I could use a touch of advise to pass on. A friend of mine (no no really) bought an "espresso maker" at a thrift shop for all of a dollor or two. It is a mostly stainless steel barrel with a horizontal offshoot and knob (which is turned to release the "shot") and another offshoot which resembles a pressure cooker relief valve, and one other tube to produce steam. Coffee is added to a basket "up top" but it has a rod running through it (to attach the top ) and I see no way for him to get a good (or any) tamp. The thing sets directly on a burner. It reminds me of not so much of anything except a bomb. He seems happy enough with the product but consistancy is talked a great deal here and this think has little... Does anyone have any suggestions how to actually properly uses this? He really likes making his own espresso but it scares the *&#$#$ out of me every time he uses it (especially HERE :-} ) Does this thing sound at all like an espresso maker? I do "just" coffee so I really can't give he much taste advise. I'm not sure what else to say except, Help. -- -- John Nanci AlChemist at large pcj homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
You could probably learn a lot more that what I have to offer here by visiting the alt.coffee boards and looking up what does and what does not constitute an espresso machine. While I have never heard of the device that your friend has it seems more analogous to a mocha pot rather than a true espresso machine. My first clue is that it uses steam to make coffee. Real espresso is not made using steam. It is made with almost boiling water under several atmospheres of pressure. This pressure can be generated two ways. The first is with a pump. The second is by hand with a lever machine such as the La Pavoni. True espresso is much more than just strong coffee. It is a process of extracting all the good out of the coffee very quickly so as too leave the bad stuff ( i.e. bitterness) and some of the caffeine behind. When this is done correctly you get a dark brownish red crema on top of the product ( and you can certainly taste the difference) However if the water temperature is too low or two high, the grind is not done with a high quality burr grinder and the right consistency for the machine, it will be almost impossible to get true espresso. In fact a bad shot out of a good machine will be little better, if any at all, from what your friend is getting from his stove top steam device. One note of caution. If you want to do real espresso be prepared to pay just about as much for a grinder as the espresso machine. :-) A high end grindner and a low end (true) espresso machine will yield a better product than the reverse configuation. homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
John, What your friend has is a variation on a Moka pot. It is not a "true" espresso machine. However, it can make a decent cup of flavorful coffee and/or cappuccino. Many of the coffee "aficionados" refer to this, derisively, as a "steam toy". Number one, it does NOT use steam to brew the coffee. It works on the same principle as our highly touted vacuum pot. The pressure build-up pushes down on the water, which has nowhere to go except up the pipe and through the coffee. Instead of staying in contact with the coffee for a long time it is pushed straight through to the waiting container. The water is pushed up way before it reaches the boiling point (as also happens in the vacuum pot). I think the notion of it being run by steam comes from the fact that it DOES produce steam for steam wand, but then so does a "real" espresso machine. A simple test with a thermometer will show that the coffee will come out at a temperature far below boiling.. A few tips: Never tamp the coffee in the basket. Do not use a high flame. It doesn't take that long to make. If you want, start with hot water. However, it's a bit difficult to hold the hot pot while you're screwing on the top. Always make the coffee before you steam the milk... On the model that you, er, your friend has, the coffee knob should be left open. The coffee will drip into the cup when it is ready.. and you may even see some "crema" on the top. (now, for the "it's not real crema" replies) :-) If you want to use the steam wand, shut the coffee knob. I leave the steam knob slightly open so that I can gauge the readiness of the steam. I know the unit has an emergency relief valve, but I prefer to avoid emergencies... Many (most?) people in Europe, especially in Italy( the "Mecca" of coffeedom), use these pots to make their coffee...They are inexpensive and sturdy and make a decent, unfiltered, properly "temperatured" cup of coffee... You'll probably hear many opinions to the contrary....but taste is, after all, the final arbiter.. Ciao, Angelo At 10:12 AM 2/11/2002, you wrote: <Snip> homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
On Mon, 11 Feb 2002 12:58:50 -0500 Angelo writes: <Snip> toy". You are incorrect; a steam toy is one of the little, well, toy "espresso" machines sold at mass-merchant-of-(no)-choice for about $30 (I know they work on the same principle); the Moka pot is actually well respected by many. -Tim In your heart you wonder which of these is true The road that leads to nowhere The road that leads to you GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:http://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast">http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
Hi Angelo... I agree with most of your post, except for the part about the steam. True, the steam pressure pushes the hot water up through the grounds, but at the last stage, the water runs out and the steam does shoot through the grounds and can make the brew bitter. I used a moka pot for years at home and was satisfied with it. Regards, Ed Needham ed |
Ed, Whenever I have used one of these, I have always a) used a medium flame and b) not let it get to the point where the water runs out. I always had water left in the bottom section. I guess you might call it a "ristretto", of sorts...:-) I don't ever remember steam coming out...I guess that could happen if one is not careful...But then, lots of things can happen when one is not careful... :-) Ciao, Angelo <Snip> homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
I've been thinking of adding one of these to the ever growing collection of coffee "equipment". Reading Angelo and Ed's posts there would appear to be some advantages to the stove top "espresso machine" against a standard moka, mostly in that you could for example, fill with 75ml and 14g, pull through 60ml for your double then stop the water valve and have 15ml for steam. Therefore avoiding the problem with the steam shooting through the grounds. Does sound interesting though... but then I've got a few standard mokas and a Bialetti Brikka (which can produce crema) and I don't use any of them so perhaps I'll save the money! (and then I can buy that Reg tamper I've always wanted.) Alan --- Ed Needham wrote: > Hi Angelo... <Snip> Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Chartshttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast">http://uk.my.yahoo.comhomeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
One note of caution. If you want to do real <Snip> will <Snip> Have no fear, I am a coffee heathen. I do not like espresso that I have tried (many times), I grind (whirly blade) the night before and brew in a traditional drip. But as is often said, it is the individual's taste, and so far, home roasting has so improved my morning cup that I am quite happy where I am at. -- -- John Nanci AlChemist at large pcj homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
My experience is that in the last few seconds, the steam spurts coffee fairly violently from the center spout and all the= creamy looking coffee suddenly turns to flat looking (and tasting) dreck. THe trick is to pull the pot from the heat ju= st before it 'spews'. I like coffee from a moka pot. It's not my favorite brew, but it's a treat at times. Ed Needham ed Original Message: ----------------- From: Angelo angelon Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2002 03:09:13 -0500 To: homeroast Subject: Re: +Re: Espresso Horror? Ed, Whenever I have used one of these, I have always a) used a medium flame and b) not let it get to the point where the water runs out. I always had water left in the bottom section. I guess you might call it a "ristretto", of sorts...:-) I don't ever remember steam coming out...I guess that could happen if one is not careful...But then, lots of things can happen when one is not careful... :-) Ciao, Angelo -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web athttp://mail2web.com/. homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
(pssssst...I grind the night before too) I would prefer to grind in the morning, but my wife gets up before me, and she doesn't want to fuss with boiling water, grinding, measuring and pouring. The coffee tastes good, but there is some loss of those best flavors and aromas. If I got up first, then I would do it right, but I am truly allergic to mornings, and prefer to sleep as long as I can before getting up and going to work. Regards, Ed Needham ed |
We grind at night because I can't keep my beloved out of it! I have a wonderful burr grinder - but every night I can tell she's getting ready for bed when she turns the living room lights out and then I hear the whirly blade whacking the beans. So I've come up with all kinds of reasons that's a great idea - but wont embarrass myself by trying any of them on folks who know better :O) |
Can't you folks just hook up a timer to the grinder, load up the (measured) beans at night and have them ground in the morning? How difficult would it then be to pour the beans into the waiting filter and flip a switch? Plus, if you got a Krups Barista II grinder,you could use the sound as an alarm clock...for the whole neighborhood :-) Ciao, Angelo <Snip> homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
Forget the timer, sounds like you guys need some RF remote control adaptors for your plug sockets! Just measure into your grinder and fill the water boiler at night then turn them on from your bed when the alarm goes off. Alan --- Angelo wrote: > Can't you folks just hook up a timer to the grinder, load up the (measured) <Snip> Do You Yahoo!? Everything you'll ever need on one web page from News and Sport to Email and Music Chartshttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast">http://uk.my.yahoo.comhomeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
Sometime around 01:35 2/14/02 -0500, Angelo typed: <Snip> Speaking for my non-morning person self. It's not that difficult to set up in the morning BUT I want my coffee when I wake up, I don't want to set it up or even turn it on(it's on a timer). On a more practical note (but still selfish), I also DO NOT want to wake up my 16 month old daughter with the grinder (hand grinding in the morning, good joke :-). I do occasionally fresh grind on the weekend when I can sleep in and all be up together. -- -- John Nanci AlChemist at large pcj homeroast mailing listhttp://lists.sweetmarias.com/mailman/listinfo/homeroast |
I've already commandeered about four feet of one of the kitchen counter tops for the commercial espresso machine, the commercial grinder, the small drip grinder, the Chemex, a thermal carafe and five quart jars of beans. I would threaten the overthrow of my already established coffee kingdom if I made a fuss over this or added more equipment. It would be easier for me to just get up earlier than her and make the coffee, but although easier, it would still be impossible. If you want, I'll have my wife respond to you with how difficult it would be to... (refer to Angelo's text below). BTW...there's no switch on my manual pour-over Chemex . Regards, Ed Needham ed |
Ed: What espresso machine and commercial grinder. The beans I earlier identified as Ugandan are actually Burundi. |