Espresso Maker

Chris, I have no doubt that it helps, but have a hard time believing pods can compete with freshly ground beans.

Grayland, I have a Kitchen-Aid grinder that is simple to use, attractive, and an impressive piece of industrial design. Get a good grinder and you won't feel like it's a hassle. It doesn't dose, so the purists may scoff, but it does the job with a flick of the switch. The incremental effort in grinding with a good grinder is really minimal.

I have this burr grinder and I LOVE it:

That's the one I'm talking about, I think.

By the way, you can order Sant'Eustacio coffee from here:

http://www.gustiamo.com/cgi-bin/fron...dotto?id=20272

Originally Posted by grimslade

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That's the one I'm talking about, I think.
It's awesome, and the container is glass, so there's no problem with static electricity. And it's very quiet. And easy to clean.

Agreed. I've very pleased with it. I like the glass.

FYI, Linens & Things is having a going-out-of-business sale, and you can get the Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Grinder for $72 online only. There's also a metal version that's almost twice the price available.

--Andre

I have a La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi 2. It is a plumbed in, dual boiler machine with brew temperature and pressure adjustability. The grinding duty is handled by a Mazzer Mini (which is not really that "mini", it's just the smallest of Mazzers at feathery 22lbs.) I buy bags of green beans and roast them myslef on a Gene Cafe roaster which is kept in the garage due to the smoke it generates. The roaster is currently down waiting for a new heating element, the original element lasted two years so I am not complaining too much but I do have to buy roasted coffee for a week . Here are some stock photos, I should take a proper family picture.

Originally Posted by Dmax

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I have a La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi 2. It is a plumbed in, dual boiler machine with brew temperature and pressure adjustability. The grinding duty is handled by a Mazzer Mini (which is not really that "mini", it's just the smallest of Mazzers at feathery 22lbs.)
I buy bags of green beans and roast them myslef on a Gene Cafe roaster which is kept in the garage due to the smoke it generates. The roaster is currently down waiting for a new heating element, the original element lasted two years so I am not complaining too much but I do have to buy roasted coffee for a week

.
Here are some stock photos, I should take a proper family picture.

Christ, you ain't fuckin' around.

I skip the maker altogether

Originally Posted by Grayland

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I really appreciate the advice. I was seriously eyeing the Rancho Silvia, but didn't really plan on grinding for myself all the time. I'll check out the website you mention and the Saeco Classico.

Grayland - I think they have changed the name on the Saeco Classico (not sure what they call it now). The other machine that 1st line recommended to me was the Nemox Junior. Don't hesitate to give them a call.

Grimsdale - I hear you on the using pre-ground beans but I came to a point where I had to be honest with myself and the fact that my wife would be using the machine as much as me and would not grind beans herself. Plus, it gives me something else to add to my list. The only problem is that after the last few years on style forum the conical bur grinder and new machine have been pushed lower on the list in favor of C & J shoes and fully canvased suits.

Originally Posted by Dmax

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I have a La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi 2. It is a plumbed in, dual boiler machine with brew temperature and pressure adjustability. The grinding duty is handled by a Mazzer Mini (which is not really that "mini", it's just the smallest of Mazzers at feathery 22lbs.)
I buy bags of green beans and roast them myslef on a Gene Cafe roaster which is kept in the garage due to the smoke it generates. The roaster is currently down waiting for a new heating element, the original element lasted two years so I am not complaining too much but I do have to buy roasted coffee for a week

.
Here are some stock photos, I should take a proper family picture.

*photos edited*

Nice setup! I've always wanted a Mazzer.

The saying goes something like 'You can make great coffee with a cheap machine and a good grinder, but you can't make good coffee with a good machine and a cheap grinder'.

My next upgrade is the grinder!

You could always roast your beans in a popcorn maker if you can't wait for the element...

I heard an interesting point of view about using pods. Pods are packaged/ sealed so quickly after grinding that they keep very well and stay fresh due to the limited air exposure.

Any contrary opinions?

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Yes

Let's handle the "air exposure" issue first. Even "vacuum packaging" does not totally illuminate the air, and very little air is required to affect the coffee. And once the coffee is ground, you have increased the surface area by like 10000%, making the process happen very quickly.

Also, as soon as beans are roasted, they begin degassing. Those one-way valves on coffee bags are not there to keep air out (it's already in there)...it's to keep the bag from expanding too much from the gasses produced by the fresh beans. Those pods contain coffee grounds that have already completely degassed, and guaranteed to be stale and lost most of its flavour.

So the problem isn't really how quickly they package the pods after grinding...it's how quickly after roasting.

The other problem with pre-ground coffee is that the grind is something that needs to be regulated all the time...one grind does not suit all. Timing is one of the most important things for a good shot...grind and tamp must be regulated by the person manually pulling the shot. Of course those super autos cannot detect this stuff.

Then there is the question of the quality of the beans, roasting and blending in the first place to consider.

Then there is the fact that this inferior equipment and coffee actually costs more than the quality stuff. Even the convenience aspect is pretty much a myth.

All in all...a pretty outrageous mess of a situation. I can only explain it by lack of knowledge, as I can't imagine a well-informed person making this kind of decision.

Originally Posted by amerikajinda

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By the way, you can order Sant'Eustacio coffee from here:

http://www.gustiamo.com/cgi-bin/fron...dotto?id=20272



Grazie mille!!! You have completely made my day!!!!

Originally Posted by grimslade

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OK, I have to admit, I've never actually been south of Rome.

But still, St. Eustachio rocks.

That's OK, I have a Treviso friend who assures me that everything south of Rome is African ...