Roomba, Dysons, Thermomix and other household appliances

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Some discussion on coffee machines has been moved here from the general chit chat thread.
[/mod hat]

 

[AuSammy]

That looks wonderful.

Bought 3 years ago. There were three models.

Cheaper version - makes black coffee automatically but have to froth your own milk
Our version - automated all types coffee
Dearest version - Bluetooth remote control.

 

[Pushka]

Bought 3 years ago. There were three models.

Cheaper version - makes black coffee automatically but have to froth your own milk
Our version - automated all types coffee
Dearest version - Bluetooth remote control.

I read some reviews and some find it doesn't heat hot enough. Would it be possible to heat the milk in the microwave first then use the hotter milk?

It's a zero birthday and wedding anniversary for me next week. Amd I have to go to HN today for ear buds for him. Hmmmm.

 

[Pushka]

I am going to buy a coffee machine and grinder for home. Unfortunately the accountant says it costs too much to run through the company as an office machine, bugga. Never mind I have a few office upgrades in mind. This is possibly a research project for @Denali . I am looking at a Profitec 500 machine or jump up to an ECM TECHNIKA V PID PROFI with flow control valve. I know what I should buy but the cost is making the decision difficult. Then you have to match it with a decent grinder. I have resisted the coffee reseller influence and looking at a Mazzer Mini G, a big step-up from my initial ivestigations (half the price) but I figure I will not regret a professional machine but will regret a machine at half the price that leaves me wanting more. Who makes coffee at home with a good espresso machine?

How much is too much?

 

[AuSammy]

I read some reviews and some find it doesn't heat hot enough. Would it be possible to heat the milk in the microwave first then use the hotter milk?

It's a zero birthday and wedding anniversary for me next week. Amd I have to go to HN today for ear buds for him. Hmmmm.

I also like my coffee hot. A problem in many cafes - luke warm.

Once the coffee is dispensed the cup is not quite full. Then there is a prompt to clean the nozzle. I leave my cup under the nozzle and activate the cleaning cycle momentarily (maybe 3-4 pumps) which dispenses boiling hot water through the nozzle into the cup and heats the coffee even more.

I also use “thermos” style double glazed glasses that keeps the beverage hotter for longer

 

[AuSammy]

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There are various ones around - just an example.

 

[Pushka]

I also like my coffee hot. A problem in many cafes - luke warm.

Once the coffee is dispensed the cup is not quite full. Then there is a prompt to clean the nozzle. I leave my cup under the nozzle and activate the cleaning cycle momentarily (maybe 3-4 pumps) which dispenses boiling hot water through the nozzle into the cup and heats the coffee even more.

I also use “thermos” style double glazed glasses that keeps the beverage hotter for longer

Clever! Yes have those cups. Sure keeps hot things hot.

 

[exceladdict]

We have a Breville oracle dual boiler which we got for around 1900 at HN, who were price matching JB, effectively at cost. It just broke even last month vs buying two coffees (each) per day.

In my opinion it's the best combo of manual and automatic available. The messy bits (grinding, tamping) and annoying bits (frothing milk to a specific temperature) are done automatically but you still have perfect access to keep it clean. Yes, the cleaning supplies are a cost to factor in and it takes time to maintain, but I have always detested the automatic machines at work which are never truly clean and taste coughulatively worse over the course of a day.

We looked into semi-pro machines, which are cost comparable to the pricier Breville ones, but ultimately decided in the favour of one appliance and less bench space being used. (Previous setup was a smart grinder pro and a single boiler Breville).

We use Pound Coffee beans, from a roastery in Perth, purchased from our favourite local cafe so they're 2-4 weeks from roasting date when using. $45 or so per bag (~$1 per double shot coffee). In my opinion, using freshly roasted (vs supermarket) beans makes a massive difference, especially as the price gap vs say aldi supermarket beans has closed a bit.

 

[Steady]

. In my opinion, using freshly roasted (vs supermarket) beans makes a massive difference, especially as the price gap vs say aldi supermarket beans has closed a bit.

This

 

[Daver6]

I am going to buy a coffee machine and grinder for home. Unfortunately the accountant says it costs too much to run through the company as an office machine, bugga. Never mind I have a few office upgrades in mind. This is possibly a research project for @Denali . I am looking at a Profitec 500 machine or jump up to an ECM TECHNIKA V PID PROFI with flow control valve. I know what I should buy but the cost is making the decision difficult. Then you have to match it with a decent grinder. I have resisted the coffee reseller influence and looking at a Mazzer Mini G, a big step-up from my initial ivestigations (half the price) but I figure I will not regret a professional machine but will regret a machine at half the price that leaves me wanting more. Who makes coffee at home with a good espresso machine?

As you probably already know, investing in a grinder is going to improve your coffee more than the espresso machine. After much research last year, I upgraded my rocky Rancillio to a Varia VS6. I specifically wanted a low retention, single dose grinder. It's been a massive step up and I'm very happy with it. I'm still using my 15+ year Silvia.

I use the grinder mainly for espresso with cold brew in summer and the odd moka pot and a few aeropresses.

 

[MARTINE]

I always grind just before making my coffee. The difference is enormous. I buy bags from my roastery of choice

 

[NM]

I previously had an entry-level Breville machine with built-in grinder. Was barely ok and show at steaming milk.

So when that dies I bought the Breville Dual Boiler, sold at the time as Dynamic Duo as it was supplied with a separate grinder. I have been very happy with the dual boiler operation, but have recently "upgraded" my process. I found that the best way to achieve a consistent shot was to no leave beans in the grinder hopper and for each shot I weigh out the beans (I use 20 grams) and put them through the grinder until all beans are ground - I let the grinder run for 30 seconds. Then I weigh the ground coffee to ensure it was all ground - i.e. I have 20 grams of ground coffee. That has resulted in very consistent show results, which was my biggest challenge when storing beans in the grinder hopper and having the grinder run for a fixed number of seconds.

Other "upgrades" I have applied to my process include using a bottomless porter filler with a good 2-shot basket (easier clean-up and can watch the flow for any cut-through issues). Using a rotary weighted distributor before tamping with a double spring-loaded tamper. Then applying a stainless steel basket filter on top of the tamped grounds. And I set the machine for volumetric extraction at 40 grams (2:1 extraction ratio). This has resulted in a very consistent 30 seconds extraction process (varies by no more than +/- 1 second.

I was ready to get a better quality grinder, but since changing my grind process I have decided that it is actually working as well as any new grinder I might buy, providing a very consistent grind output in terms of grind size and output weight. The issue I was previously experiencing with inconsistent result was more about my process than the grinder itself.

And as @Steady and @exceladdict noted above, never use supermarket beans. I buy from a trusted local roaster and their Premium Espresso beans are very consistent between batches. Always stored in an air-tight container and just weigh out 20 grams each time I make a coffee (or 13 grams when using the single-shot basket for Mrs NM preference of long black with a splash of milk).

 

[Denali]

I am going to buy a coffee machine and grinder for home. Unfortunately the accountant says it costs too much to run through the company as an office machine, bugga. Never mind I have a few office upgrades in mind. This is possibly a research project for @Denali . I am looking at a Profitec 500 machine or jump up to an ECM TECHNIKA V PID PROFI with flow control valve. I know what I should buy but the cost is making the decision difficult. Then you have to match it with a decent grinder. I have resisted the coffee reseller influence and looking at a Mazzer Mini G, a big step-up from my initial ivestigations (half the price) but I figure I will not regret a professional machine but will regret a machine at half the price that leaves me wanting more. Who makes coffee at home with a good espresso machine?

I wouldnt be much help because we bought a Nespresso coffee machine and it still hasnt made anyone coffee when they visit so I have to keep repacking it back into the box and away. One day we will force someone to drink our coffee

 

[tgh]

One useful thing about drinking Nespresso pods is working through a variety of beans resulting in a selection for mood and different tastes
She sweetens hers with aspartame and likes a much sharper bean than my straight black

Our auto Auto machine would tend to have a regularly topped up hopper of stale-ish beans from a kg bag that may have been open for 6 weeks...
Buying a kg at a time is also not conducive to variety as a kg bag now lasts forever in this 2 person house.

 

[prozac]

How much is too much?

I started looking at the upper end 2 boiler Breville. "Too much" was relative to the company turnover which just does a few film shoots a year. If I could be bothered to do more (I knock back 1-2 shoots a month on average), then I suppose it could be possible to claim against the higher income.

As you probably already know, investing in a grinder is going to improve your coffee more than the espresso machine. After much research last year, I upgraded my rocky Rancillio to a Varia VS6. I specifically wanted a low retention, single dose grinder. It's been a massive step up and I'm very happy with it. I'm still using my 15+ year Silvia.

I use the grinder mainly for espresso with cold brew in summer and the odd moka pot and a few aeropresses.

As @Daver6 mentions even with a great espresso machine the best improvement you can make is investing in a good grinder. I cannot decide between a single shot grinder (SSG) where you weigh the beans first before running them through or an electronic grind by weight (GBW) or grind by time (GBT) grinder. These latter 2 the beans stay sitting in a hopper above the machine. Some say this is not desirable by some experts say it does not matter if the grinds left in the shute are minimal. I started looking at a Profitec A54 (c.$1300) which has 54mm grind burrs. I am now thinking a Mazzer Mini G (about $2400) with 64mm burrs.

As for the machine, now I am not constrained by what I think I could get away with for tax, I am tossing up between a Profitec 500 (made in Germany by Italian maker ECM), or ECM Technika V PID Profi (c.$4500).
For those looking a a very good entry level machine the importer of Stone is said to be running out stock at close to cost (v.low $2000's)

If you want a good coffee community group have a look at coffeesnobs.com.au. Those interested in trying different beans can opt in for the monthly bean offer when announced.

 

[VPS]

I wouldnt be much help because we bought a Nespresso coffee machine and it still hasnt made anyone coffee when they visit so I have to keep repacking it back into the box and away. One day we will force someone to drink our coffee

I have a bit of instant coffee but I have so many cafes very close I can just walk out and get them a coffee if they want one

 

[Daver6]

I started looking at the upper end 2 boiler Breville. "Too much" was relative to the company turnover which just does a few film shoots a year. If I could be bothered to do more (I knock back 1-2 shoots a month on average), then I suppose it could be possible to claim against the higher income.


As @Daver6 mentions even with a great espresso machine the best improvement you can make is investing in a good grinder. I cannot decide between a single shot grinder (SSG) where you weigh the beans first before running them through or an electronic grind by weight (GBW) or grind by time (GBT) grinder. These latter 2 the beans stay sitting in a hopper above the machine. Some say this is not desirable by some experts say it does not matter if the grinds left in the shute are minimal. I started looking at a Profitec A54 (c.$1300) which has 54mm grind burrs. I am now thinking a Mazzer Mini G (about $2400) with 64mm burrs.

As for the machine, now I am not constrained by what I think I could get away with for tax, I am tossing up between a Profitec 500 (made in Germany by Italian maker ECM), or ECM Technika V PID Profi (c.$4500).
For those looking a a very good entry level machine the importer of Stone is said to be running out stock at close to cost (v.low $2000's)

If you want a good coffee community group have a look at coffeesnobs.com.au. Those interested in trying different beans can opt in for the monthly bean offer when announced.

Going a little off topic here....but is it just me that wonders how the Italians make rock solid, reliable coffee machines yet their cars.....