If using quality beans, roasted proper for flavor development and complexity, it is amazing how forgiving the coffee can be. I have pulled some really tasty shots, not over extracted, that were 45+ seconds or more! This applies to Scandinavian-style roast profiles which are much lighter than traditional Italian style espresso roast profiles. Lighter roasted beans are far more insoluble and therefore need higher brew temps or longer brew times to fully extract all of its goodnesses.
What’s for lunch? ONE OF EVERYTHING, OF COURSE!
Lucky for me, CHARLIE DON’T SURF. Worked up a good appetite cutting some waves.
At the happiest place on Earth, where everything is brand new and works perfectly!
What’s the line from Rose (on TITANIC) - “the sheets hadn’t even been slept in”
I’ll have:
Starter: Videlia Union Tart
Main: New York Strip Loin, medium rare please
Desert: Tempted to order the Chilled Strawberry Bisque with Mint Foam, but not sure I can get it as it’s on the starter menu, otherwise I’d take the Baked Alaska
Life sucks doesn’t it, my motto Carpe Diem. I’m sitting in the Spring Sun enjoying every ray that protrudes through the clouds, which seem to have a preference for our little country.
Two weeks ago I was in Paris, my favorite there: Bofinger, close to Bastille, a traditional French Elsace Restaurant.
Foie Gras de Canard, Steak Tartare and Crème Brûlée or Cheese platter, closing with an Espresso (regardless the time at night). Accompanied with Elsace Domaine Schlumberger Wine.
It was delicious. You can order as much as you want, in whatever order you want. 3 different starters, no problem. A pint of Chilled Strawberry Bisque, no problem.
The Chef is working on Papa’s lemon pasta, un-halal style.
Jeez … now it’s coffee machines! I’m cross with everyone on this thread because I feel so inferior with my Nestlé Alta Rica instant coffee. Gotta get something decent now … but what? I’m single, enjoy 2 to 3 mugs of strong black coffee in the morning and then as needed a mug now & again during the day. Not concerned about milk frothers, cuppachino’s or other fancy stuff. Just the BEST coffee.
You guys started this; so tell me what to get
Weeell, since you asked… With 2-3 mugs, which I assume to be at least 12 ounces (maybe more), I would definitely recommend and drip brewing machine that brews into a thermal dispenser - not a glass pot with a heating plate to bake your coffee while waiting for that 2nd and 3rd mug. It needs to reach a brewing water temperature of at least 195 degrees, but preferably 205.
It’s always best to purchase fresh roasted coffee from a local roaster and then grind on demand. But grinder recommendations are a whole other wormhole. Ill offer advice if asked, but no since if this is already a cup full.
As far as the BEST coffee, that is about as easy to answer as, "What is the BEST amplifier (substitute and other audio gear type)
We all have our own preferences of coffee style. Some like lighter roasted, more nuanced coffees, others prefer heavy roasted roasted coffee with more bitter, chocolate, roasty, or earthier characters. Then there is an infinite number of other types in between. I always recommend finding a local roaster if there is one or more nearby. Freshness matters quite a bit. From there, you can taste through what they offer which will guide you in the right direction as to what type of coffee to purchase. Mail order works well too. I have many colleague in the industry so I can certainly point you in the right direction if you let me know a little bit more about what you like or don’t like with regard to coffee flavors and attributes.
Thank you Jeff!! Believe it or not: I spent just about the entire w/end Googling the various options, and came to the same tentative conclusion wrt a good drip type being the best option for me.
I was really tempted (and still am, a little) for a bean-to-cup model, like one of the Jura’s. And I mean, it would be nice to be able to offer latte’s etc to friends but I suppose the added complications in cleaning does not make it worth-while for me who just want 1 or 2 mugs of hot black coffee at a time.
Leaning towards the Technivorm at the moment [Acc to the reviews the coffee is great and the copper based hotplate works very well]. Besides, it seems there is an agency in SA.
By all means: Plse offer me your advice on a grinder!
Jeff plse check my replies … I’ve unfortunately ticked the wrong buttons so you won’t get email notifications.
The Technivorm KBG model seems to get the best reviews, despite it apparently consisting of many cheap plastic parts. I’m worried about the thin glass carafe breaking though. The Behmor and Bonavita models do not appear to be available in SA. I actually don’t mind paying up to R20K [around 1300 USD] for something decent.
Elk
What is yours? A thread on customer complaints and PSA QA has devolved into a totally off the wall free association with coffee makers, whiskey, lemon pasta recipes and Leica cameras. Isn’t your role to prevent this sort of thing happening?
Elk is a shockingly laid-back guy who is doing this on his own time. Preventing stuff that Bums Lots of us out, or is generally accepted online as offensive, yes. He has often referred to this as Herding Cats. Fortunately the majority of it is about as important and as non-offensive as Cat Behavior. If everyone is enjoying it, its all Good ; )
But maybe you forgot the smiley at the end of your post ; )
Yes Technivorm is really good, ours works still after 23 years. I might proudly add, it’s a Dutch company, judging from Pauls video’s comparable size to PS Audio.
Like @badbeef said, I want to than @Elk, I think at that time the discussion was due for some relaxation. So did probably Elk too.
Hope in the meanwhile it prompted PS Audio to address QA issues.
By the way, customer service and repairs do not determine QA Issues in production or with the quality of the products. Repairs are usually consequences of lack of QA.
I do agree their customer service for so far I dealt with PS Audio is very good, they are kind, open and very responsive.
Hope to be able to pick up the ordered Stellar Gain Cell DAC this week.
my motto Carpe Diem. I’m sitting in the Spring Sun enjoying every ray that protrudes through the clouds, which seem to have a preference for our little country.