This will often lead to another popular question “What do you think of Nespresso Machines?” I would recommend a capsule machine if you want an espresso based coffee as simple & as fuss free as possible, it definitely has it’s place.
If I wasn’t a coffee geek I would have probably loved the Nespresso & been very attracted to all the different coloured capsules . If you want to learn the skill of a barista & use fresh coffee beans & you want to taste & know about many varieties of fresh coffee then the Nespresso machine may not be for you.
My absolute must have if you are a coffee lover is a coffee grinder, that you can adjust the grind size on. I have the Mahlkonig Home Vario Grinder which I love! You can easily adjust the grind setting from Espresso (The finest) to Cafetiere (The Coarsest) & you can make finer adjustments between those settings if you want to. Fresh ground coffee is so important for creating the best flavour possible, as the aroma & taste will be released & contained as & when you need it & not disappear into the air.
So back on to the espresso machine – if you want to use fresh coffee beans & grind fresh then the machines I recommend are the Domestic Fracino machines, you can order through me & I also supply complementary barista training to go with it (Very important!) These are the closest you can get to a coffee shop machine in your home.
But me at home, I use lots of filter brewing methods & go out for my espresso based beverages at good coffee shops. There are so many weird & wonderful ways to make filter coffee & to achieve the best flavour from a gourmet/speciality lighter roasted coffee is through a slower more gentle extraction method. here are some options…. I swap & change depending on my mood…
The Cona Coffee Machine – employs vacuum filtration to make sure that the coffee blend is infused at the correct temperature and properly filtered. Using two chambers and the gentle pressure created by air and water vapour, vacuum filtration is used to produce coffee which is clean, crisp, rich and smooth. I use filter ground coffee in this method of brewing.
Chemex coffee maker – The Chemex® coffeemaker is an elegant, one-piece, hourglass shaped vessel made of high quality, heat resistant glass. The traditional model comes to you with a polished wood collar and leather tie. The collar serves as an insulated handle around the middle of the coffeemaker. Few products in this century can match the flawless blending of design and function of the Chemex®. Its visual elegance has earned it a place in the permanent collection of New York’s Corning Museum of Glass. The Chemex® coffeemaker was also selected by the Illinois Institute of Technology as one of the 100 best designed products of modern times. The Chemex® coffeemaker, together with Chemex-Bonded® Coffee Filter, makes perfect coffee. Clear, pure, flavorful and without bitterness or sediment every time. The coffee only comes in contact with the scientifically designed filter and non-porous glass. With the Chemex® method, you can make coffee as strong as you like without bitterness. Perfect for iced coffee and coffee flavoring for gourmet recipes. Because of its purity, Chemex® brewed coffee can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for reheating…without losing its flavour!
AeroPress®Coffee Maker – If you love smooth, delicious and effortless coffee then you have come to the right place. The AeroPress is the first coffee maker that combines affordability and simplicity with the ability to produce top quality coffee. It is very versatile & you can use different grind settings along side different extraction times & it will give you a different brew.
More brewing methods -Then there are the more familiar ways, such as the Stovetop, Cafetiere, electric filter machine? All require the correct amount of coffee to water, the correct grind size for the brew method the correct temperature & pressure to create a brew that tastes as it should.
I hope you have enjoyed this blog & you have found it useful happy brewing.. bye for now. x
