normcore WDT, Normcore steam handle, Normcore bottomless portafilter, Normcore coffee scale … even the Normcore glass tubes to store 18g of beans per tube

Around the time just before I retired the superautomatic, I bought a bag of Soji Brazil Sul De Minas beans … I actually like this more than Zero’s Sul De Minas, although it was not a fair comparison of Zero on the supermatic and Soji on the Breville … I then tried a 200g bag of Soji’s Brazil Maritaca Santos beans and this became my favourite … only problem is Soji seems to have deliberately set the Santos to sold out for the 500g and 1kg options, and limited the stock of 200g to 1 bag in an order.

12.12 I bought back a bag of Zero Sul De Minas, but after the 2 bags of Soji that I started off with on the Breville I can’t seem to dial the Zero in right … on the Normcore bottomless portafilter I get a 40something g shot in like 25 seconds, and on the stock Breville portafilter using single-wall basket I get a 30-31 g shot in like 40something seconds … same grind size for both.

And I still can’t get latte-art consistency with my frother … it’s always super-frothy capuccino consistency or not micro-foam-y enough, never in between

Any other Breville or other espresso machine owners care to share your experiences? @Jurong640 @randyap @menthol28 @rrr2015 @dxdx999

I drink owl 2 in 1. Jin nice.

 

[Apparatus]

The rule-of-thumb is supposed to be, that the higher the altitude, the higher the acidity … and by region:

• Santos: 800 - 1,300
• Cerrado: 900 - 1,300
• Sul De Minas: 900 - 1,200

Somehow, Santos was the best for me, although I guess Sul De Minas is (now) a compromise I can accept, having had Sul De Minas from both Zero and Soji before.

Cerrado I haven’t tried so I can’t say for sure, but @Apparatus has this acidity tester thing he’d stick into his coffee and what I recall Cerrado was slightly higher than Santos.

I don’t know what’s the deal with Soji … that 200g bag of Maritaca Santos I bought was also “last bag” … buy already very fast another “last bag” of 200g became available I’d probably have to look at 1 of the M’sia roasters if they don’t want to make Santos available in at least 500g bags.

Acidity in coffee is also affected by

1) Robusta beans have lower caffeine, hence, lower acid content than Arabica beans.
2) Coarse grind with high water temperature increases acidity in coffee
3) Wet-hulled < natural/dry < washed coffee (aka wet process coffee) in terms of acidity
4) Choose dark roast/French roast over other types of roast for less acidity
5) Cold brew has lesser acidity than hot brew
6) Coffee beans which use the Swiss Water Process/CO2 Process for decaffeination for it not only removes caffeine from coffee but also reduces its acidity.
7) Choose coffee which is acid-free like Tylers Coffees, Acid-Free Organic Coffee etc

 

[rodimus_prime]

For me I find that a good grinder matter the most then the expresso machine..

Spot on !

 

[rodimus_prime]

Grind consistency gives less cup to cup fluctuations, and when dialing a batch of different beans the last thing is to have systemic variability despite tweaking only single parameters.

A decent machine basically distribute hot pressurized steam over the (puck).

Agree super automatics are great for less saavy folks who just wants an espresso based coffee drink.

Took me quite a while previously to switch my waifu from Nespresso pods to a grinder / espresso machine setup, until I moved the Nespresso machine to office

Problem with pods / capsules is you will never know exactly what they put into them Not even certain if it’s just coffee …and no fillers

 

[LoUsyGamER]

Problem with pods / capsules is you will never know exactly what they put into them Not even certain if it’s just coffee …and no fillers

Can always sacrifice one pod to see what is inside.

 

[rodimus_prime]

Can always sacrifice one pod to see what is inside.

tried so many times before. Can’t identify one unless send for lab analysis. Then there’s freshness of the ground regardless of vacuum sealing. Also 7g of coffee in each pod will never make a proper espresso.

bean to cup is the way to go. Where capsules score is the sheer convenience for a quick grab and dash.

 

[Jurong640]

tried so many times before. Can’t identify one unless send for lab analysis. Then there’s freshness of the ground regardless of vacuum sealing. Also 7g of coffee in each pod will never make a proper espresso.

bean to cup is the way to go. Where capsules score is the sheer convenience for a quick grab and dash.

Those pods are great in marketing "premium" coffee, for convenience over 3 in 1. Charge a high price.

Coffee lovers will never touch these pods. How unenvironmentally friendly are they