Coffee: we drink it or we get angry.

Discussion in 'Food and Drink' started by Jeb, Jan 16, 2016.

  1. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    What are people thoughts on Nespresso? Was impressed with the quality of the pod system with the machines. Still doesn't beat grinding your coffee and the whole nine yards, but I can see this for my mornings.
     
  2. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    No, it doesn't beat a good expensive espresso machine and LaVazza beans.

    However, if you find a coffee of theirs that you like (there are also 3rd party ones also), then it's actually quite nice. I love mine because of the ease of use and the lack of mess. I like their Cafecito de Cuba best, which has a strong, roasted, somewhat smoky flavor. But they have lots of coffees, and good multi-dimensional descriptions of them (acidity, strength, roast, body).

    I've only used the Originaline of theirs, not the newer machines that do more than just espresso.
     
  3. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I wish I can just get their regular espresso machine. However, the GF wants to use the one that does regular coffee and espresso. The Vertuo pods cost slightly more than their originals, but at least the Cafecito de Cuba one is available in Vertuo.

    Was told don't always get your coffee at Amazon, since they might ship you a close to expired one.
     
  4. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    A few years ago we bought a Gaggia Accademia. We still use it every day with Lavazza Super Crema and reverse osmosis water. It tastes better and reduces the need to descale (bought an RO system a few years ago for homebrewing beer and we use it for everything).
     
  5. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    Gaggia machines are nice. We had one at the office I used to work at, and yeah with the LaVazza Super Crema.

    I always bought my Nespresso capsules from Nespresso direct and had them shipped. Now they opened a store in Northpark Mall in Dallas, so I just go over there to get them.

    The other nice thing about Nespresso is that they'll give you a post-paid recycling bag for the capsules. So you don't even throw them away. Lately I've been getting an email about "blah blah you could win a bicycle made from recycled Nespresso capsules." Since I don't bike I haven't paid it much attention.
     
  6. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Never tried Nespresso but I can't imagine that it even comes close to fresh roasted, fresh ground beans. Never really been satisfied with any kind of those machines.

    Also.. Lavazza also doesn't come close to fresh roasted beans either IMO. I prefer a lighter roast too. Why pay for beans that have been in a container for who knows how long when DFW has some great roasters that will have freshly roasted beans available?
     
  7. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I associate Nespresso as the Bose of the coffee world. They have some interesting technology, they spend a ton on marketing and specialty outlets, they are convenient and inoffensive but ultimately unsatisfying for enthusiasts and "coffeephiles"
     
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Convenience is the key here. Walking up in the morning I want something fast.
     
  9. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    @DigMe I agree that some fresh roasted beans are better. Here in SoCal, they're also about 2.5x the price. I tried my hand at roasting my own but stopped because the wife got annoyed with the smell and I don't need another expensive hobby. :)
     
  10. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The wife insisted on getting a Nescrappo™ machine so she could make her own if I'm not around to pull a shot for her weekend morning latte. We have the commercial "pod" style ones at work. I use them when I either don't have the time or the beans.

    I mentioned way back that I find their shots have a particular aftertaste unless I stop it at 5 seconds. If I do that, they're fine for a quick morning jumpstart. Tried some Illy crapsules and they don't have the same aftertaste, but I still tend to stop the pull fairly short. There's so little ground coffee in there that the tendency is always towards over extraction.

    Aside from flavour, my main motivation for not using them is the waste. Even if you recycle your crapsules, it's still such an unnecessary use of resources - end rant

    One thing they make that I do love is the Aeroccino. I cbf'd to use the steam wand to make foam, so even though it's nowhere near as nice as what a good barista can do, it's good enough given the convenience. At work I microwave and then use a $2 IKEA milk frother.

    I don't keep up so hadn't heard of their new line (Vertuo?). If she wants an Americano, why not just add hot water to a regular Nescrappo shot (or 2)?
     
  11. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Explain my white GF just add hot water to a Nescrappo shot is like talking in Greek. She thinks anything Espresso is too strong. I do like more of a regular coffee at times. Vertuo is the pods for the machines that is flexible (aka making more than just Espresso shots).

    Some people prefer to have the machines do the work, my GF is one. I would love to get the regular Espresso machine (cheaper pods and most likely better product), but GF won't allow it. And this is what I get for dating someone outside of my ethic background, it's pretty funny at times.

    Also you might get a kick out of this. We have a Taiwanese Tea Shop down the road from our apartment. It's hot outside so give me Nai Gai and boba with no sugar. GF gets a smoothie that's loaded with sugar. It's so gross. >.<
     
  12. Superexchanger

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    We have an older nespresso at home to supplement the pour over equipment I typically use. Often I'm too busy in the morning to devote time to getting the pour correct, so I'll grind my own beans and load up a couple reusable capsules the night before.

    The results aren't great (~as good as the "official" capsules), but I get something hot and can use my own beans without generating all the waste, which also bothers me about these machines.

    I don't love it, but it has a place in my life.
     
  13. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    I like it for a quick jumpstart, sometimes needed to make a real coffee.
     
  14. Eric_C

    Eric_C Friend

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    Have any of you added a smart power plug or mechanical timer plug to your espresso machine?
    I just bought a no-brand smart plug for cheap and it's pretty nifty. Lets me ensure the machine is warmed up before i wake up in the morning. (My espresso machine needs 15 mins warm up time, or else the shots spurt all over the place.)
     
  15. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I used to give my Expobar HX machine 30 minutes just sheerly for temp stability. I have heard of others using these timers for that purpose without problems. I used to just wake up and immediately go turn it on and then start getting ready.
     
  16. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    Im a bit of a coffee maniac. went one day in one of those nespresso store, and tried about 10 different capsule. no matter what the guy tried (slower brew time) I found the coffee lacking any real flavour, very stale tasting.

    nespresso is garbage compared to a real setup (fresh beans- grinder- espresso machine).
     
  17. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    But I know this already. Nothing beats doing it the long way.
     
  18. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    That's what I do, but the Silvia seems to really need a shot pulled for it to be properly "primed", even after it's been on for half an hour or so. I don't have any fancy mods like a PID so I use this surfing guide from some Swiss dude. If I do the full 5 second cold flush before pulling the first shot, the boiler turns on too early. So I only do a 2-3 second cold flush for the first shot, and then 5 seconds for subsequent shots. His temperature profile might not be ideal for my specific unit, but at least gives me some consistency.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2019
  19. Eric_C

    Eric_C Friend

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    @gixxerwimp i've heard of that, that oftentimes the 1st shot of some machines is always off, and it's only 2nd onwards that stabilise.
     
  20. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The Swiss dude's instructions say warm up for 30-60 min or pull/dump 2 shots. I usually just give my wife the first shot. She can't really tell the difference anyway :rolleyes:
     

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