(GPGT)Espresso machine hoot

[testerjp]

I tried with pan roasting, seem to work.

Taste actually quite decent.

 

[patryn33]

May try roasting since price of roaster is coming down. The nesco one is like usd$140. Still hope to find something in usd$100.

Popcorn air popper cheap but not easy to find right unit. Those right cost like usd$80 used!

Aliexpress sell those Pan roaster at usd$100, too bad I am in states. Those 110v cost usd$200+

I am fearful of over roasting as I love city roast usually, maybe city plus.

maybe try this? hard to decide

 

[reactan]

Silvia PID kits

Has anyone here installed a PID kit for their Rancilio Silvia? Any recommendations as to which kit to get?

 

[mirage86]

I tried with pan roasting, seem to work.

Taste actually quite decent.

Old school manual roasting is very fun actually, can see how the green bean changes over time. I have this little contraption which lets me roast about 30-40g over a portable gas burner:

Only problem is it takes a lot of time and effort to roast enough to last a week's consumption

 

[patryn33]

Old school manual roasting is very fun actually, can see how the green bean changes over time. I have this little contraption which lets me roast about 30-40g over a portable gas burner:

Only problem is it takes a lot of time and effort to roast enough to last a week's consumption

I love the idea of old school, but the cage will be extremely hot to touch to remove the beans.
30-40g is a pain.. I already think a capacity of 140gm is a pain.

 

[wusong0901]

I modded a popcorn maker to roast, inspired by one of the bro in this thread.

Things were done to the popcorn maker:
- Separated the fan and heater circuit so I can control the heater by switching it on/off
- I found it too troublesome and not so easy to control the temp. I built a "lunch box" controller so I can precisely control the wattage of the fan and the heater.
- I felt the "lunch box" control was still a bit tiring to tweak when I have to roast 2-3 batches in a row. I hooked it up with laptop via the TC4C board. Now I can log the graph using Artisan software. Best thing is the roast is now hands-free since I can use the PID function in Artisan to control the roast following a background profile.

Took me a few weekends and a bunch of research to do this (I have no electrical background).

The only limitation I feel now is the batch size, it can do only 150g max/batch due to the heater power.

 

[patryn33]

impressive some serious mod you have here.
Alot of newer air popcorn in the states is under 1200W and alot of ppl reported issues getting it to 2nd crack.

here can easily get something like this. no much review on those.. no idea who these perform

 

[testerjp]

If you direct flame it, it will be more inconsistent and higher chance of getting your coffee burnt.

If you want an even shade, just slow roast it like cooking scrambled eggs.
Flavours are more pronounce and complex, in fact I think they are very good. Don't lose to roasted by professional roasting machines. Slow roast is a technique used by roasters.

I'm in touch with this German guy who works for this gourmet roasting company. He told me that if the roast is not even when frying in a pan, the beans of different colors and shades can create a spectrum of flavours which is not necessary a bad thing. His company is using a drum roaster designed and made by themselves, I think it's not rocket science and doable.

The only thing challenging is getting consistency with the pan fry or direct flame method, which can still be mustered with experience.
Remember to be in a well ventilated area or use a fan and blow it out of the window, and better wear a mask.

I also realised that Breadtalk is using Lorin and those kopitiam suppliers are also using probat.

 

[pulp_79sg]

Which machine to get?

Hey gurus,

I'm on the look out for a small single boiler espresso machine. I only drink black so won't bother with the steam wand and stuff… I will only pull about 1 or 2 espressos at a time.

Been looking at Miss Silvia or the Bezzera BZ09 so far...

Any tips, advice or lobangs much appreciated!

 

[patryn33]

Hey gurus,

I'm on the look out for a small single boiler espresso machine. I only drink black so won't bother with the steam wand and stuff… I will only pull about 1 or 2 espressos at a time.

Been looking at Miss Silvia or the Bezzera BZ09 so far...

Any tips, advice or lobangs much appreciated!

whats your budget? Rancilio and Bezzera price pretty wide apart iirc.
even U drink espresso U still need a grinder. U have one?

 

[testerjp]

I think there's alot of people trying to dump their single boilers in the second hand market.

I'll put the Bezzera Unica which has a PID in the consideration list too. Many upgrade their Silvia with PID which cost few hundred bucks to stabilise it due to its small boiler and high fluctuation. Besides stabilising, of course you can control the temperature.

 

[testerjp]

Brazil Cerrado green $3 for 300 g.

Very sweet and not too bitter.
http://bero-coffee-singapore.myshop...lagoa-estate-sul-de-minas?variant=24804215303

I mix with Columbian Finca with a 70/30 ratio
http://bero-coffee-singapore.myshop...ns/products/colombia-concordia-finca-paysandu

Taste very good man.

 

[pulp_79sg]

whats your budget? Rancilio and Bezzera price pretty wide apart iirc.
even U drink espresso U still need a grinder. U have one?

Yes I have a grinder. Nothing fancy but gets the job done consistently. Only problem is with the steps which I then compensate with more/less powder depending.... May get a compatible grinder with the machine that I eventually purchase too...

My budget is up to a Bezzera level kinda price of course value for money is important too. I intend for this to be a 10 year investment...

I think there's alot of people trying to dump their single boilers in the second hand market.

I'll put the Bezzera Unica which has a PID in the consideration list too. Many upgrade their Silvia with PID which cost few hundred bucks to stabilise it due to its small boiler and high fluctuation. Besides stabilising, of course you can control the temperature.

Any idea how long it takes for an E61 to get up to temperature? As in actual real time and not what is stated in the brochure.

It is usually a mad rush in the mornings so may not have the luxury to wait 45minutes for the machine to get ready....

 

[Corsabrin]

guys any one got any idea where to buy vanilla syrup in sg? went to fairprice, cold storage, nowhere to be found

Sent from the inside of Bezzerra BZ13 using GAGT

 

[testerjp]

45mins is for double boilers or big boilers bro.

I don't know, give or take 15 mins should be around there to heat up nicely for such 500ml boiler.

You mentioned consistency, then the bigger boiler and pid should help. Seeing some numbers on the PID may give some confidence too.
Silvia's 300ml imo is probably just on the line to flush and make 2 cups then 5 x backflush for cleaning.

 

[testerjp]

guys any one got any idea where to buy vanilla syrup in sg? went to fairprice, cold storage, nowhere to be found

Sent from the inside of Bezzerra BZ13 using GAGT

Last time could get monin from starbucks, call and ask.

 

[pulp_79sg]

45mins is for double boilers or big boilers bro.

I don't know, give or take 15 mins should be around there to heat up nicely for such 500ml boiler.

You mentioned consistency, then the bigger boiler and pid should help. Seeing some numbers on the PID may give some confidence too.
Silvia's 300ml imo is probably just on the line to flush and make 2 cups then 5 x backflush for cleaning.

Yes there's also the thing with boiler size... I do 1 espresso (2 if I mess up the first one) so a bigger boiler means water left in it gets reheated the next day... Not sure if that is a good thing..

 

[testerjp]

If the boiler is Copper, Copper has antimicrobial properties to kill the tiniest virus. Why will you worry unless you are copper sensitive. Copper is found even in plants and part of diet. Used in hospitals air and water pipes.

Those double boilers reboil the same water forever, even worse.
At least heat exchanger use fresher water.

I will worry more about the plastic(BPA or not) leeching used in food packaging than this.
Or worry about leeching from aluminium or brass, and infestation in stainless steel vessels than this.

 

[shdwkillr]

Got myself a Rocket Appartamento during the June coffee festival and currently on a non-stop daily practice of espresso making. I don't think I own a decent grinder for espresso based drink, as I am currently rocking on a Baratza Virtuoso. I am currently on a lookout of a decent grinder that can go well with my entry-level Appartamento. Anyone can recommend me a good grinder that is suitable for house use, but hopefully does not take up much space (that's one of the reasons I go with the Appartamento, due to space constraint.), and hopefully with minimal powder retention.

Thanks first.

 

[tyrtok]

Got myself a Rocket Appartamento during the June coffee festival and currently on a non-stop daily practice of espresso making. I don't think I own a decent grinder for espresso based drink, as I am currently rocking on a Baratza Virtuoso. I am currently on a lookout of a decent grinder that can go well with my entry-level Appartamento. Anyone can recommend me a good grinder that is suitable for house use, but hopefully does not take up much space (that's one of the reasons I go with the Appartamento, due to space constraint.), and hopefully with minimal powder retention.

Thanks first.

perhaps a sette?