The Coffee Thread

Post by **Genebaby** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:10 pm

We've talked about it before but not properly.

My story: For years I was quite happy drinking instant coffee. I didn't like coffee from cafe's or coffee machines. Life was simple and easy. Which was a good thing.

Then I quite at the start of 2010 and it wasn't that hard. Life was simple and easy. Still good.

Then at the end of 2010 a guy at work got me to try a coffee shop nearby and it was fantastic! So I've been hooked again ever since and now I don't drink instant. Life is less simple, not as easy.

I only drink one a day mind you. Maybe two but I really do try to limit that so I'm not going crazy on the stuff, ha ha. I do take sugar as I can't stand it without, so the more cups I have the more sugar too.

I have a coffee machine on order for the house now so we'll have to see how THAT goes when it arrives. The one I am getting has great reviews so I just need to find the beans and settings that I like and enjoy!

I really wish it was here, now!!!!

The shop near me is a Kaldi, not sure if they are overseas but I'll try their beans first as they are easy to get and I like them in the store. The barista at this particular one does a fantastic job, better than anywhere else and other Kaldi's, so there is a secret to his ways. Hopefully I can get close to it at home.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:34 am

Vic, you got to work with your coffee. You got to get to know your beans and maybe after 4 experiments you will find the perfect ratio. I like 95% highest quality guatamalan or Belize Arabica mixed with 5% Indian robusta or 90% Arabica % 3% robusta and 7% Jamaican blue mountain.
Then you got to experiment with water to coffee ratio. Robusta is naturally very sweat but no body or gusto but that will.take the bitter out of the Arabica.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:42 am

If you don't want to roast yourself this is the best from Naples Italy . Mekico or harem blend the best
http://www.blanellcoffee.com/Passalacqua_Beans_s/75.htm

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:20 am

Coffee lovers certainly have their own level of 'acceptable' coffee.
I work with one guy has has the same machine and grinder as me but he is fastidious at cleaning and spends more time preparing/heating/cleaening up compared to actually drinking it!
...and Dino, after that speel, you're also in another league that's far beyond my comprehension, but, i also have no intention of gettting that fussy. I can't afford it

Well now that's out of my system.

I have a Gaggia Classic coffee machine which pulls a fantastic shot.
The frother was crapola and has recently been replaced with a Rancilio Silvia-steaming arm and i'm in Capa-Heaven !

Grinder is the Breville Smart Grinder which is THE BEST GRINDER in it's price bracket, even compared to Italian jobbies.

Coffee, currently getting from http://www.coffeewarehouse.com.au/
$25/kilo which is nearly unheard of, and i share getting 3 kilos with the dude at work cause then shipping is free

If you're less fussy, Aus just got the Aldi coffee machine which is suppossedly as good as a Nespresso and only $79!! I have a mate who has one and loves it! (not for me though)

Had 1 home brewed long black in the car on the way to work, having a cap here bought, which is nothing compared to my home made one but what can you do???
Usually 1 a day, but an extra at work doesn't hurt

Post by **Genebaby** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:25 am

Oh Dino, I can't be roasting myself, no time for that man!!! No idea how either!

I read a thread about the new Aldi machine but that type of machine doesn't interest me, the Nespresso thing. Cost is higher, though the Aldi one is much cheaper though some like it and some don't compared to the Nespresso version.

My brother has a Saeco machine, and my mum just got one so decent coffee is sorted there now and they both grind the beans internally for each shot. Mine will do that to, plus take grounds as well. I bought my brother a bag of coffee from Kaldi to try and didn't even notice I had picked up one that was pre-ground and he couldn't use it as his machine only takes beans.

I would be very glad if my home machine can match the coffee that Nathan makes near my work. That stuff is heavenly.

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:27 am

What machine are you getting?

n3p · Post by **n3p** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:29 am

Cup of tea anyone?!

ankh · Post by **ankh** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:06 am

Passalacqua,LOL.The old neapolitan coffee machines were made in a way that you put the(pressed) coffee powder on the top of a cylinder shaped metal container,then close the fiter and then put the thing upside down an add the bloiledwater.The gravity was making the boiled water pass slowy through the coffe powder, it did take long but the result was way strong, and tasty.Maybe not so healthy.

Sorry for the OT.

I abstain from coffee and tea too.

but i still eat pizza

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:12 am

Work mate just said "isnt it suppossed to be a rock guitar forum? where's the Bourbon thread?"

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:21 am

ankh, Passalacqua is the best!! with a Moka too. I should give up coffee as I feel it will kill me and Vinnie will be happy.

Post by **Genebaby** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 9:18 am

birnie wrote:What machine are you getting?

It's this machine here: http://www.cableloc.com/p-1649-corrado- ... chine.aspx

But not from that supplier.

ankh · Post by **ankh** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 6:59 pm

Yes, Dino, i know, i was laughing simply because i remember that brand from my childhood and because the name is especially fitting(looosely traslated means "bring the water" or "filter the water" two things that are necessary for preparing cofee).Sorry for being unclear.Also i didn't know that it was that famous, really.I was a bit surprised.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:37 pm

ankh, no i did understood you, I thought you were surprised to hear the name. haha. are you from napoli? Passalacqua is not famous outside Naples, I just search for the best. I think some places in the States, Germany and Australia import a little (i mean like one or two very specialist places owned by Neopolitans in the whole of the States), but I can not find it in Italy other than in Naples which is why I have it shipped to me from Napoli. haha

ankh · Post by **ankh** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 8:26 pm

yes i was surprised.

And yes, i was born there.The Passalacqua brand still has the very old image(the indian licking his lips) it is their trademark.From what i can remember it is a great tasting coffee

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:28 pm

Naples has Kimbo which is a large scale coffee you can also buy in supermarket (still good) and Passalaqua (water passing through). The other main city for coffee is Trieste (near to Croatia/Slovenia) where Illy and Housbrandt come from and some good smaller coffee roasters as well. Trieste is famous for more smooth and Naples for big bang flavour, but Passalaqua is more big and smooth, the perfect combination.
Most towns in Italy have their own brands too.
I roast my own coffee now and may start my own company. I would have loved to make the Vinnie Vincent blend for $1000 a bag but I think Vinnie and I are what you may call not on speaking terms.

ankh · Post by **ankh** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:49 pm

even more so now that you've expressed your preference for a jewish family founded coffee brand

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:59 pm

which one is that?
funny enough the first password i gave to Vinnie so he could change my password on the dv board to his was Dana Strum rules (i did this as a joke for vinnie , but for some reason I changed it again for him to my favourite drummer who is Shelly Manne (a New York jewish drummer) . I guess I got off to a bad start with that.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:00 am

some of the stuff i hear from VV is straight out of the KKK. I really hope thats not true.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:01 am

maybe Illy is Italian Jewish ?

ankh · Post by **ankh** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:20 am

Passalacqua, as far as i know, was founded by three Jewish brothers, about Illy, i'm not so sure.

About Vinnie being racist, i think that is something he can add to his already quite full palmarès

.If rumours are true, he has just followed some of Ace and peter habits.

back on topic, even tough the machines you find in the bars are more or less the same,i find it funny how people may say "this one is good and that one is not".

I do remember however, tha t the traditional way made the coffee v ery strong, stronger than a normal Moka.For years in Italy Bialetti was considwered the best brand for Moka coffee machines.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:02 am

Yeah bialetti. Got to be coated in coffee too.

Post by **Genebaby** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:27 am

I think the quality of the coffee we get around here is up to the machine and the barista. How much manual control there is and the beans they use of course.

Whatever Nathan does is magic, and I don't mind a few other places but his is the best coffee for me. Others at work agree, we go in a group!

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:58 am

A lot of what you say is true. The barista is the most important .

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:00 am

Great Sinatra song about coffee
[youtube][/youtube]

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:03 am

Yeah, alot of things count to the great cup, and one link in the chain can sometimes ruin the whole experience.
Unforunately, Vittoria and the supermarket brands do extremely well in CAFE's and taste like total shit,.
Finding your own bean supplier roaster is a must!

Post by **Genebaby** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:04 am

If I don't like the Kaldi stuff at home there is a roasting place near my work too where the guy who has the machine I'm getting goes to. I will get small bags to try and once I'm settled will buy bigger!

shramiac · Post by **shramiac** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:07 am

I cup a day! Preferably a dry roast instant!!! Not a fan of the super strong burnt mud that comes out of machines!!!! Sorry.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:08 am

Coffee is the poor man's coke but I love it as it slowly destroys me. I remember a good italian coffee place in Melbourne.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:09 am

Burnt mud? Oooooooh . You like your coffee like tama drums ? Try passalaqua ... No bitter but strong.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:10 am

Prs guitars anyone ? Tama ? Instant coffee ?

poserboy71 · Post by **poserboy71** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 2:21 pm

Fuck coffee .

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:20 pm

poserboy71 wrote:Fuck coffee .

Burnt pee pee

poserboy71 · Post by **poserboy71** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:21 am

That took me a second. Good one Birnie !!!!

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:51 am

Hey, Vic.
How did you go with your machine ?

Post by **Genebaby** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 5:55 pm

It was delayed for dispatch until middle of this month.

The anticipation is high and I have all the accessories I need. Should buy some beans in readiness.

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 6:32 pm

Never know, might get delayed again, better off not letting beans hang around even if sealed in a bag

Post by **Genebaby** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:47 pm

Still should be here next week, all good so far.

Ok, I'll get some beans when it arrives. Can't wait!!!!

doppelganger · Post by **doppelganger** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:02 am

metatron · Post by **metatron** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 4:06 am

Yer. I raise you this;

KissMyAss · Post by **KissMyAss** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:55 am

I love CAFFEINE.

doublev2 · Post by **doublev2** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:39 am

i love it until i can feel my heart trying to escape from my body.

Post by **Genebaby** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:18 pm

Ooh, I got my machine last month and it is great! With the beans from my local shop it's just what I wanted, great coffee at home.

birnie · Post by **birnie** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:38 am

Eeeeexcellent