Coffee machine woes.

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Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: Coffee machines woes.

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Well, I am nothing if not a coffee snob, but I am seriously going back to my low-tech roots.

Mediterranean coffee. Specifically, Eastern Mediterranean. They called it Turkish coffee in Turkey, but for goodness sake don’t call it that in southern Cyprus! Even though it is ostensibly the same stuff. This is undoubtedly my favourite coffee and I have a brass pot called a briki, purchased in Cyprus. I use a small brass hand grinder which produces the virtual powder you need to make this coffee, but I also buy the ready ground stuff from supermarkets whenever I go to Greece or Cyprus. Wonderful after dinner with Metaxa!

My favourite milk coffee is the Spanish or Portuguese café con leche/meia de leite. At home I use my very basic Nespresso machine and a little battery whisk for the milk, which I heat up in the microwave. Mostly I have this for breakfast coffee at the weekends. I don’t use Nespresso nearly as much as I used to.

For general drinking, I use a cafetiere and grind my own beans. I get a lovely Sumatra Mandheling from an independent coffee shop in Norwich and just add a splash of milk for the coffee.
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Re: Coffee machines woes.

Post by StrappedUp »

I use a De'longhi Dedica EC685. Good little machine and doesn't use up much worktop space at only 15cm wide.

I buy bags of pre-ground coffee as I'm too lazy to do my own beans, but it will also take ESE pods whatever they are??

Also has a handy little steam wand for the creamy stuff that I consume a little too much of :thumbup:
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Re: Coffee machines woes.

Post by MiniMpi »

Hi Steve,

I also use Nespresso and have done so for a long time now.
I just use the regular original size pod machine.
Enjoying one as I type actually lol
Only ever had one problem and it was self inflicted, let the water run out causing an airlock which was simple to fix with the helplines help.

I always found them very helpful so fingers crossed you just got a bad one mate.Image
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Re: Coffee machines woes.

Post by jkbarnes »

timor54 wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 5:32 pm The one warning I had was that occasionally you can get a ‘blow back’ when depressing the pusher which can result in a very messy start to the day.
I haven’t had an issue with blowback yet. However, I do use an inverted brewing method and have on a few occasions knocked the whole d*mn thing over! Messy start to the day, indeed!
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

Guess I'm somewhat of a philistine in this company. No fancy machines. No disposable sachets / pots.

Tower Filter coffee machine - £22

Image

or Zyliss one mug cafetiere - £7.98

Image

With coffee from Pilgrims Coffee, Holy Island, Northumberland

Job done.

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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by jkbarnes »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 11:59 pm Guess I'm somewhat of a philistine in this company. No fancy machines. No disposable sachets / pots.

Tower Filter coffee machine - £22

Image

or Zyliss one mug cafetiere - £7.98

Image

With coffee from Pilgrims Coffee, Holy Island, Northumberland

Job done.

Guy

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The horror! The horror! ;-)
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by Martin »

Stove top Bialetti. Nothing to go wrong.
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by Lavaine »

I've never owned a pod coffee machine. Too much waste, not enough reliability, as evidenced by OP being on his 5th machine now. For single cup brewing I'm an Aeropress fan. I've only experienced the 'blowback problem' once when I used a cup that was barely larger than the bottom of the press. A little breathing room seems to go a long way. For brewing a pot it's a Bodum or my Oxo drip machine, one of the few Specialty Coffee Association Certified machines out there (meaning it brews at the correct temp, as most drip brewers don't brew hot enough). An old Delonghi espresso machine sits in the corner for the occasional espresso and latte / Earl Grey latte.

Ben_Labe, Breville does make a double boiler machine. Unfortunately it's about twice the price of the 870, and doesn't have the integrated grinder. If/when the Delonghi gives up the ghost, it will be replaced by a Breville.
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by AliBar »

I'm in Ferg's camp. Simple Inissia style Nespresso machine with no milk gizmos to go wrong... I drink it strong and black anyway. Never had a problem with it and it's in constant use. For capsules I quickly went away from the real Nespresso pods at c£0.50 apiece. Aldi's Ristretto (16p per pod) is great - but can be hard to find as it gets snapped up. Otherwise I watch out for Amazon deals... last year L'or pods were there for £16/100 pods and currently I'm on Amazons own brand (perfectly drinkable) at around £8/100 pods.
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by scooter »

I'm no help to you Steve.

1. Boil a kettle.

2. Fill up favourite mug with hot water.

3. Add one spoonful of Kenco Millicano American Decaff (Barista Edition). Usually found at either Asda or Waitrose on offer at £2.50 for 100gms.

4. Drop of Asda semi skimmed as required. (sometimes replaced by Asda single/double cream if feeling naughty)

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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by TheBeatles »

AliBar wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 10:55 am For capsules I quickly went away from the real Nespresso pods at c£0.50 apiece. Aldi's Ristretto (16p per pod) is great - but can be hard to find as it gets snapped up. Otherwise I watch out for Amazon deals... last year L'or pods were there for £16/100 pods and currently I'm on Amazons own brand (perfectly drinkable) at around £8/100 pods.
I have been using Nespresso pods for over 10 years now. Apparently I now have the status of Ambassador. However their pods have now become so expensive I’ve tried other makes. The machines are very reliable, I’m only on my second in 10 years. And that was bought when it was half price, more of a backup as the other was getting on a bit.

My favourite alternatives so far are by Cafe Pods, I buy them from Sainsbury’s when on offer. Also available on line but fairly expensive from the company itself.

Aldi are pretty good too, and my local always has them in stock in various strengths.
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by biggus_richus »

scooter wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 12:25 pm I'm no help to you Steve.

1. Boil a kettle.

2. Fill up favourite mug with hot water.

3. Add one spoonful of Kenco Millicano American Decaff (Barista Edition). Usually found at either Asda or Waitrose on offer at £2.50 for 100gms.

4. Drop of Asda semi skimmed as required. (sometimes replaced by Asda single/double cream if feeling naughty)

Jobs a good'un.

scooter
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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by scooter »

Sometimes.

Sometimes coffee first.

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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by Thermexman »

scooter wrote: Wed May 22, 2019 7:50 pm Sometimes.

Sometimes coffee first.

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Re: Coffee machine woes.

Post by scooter »

Tee hee.

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